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Date:      Fri, 04 Dec 1998 09:11:08 -0700
From:      Sean Kelly <kelly@plutotech.com>
To:        Kris Kirby <kris@airnet.net>
Cc:        freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Learning SGML for docs?
Message-ID:  <3668099C.E9A94706@plutotech.com>
References:  <3667A4AB.9093BB17@airnet.net>

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> After looking around I am considering psychiatric care because I _must_
> be crazy to think about learning this monster (SGML).

Yes, you are crazy.  :-)

To be pedantic, SGML itself isn't too bad.  It's the various Document
Type Definitions (DTDs) that are defined using SGML that are monstrous,
such as the huge, perhaps untamable, but enormously powerful Docbook.

> Anyway, my
> question is: What items do I specifically need to write acceptable SGML
> docs? I would assume a text editor, but if there is a port running
> around that makes life just a tad bit simpler.

Easy: the One True Editor: GNU Emacs <ducks-for-cover>.

Seriously, Emacs's PSGML mode and font highlighting does make the task
more approachable.  Even Justin Gibbs, a staunch vi'er, admitted to me
that he fires up Emacs whenever he has to write documentation in
Docbook.

> Being SGML, I'm going to
> assume that there is some master list of all the possible (applicable?)
> tags.

You mean Docbook, not SGML.  (Yes, I'm definitely in pedantic mode
today.)

> I'd kinda like to know where I could get an electronic copy.

For an excellent introduction, including mention of the various tools,
see Nik Clayton's Docbook Primer:

	http://www.freebsd.org/~nik/primer/index.html

--Sean

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