dns@sq.sq.com (David Slocombe) (09/15/90)
SGML == Standard Generalized Markup Language, IS 8879-1986.
You can get it from your national Standards body (ANSI in the U.S.,
CSA in Canada, BSI in the U.K., ...). But in North America the
***fast*** (though more expensive) route to a copy of a standard
is via Global Engineering Documents in Irvine, CA. The 800 number
(which *does* work from Canada) is (800) 624-3974. Intercontinental
callers use (714) 261-1455. They take credit cards, and are happy
to set up an account for your company and bill you.
Books on SGML:
Martin Bryan, SGML: An Author's Guide to the Standard Generalized
Markup Language. Addison-Wesley, 1988. ISBN 0-201-17535-5 (pbk.)
--This is the first substantial book on the topic. Heavy going
at times but valuable nonetheless. Martin deals in depth with
many arcane and difficult topics.
Eric van Herwijnen, Practical SGML. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1990.
ISBN 0-7923-0635-X (pbk.) Kluwer is a Dutch publisher. Their
American address is 101 Philip Drive, Norwell, MA 02061. Your
local academic bookstore should have a phone number for them.
-- This is a more "accessible" and "practical" book on SGML.
I like it a lot. (He does say nice things about our products too,
but that's not why I like it!) It doesn't deal with as many "fine
points" as Martin's book, but you can get on with using SGML easier
with this book I think, and you can get a better feel for the whole
context of SGML here.
One major (very detailed, and very authoritative) work is "in press",
but the author would shoot me if I pre-announced for him. :-)
David.
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David Slocombe (416) 963-8337
Vice-President, Research & Development (800) 387-2777 (from U.S. only)
SoftQuad Inc. uucp: {uunet,utzoo}!sq!dns
720 Spadina Ave. Internet: dns@sq.com
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2T9 Fax: (416) 963-9575