[comp.text.sgml] Getting started with SGML

bkh@boulder.Colorado.EDU (HADDON BRUCE K) (09/12/90)

I need to learn more about SGML (coming, at the moment, from almost
nowhere with respect to SGML, but) having dealt with many other text
formatting systems.

In addition to the relevant standard(s), what other material provides
a reasonable starting point on this subject?

If citations (name, author, publisher, etc.) together with, say, 
one paragraph description/review/evaluations are sent to me, I'll
edit them and submit to the group.

Bruce K. Haddon
bkh@spot.Colorado.EDU
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With respect, my opinions ARE my own.

jwh@boston.ifs.umich.edu (Jim Howe) (09/12/90)

In article <26083@boulder.Colorado.EDU>, bkh@boulder.Colorado.EDU
(HADDON BRUCE K) writes:
|> I need to learn more about SGML (coming, at the moment, from almost
|> nowhere with respect to SGML, but) having dealt with many other text
|> formatting systems.

You need to keep in mind that SGML is a markup language NOT a text formatting
language.  It is the responsiblity of the 'publisher' to attach formatting
semantics to SGML markup tags.  This may involve using a program to convert
SGML tags to a text formatting language such as troff or TeX.  The idea behind
SGML is that authors should concentrate on the content of the document and
publishers should concentrate on the formatted output.  Authors specify content
through the use of tags and publishers decide how to format the content
specified
by the tags.

|> 
|> In addition to the relevant standard(s), what other material provides
|> a reasonable starting point on this subject?
|> 

There is a book called 'SGML: An Author's Guide' which gives a fairly complete
description of SGML and it's uses.  I think the authors last name is Bryant.
There is also a new book entitled 'The SGML Handbook' written by Dr. Charles
F. Goldfarb, Senior Systems Analyst at IBM and known as the father of SGML.
Another source of information about SGML is the Electronic Publishing Special
Interest Group (EPSIG).  Individuals can join for $25.00/year and they put
out a quarterly newsletter.  EPSIG can be reached at the following address:

     EPSIG
     c/o OCLC
     6565 Frantz Road
     Dublin, Ohio  43017-0702


James W. Howe			   internet: jwh@ifs.umich.edu
University of Michigan             uucp:     uunet!mailrus!ifs.umich.edu!jwh
Ann Arbor, MI   48103-4943         

emv@math.lsa.umich.edu (Edward Vielmetti) (09/13/90)

In article <26083@boulder.Colorado.EDU> bkh@boulder.Colorado.EDU (HADDON BRUCE K) writes:

   I need to learn more about SGML (coming, at the moment, from almost
   nowhere with respect to SGML, but) having dealt with many other text
   formatting systems.

   In addition to the relevant standard(s), what other material provides
   a reasonable starting point on this subject?

Take a look at Robin Cover's brief bibliography of SGML in
sgml.math.lsa.umich.edu:/pub/sgml/bibliography.  Should be
a reasonably good overview.

--Ed

Edward Vielmetti, U of Michigan math dept <emv@math.lsa.umich.edu>
moderator, comp.archives