🚀 go-pugleaf

On 17 Aug 92 17:37:01 GMT, jem@hpcupt3.cup.hp.com (Jim McCauley) said:

jem> My view of tables has gone through many changes, but basically, I
jem> feel that a table is a database for the eyes.

A very nice definition!

jem> I have often wondered if it might be worthwhile to create a markup
jem> subsystem for tables that is in fact a database application.

Or probably you would rather have a dynamic link to a database application.

jem> Every tech writer with any degree of experience has faced the
jem> regrettable task of reformatting tables to modify the sequence or
jem> style of presentation.  Usually, the only tool for use is a text
jem> editor. [ ... he'd rather like to use something that looks like
jem> improv, 1-2-3 or excel ... ]

jem> Has any such table-creation tool ever been developed?

Well, you have been really describing a spreadsheet with in built
database facilities. Yes, such things do exist, and some are even used
mostly for table word processing, and they are called 'spreadsheets'.
No, I am not joking. There is even one book, something like 'IBM PC
resources', which is made *entirely* of tables (IRQs, traps, memory
addresses, character sets, whatever) done in excel, used as a page
layout program.

What you probably want for yourself is an editor/formatter and a
spreadsheet/database with hot links between them, using things like
NeXT's composite document technology (WriteNow+Improv), or Microsoft's
OLE/DDE , or DEC's or Apple's or HP's equivalent technologies.

If you are happy enough with *static* inclusion, then the Unix SC
spreadsheet might be used (FTP from pc.usl.edu); it can emit its tables
in ASCII, LaTeX or TROFF format.

jem> Is SGML useful in defining such a tool?

Not SGML's type of job -- more like SQL's.
--
Piercarlo Grandi                   | JNET: pcg@uk.ac.aber
Dept of CS, University of Wales    | UUCP: ...!mcsun!ukc!aber-cs!pcg
Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3BZ, UK | INET: pcg@aber.ac.uk