Re: yet another new TeX user aghast at the "TeXBook" !!!!!!

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Article #6266

#6266

From: Harold G. Corwin Jr.
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 1989 20:23

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In article <Apr.28.09.43.12.1989.28020@elbereth.rutgers.edu>, cje@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Cthulhu's Jersey Epopt) writes:
| But I think that's precisely why LaTeX was created.  It's not necessary for
| anyone who wants to typeset their technical paper to learn raw TeX.
| ...
| But if you're hooked on TeX and *want* to Know All, it's misplaced to complain
| that the technical reference isn't suitable for beginners.  Beginners belong
| with LaTeX.
| 
| Chris Jarocha-Ernst
I agree completely about LaTeX.  I've typeset a book using LaTeX, and found it 
manageable.  I did have to make occasional forays into the jungle to find TeX 
stuff that I couldn't easily get LaTeX to do.  Which brings me back to my (and 
the other folk's) point:  (flame back on) how in the world are we supposed to 
learn "All" from the TeXbook?  The thing is a mess, even as a technical 
reference manual (flame off).  Yes, persistence pays off in the end, and I can
use the TeXbook to get what I need (usually).  
     (flame) But oh, my; oh, my. The time it takes; little is clear, and what is
is so scattered around .... phooey.  You get the idea. (flame off)
     Question:  is there an alternative to the TeXbook?  If so, I'd like to know
who publishes it and how I can order it.  DON'T send e-mail -- broadcast it far
and wide.  A LOT of us want to know.  Many thanks!
Harold Corwin
-- 
Harold G. Corwin, Jr.
  UUCP: {backbonesite}!{noao,cs.utexas.edu}!utastro!hgcjr
  Internet: hgcjr@astro.as.utexas.edu           MaBell: 512-471-7463
  Astronomy Dept., RLM 15.308, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-1083

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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!utastro!hgcjr
From: hgcjr@utastro.UUCP (Harold G. Corwin Jr.)
Newsgroups: comp.text
Subject: Re: yet another new TeX user aghast at the "TeXBook" !!!!!!
Summary: Use LaTeX!
Message-ID: <3849@utastro.UUCP>
Date: 28 Apr 89 20:23:49 GMT
References: <433@pbseps.UUCP> <3847@utastro.UUCP> <Apr.28.09.43.12.1989.28020@elbereth.rutgers.edu>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 27

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