🚀 go-pugleaf

twriter1@pencom.com writes:
> I am debating whether or not I should fork over almost $1000
> to learn about SGML (a reputable 2 or 3 day long course).  Is it
> worth it?  Is SGML the wave of the future as I have heard?
> What does it stand for?

SGML is short for Standard Generalized Markup Language.
It is an ISO-validated standard for text markup based on
ASCII files, and supports semantic content markup as well as
the more common explicit formatting commands we're all used
to.

An SGML document is always based upon a DTD, or Document Type
Definition (equivalent to a style sheet). Basically, the DTD
defines a set of types for a document's elements in a portable
format. Using an SGML editor like SoftQuad author/editor (or
FrameMaker, which I believe can import/export SGML documents into
GML) you create a document using the style elements defined in
the DTD. THe combination of document and DTD can then be used on
any other SGML-compliant system to produce the same output. 
Moreover, SGML has a variety of other uses connected with 
information retrieval.

In addition to the core ISO standard, there are working groups
currently developing extra standards; HyTime, a multimedia
extension of SGML, and DSSSL, a device-independant output
system.

SGML is still a minority persuit, but it is set to explode
in the technical publications field over the next two to
five years. For example, it is highly likely that the next
documentation releases for UNIX (from both the main
development sources, USL and OSF) will be delivered in SGML
instead of troff format. Once this happens, a huge chunk of
the Open Systems market will have to switch to SGML.

To quote one expert on the field: ``SGML is to typesetting
as UNIX is to open systems computing.''

Hope that helps ...

-- 
Antipope -- HE gives you Bull, I give you the Straight ... er ....