Effort vs usefulness of pdf, was: proposal to omit pdf generation of reference manual

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu 
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Dodier
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 8:24 PM
> > 
> Frankly I don't think the effort to maintain the pdf versions is worth
> the trouble.

It is no trouble for me, since I am not maintaining either version.

> 
> To the people who have asked for the pdf versions to be maintained:
> I need to know if you really believe that the pdf version is 
> valuable enough
> to continue to maintain it. If you prefer pdf but you would 
> be happy enough
> without it, I want to know that.

We are all volunteers.  If the person who maintains the PDF no longer wishes
to maintain it, then he can cease to do it. Either another volunteer must be
found, or it will cease to be maintained.

I would request, however, that if it is not updated and maintained, then an
existing PDF be archived. That way anyone who really needs a PDF and doesn't
care if it possibly out of date in some minor respects, can use that form. I
would certainly prefer PDF for some uses, even if outdated. The commercial
Macsyma Reference Manual is online in PDF and is still sometimes useful.

I do not understand the mechanisms in use which make the production of PDF
more difficult as documentation is increased.  I also agree with Kostas and
Alasdair that the display of mathematics should be upgraded if possible.
The technology used in the manual should not be limited by the design (from
1967) of the original Macsyma program which was based of CHARYBDIS.  See
http://hopl.murdoch.edu.au/showlanguage.prx?exp=382

RJF
> 
> Thanks for considering this point.
> 
> Robert
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