Conference vaxuum::document_ft

13.0. "New Syntax for <FRONT_MATTER>?" by CLT::RODGERS (Nothing is written.) Mon Feb 23 1987 10:04

    I noticed when attending a seminar on BL07 changes that the new
    book element tags have a slightly inconsistent syntax.  I think
    it would make these tags easier to use if the following change were
    made:
    
    Change the syntax of the <front_matter> tag to accept an optional
    first argument.  This optional argument could hold the book title.
    
    Then, when seen in a list, the book element tags would look like
    this:
    
    <FRONT_MATTER>(\symbolic_name)
    <CHAPTER>(title\symbolic_name)
    <APPENDIX>(title\symbolic_name)
    <PART>(title\symbolic_name)
    <GLOSSARY>(\symbolic_name)
    
    The way things are now, only the <FRONT_MATTER> tag does not require
    a slash before the symbolic_name argument and, to me, this really
    sticks out.  This is a good example of one of the many little "gotchas"
    that can cause exasperation when trying to learn and use this product.
    
    I admit I'm not being very creative with possible uses for an optional
    first argument on the <FRONT_MATTER> tag; someone else could
    undoubtedly come up with something more useful or appropriate than
    the book title.  I just think it's important to be as consistent
    as possible.  (That's one reason why the developers were careful
    to  modify the names of other tags -- to achieve consistency, right?)
    
    
    
    
    Val