Hi Mike -
I know how to use search engines. I've written some for
documentation databases that are superior to anything I've seen available on
the net with the exception of those at the CDC web site and at Grateful Med,
which are roughly equivalent to the ones I've written. If you can clue me
into a boolean words and phrases search engine that will operate on the
RBase documentation at rsyntax.com across all the html pages available there
in a single search, I would be both grateful and very happy to learn how to
use it.
The advantage of having documentation on a web site rather than
printed is simply overwhelming: instant update, corrections, additions,
publication. Need I say more? In replying to my post you seem to be
reading the word "index" in my message as the phrase "index printed on paper
in a book". I didn't suggest RBTI bring out printed on paper documentation.
What I am suggesting they do is to put together an online index that will
get the user to what the user wants to look at. I would also suggest that
they ask for volunteers to help in that effort and I would be more than
happy to help. Such an index would not be a trivial task and it would be a
great addition to the product.
IMHO RBTI has done a stellar job in upgrading the product and the
documentation. The beta process is well beyond compare with anything I've
particpated in or even heard about for any other software product.
Bernie
=======================================
At 02:17 PM 5/22/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi Bernie,
>
>Not to start a fight here, but I want to respond to your thoughts. I
understand
>that people like books and so do I. I still look at my R:Base Reference
>Manual every now and then. The point is that they are expensive and RBTI
>has not even hinted at doing any type of manual. They have taken the
>HTML route because it is less expensive than a book and they can quickly
>bring the documentation up to date. In other words- books are gone- do not
>expect one. If they ever start selling a hundred thousand units of R:Base then
>maybe you will see one, but until then- they are history. Given the speed at
>which RBTI is making changes, I think they did the right thing. I would
>rather have the changes in HTML than have an old, outdated reference
>manual.
>
>Given the above scenario, you had best learn to use a search engine or go
>without it. Your choice and, as Razzak says, "Do R:Base Your Way".
>
>Best regards,
>Mike Young
>
>On Tue, 22 May 2001 17:12:26 -0400, Bernie Corrigan wrote:
>
>>Mike -
>> Most search engines are so anemic that they are laughable. They
>>can't even look for a phrase. The user either finds nothing or is
>>overwhelmed by vast quantities of information. As for searching for
>>information one html page at a time, you can't be serious. Computerized
>>indexes that are just as good as book indexes do exist. Also a good index
>>gives one the ability to browse organized subject headings within a topic
>>QUICKLY and THOROUGHLY. I have yet to see the search engine that
>will do
>>that one. Such indexes are usually built by people who know the subject
>>matter and who sometimes put in extra stuff to take care of changed
>>terminology or in the case of software, changed usage and the readers will
>>often be led to things they didn't know about but want to know about. Fat
>>chance of that happening with the average search engine.
>>
>> BTW, I have lots of time to go out and locate NoteTab, whatever that
>>is, learn how to load it with the RBase documentation, load it with the
>>RBase documentation, then learn how to find things in it. Oh yes, and each
>>time the RBase documentation changes I suppose that the information in
>>NoteTab must be deleted and reloaded, or something like that, to get the
>>updates in. I already know how to use an index.
>>
>>With tongue firmly in cheek,
>>Bernie
>>
>>P.S. Books are not gone.
>>=======================================
>>At 10:34 AM 5/22/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>>>Hi Paul,
>>>
>>>True, books are nice but they are gone. You can use powerful search tools
>to
>>>find instances of a word or phrase. You can search in a HTML document
>>>with almost anything. If you want a real comprehensive search then load
>all
>>>the HTML documents in a program such as NoteTab Pro and do a search
>on
>>>all documents.
>>
>>[snip]
>>
>
>
>
>
>
