Re: [boost] ATTENTION: Library requirements..

Subject: Re: [boost] ATTENTION: Library requirements..
From: Paul A. Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-01-11 11:36:10

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boost [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Andrey Semashev
> Sent: 11 January 2016 15:03
> To: boost_at_[hidden]
> Subject: Re: [boost] ATTENTION: Library requirements..
> 
> On 2016-01-11 17:42, Paul A. Bristow wrote:
> >
> > I use the PDF version regularly when updating Boost.Math - mainly to
> > find things that I know are there (because I wrote them!)  but can't find where.
> >
> > It's the find/search power that is the killer application. (And it is portable of course).
> >
> > And all this discussion focussing on the *look* of documentation is
> > ignoring our main weakness -
> >
> > how to FIND what you want to know???
> 
> Personally, I never search for anything in html. This is just nearly useless because even if I
find what
> I'm looking for the result is difficult to read (in a text viewer, which for me is mc in 99% of
cases and
> far in the other 1%). That is assuming my search doesn't produce a lot of noise results due to
html
> markup.
> 
> I've never seriously used pdf docs for Boost. I understand that it should be better in terms of
noise
> results, but it just too inconvenient and heavy for me to use. Since most of the work I do is done
from
> mc or a code editor like QtCreator, the pdf viewer feels like a fifth wheel (with a flat tire).

Why don't you have another window open?  Preferably on another screen, of course.

> So, when I search for something, I search in either the source code or the docs sources. Which is
why I
> like QuickBook - it is perfectly readable in the source form and doesn't clutter the content with
the
> markup.

I'm surprised - but I can see that it makes some (a little) sense.
 
> I'll emphasize that the above is written from the perspective of looking for something. When I
want to
> learn something, i.e. read a considerable amount of text, possibly following links, I use html. It
beats
> pdf as navigation is much easier.

Navigation *should* be as easy in PDF as HTML.  It is if generated using Quickbook. All the links
should be there (if a little less visible).

Paul

---
Paul A. Bristow
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Kendal UK LA8 8AB
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