[Tiny-cobol-users] Creating the TinyCOBOL Manual

[Dean P. <pow...@ya...>]

Hi, All:

We've talked on this list in the past about creating
documentation for the TinyCOBOL compiler, but time and
other circumstances ensured the discussion never got
very far.

Over the past few weeks, I've been playing with
creating a TinyCOBOL manual, in HTML format.  The idea
is to create a full-blown book that serves as COBOL
reference manual and TinyCOBOL documentation all in
one volume.  I have attached a tarball containing the
documents for everyone to look at.  Your comments
would be appreciated.  Just unpack the tarball and
open manual.html.

As you can see, the structure of the manual is far
from finished, but I think you can all get the idea as
to how it will probably look when it's complete.

This current version of the manual was created using
txt2tags (the t2t files used to create the HTML have
also been included).  I know this product is near and
dear to the hearts of several people on the list, but
after using it I don't feel the program is robust
enough.  I'll be looking for a new documentation
package over the next little while.  In a few short
sections, txt2tags has shown a couple of shortcomings
which have forced me to restructure the way the
documentation is put together.  IMHO, a documentation
tool that dictates the structure of the final product
isn't ready for prime time.

I am basing the structure of the TinyCOBOL manual on
three other COBOL reference works:

The HP OpenVMS Cobol manual, which is available at:
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/82final/6296/6296pro_001.html

The IBM COBOL Manual, which can be found at:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/pdthelp/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.entcobol3.doc/rllan.htm

My own treasured copy of the IBM OS Full American
National Standard COBOL manual (6th Edition, 1975),
originally published by IBM Systems Reference Library.

Of course, I will cite these works in the TC manual.

As stated before, any comments, queries, etc. about
the attached, very preliminary, COBOL manual would be
appreciated.

Regards,
Dean Powell
Edmonton, Canada

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