The SGML Handbook [Hardcover]

Charles F. Goldfarb (Author), Yuri Rubinsky (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198537379 | ISBN-13: 978-0198537373 | Publication Date: February 28, 1991 | Edition: annotated edition

The Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) is a revolutionary innovation designed to improve the productivity and competitiveness of all computers. It greatly facilitates the sharing of data and the integration of diverse types of software, yielding a new era of efficiency and flexibility. This guide to SGML is written by the inventor of the language. In it he gives his thoughts on each clause of the widely adopted international standard, and explains every detail for the benefit of computer users. The handbook also includes the up-to-date amended full text of ISO 8879, extensively annotated, cross-referenced and indexed, along with additional tutorial and reference material. The book will be invaluable for all those involved in the development of SGML applications and the implementation of SGML systems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Goldfarb has prepared a text that should satisfy many budding SGML practitioners, both vendors and users. Contains the complete text of the SGML standard but in a competely new structure that makes it much more readable and acccessible. The Seybold Review The combination of unobtrusiveness and great utility that mark the hypertext system are but one illustration of why this book suceeds. We could also cite the author's understanding of the topic, the clarity of his presentation, even his sense of humor. The Seybold Review

`This book is the one you must have to understand SGML and exploit all its many possibilities.' Computer Books Review

About the Author

The inventor of SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 688 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; annotated edition edition (February 28, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198537379
• ISBN-13: 978-0198537373
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The official ISO standard., February 3, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The SGML Handbook (Hardcover)

This is not the first book you should read about SGML, but if you are going to do any serious development in SGML, you need this on your bookshelf. It contains the entire text of the ISO standard, plus Goldfarb's annotations

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Required SGML Reading IF, February 8, 2000

By 

Lynn Hales (Newport News, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The SGML Handbook (Hardcover)

you are planning on really getting into the world of SGML. If you are a beginner, or just playing with SGML, this book isn't for you. The book does contain the entire ISO 8879 standard and is extensively cross referenced. After five years using it, I still find it easy to get lost in the references. If you want the final, definative word from the MAN who wrote the standard, this is it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Necessary for SGML; useless for XML, April 7, 2002

By 

Sean Burke (Ketchikan, Alaska, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The SGML Handbook (Hardcover)

This book is, regrettably, the one authoritative book on the SGML standard. Given how broad and confusing the SGML standard is, it's not surprising that this book on it is equally opaque -- this is, in my experience, the worst-written technical book I've ever seen that is not actually inaccurate. But if you're doing serious SGML development, you have no choice but to get this book and to spent forever trying to make sense of it.

But beware: if you're doing just XML, and if you think "well, since XML is a form of SGML, I might as well get the SGML standard", don't do it! XML is all you need to know, so just get an XML book-- I happen to like XML Pocket Reference, partly because it's less than one TWENTIETH the price of the SGML standard, and yet it's a hundred times more useful! (Having a copy of the XML spec, from the W3C site, can also be helpful.)

For the kind of money that you could be spending on The SGML Handbook, instead go buy a copy of the Codex Seraphinianus. It's equally indecipherable, but at least it's pretty.