TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2006-02 > 1139081146


From: "Michael J. Hannah" <>
Subject: Re: End of Sentence Codes - a Second Proposal
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 12:26:27 -0700
References: <200602032059.k13KxMCS006074@lists5.rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <200602032059.k13KxMCS006074@lists5.rootsweb.com>


> I've read over again all the responses to my earlier attempt to state
> a proposal for the much-discussed new feature to control how TMG
> manages the ending of tag output, and now offer this revised proposal.
> I think it addresses all the issues discussed.

Wow, Terry, well done. This looks great! I have only one serious
concern about the [:NC:] code. See below.

> 1. Automatic final period:
Great solution, and handles everything I have seen.

> 2. Spaces:
> Add a new code, which I am calling [:SP:],
Spacing is obviously complex, but I like this idea of having
a space code that is NOT non-breaking. I was worried about
the proposed use of the non-breaking code as a work-around.

> 3. Capitalization:
> [:NC:] ... applies to the next output word following the code...
> it could be placed either as the last code in the first tag's
> sentence, or as the first entry in the second tag's sentence...
> Should that be troublesome to program ...the code would always
> be entered as the first entry in the tag whose output is not
> to be capitalized (that is, the second tag).
As I was one that explicitly wanted this code in the second tag,
allow me to change my mind after having thought about it some more.
(We *can* change our minds, can't we <grin>? That's the point of
discussion.) I thought I would want to KNOW that a tag was going
to not have a leading capital, but now I am not sure. If I end
a previous tag with "and,[:SP:][:NC:]" I think *almost* any tag
could follow. I would probably not have to worry about reports
that select only certain tags, and would probably not have to
"pair up" tags. However, beginning a tag with "[:NC:]" would
undoubtedly require understanding what went before, and would
probably only work with "paired" tags. I think that is less
flexible. So.... I prefer being able to place the code in
either tag, but "should that be troublesome to program" I would
now prefer that the code be at the end of the "first" tag.

> 4. Footnotes and Endnotes:
I like this, as it would provide a way for me to construct a
sentence (using multiple tags) with footnotes "inside" the
sentence citing separate chunks of text. I can see using this.

> Note regarding all the new codes:
Thoroughly thought out, and consistent with current usage.

> As has been stated before, use of these codes is an advanced
> technique, and it would certainly be possible for a user to
> apply them in a way that produces unexpected results.
Well said, and worth repeating.

Thanks from all of us users for working this carefully through.

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