Re: How do you take your docs, HTML or PDF?

John Russell <netnews5_at_johnrussell.mailshell.com> wrote in message news:<tiqa5v4u4pro4766lo5h81u1vqgfufng6c_at_4ax.com>...
> Noons wrote:
>
> >The manuals are much easier
> >to consult, particularly if you download the pdfs
> >and keep them on your desktop or notebook.
>
> I had a discussion the other day where it was asserted that HTML was
> all-around better for certain types of documentation, such as API
> reference doc. As an advocate of online documentation in general, I
> like HTML for some things and PDF for others. I'm curious how others
> feel on that subject.
>
> In particular, if you frequently use PDF:
>
> - Do you view it online (as I interpret Nuno to suggest) or print it
> out?
>
> - If you print it out, is there some limitation of having it on the
> computer that makes it necessary to have a hardcopy? (E.g. easier to
> jot notes, don't always have a computer handy, limited screen size.)
>
> And if you frequently use HTML:
>
> - Do you favour certain types of information, such as API reference,
> for looking up online?
>
> I remember hearing a while back that the cryptic PDF names might be a
> problem. Someone using the doc CD can pick from a list of books and
> open the PDF. (There's an HTML-format page and a PDF-format page,
> both linking to all the PDF files.) Do people often use just a couple
> of PDFs without having the complete doc CD? I wonder if having some
> sort of file-renamer would be handy.
>
> Thanks,
> John

John, I find the PDF versions generally prints better than the html versions. I like to print the manuals I decide read from cover to cover. It is hard to highlight the screen, and keep track of where I am in the material when I just try to read it online. Also I like to print off a copy of the sqlldr section of the utilities manual for the developers. There are times you need to flip back and forth to find what you need and a hard copy is much better for this than an online document.

The manuals I like to have hard copies of are Concepts, DBA Admin, Backups and Recovery, SQL, PL/SQL, and the SQL loader section of Utilities. But it isn't necessary that I reprint all of these with every release. It depends on many new features exist in an area and how old my copy has gotten to be.

• Mark D Powell --