Re: XML/SGML

[Nathan Sivin nsivin@xxxxxxxx]

Eric v. T. points out that ≪The default keyboard in both Xy4 DOS
and XyWin (I believe I'm using the latest versions) already does
exacty what N.S. describes. The key definition for Ctl+I reads
        23=XH,JM,(,I,t,a,l,i,c,)
which works as follows:

(a) if a block is defined, Ctl+I inserts  at the beginning
of the
define, and  at the end;

(b) if no block is defined, Ctl+I *reverses* italic: i.e., it
inserts
 at the cursor if italic isn't in force there, but inserts

at the cursor if  is already in force there.

Indeed, if you start a define but don't finish it, Ctl+I performs
(a) AS IF
the define had been completed at the cursor.≫

CANDID CONFESSION WITH PROVISO:

I confess that I redid all the CTL keys in XyDOS and XyWin so
many years ago that I had completely forgotten about this and the
analogous built-in functions.

BUT they have what for me is such serious shortcomings that I
can't use them anyhow.

1. In expanded mode, they don't work with defined text at all. I
often work in expanded mode. I have one friend who uses nothing
else.

2. In expanded mode, after text preceded by MD+IT they just put
in another MD+IT.

3. Less important, if there is no defined text, what I want the
key to do is insert BOTH MD+IT and MD-IT deltas with the cursor
in between.

Cheers,
--
Nathan Sivin
History and Sociology of Science
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA 19104-6304
(215) 898-7454
nsivin@xxxxxxxx