Re: [Psgml-devel] Re: Key sequence C-c C-f C-e uses invalid prefix characters

[Peter Flynn]

Robert J. Chassell wrote:
[generating DTDs]
> Yes, and when you include such a program written in Emacs Lisp in
> Psgml mode, then you are providing another tool to handle
> `graceful degredation'.  

That would be a great tool.

> Please understand, no one wants to provide a broken file to someone
> else; that is not what the discussion is about.

No, but a lot of people who don't grok the fullness of SGML believe
that supplying a file with pointy brackets is sufficient.

> As a user of Emacs, I have received broken or corrupted files from
> other people and had to fix them.  GNU Emacs has made this action
> easier than it would be otherwise.  The issue is whether or not to
> continue to provide at least some tools for handling corrupt or broken
> SGML or XML files that you receive.

I don't think it's that so much as whether users should be allowed to
assume (wrongly) that sgml-mode is the canonical authoritative mode
for handling SGML. Currently there is that risk, simply because of the
name, which is there for historical reasons. This is a bit like saying
that you can use (say) text-mode for writing programs because it does
at least recognise matched parentheses. My argument was that this view
is inadequate and unfair to the user, especially the new user, and that
I would prefer to see psgml-mode eventually becoming the default for
.sgm[l] and .xml files. By all means keep sgml-mode as Bob suggests for
those occasions when it's needed, but rename it to something which makes
it clear that it's for help with matching pointy brackets and not the
full syntax.

///Peter