Re: [O] Bug: :noexport: tag prevents table functioning as babel code block input [7.7 (release_7.7.167.gfceb)]

[Thomas S. Dye]

András Major <address@hidden> writes:

> Hi Bastien,
>
>> > I think that anything that works despite being designed and documented
>> > otherwise is confusing to the user and should be considered a bug.
>> > I'm happy that it no longer works and hope that it stays that way.
>> 
>> I think tags are clearly documented as being properties of the
>> headlines -- if there is places in the manual that we can improve 
>> in this respect, please suggest a patch.
>
> I'm not talking about the manual.  In my opinion, if there is a
> function that works only on headlines according to the manual, then it
> *must not* work in any other place.  Otherwise some users might try
> the function they once heard of in a sense not specified in the
> documentation (here: in a table) and see that it works, and be
> surprised when it no longer does (in a future version of org-mode, or
> on a different computer).  Therefore such "ghost features" must
> actively be eliminated.
>
> To me, the documentation is the leading specification of a piece of
> software.  Anything the software doesn't do that is in the docs is a
> bug, but likewise anything it does do which the docs don't cover is
> also a bug.

Aloha Andras,

As an avocational programmer who has had the pleasure of making small
changes to the Org-mode manual and on-line documentation, this last bit
seems to raise the bar impractically high.  Part of Org-mode's appeal to
me is that people frequently find new, and at least to me unexpected,
ways to use it productively.  I find it interesting to see how best to
change the documentation to incorporate the new "discovery."  That said,
the idea that the docs cover *everything* that Org-mode is capable of
doing is wonderful and I'll be happy to chip in when I can to help you
achieve that goal.

All the best,
Tom

>
>> I don't think it's reasonable to document the fact that tags are
>> not meant to be used in tables, blocks, lists, timestamps, etc.
>
> I fully agree.
>
>   András
>
>
>
>

-- 
Thomas S. Dye
http://www.tsdye.com