Re: using @titleplage in every format

[Patrice Dumas]

On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 07:18:34PM +0000, Gavin Smith wrote:
> On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 01:25:12PM +0100, Patrice Dumas wrote:
> > For HTML there is already a way to use the titlepage, with 
> >  USE_TITLEPAGE_FOR_TITLE
> > 
> > For docbook the semantic information is already used (I think), so no
> > need to change.
> > 
> > Plaintext/Info should be changed to print the @titlepage at the right
> > place.
> > 
> > My proposal is the following:
> > Leave @top without argument.  That way TeX will ignore it.
> 
> Checking Texinfo's own manual, @top has an argument and is used as
> "@top Texinfo".  I haven't checked but I suspect TeX would output a 
> large heading from this.

Indeed, but I propose to leave @top without argument, like
@top

That way TeX won't output a unnumbered heading
>
> > In general, output the titlepage after the first node, or at the
> > beginning of @top.  For formats like docbook that are fully semantic,
> > of for LaTeX which uses environments, follow the format conventions.
> > @settitle is still useful for the HTML <title>, or in headings or such
> > uses.
> 
> I like that @top is not wrapped in @ifnottex as this is confusing, 
> especially when the @menu is not included inside the @ifnottex block.
> If there was some way to simplify this it would be a good idea.

As I said above, the only way I can think of is to leave @top with an
empty argument.  It is redundant in most formats with titlepage anyway,
actually it is not a real sectionning command it marks the Top node.

> > The issue with that change is that it requires modifying existing
> > manuals.  Another change is that the copying information will be at the
> > beginning of the manual in every output, but this is probably a good
> > thing.  If this is not wanted, it is still possible to have the
> > @titlepage @insertcopying within an @iftex.
> 
> I'm worried that there will be too much information that the user finds 
> irrelevant when they open an Info manual.

In that case, it is always possible to put @insertcopying of the
@titlepage in a @ifnotinfo, or @iftex. 

> Also the title page may lack a short summary of what the manual is 
> about, which may be present in the @top node.

Again, if it is to appear only in a format, lets use the conditionals,
but still the @title page can be common.

> > The typical document would become
> 
> If I understand correctly, is the only difference here that the @top 
> node is not wrapped in @ifnottex?

And the @titlepage is output in Info too.

-- 
Pat