Re: Developing errata for 4.0

"Shane P. McCarron" wrote:
> 
> As part of the HTML-NG activity, I have been tasked with tracking issues
> against HTML 4.0. I see that you have already produced an issues log on the
> W3C site. I would like to find a way to ensure we are not duplicating
> effort as we move forward interpreting the HTML 4.0 specification.

> I would also like to see a way for us to release a corrigenda or updated
> 4.0 as and when we get a relatively complete set of changes recorded.


Hi Shane,

Thanks for coordinating on this. I see you already
have an issues tracking tool [1] set up to do this kind of
thing. (I've wanted one just like it for a long time, for
the HTML WG and others I am involved with. I would be interested
in hearing how your tool works in a separate 
discussion.)

I guess the first issue here for me is: Does the new HTML WG
wish to assume the persistent activities of the former WG, including
errata management and translation requests/offers? If so,
you should take over the job of managing HTML 4.0 errata.

Here's how we do it today: I do the best I can to track errata
and when I have the time, I update the errata page (linked from the
Recommendation [2]). Periodically (no regular schedule established
and we've only done this once) we rerelease the HTML 4.0 
specification with corrections and clarifications *only*. This involves:

   - Correcting the body of the spec.
   - Listing the changes in appendix/changes.html (essentially
     the errata sheet)
   - Initializing the errata sheet.

Note that each errata sheet refers to a specific version of the
spec and its name and contents must be updated with each
re-release of the spec.

If you or the WG decide to assume responsibility for managing
HTML 4.0 errata, you should have control over errata page
updates. Whenever you would like to issue a re-release of HTML 4.0,
talk to myself or Arnaud Le Hors about the document production
mechanisms and we'll gladly help with the changes page, publication,
etc.

Let me know if this seems reasonable. I'll be glad to help
any way I can.

Also, what do the other HTML 4.0 editors think of this proposal?

- Ian

[1] http://spm.themacs.com/html-errata/
[2] http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/
 
-- 
Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org) 
Tel/Fax: (212) 684-1814 
http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs

Received on Wednesday, 30 September 1998 11:26:04 UTC