yodlmanpage - the manpage document type of Yodl

The yodlmanpage document type is specifically implemented to write Unix-style manual pages. Other Yodl document formats, such as article, report and book are documented in the Yodl guide and in the manpage for yodlmacros.

This manual page briefly describes the manpage document type of the YOLD document language. This document type is so specific that it warrants a separate manpage.

manpage documents do not use the `standard' sectioning commands (e.g., sect() and subsect()), but have specific manpage...() macros. You can however use (and are encouraged to..) other `normal' macros, such as description(...) or itemize(...) for lists, or bf() for boldface and em() for emphasis. As for fonts, the following is suggested:

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Use em(text) when text is a variable, or a placeholder, etc..

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Use bf(text) when text is literal, such as a command, a filename, a directory.

Each manpage document in Yodl must be organized as follows:

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manpage(name) (section) (date) (package) (source): This is the preamble of the document. It states whatever the page describes, the section where it belongs, the release date, the package that it belongs to, and the source of the package. The section number should be (according to the Linux manpage on man): 1 for commands, 2 for system calls, 3 for library calls, 4 for special files, 5 for file formats, 6 for games, 7 for macro packages and conventions, 8 for system management commands, and 9 for other special subjects (e.g., kernel commands).

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manpagename(name) (short description): The name is again whatever is described, the short description is what e.g., the whatis database uses for descriptions.

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manpagesynopsis(): a very short `usage' information or similar. Keep this section short, e.g., a line with all program options is acceptable but without descriptions (these come later).

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manpagedescription(): the purpose of the program and such. This is also the place to document the workings.

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manpageoptions(): This is the place to document e.g. the flags that are stated in the manpagesynopsis(). This section is optional, but when present, must appear at this place.

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manpagefiles(): relevant files are described in this section.

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manpageseealso(): this section lists related manual pages.

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manpagediagnostics(): Error conditions, error messages, etc..

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manpagebugs(): This is where known bugs are described. This section is optional.

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manpageauthor(): stating the author and/or the maintainer.

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manpagesection(NAME): This macro starts a generic, non-required section. E.g., you might want a manpagesection(EXAMPLES) in your document. As a typographic suggestion, use upper case for the NAME argument for consistency reasons.

The `normal' files of the Yodl package are relevant, notably the macrofiles in /home/fred/usr/share/yodl.

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yodl(1): the first step converter.

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yodlmacros(7): short description of the macros of the converters.

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yodlconverters(1): the various converters.

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The manpage...() macros must appear in the exact order as listed above.

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All manpage...() macros must appear exactly once in a manpage document.

When these requirements are not met, the yodl2... converters abort.

Please consult the documentation file AUTHORS.txt for more detailed information, and small contributions.

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Karel Kubat <karel@icce.rug.nl> http://www.icce.rug.nl/karel/karel.html

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Jan Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org> http://www.xs4all.nl/~jantien