On 2013–09–18 Thangalin wrote: Hi Dave,
During a recent plane ride, I started to read the ConTeXt manual to get a better understanding: http://www.ctex.org/documents/context/cont-enp.pdf
A more recent manual can be found at http://pmrb.free.fr/contextref.pdf
If anyone has plans to revise it,
I assume everybody on this list had at some point plans to revise the manual(s). Due to lack of time this has never happened.
I have attached a file with corrections, specific comments, and general comments.
Thanks a lot for the corrections and suggestions.
I did not have the ConTeXt manual source code on hand, so I could not directly modify it.
http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Improving_the_manuals Do not count on someone else to fix it. Create an account and fix what you think could be improved, especially the grammar and spelling mistakes. If you're unsure about something, write a mail to the manual mailing list¹ for questions about the manual (style, layout, etc.) or this list for everything else. Note: The manual has not been updated since a while and it's broken at the moment. I'll prepare a fix soon, so it will compile with a recent MkIV.
Take the comments with a grain of salt:
Take the existing manuals with a grain of salt ;)
ConTeXT Manual Errata & Suggestions ===================================
Section 1.3. ------------ The word "something" needs to be defined before it is used. For example, "\setupsomething" <- What does "something" mean?
A placeholder like foobar or whatever. I think it's clear from the context, otherwise feel free to define it.
The \defineenumeration[Question] creates a \Question command, but \definehead[Procedure][section] does not create \Procedure command?
It does: \definehead [Procedure] [section] \starttext \Procedure{something} \stoptext However, I'd suggest to instead use: \startProcedure [title=something] … \stopProcedure
The \startnarrower requires an explanation on how it affects the resulting document. Likewise \startitemnize.
Feel free to add some info from the wiki. http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Command/startnarrower http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Enumerations
What does the "of" in "\beginofAnswer" mean? Is it required?
It's not required. It's actually wrong.
Where does it come from? Why is it not simply "\beginAnswer"?
MkII maybe?
"Figure 1.1 is typeset this way" should include the page number.
That's more difficult than it seems to be. The manual is available in different paper sizes and formats. This means the page number can't be coded as \in{figure}[foo] on \at{page}[foo], since the figure might end up on the same page. As far as I know ConTeXt does not have a general mechanism for automatically placing the “on page…” string if the reference is not on the current page. \atpage comes close, though.
Document processing is best done by TeXexec -- is this still true?
Well, your manual is from 2000.
I thought the "context" program supercedes TeXexec?
yes
Describe the relationship between TeX and ConTeXt. For example, why do the subsequent sections discuss TeX examples?
ConTeXt uses TeX and the following sections introduce some TeX concepts that hold true for ConTeXt as well.
Section 1.9. ------------ Relatively empty page.
On purpose. The reader is invited to take a break and grab a coffee. ;)
Section 2.2. ------------ "It is advisable to type the document setups before the \start--command," -- What start command? \starttext, perhaps?
\starttext, \startdocument, \startcomponent, etc. Marco