Issue Number 04 - March 1999

A Really Good HTML Design manual
People in the Web design newsgroups continue to ask the very understandable question: "I'm a beginner. Can anyone recommend a good HTML design manual?" Many of the manuals assume that you're a net geek before you even open the first page, but I came across one last month which lays out everything in easy stages - and it's clearly written by somebody who obviously remembers what it's like to encounter the mysteries of HTML for the first time. Don't be put off by the title. Dave Taylor's "Creating Cool HTML 4.0 Web Pages" is an excellent example of well-planned guidance which keeps the reader in mind. For full details and a review-article, go to --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/taylor2.htm

Windows95 Tip – Find That File!
If you're anything like me, you have files scattered all over your hard disk. You download something useful, and then forget where it is. If you're lucky and can remember the filename, locate it by using FIND in Windows explorer [which I still think of as File manager]. But here's a nifty trick!

To spare you the pain of burrowing through deeply nested directories to locate the path, just click on START, then RUN, and drag the file into the RUN dialogue box. The file's complete path--and name, including extension-- appears in the Open box. This shows you the complete path. Neat, what?

Referencing Electronic Sources
Many of my research students have recently been asking: "How do I show references to sources from the Web and CD-ROM in a bibliography?" It's a good question. There are conventions - but like most other things to do with the Internet, they're being made up on the fly. We've put some free downloadable guidance notes in our resources for students at --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/download.htm

The Typographer's Bible
Subscribers to Internet lists dealing with fonts and typography often ask, "Which books would you recommend as a guide to good design principles?" And no matter how many responses, one book comes out on top every time Robert Bringhurst's "The Elements of Typographic Style". There are two reasons why it's a persistent poll-topper. First, it deals with every detail you could possibly imagine on the subject of typography and page design - and it does so in a very elegant, often quite poetic style. Second, it is a beautifully created book in itself, rich in illustrative examples of fonts and sample page layout designs. It's also a breathtakingly scholarly work - and good value into the bargain. Full details and a review article are available at --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/bring.htm

'As We May Think'
If you've read anything about the historical development of hypertext and the World Wide Web, you'll have probably seen mention of Vannevar Bush and his seminal essay, written in 1945, called 'As We May Think'. But have you ever *read* it?

Bush was commissioned by the US government to imagine a future for the post-war world. It's a fascinating document, during the course of which he describes what was to become the desktop computer, and more importantly the concept of hypertext and its 'associative links' which we're all now busily trying to follow over the Web. The article still provides a vividly stimulating intellectual experience. It's truly amazing to think of someone mapping out in such fine detail, fifty-odd years ago, what we're all doing now.

http://www.isg.sfu.ca/~duchier/misc/vbush/

PalmPilot – Shirt-Pocket Computer
If you're interested in the smallest and most portable computer available, the PalmPilot now seems to be the gizmo of choice. These are the hand-held note-takers not much bigger than a playing card, with a tiny 2" X 3" screen, on which you can tap or even write with a stylus. Most of them use the Windows CE operating system, and you can transfer your field notes into a desktop with either a HotSync umbilical connector or zapping via cordless infra-red [just imagine the envy of your friends]. Prices are currently tumbling down, and lots of software is available [you can even write your own]. The definitive guide to all this has been produced with the usual thoroughness by O'Reilly Associates, and a review article is currently getting lots of hits on our site.

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/pogue.htm

Publisher's Special Offer
Computer Step have a special offer starting this month. They publish concise reference guides for most popular software programs. From March on, you will be able to buy two of their titles for the price of one. Their titles are plain-speaking, well-illustrated guides to programs such as Word, Autocad, WordPerfect, Office 97, and QuarkXPress. They also cover operating systems, HTML design, and programming in their series. We have reviews of their titles if you want a flavour of what's on offer. [We have no connection with Computer Step, by the way.] Go to --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/hughes.htm
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/austin.htm

A Word a Day
Would you like to 'increase your word power'? [to quote the old Reader's Digest chestnut] One painless and entertaining way of doing so is to subscribe to the word-a-day email bulletin, which will send you a short message each day.

The message deals with one word - its spelling, pronunciation, and origin; plus an example of how it is used in context. The words vary from the unusual to the quite arcane, but there are always interesting tidbits attached to each entry. You can subscribe at --

http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/subscribe.html