Data on PDF vs PS (Was Re: Online docs page should ..) [With prelim patch]

[Marc Lehmann]

On Tue, Dec 21, 1999 at 12:22:12PM +0100, Jan Vroonhof <vroonhof@math.ethz.ch> wrote:
>  > At least this point is proven with your data (so there is not really a
>  > lakc of knowledge in this point ;). both gzipped und plain pdf files are
>  > larger than gzipped ps files.
> 
> Yes, but the gzipped pdf files are only about 10% larger. 

Ok. I still fail to see the added benefit of first compressing with lzw
(pdf) and then with gzip, and then still having larger files ;)

> That is wrong. Have you tried the link in my messages?

No, I answer 99% of my mail offline, so I am dependent on the content in
mails ;(

> My browser unzips it just fine before sending it to the PDF viewers.

OK.

> Does the html version exist in a bundle for download? (if so it isn't
> linked to from the website).

Hmm... "if it isn't linked it doesn't exist.."

So, since having too many versions is better than too little, I would now
want both .ps.gz and .pdf.gz versions of the documents (ps files are still
easier to print on most machines), if we want to have these downloadable
at all.

> Anyway, you decide what to do.

I don't decide. I am not even sure who "decides" ;) The problem is two-fold:

a) one has to find somebody who will do the actual works (the manuals
   should be kept up-to-date)
b) the admin of gcc.gnu.org has not yet said anything, but I guess neither
   the bandwidth nor the load are a problem.

OTOH, this might be a micro-optimization anyway, as it is possible to create
postscript docs form the sources, and maybe soon pdf as well.

> If you want I can complete the "make pdf" match at some later point.

I think that would be nice. Ultimately someone else has to decide wether this
patch goes in, but I don't see a problem here (as it would be nice to have).

> P.S. As I more or less live in Emacs for me a precompiled set of info
> files on the website would be the preferred option, but I would take PDF
> over both HTML and PS.

The question is wether it isn't easier to just 'make pdf' or 'make info'?

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