Survex

[Graham Mullan]

Anybody who has been asked "How do you do that?" questions in any branch of
computing will be familiar with the response "RTFM" (read the f*****g
manual)! The reason that this is used so frequently is that the vast
majority do not, at least in the first instance, read it. (Come on admit it
how many of you out there on Windoze machines have actually sat down and
read the manual?)

What actually happens is that they install the program and then play with
it, gradually learning how the thing works and sometimes using the "help"
files (you can't do that in Survex, either) until they get the hang of it.
Then, they might read the manual later when they want to check an obscure
advanced feature.

So, firstly, don't blame newcomers to Survex if it doesn't react like every
other program they come across these days. Secondly, think of an answer.
What I have done is create a pro forma file which contains all the basic
command lines and information lines along with spaces to put the required
information and survey data. I know I am not alone in this, it is one good
way of ensuring that you don't forget anything when creating a new survey
file.

Might it not be a good idea, therefore, to supply, along with the current
set of Survex/Documentation/Example data a "starter kit" including such a
file - at least until a front end has been developed.

Graham