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From: serge@rna.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Olson on VMS Manuals
Message-ID: <43000003@rna.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Jan-85 09:59:00 EST
Article-I.D.: rna.43000003
Posted: Wed Jan  9 09:59:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:11:58 EST
References: <-22000@uokvax.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:uokvax:2200084:rna:43000003:000:1021
Nf-From: rna!serge    Jan  2 09:59:00 1985

You have to learn how to use the UNIX manuals properly. When I 
was a struggling beginner (raised on DEC manuals) a wise old
UNIX guru said to me: "use the SEE ALSO entry, stupid".
Minutes later I said, "oh yeah, here it is. Thanx"
And ever since then I have lived happily ever after (99% of the
time.)
Perhaps one other experience was very valuable, and that was learning
how to use the RSX Whitesmiths C compiler which came with super terse
UNIX style documentation. I must say at times I was very frustrated
but in the end I got things going just as fast as if it were the first
time I was using a DEC manual.
Learning to use any manual set is not easy, especially for something
as rich as UNIX or as stupidly done as VMS. You have to sit down
and LEARN. And this means learing how the manuals work, as well
as the system they describe. This is hard, slow work, and I
know of no one who did not have a hard time at first with any
of the popular brands.
Such is life.

					Serge Sretschinsky
					-this too shall pass