I-D ACTION:draft-lilly-text-troff-00.txt

[Tony Hansen]

I have a serious problem with this parameter:

       process
          Lists a recommended command pipeline for formatting.  The
          parameter value may need to be quoted or encoded as provided
          for by [RFC2045] as amended by [RFC2231] and [errata].

I'd hate to see someone actually implement a mechanism to automatically 
execute the pipeline. I think this is just ASKING for someone to do so.

Now, the information provided in the pipeline IS useful; it provides the 
list of the preprocessors that are needed to properly process the troff 
souce. So instead, I'd recommend that there be a parameter that provides 
just THAT information:

       preprocessors
	Lists the preprocessors that need to be invoked to properly
	process the troff input. The names of the preprocessors are
	comma separated. The parameter value may need to be quoted or
	encoded as provided for by [RFC2045] as amended by [RFC2231]
	and [errata].

In addition, there is one more MAJOR parameter that doesn't appear to be 
specified anywhere: the macro package that was used in the troff 
document, such as man, mm, ms, me, etc. So, I'd like to see this 
optional parameter added:

      macro package
	Lists the macro package that needs to be used with the troff
	document. Examples of macro package names are man, mm, ms and
	me.

	Tony Hansen
	tony at att.com