[OS X TeX] How about just shortening the URL?

[David Messerschmitt]

On Nov 4, 2009, at 3:39 PM, Peter Dyballa wrote:

>
> Am 04.11.2009 um 22:44 schrieb David Messerschmitt:
>
>> I think for purpose (b) a short URL is compelling.
>
>
> Who is using an OS which applications that have no idea of URLs?  
> I.e., in which you can't click on the hyper-link in the supplied  
> document?
>
> --


Peter,

My point is that if you are assuming electronic access to the  
document, then you are better off hiding the URL behind a verbal  
description.
No URL is visible to the user, and it doesnt matter if the URL is long  
or short or human readable. That is your assumption, and my case (a).

My case (b) assumes there is no electronic access. For papers  
published in journals or conference proceedings or a book,
many readers will have only paper copy and will have to type the URL  
into a browser. In that case I think the reader would strongly prefer
a short URL even if contextual info is lost.

Maybe case (b) will go away sooner or later. Let's hope so.

-dave


David Messerschmitt
Roger Strauch Professor Emeritus
Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
University of Californa at Berkeley
     and
Visiting Professor
Helsinki University of Technology
Software Business Laboratory
    and
Visiting Researcher
SETI Institute




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