Foreword------------------------------------- SGML is misunderstood and underestimated. I have always wanted to write this book. I am pleased that two people with whom I have had the pleasure to work were finally able to do so. Since I have always been a bit of an evangelist, I feel pride when my "students" become recognized "teachers." In the early years of SGML we struggled to define a language that would bring the information to its rightful place. We succeeded. Then we had to explain these idea to technical adoptors. Again, I think we have succeeded. We have learned much about SGML in the process of implementing it. These experiences must now also be shared, along with comprehensible information on the lan guage itself. The word must move out of the lab and the computer center and reach the business people, the users, the movers and shakers. The next generation will do things with SGML that we can't even imagine yet- it is that versatile."

This is the book the authors wish they had when they did their first SGML implementation! The SGML Implementation Guide gives you the tools you need to get your implementation started and provides help in every step of the process, from the business case, through data migration, to application development and training. There is also a technical appendix covering the SGML standard and what is necessary to write SGML applications. This book contains years of practical experience by the authors. The reader will get up-to-speed very quickly, and will be able to build the business case and implement an SGML system in his organization.