Scott Moore wrote:
Ok, 550 pages. The following questions apply (for starters):
- Is it too incomplete to print at this time ? Better to wait ?
Maybe better, but potential customers may tell ...
- Is the postscript or PDF suitable to be cut down to manual size ?
For example, the GCC manual is cut to 7x9 inches. Most people don't like 8.5x11" books, and the "perfect" in perfect binding occurs because the books are cut after binding, which cleans up the book considerably. I usually custom format my books for the final print size, and add "trim marks", which are marks on the 8.5x11 page that show where to cut it.
If you're building the manual yourself (`make gpc.ps' or `make gpc.pdf' in the <build>/gcc directory; requires (pdf)tex and the texinfo package), you can customize the paper size. Currently p/Make-lang.in contains `@afourpaper' (once for PS and PDF each). You could try replacing it with `@smallbook'. I haven't done this myself; according to the texinfo manual, this makes a paper size of 7 by 9.25 inch. Or by `"@pagesizes height,width"' for a completely custom size (text area, not paper size).
I don't think there's support for trim marks in texinfo, but it's easy to add them to the PostScript file afterwards (probably also to PDF, don't know myself).
- What cover art ?
So far we have the "Gnu & Blaise Pascal" drawing by Markus Gerwinski. Any objections to it?
- Does FSF get funds from this (appears to be the standard arrangement
for GNU prints) ?
I think it's common practice, but it's not an obligation.
- What arrangements does GNU allow for printers of its material ?
I.e., does the FSF/GNU have problems with people printing under their name ? What conditions ? Does FSF/GNU run its own bindery, or allow for-profit printers to create material ? Does FSF/GNU want express control of that ? etc.
The GPC manual is released under the GNU GPL (with the exception of the copies of the licenses within the manual as well as the "GNU" chapter which may not be modified), so these terms apply (for the rest of the manual). Before you start seriously, you might want to check the license yourself. The main points are:
- You can use it and distribute it, in whichever form, modified or unmodified, for any price you are able to get.
- For program source code the GPL says if you distribute a binary, you must make the sources available. In this case, this could mean, if you distribute a printed version, you have to make the texinfo sources available. This should not be a real problem, since people can get them from our server anytime, but to be sure, you might want to keep a copy of the exact version you print, to be able to provide them on request (or put them on your web server if you like). If you make substantial changes, you might want to submit them back to us for future inclusion, though this is not strictly required (unless and until a purchaser of a printed manual demands those sources).
- You have to grant the same rights to the recipients. (E.g., you cannot prohibit making photocopies of the printed manual.)
- You have to retain the list of authors and copyright and licensing information, as given on the first few pages (and a few other places in the manual).
(IANAL.)
Frank