ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book suggests that the desirability of uniting the authority of the traditional print edition with the searchable multiple texts made possible by electronic publication. Eggert argues that there must be some clear way of authenticating electronic editions and preserving their integrity, just as in the print world the fixed and stable nature of the book preserves the integrity of the work. He proposes the use of what has come to be known as just-in-time-markup' (JITM) to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the electronic text. This system runs counter to common practice in markup, where tagsets are inserted into the text and travel along with it when it is transmitted or transformed. ITM keeps markup and texts separate, and any corruptions or changes in the text are detected instantly using algorithmic methods to keep track of even the slightest difference.
