Hi,
I think the problem here is that _textabcol_ is defined (in each
language-specific macro file) as being part of the "about"
package.
But the macro you are defining is for the home page/package.
Since greenstone can't find _textabcol_ in either the "home"
package or in the global section, it doesn't know how to
resolve it. If you put _about:textabcol_ instead, (explicitly
saying where it should find it), things should work.

With greenstone's cgi arguments, you can set a=p (for which
action) and then p=home , p=about, etc. If p=about, then
greenstone will try to resolve any macros in the "about"
package and then the "global" package. You can define macros
in your macro files just by saying:
#########

package mypackage

_content_ {<h1>Hello</h1>
_welcome_

Goodbye!
}

_welcome_ {foo bar}

#########

Now you could go to the url "library?a=p&p=mypackage".

Hope this helps,

John McPherson