Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!agate!eos!data.nas.nasa.gov!noc.arc.nasa.gov!gutierrez From: gutierrez@noc.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Michael Gutierrez) Newsgroups: comp.text.tex Subject: Re: Why is TeX so Great? (want info) Keywords: tex report Message-ID: <1990Nov17.070321.9995@nas.nasa.gov> Date: 17 Nov 90 07:03:21 GMT References: Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov Reply-To: gutierrez@noc.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Michael Gutierrez) Organization: The Saotome Ryu School of Martial Arts Lines: 49 yorkw@stable.ecn.purdue.edu (Willis F York) writes: > 1) Why is a "Language" like program soo much better then a WYSIYUG program > a) Why is TeX better then WORD (Ick) Actually, TeX is not "better than WORD," per se, since WORD is a word processing program. TeX is not a word processor, but a typesetting program (yes, I'm being *very* general here, so no flames!!!). > b) That can ya do with TeX that ya can't with Automate typeseeting routines (with a good macro) that would take too much time in a standard WYSIYUG program. See Macros below... > 2) How advanced is the "macro" ability, and what's a good way to prove this. A good, well written macro literally does magic. I currently use a macro writen by Na Choon Piaw (currently at Cal Berkeley) to typeset television scripts. The scripts themselves are fairly simple, but the macro process automates it so well, it just makes life so much easier (centering character's names, formatting dialogue, easy insertion of footnotes, page justification of character/dialogue flow, etc...). Sure, I can do this in Framemaker or Ventura (which I use both), but it sure isn't automated. Just having the 'style sheet' does not make a script in Frame or Ventura. If you want to see any of the scripts used, ftp to network.ucsd.edu, and cd to 'anime/nsipo-archives'. The macro itself is called 'scmac202.tex', and the scripts have the .tex extension. > 4) Why is TeX better then Troff or Nroff. > (dvi files for one) Portable. TeX is available for almost any platform. I use the Unix, MS-DOS and Amiga versions, and have a Laserjet-II at home. Same output as the PS-Jet here at work. > 5) What's this about DVI files and professional typsetting machines. DVI = DeVice Independent. Whatever you have as your output device, the DVI file will use that device's resolution, whatever it may be. [p.s...has anybody used a service facility that supported DVI on a Lino???] > Macintosh... Proof that a Person can use a Computer all day and still > not know ANYTHING about computers. There's even TeX for the Macintoys...err...Macintrashes...uhhh...Macintoasters..... Robert Gutierrez $B%m!<%P%H!&%0%F%#%(%l%:(J