Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!arc!arc!steve From: steve@Advansoft.COM (Steve Savitzky) Newsgroups: comp.text.tex Subject: Re: Comparing word processors with TeX Message-ID: Date: 25 Feb 91 18:29:02 GMT References: <18200@gremlin.nrtc.northrop.com> Sender: @advansoft.com Organization: Advansoft Research Corp, Santa Clara, CA Lines: 26 In-Reply-To: jslee@nrtc.nrtc.northrop.com's message of 23 Feb 91 00:53:20 GMT There are several reasons to use TeX that I haven't seen in the responses so far: TeX is a fairly general macro processor. I can use this for generating boilerplate, for special-purpose formatting, as the back end of a program that extracts documentation from the comments in programs, etc. I can set up styles the way I like them, and then forget about them. Some of the things I like to do (like bulletted lists and hanging indents) are hard to do in most word processors. And if I later decide to change something about the style, I don't have to go through all my documents and change *them*. Because TeX is a pure formatter, I can use any text editor I like, for example the one that I am already using for programs. Similarly, I can edit in any SIZE I like. Ever try editing 9-pt text with a word processor? Kind of hard on the eyes. I usually use 12- or 14-pt text on the screen. When I'm editing, I don't have the overhead of the word processor trying to re-format my document at the same time. Also, I don't find TeX "fickle", or inconvenient. I use LaTeX even for tiny jobs like one-page memos and letters. Why learn more than one editor and formatter? -- \ --Steve Savitzky-- \ ADVANsoft Research Corp \ REAL hackers use an AXE! \ \ steve@advansoft.COM \ 4301 Great America Pkwy \ #include \ \ arc!steve@apple.COM \ Santa Clara, CA 95954 \ 408-727-3357 \ \__ steve@arc.UUCP _________________________________________________________