Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc05!hparc0!dak
From: dak@hparc0.HP.COM (Dave Kruger)
Newsgroups: comp.text.tex
Subject: Have You Used Easy Table?
Message-ID: <1390001@hparc0.HP.COM>
Date: 28 Apr 91 22:31:11 GMT
Organization: HP Australasian Response Centre (Melbourne)
Lines: 41

G'day,

TUGboat recently (Vol. 11, No. 4?) included an article on Easy Table, a new set
of TeX macros that allows you to construct incredibly complex tables with
apparent ease.  These macros were written by Khanh Ha.

I am considering buying the package, but am demurring about the US$150 outlay
without more information.  I rang the author, but I had a communication
problem---perhaps it was my Australian accent, or perhaps I just couldn't
understand his Asian (?) accent.  After spelling everything out in terms I
thought he would understand (B for Baltimore, E for Echo, N for North Dakota,
and so on) the order form came addressed to ``Dive'' Kruger :-).

Anyhow, I have the following questions (any help appreciated):

   Has anyone out there had experience with Easy Table?
   
   (1)  *Is* it easy to use?

   (2)  Does it coexist with LaTeX?

   (3)  Does it coexist with PiCTeX?  (How about LaTeX *and* PiCTeX?)

   (4)  Does it take up much of TeX's memory?  (By this, I mean, if your
        document uses many tables, does TeX die with the dreaded ``TeX Capacity
	Exceeded'' message?)

   (5)  Is the 118-page manual well written (That is, will my communication
        problem exist in hard-copy?)

   (6)  How does it compare with other table-making macros like INSRTeX?

   (7)  Is it worth US$150 (IYHO)?

Personally, I prefer answers here in the group so everyone can benefit.
However, if this is abhorrent to you, you can reply by email and I will
summarise in a week or so.

Cheers,

Dave K.