Re: (1756) TDR, TeX, character generation

 In message 1756, [email removed] (Robert P. Poole) writes:
 >
 >I don't recall who voted "no" on TeX, but I have to say this guy
 >doesn't know what he's talking about.  TeX is not cumbersome.
 >Sending proprietary files formatted for one word processor or another
 >and trying to convert them is cumbersome.  With TeX, you send the
 >source file as plain text, and the other person can make instant use
 >of it.  I assume that the people on this list are intelligent enough
 >to see the advantage of using the net to write this thing up.

     How about a controversial suggestion?  Let's not use TeX.  Let's
not use *roff.  Let's not use postscript.  Let's not use a word
processor formatted file.

     Why don't we just use ordinary flat ASCII?  It can be moved from
machine to machine with relative ease, is easily mutable for use with
almost anything else (most word processors that I know of will import
flat ASCII text without too much trouble), and is easily *human
readable*, unlike most formatter source.

 >Look, let's be fair and realistic.  Fair in that everyone who wants
 >to should be able to work on part of the project and have input.
 >Realistic in that if we only let a few select people do the actual
 >work, it will never get done.

     I agree.  If we just use ASCII text, that makes it that much
easier for *everyone* to use, and you don't need any extra software
to use it.


- - --
     Brent

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