raday@thunder.UUCP (Alan Day) (05/18/88)
I would like to reiterate some points discussed in earlier submissions on Math typesetting for the Mac. Hopefully FullWrite and/or Nissus (even Word?) might include these in future releases. Aside from display equations (which a DA can handle well enough), a mathematician needs to imbed limited symbol constructs in paragraph text. To do this, two features already implemented in LaserAuthor (the only good things in that programme) should not be that hard to put into any other WP programme. (1) multiple (adjustable?) levels of sub- and super-scripts. The adjustment might be necessary if the default settings are not correct as in Word. (Anyone know how to FEdit these values for Word? The workarounds that I know are very time consuming and unnatural.) (2) Intuitive CHARACTER overstrike capability (LaserAuthor used COMMAND-backspace between the characters). This would allow writing e.g. NOT less than, and x sub i super j in paragraph text easily. (3) a general wish would be macros and command-key assignment (which means the programme must not gobble up all possible assignments for obscure power user capabilities. Are you listening Word?) Does anyone know of a WP package with these minor :-) abilities? Alan Day
dm2w+@andrew.cmu.edu (Douglas Bradley Meade) (05/20/88)
In response to the message <380@thunder.UUCP> from raday@thunder.UUCP (Alan Day) on 18 May 88: > Aside from display equations (which a DA can handle well enough), > a mathematician needs to imbed limited symbol constructs in > paragraph text. To do this, two features already implemented in > LaserAuthor (the only good things in that programme) should not be > that hard to put into any other WP programme. > > > (1) multiple (adjustable?) levels of sub- and super-scripts. The > adjustment might be necessary if the default settings are not > correct as in Word. (Anyone know how to FEdit these values for > Word? The workarounds that I know are very time consuming and > unnatural.) I have been successfully and painlessly using WriteNow with Expressionist (or MathWriter) to do mathematical word processing on a MacPlus with one external 800K drive. WriteNow, from T/Maker, allows for equations to be imbedded in text and has an unlimited number of subscript/superscript levels (the scale appears to be on the order of a pixel). > (2) Intuitive CHARACTER overstrike capability (LaserAuthor used > COMMAND-backspace between the characters). This would allow writing > e.g. NOT less than, and x sub i super j in paragraph text easily. Either equation processor will handle overstrike characters with ease. > (3) a general wish would be macros and command-key assignment > (which means the programme must not gobble up all possible > assignments for obscure power user capabilities. Are you listening > Word?) I am told, but have no personal experience, that Quikeys is a good solution. > Does anyone know of a WP package with these minor :-) abilities? I hope that these suggestions are useful and appropriate. I would like to hear your comments about this setup and welcome alternate proposals. Doug Meade dm2w+@andrew.cmu.edu
drc@dbase.UUCP (Dennis Cohen) (05/21/88)
In article <380@thunder.UUCP>, raday@thunder.UUCP (Alan Day) writes: > (1) multiple (adjustable?) levels of sub- and super-scripts. The > adjustment might be necessary if the default settings are not > correct as in Word. (Anyone know how to FEdit these values for > Word? The workarounds that I know are very time consuming and > unnatural.) FullWrite already seems to provide this capability by allowing you to raise or lower selected text in 1 pixel increments. While this probably doesn't satisfy the request in all its generality, it would seem that it answers the majority of those requests. > > (2) Intuitive CHARACTER overstrike capability (LaserAuthor used > COMMAND-backspace between the characters). This would allow writing > e.g. NOT less than, and x sub i super j in paragraph text easily. While a more intuitive approach is definitely needed, the same result can be achieved in FullWrite by using the kerning control that is provided. While the more common case needs a better metaphor, this does provide extra flexibility. > > (3) a general wish would be macros and command-key assignment > (which means the programme must not gobble up all possible > assignments for obscure power user capabilities. Are you listening > Word?) I use QuicKeys for this sort of thing and never actually desired much in the way of macros beyond what it provides. Since QK overrides the program's use, it is seldom a problem. > > Does anyone know of a WP package with these minor :-) abilities? > As you see from the above, FullWrite Professional does a pretty fair job of meeting your requests (although it is not necessarily obvious that the capa- bility is present) and the addition of QuicKeys makes it a very well-rounded environment. Dennis Cohen Ashton-Tate Macintosh Division dBASE Mac Development Team -------------------------- Disclaimer: Opinions expressed above are those of the author.
raday@thunder.UUCP (Alan Day) (05/23/88)
Since I don't know yet how to do the quoting of previous notes, I hope I can fill in as necessary the quoted articles. Doug Meade writes: > WriteNow, from T/Maker, allows for equations to be imbedded in > text and has an unlimited number of subscript/superscript levels (the scale > appears to be on the order of a pixel). This I must look at!! To be able to **CONTINUE** going up or down via pressing the suitable sub- or super- Command Key is exactly what I would desire. One needs of course a Baseline Command Key as well to return to normal level. The FullWrite Demo that I have seen does NOT allow CONTINUOUS sub- and super- ing via the Command Keys. It did allow adjustment of UNIQUE level though. Dennis Cohen writes (on Overstriking): > While a more intuitive approach is definitely needed, the same result can be > achieved in FullWrite by using the kerning control that is provided. While I have only seen a FW demo with no documentation (a "borrowed" copy :-)). The person from Ashton-Tate who returned my telephone inquiry (a BIG +!) did not suggest any possible implementation. That was probably because I could explain what I wanted less tersely over the phone. Ease of use is crucial! Again let me stress that this feature is needed for IN PARAGRAPH use. > I use QuicKeys for this sort of thing and never actually desired much in the > way of macros beyond what it provides. Since QK overrides the program's use, > it is seldom a problem. I have Tempo I, and will probably upgrade or get QuicKeys when I can afford and justify a Mac II (RSN!). Yet I do not see why any powerful program can NOT provide a specialized (and hence better??) macro & Command Key package internally. Maybe software companies should license the code for one of the above packages and adapt it internally in their products? Alan Day Department of Mathematical Sciences Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Ontario P.S. FullWrite looks very good in other ways though (sigh).