steved@hrshcx.csd.harris.com (Steve Daukas) (06/18/91)
Greetings and Salutations!
I posted this to comp.text.tex and comp.text.desktop, but I havn't received
any responses (a few days now) so I thought I'd try here...
I have just begun researching various DOS and OS/2 based "editors" or
"word processors" or "type setters" and have finally been made aware of
these groups. I hope you will indulge my questions if they are old hat...
I am seeking some inputs and advice on getting a "word processor" that
will run on DOS, DOS with Windows 3.0, and/or OS/2 (Rel. 2.0). I am not
necessarily looking for all variants at once, just some indication
as to availabilty in each environment. I am currently running DOS 4.1,
Windows 3.0, have a 386sx, a 85 Meg disk, and 1 Meg of Ram (I know - I'm
getting more memory in a week or so). I am interested in OS/2 if it really
pans out in the sense of running multiple windows at the same time.
What I want to be able to do is:
1) run multiple copies of the "word processor" along with other
applications (compilers, spread sheets, etc.) at one time...
2) run them all in a windowed environment where I can cut and paste
from various applications into the "word processor" (e.g.,
a spreadsheet here, a picture there, some prose, and maybe a
piece of example code). The cut and paste doesn't need to be as
obvious as dragging with a mouse - I just need a straight forward
way to access the other data I want to include...
3) have it WYSIWYG if possible, or at least a previewer of some sort...
4) and it would be nice if I had access to the underlying "code"
of the "word processor" along the lines of TeX. Being an engineer,
I have this need to be able to have a fine grain of control. I am
specifically interested in setting up macros to do the things I
always do, like headers, footers, etc.. I am used to troff under
Unix using Vi as the editor so this kind of "environment" is OK.
I would use this "word processor" for school (MBA) and work (proposals,
diagrams, etc.). I am interested in the desktop publishing sort of package
because of the nature of MBA programs - flash is cash, as well as the GUI.
I also don't have alot of time to come up to speed on something like TeX in
the short term (specifically charts, graphs, etc. - non-prose stuff), but would
like to be able to customize whatever I am using in the long term. The
disadvantage here is money. I'm not looking to spend $400 dollars for a package
that I can't customize to some extent.
Something like TeX has its appeal because I am using troff now, I can define
anything I want, and TeX is free. The disadvantage is time. I don't have
very much so I don't want to have to read an entire manual before I can
produce something that looks reasonable. Also, getting pictures and/or charts
into TeX (as I understand it) is painful.
The kind of finished product I will be producing is a very professional
looking document with charts, graphs, tables, columns of text as well as
regular "double-spaced" formats, equations, and perhaps an image or two.
This finished product will be seen by professors, the various big shots
where I work, and customers. So, it really must look professional.
I am open to all suggestions and comments! Integrated packages (word processor,
spread sheet, graphics, et. al.) are also under consideration (and would be
considered preferable if I decide against TeX), so fire away! Any advice would
be greatly appreciated! I will summarize for anyone interested.
Thanks!
Steve
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| Stephen C. Daukas || sdaukas@csd.harris.com |
| (617) 221-1834 || uunet!hcx1!misg!sdaukas |
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