stevez@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (steven.a.zubatkin) (04/12/91)
Well, netters, it seems that for myself and a select few others, the
end of an era is coming. My department is moving towards
"standardizing" all software packages and management has asked me to
"justify" the continued existence of Documenters Workbench (DWB).
Since we have just invested in new 386SX PCs, he says what about using
PC packages. After 5 long years, my marriage may "end in divorce".
However, the relationship has been a rocky one, obscure bugs ("Now WHY
won't this work?"), no WYSIWYG, can't be used by non-UNIX people,
etc. Sigh . . . .
Anyway, I'm a relative neophyte when it comes to PC packages. My
investigation for a replacement for DWB has crossed paths with MS WORD for
Windows (concered about features, speed with 16MHz machine), Ami
(ditto), Ventura Publisher (REAL hardware concerns, no WP features),
and Pagemaker (know nothing).
Can you folks help in my search? IS there a PC replacement (or, near
replacement) for DWB? A near replacement might be acceptable if, for
example, I us package A 90% of the time and use package B the other
10%. Note that I use pretty standard fonts on my HP Series II, tbl
alot, lists alot, numbered headings alot, xcip (the pic drawing
program) occasionally, and grap occasionally.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Steve Zubatkin
Morristown, NJjwi@cbnewsj.att.com (Jim Winer @ AT&T, Middletown, NJ) (04/12/91)
In article <1991Apr12.135248.9664@cbfsb.att.com> stevez@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (steven.a.zubatkin) writes: > Can you folks help in my search? IS there a PC replacement (or, near > replacement) for DWB? A near replacement might be acceptable if, for > example, I us package A 90% of the time and use package B the other > 10%. Note that I use pretty standard fonts on my HP Series II, tbl > alot, lists alot, numbered headings alot, xcip (the pic drawing > program) occasionally, and grap occasionally. > > Thanks in advance for your help. > > Steve Zubatkin > Morristown, NJ > WordPerfect 5.1 is the closest that I have seen to DWB in capabilities. The major difference is this: troff execution time formatter WP5.1 source time formatter other check-off boxes In short, if the designer of a check-off box type program like Ventura, W4W, AMI PRO, etc., didn't think of the options you need, you are out of luck. With troff, and to a lesser extent, WP51, you are actually executing rather than checking-off boxes. There are things that you can do in troff that just can't be done in W4W, Ventura, or AMI PRO -- but almost all can be done in WP51. Jim Winer -- jwi@mtfme.att.com -- Opinions not represent employer. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "No, no: the purpose of language is to cast spells on other people ..." Lisa S Chabot