[comp.text.desktop] A couple of questions...

DAVISON@BKNLVMS.Bitnet (BRIAN D. DAVISON) (11/28/88)

Does anyone know if ReadySetGo has been released for the IBM as of yet?
And if not, when it is scheduled to be released?  And if it will be
comparable to the Mac version.
	
	[moderatorial comment: I don't believe there are any plans to 
	 port RSG to the IBM-PC. Both Manhattan Graphics and Letraset
	 (developer and publisher, respectively) have strong committments to
	 the Mac market -- chuq]

Also, could someone let me know which publishing package, Ventura Publisher
or PageMaker does mathematical equations better?  More easily?

Some background: I am in the process of trying to get a job of re-laying
out an introductory Physics textbook here at Bucknell University,
initially for internal use, but possibly for outside publication in the
near future.  I have become quite familiar with ReadySetGo on the Mac
and feel that it would come close to filling the need, but it does not
have good support for equations [RSG 4.0a] and the Physics dept. here
is entirely IBM and they want to be able to easily make modifications
on their computers and not have to find a Macintosh to do it.

Anyway, that puts me in a position of needing to find a package with
which to make a proposal - it needs to have (1) at least decent layout
capabilities with good font handling [including greek character sets];
(2) do equations fairly well with a minimum of fuss; (3) be able to
import vector based [re-sizable] graphics for graphs and illustrations.

I would be interested in hearing any suggestions.  Thank You.

==========================================================================
Brian D. Davison [DAVISON@BKNLVMS.BITNET]
Student Consultant, Bucknell Computer Services
Box C2248 Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed are not nessarily that of any of my
            employers.  I wrote them; they are mine.
==========================================================================

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dsc@izimbra.CSS.GOV (outside is america) (11/30/88)

>Does anyone know if ReadySetGo has been released for the IBM as of yet?

>	[moderatorial comment: I don't believe there are any plans to 
>	 port RSG to the IBM-PC. Both Manhattan Graphics and Letraset

i believe i read in a recent `publish' an announcement that rsg 4 had
been ported to the pc and that would be available in the near future.
i believe they even had a `screen dump' of the program (running under
windows?) next to the paragraph.

speaking of which, i just sent in my upgrade form for rsg 4.5 ... has
anyone received their copy yet?  impressions?

	[if so, that's the first I've heard of it. Doesn't make it
	 false, however. 

	 RSG 4.5 is shipping. My copy hasn't arrived yet, but I know of
	 a number of folks who do have it, and they seem to be pretty
	 happy with it. The only 'bug' so far seems to be a weird
	 interaction between the Symbol font and certain special characters
	 if the symbol font isn't installed in the system. It looks to
	 happen or not happen based on configuration issues, so it
	 isn't what I'd call a killer problem.... - chuq ]


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"jocelyn_blais.TORHO"@Xerox.COM (12/01/88)

As far as Ventura vs Pagemaker doing equations, Ventura 2.0 with the
optional Professional Extension will allow you to create equations by
typing in simple commands.  The text will open up to allow room for the
equation.  Pagemaker does not offer equations.
/Jocelyn

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"Cheryl_T._Downing.osbunorth"@Xerox.COM (12/06/88)

I believe that Ventura Publisher 2.0 Professional Extension is the only PC
desktop publishing package that can handle equations.  It uses English-like
language commands, similar to a language called EQN.

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jonradel@icecream.Princeton.EDU (Jon Radel) (12/07/88)

>I believe that Ventura Publisher 2.0 Professional Extension is the only PC     
>desktop publishing package that can handle equations.  It uses English-like    
>language commands, similar to a language called EQN.                           
                                                                               
That all depends on whether TeX is desktop publishing.  On a Mac it's 
even inching towards WYSIWYG.  But whatever you classify it as, it 
does *very* nice equations on a PC.
 
--Jon Radel
jonradel@icecream.princeton.edu

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smithda@cpsvax.cps.msu.edu (Daniel Smith) (12/07/88)

>I believe that Ventura Publisher 2.0 Professional Extension is the only PC
>desktop publishing package that can handle equations.  It uses English-like
>language commands, similar to a language called EQN.

ArborText markets a product called the Publisher, which is based on TeX.
As such, it handles equations VERY well.

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