[oclug] WordPerfect Office 2000 for Linux - Deluxe

[Bill Strosberg]

Andy Civil wrote:
> On 2010-11-03 12:28 PM, Bill Strosberg wrote:
>   
>> If you are able to generate a document
>> identical to one that uses "display codes", what exact benefit does the
>> feature provide?
>>     
>
> The OP is correct; 'reveal codes' is fundamentally important: it allows you to 
> see, not just 'what you get' but 'why you got it'. You NEED to know why you got 
> it, to ensure that your intentions survive unconnected modifications.
>
> To give a trivial example, suppose I create a document with tabs in it, and my 
> kid comes along and adds a paragraph using a row of spaces instead. It might 
> look right TODAY, but what if I decide to change the tab spacing? Now her edits 
> look broken. Another example would be an accidental carriage return at a place 
> in a paragraph where a word wrap occurred anyway.
>   
In reality text-based written communication has radically changed - 
society now places little value in structured, maintainable textual 
output.  IMHO thnk abt txtg, abbrvs + rglr :( of splg + gmr.  Twitter 
(and cell phone displays) has reduced communication to 140 character 
chunks.  Brevity and formatting trumps file structure.  Newspapers and 
magazines are saturated with errors unacceptable 20 years ago.

I write and maintain code for a living, and consistency, formatting and 
indentation standards are the difference between maintainable, readable 
code and horrible messes that are indecipherable.  I do not write 
paragraphs in text communication with high value placed on future 
modifications, but I take extreme care in coding for future 
modifications.  In writing, what meaning you output and what it looks 
like is the critical issue in value - in code how you write and how it 
is constructed is the critical valuation criteria. 

Tools for each different task prioritize this accordingly - for the 
average user WYSIWYG word processors put them in direct contact with the 
"look" of the output and remove responsibility for the construction of 
the document - hence elimination of Reveal Codes.  Programming editors 
are oriented 180 degrees from this - and automatic indentation, 
automatic structuring based on language rules and visible tabs & spaces 
are expected.

Watching my son and how he has been taught has given me a new 
perspective on writing and tools - and the priorities of my day bear 
little resemblance to his.  I've chosen to "get with the program", 
rather than be a crusty old fart lamenting the good old days.

--
Bill




> I feel so passionately about the need for 'reveal codes' that I sometimes write 
> documents using SeaMonkey in HTML. I know... HTML is the most GodAwful rendering 
> scheme in the known universe, and feel free to have a good laugh at my expense; 
> but I don't care... I've got 'reveal codes' for free on the 'HTML source' tab.
>
> And I may learn groff some day.
>
> Are there any XML based editors that have a WYSIWYG GUI, but allow to view the 
> underlying XML?
>
>