Re: [dq-rules] Plain Text Files Preferred

[Viktor Haag <vhaag@rim.com>]

rthorm@cornellbox.com writes:
 > I'm not sure what benefit we would get from RTF.

I can think of several reasons to use a proper word processor
for this project:

1) Tables. Rolegames have lots of tables, and creating and
   manipulating tables in a word pro is much much easier than in
   plain text.

2) Cross references. DQ is *littered* with cross-references;
   having a word processor take care of this for you is *far
   easier* than trying to manage cross references by hand.

3) Auto-numbering, especially with section numbering. Trying to
   keep numbering consistent by hand in long documents is
   devilishly difficult, especially if you have more than one
   person working on the project. Using a word-processor that
   can handle this for you takes care of a lot of that worry.

4) Building lists of tables, sections. Can be automated with a
   word processor.

5) Building indexes. Good word-processors can provide good tools
   to help with this and make the job much easier.

6) Some limited amount of formatting actually makes it easier to
   work on the document. With visual clues in place (like
   different faces and weights used for headings, bullets,
   indented text, emphasis, and the like) it's actually easier to
   write large documents because these visual clues provide you
   with non-"word" context that's valuable for the writer.

7) Automated error checking. Nothing can replace the need for a
   good proof-read, but automated spelling and grammar checking
   can make it far easier to produce a cleaner first draft. 

If what you're worried about is access, then I think Open Office
is an excellent suggested tool -- it has decent features, and is
available on many platforms, and it is available for free.

There are other open source word processors available as well,
but I seem to think that Open Office provides the best feature
set at the moment.



-- 
Viktor Haag : Software & Information Design : Research In Motion
                              +--+
 Disclaimer mandated by employer: "This transmission may contain
confidential or privileged material. Any use of this information
by anyone other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you
  have received this transmission in error, please immediately
    reply to the sender and delete this information from your
system. Use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this
 transmission by unintended recipients is not authorized and may
                          be unlawful."