AW: [texhax] Hello - I have a problem

[Justin Walker]

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On Aug 18, 2004, at 11:27, Randolph J. Herber wrote:

> The following header lines retained to effect attribution:
>> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 16:36:59 +0100
>> From: Philip TAYLOR <P.Taylor at Rhul.Ac.Uk>
>> Subject: Re: AW: [texhax] Hello - I have a problem
>> To: "Randolph J. Herber" <herber at fnal.gov>
>> X-Spam-Level:
>
>> The following header lines retained to effect attribution:
>
>> Randolph J. Herber wrote:
>
>> [snip]
>
>>> 	Now, if were possible to convince the Europeans to stop hard-
>>> 	coding paper sizes into software instead of putting such data
>>> 	into configuration files so that it would be easier to adjust
>>> 	their software to work with letter paper, the European software
>>> 	would be much more popular with United States users.
>
>> [snip]
>
>> I'm sure this would be far simpler tha[n] convincing your fellow
>> Americans to use sensible paper sizes such as the ISO A/B/C [1]
>> series ...
>
> 	Yes, I agree it would be far simplier to convince the
> 	Europeans to make their software capable and flexible
> 	than to force a major portion of the world's economy to
> 	immediately switch to using ISO standard, but not sensible,
> 	paper sizes.  It also would take considerably less effort:
> 	a minor programming effort on the part of the authors once
> 	compared to a major economic effort to replace much
> 	of the paper handling and storage equipment and facilities
> 	in the United States and Canada (which is being moved to
> 	by making the equipment capable of handling either set of
> 	paper sizes). When almost all such equipment can handle
> 	either set of paper sizes would be the time to do such a
> 	switch.  The only significant advantage to the ISO sizes
> 	is that cutting sheets parallel to the short sides results
> 	in the next smaller sheet size.
>
>> 	"Globalization starts with getting the details right.
>> 	 Inconsistent use of SI units and international
>> 	 standard paper sizes remain today a primary
>> 	 cause for U.S. businesses failing to meet
>> 	 the expectations of the global economy."
>
> 	To give the source of the quote above:
> 	http://www.exit109.com/~ghealton/.people.html
>
> 	The author also states: ``This information was gathered
> 	by Gilbert Healton for his personal use and is without
> 	warranty of any kind whatsoever. Use at your own risk.''
> 	It is apparent to me that the author has a strong
> 	pro metric basis.
>
> 	By the way, I have it on good authority that the UK
> 	still uses Imperial measure for their highway system
> 	and for similar reasons.  Do they still sell ``pints''
> 	in public houses?
>
>> Philip Taylor
>
>> [1] http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/iso-paper.html
>
> Randolph J. Herber, herber at fnal.gov, +1 630 840 2966, CD/CDFTF PK-149F,
> Mail Stop 318, Fermilab, Kirk & Pine Rds., PO Box 500, Batavia, IL 
> 60510-0500,
> USA.  (Speaking for myself and not for US, US DOE, FNAL nor URA.)  
> (Product,
> trade, or service marks herein belong to their respective owners.)
>
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