[OS X TeX] Who should use (La)TeX - who is able to use it?

Wed Nov 17 23:10:55 CET 2004

Jack,

If you are comfortable with Textures you can still use it in classic 
mode. I still use Textures for the actual writing  of a manuscript, be 
it paper or book, and use TeXshop, etc., only for polishing the final 
result.

Stick to the following rules:

1. All user defined files are first saved as  TeXShop files and then 
opened in Textures, if necessary. You can also switch back and forth.

2. If you have to use packages that are not part of Textures tex 
implementation, then add them at the appropriate places, which is 
usually no big deal.

3. There are a few packages like mfpic, mostly related with advanced 
graphic tools, that Textures can't handle. Try to use them only at the 
latest moment, e.g., all graphics should be added at the end. If you 
have to use conflicting packages - conflicting with Textures -, disable 
them with the help of the excellent package version.sty, when you are 
in Textures. A simple command in the preamble like 
\excludeversion{mfpic} would be enough.

4. With regard to your graphics, I can only speculate; but even if you 
have to recreate them from scratch, I could imagine that doing it with 
the help of metapost, in which case I would recommend the "frontend" 
mfpic, would be fun - at least for you as author.

Claus

On 17.11.2004, at 20:56, Jack Kuipers wrote:

> To: Schremmer, in particular, but also (perhaps, especially) to those 
> (it seems to me) on the list  who want to improve TeX and LaTeX before 
> suffering to learn it:
> I have been following much of what comes on this list, and it is 
> tiring. Too many people are critical and are trying to make TeX and 
> LaTeX simple without learning the rules of these very unique 
> typesetting (Knuth, etal) applications.
> I am approaching my mid-eighties, and I still use TeX/LaTeX --- NOW 
> with a certain measure of confidence. I have a problem; but will 
> present it later. First, ...
> Ten years ago (maybe slightly more) I started on a book --- with Word. 
>  My son said, "Dad, use TeX or LaTeX."  So, he being a good son 
> looking out for my interest, I tried LaTeX (a la TeXTures --- 
> BlueSky). AND, that's when I started tearing my hair out, and, I 
> confess,  even worse.
> After a month or so, I called Ben, and said, "I'm going back to Word, 
> I can't learn this wretched typesetting code stuff --- I'll never 
> finish anything."
> He said, "Dad, PLEASE, stick with it; you'll be SO glad you did."
> Well, I DID stick with it. And I am VERY GLAD I did. I got the book 
> done. I furnished all 400+ pages, which included a lot of mathematics 
> along with well over 100 rather complicated figures, all drawn by me 
> --- all of it, CAMERA READY, to Princeton University Press. The book 
> came out in hardcover, and after a couple printings, they decided to 
> do a paperback, which is still doing very well. It is now, at least, 
> in its 5th printing (to me, unbelievable). 'Never would have happened 
> in Word.
> The ENTIRE BOOK (on: Quaternions) WAS DONE USING LATEX (Textures).
>
> But now my problem: TeXTures doesn't work on Mac OSX 10.3.6, and 
> recent. I'm in the process of changing to TeXShop (appreciating much 
> help from Dick Koch).  I would again like to use \include and 
> \includeonly when doing individual chapters of the book. And also, I'm 
> trying to find an easy way to manage and include all the figures I 
> choose to have in this text. I do not want to go back to Mac OS 9, or 
> earlier.
>
> I thank and congratulate the many learned folk on this list who give 
> help on topics specific to TeXShop and LaTeX.  I am using TeXShop 
> 1.35e and would like to convert all TeXTures code and figures to Mac 
> OSX (panther). Any suggestions?
>
> Jack Kuipers
> PS: I apologize for spleen venting.
>
> On Nov 15, 2004, at 9:05 PM, Alain Schremmer wrote:
>
>> Just as a counter-example, I am in my (very late) sixties, "generally 
>> hate MS and love Linux, for philosophical reasons. Speak openly about 
>> Macs, [am] quite excited about it".
>> I also love open source in general and LaTeX in particular for 
>> philosophical reasons
>> OK, I still have to learn to love Terminal.
>> Regards
>> --schremmer
>>
>> Bruno Voisin wrote:
>>
>>> Le 15 nov. 04, à 22:44, Gerben Wierda a écrit :
>>>
>>>> This is indeed a generic point. I noticed too that Mac users were 
>>>> very negative about the change to Mac OS X.
>>>
>>>
>>> I noticed the same, long-term Mac users refusing for as long as 
>>> possible to migrate from OS 9 to OS X. But I've the impression 
>>> things are now evolving, with a new "generation" of users coming, 
>>> having discovered the Mac with OS X, and with former switchers from 
>>> Windows or Mac OS to Linux getting tired of compatibility issues and 
>>> realizing OS X offers Unix with polish and ease of use on top. I've 
>>> just managed to make a convert of the second sort, he's ordered his 
>>> PowerBook 15" today :)
>>>
>>> I would say what I'm seeing now at work can be grossly classified as:
>>>
>>> - People in their fifties and sixties: don't feel as much pressure 
>>> as they used to, have enough funding to buy what they like, favour 
>>> ease of use and comfort, can afford to spend a bit of time learning 
>>> a new OS. For some of them that means a Mac with OS X.
>>>
>>> - People in their thirties or fourties: lots of stress, fights to 
>>> get funding, shortage of time, which generally implies Windows for 
>>> maximum interoperability, no learning curve (everybody has had to 
>>> use Windows at school) and cheap hardware, or Linux for 
>>> philosophical reasons and cheap hardware. Not many Mac users among 
>>> these people, except a few of us resisting.
>>>
>>> - People in their twenties: generally hate MS and love Linux, for 
>>> philosophical reasons. Speak openly about Macs, are quite excited 
>>> about it and would love to get one should they get money for it. See 
>>> Mac positively, as Unix with polish and ease of use on top, see 
>>> Terminal.app as a way to have fun (= the possibility to hack the 
>>> core OS) rather than stress, have all played with Fink and use it 
>>> extensively. None of them have the 80s pictures of the Mac as a toy, 
>>> not to be considered seriously. Possibly the iPod effect, the fact 
>>> that Macs are now a part of lifestyle, something you're proud of and 
>>> no longer ashamed of.
>>>
>>> It's an all subjective picture, of course.
>>>
>>> Bruno Voisin
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>> --------------------- Info ---------------------
>> Mac-TeX Website: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/
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>> TeX FAQ: http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq
>> List Post: <mailto:MacOSX-TeX at email.esm.psu.edu>
>>
>
> --------------------- Info ---------------------
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> TeX FAQ: http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq
> List Post: <mailto:MacOSX-TeX at email.esm.psu.edu>
>
>

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