% interface=en output=pdftex

% Choose a font
\usetypescript [palatino][\defaultencoding]
\setupbodyfont [palatino,12pt]

% Be tolerant with paragraph building
\setuptolerance [horizontal,verytolerant,stretch]

% Choose a language, and associated hyphenation rules.
\language [en]

% No page number
\setuppagenumbering [state=off]

% White space between paragraphs
\setupwhitespace [big]

% Paper size
\setuppapersize [a4]

% On the grid please
\setuplayout
  [grid=yes,
   footer=0.5\footerheight,
   header=0.5\headerheight]

% Enable colors and activate hyperlinks
\setupcolors [state=start]
\definecolor[lightBlue][r=0.5, g=0.5, b=1.0]
\setupinteraction [state=start, color=lightBlue]
\setupurl[style=small, space=yes]

% Enumerate the URLs
\useURL [pragma] [{www.pragma-ade.com}]
\useURL [contextgarden] [{contextgarden.net}]
\useURL [ntg-context] [{www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context}]
\useURL [literatesolutions] [{literatesolutions.com/Members/guravage/tpj/askNelly/context.tex}]
\useURL [mge] [{mailto:info@literatesolutions.com}][][\tfx info@literatesolutions.com]

\starttext

\midaligned{\tfb Ask Nelly: What is ConTeXt?}

\midaligned{\tfx Michael Guravage}

\ConTeXt\ is a macro package for \TeX\ written by Hans Hagen and Ton
Otten of Pragma ADE in the Netherlands. Like \LaTeX\, \ConTeXt\ is
applicable to most typesetting needs.  Unlike \LaTeX\, \ConTeXt\ is
monolithic, by which I mean it is designed, implemented, and
distributed as a whole. Its completeness is evident in the breath of
its concepts and consistency of its syntax.

Forged in the crucible of the educational publishing world, \ConTeXt\
has grown to accommodate the most advanced and demanding typesetting
needs. The practical upshot of this is that if you need a particular
feature, it probably is already implemented. A few of its most noteworthy
features include:

\startitemize[packed,n]
  \item multiple language interfaces including: English, German, and Dutch
  \item a font naming scheme that allows you mix and match different typefaces
  \item a native XML parser
  \item a native XML-FO support
  \item native MathML support
  \item integrated graphics with \MetaPost
  \item full color support in both {\sc rgb} or {\sc cmyk}
  \item direct access to and control over the interactive capabilities of PDF
\stopitemize

I would not say that \ConTeXt\ has a steep learning curve but rather a
long one.  Thankfully, there is sufficient documentation, and a
vibrant development community to offer support.

Visit the Pragma website at \from[pragma] to learn more about
\ConTeXt.  There you will find both examples to whet your appetite and
manuals to answer your questions. I recommend you start by reading the
introductory `\ConTeXt\ an Excursion' and then move onto the full
\ConTeXt\ manual.  You will find additional examples of, discussions
about, and documentation for \ConTeXt\ on the community wiki at:
\from[contextgarden].  Finally, you can subscribe to the \ConTeXt\
mailing list at: \from[ntg-context].

Michael Guravage is a consultant who specializes in content management
and document engineering. He can be reached at \from[mge].

\stoptext

% finis