Re: A few questions

From: Julien Olivier (julo@altern.org)
Date: Sun Aug 31 2003 - 14:04:22 EDT

  • Next message: Dom Lachowicz: "Re: A few questions"

    > There is an optional Draw component for MSWord amongst other things.
    >
    > If you had a full version of Abiword with WMF support you might get a
    > reasonably representation of those diagrams, not sure though.
    >

    Ah.. I must not have WMF support then. But I'm not sure to understand:
    do I need a plugin for that or is it an option to enable at compilation
    time ?

    > Abiword allows you to insert images and insert SVGs for that purpose,
    > although unfortunately the SVGs are not preserved for later edits (they
    > are converted into flat graphics).
    >
    > I dont think there is a bug report asking for more functionality in this
    > area but I cant be sure.
    >

    Maybe that would be solved by embedding Sodipodi in Abiword. I know that
    adding embedding capabilities to Abiword is not on the priority list for
    now but do you think it is technically possible to, one day, embed
    Sodipodi in Abiword ?

    > If you can find, make or provide better clipart for inclusion it would be
    > very much appreciated.
    >

    Sorry, I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't criticising the lack of
    cliparts but the fact that you mix cliparts with icons. I don't think
    that anybody will use application icons in text documents. And I prefer
    having a just few good cliparts than having a few good cliparts lost
    among a lot of icons I won't use. Maybe some people _do_ use those icons
    though, I can't talk for everyone.

    > You might be able to put together something using the current tempaltes
    > and Fields. If you wanted to generate more complex documents you would
    > have to look at the Mail Merge/database functionality.
    > I dont think there are any current plans to add document generation
    > Wizards or Assistants [1]
    >

    OK, I've just added a wish in bugzilla for that:
    http://bugzilla.abisource.com/show_bug.cgi?id=5685

    > > - I noticed that there is no function to create a table of contents
    > > automatically. Are there any plans for that in the future ? I think
    > > that's a must-have for any serious word processor. Well, at least I use
    > > it very much :)
    >
    > It is definately planned, I cant say how soon, and I definately
    > recall there is a bug report in Bugzilla
    > http://bugzilla.abisource.com
    >

    That's great news !

    > > - Finally, I've jus read that Koffice is about to switch to
    > > OpenOffice.org's file format by default for KDE4. Don't you think it
    > > would be possible for Abiword too ? I think it's important to have 1
    > > standard file format for all the great open source office applications
    > > so that it's easier to convince commercial office suits o support this
    > > format.
    >
    > This is a more complicated question than you realise. Anything is
    > possible :) and standards are important.
    >
    > I am really glad I posted this earlier in the week to the developer
    > mailing list
    > http://abisource.com/mailinglists/abiword-dev/2003/Aug/0248.html
    >

    Thanks for the link. That's exactly what I was looking for :)

    > Help from developers to improve our OpenOffice support would be
    > appreciated. Users who really want better openoffice support might
    > consider clubbing together and sponsoring a developer.

    Yes, I'm considering that, or to help myself if I have time.

    > Abiword has excellent RTF support which provides excellent compatibility
    > with most other Word Processor, which is what I always use.
    >

    RTF is what I use too. And I don't have problems with it. Having a
    better standard for office documents would be great though. But I
    totally understand how long it can take to support all the
    functionalities defined in such a file format.

    > > Well, time for the congratulations: Abiword is really a brilliant word
    > > processor. Thanks everybody for working on it and making my life better
    >
    > Thanks developers, I dont think I say it often enough myself.
    >
    > Sincerely
    >
    > Alan Horkan
    > http://advogato.org/person/AlanHorkan/
    >
    >
    > [1] Assistant is the correct Gnome terminology for what Windows refers to
    > as Wizards, OpenOffice refers to as AutoPilot, and the developers keep
    > calling Druids (which I believe is what the API still calls them).
    > http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/draft_hig_new/windows-assistant.html
    >
    >
    >

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