>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue May 23 02:08:07 2000
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 02:02:14 +0300 (IDT)
From: Baruch Even <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Feature requests
I've been working quite a lot with LyX lately and find it a great thing, I
can do in it almost everything I want, though not with ease.
The main problem is the requirement to use Evil Red Text. I would find it
a good addition if lyx would have many more latex features/packages
supported in the way of options and dialogs, thus reducing the need to
learn tex.
A thing that bugs me is the math macros, I really dont want to see them in
the text body, they will be better placed in a dialog, possibly with an
external library of such macros that can be brought in as need arise. The
reason for the library is that I have different sets of documents that I
write, seminar paper in Wavelets, lecture notes in various math courses
also their solutions and solutions for Cryptography course exercises. All
of this require a different set of macros that I regularly use, currently
I open an older document and use it as a base, but its not optimal. An
external library that can be marked for what to insert into the current
document will be easier.
Environment options. This is something I'd really like to see, currently
if I want to use \theorem{Sylow's Theorem} I need to create a macro by
hand or use some ERT. This is largely inefficient and ugly to look at. I'd
really like to see an option dialog that can be opened on right click over
the environment where I can set the option and have it used. This also
works for other types of environments.
Better support for external files. Sometimes I need to include external
files, say a program output. I am forced then to add the absolute location
of the file since lyx will not copy it to its temporary directory. What
might be needed for this is the ability to tell LyX to latex the file in
its current directory, not worrying of temp files.
Better support for external packages. I need at times to include files,
for this I use the fancyvrb package. If lyx will support it as an inset
and have environment options it will make my life easier and remove some
more ERT from my screen. The same should possibly be done to other
packages. Yes, there are always more packages and other things to support,
but at least this proposed method of an inset and inset properties dialog
will be more efficient and I believe it will not be hard to add support to
other packages. For the verbatims I find that adding the different
verbatims to the include dialog could be better though. I guess listings
and fancyvrb with their options will be a good addition.
Configuration and options settings. It would be advisable to be able to do
all configurations and options from a dialog box instead of editing the
text file. I'm not that against text file configurations, but less
skillful users will appreciate that a lot.
For math stuff, replace the math panel with a tabbed panel under the
toolbar. Like winedt with all (most) of the math symbols. this way the
rarely used symbols can be found easily in the same window without
resorting to a different dialog box thus changing focus around. I believe
it is simpler to use. This can be an option so that those who do not need
the math panel do not have to see it.
Scripting. When considering some of the things I ask for, comes the
thought to allow using an embedded scripting language (Python or anything
most everyone will want), to drive some of the stuff, specifically to
allow a layout writer to add a new environment type and define its options
window, say for example for the theorem environment to be able to add the
name. And things of the kind.
That's it for now (too much as it is), I know I had some more but they
will come in a later time.
--
Baruch Even
http://techst02.technion.ac.il/~sbaruch/ (My Site)
http://rpghost.com/jindor/ (My brothers AD&D site)
" Learn to laugh ... it's the path to true love! "
- The Angel in the movie Michael
