On Wed, Sep 11, 2002 at 07:49:34AM +0200, Andre Poenitz wrote:
> The .lyx format is a moving target, and it will stay this way for a while.

Oh, I didn't realize this. That puts a bit of a damper on my idea. Is
there any chance that .lyx will take an XML form? 
> 
> So using the stable .tex as intermediate stepping stone does not sound
> insensible, especially as LyX already produces .tex "flawlessly" and can
> read some of it.

I agree that using .tex is a good idea to convert files, especially
since as you say, many good translators already exist to translate .tex
to LyX. 

However, these filters have disadvantages. The one that comes to mind is
the inability to translate styles. Any text marked with a style in Word
loses this marking when inported into LyX. This is a pretty big
disadvantge. After all, LyX is a text processing system that does "what
you mean." Style sheets in Word are the best use of the philosophy of
"what you mean." They designate certain blocks of text and allow a user
to fiddle with formatting later so you can concentrate on writing.

I think I'll go ahead with my project anyway. It could be helpful in the
long run. The very, very difficult part of it was writing an RTF
convertor, and this part is essentially done. Translating XML to LyX
should prove very easy, and even if LyX changes, should not be too
dificult to adapt. 

Writing a translator to convert LyX to XML should also be very easy,
though I don't know when I'll have time to write one!

Thanks

Paul




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*Paul Tremblay         *
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