Olympus-OM
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [OM] olympus Digest, Vol 68, Issue 21

Subject: Re: [OM] olympus Digest, Vol 68, Issue 21
From: Andrew Fildes <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 09:26:12 +1000
1. Making the point that a word processor has closer similarities to the 
practice of typesetting than typewriting - it's not hard to explain the 
difference I think. 
2. In formatting, you may wish to use multiple spaces and return-enters to 
position the type where you wish – not so much in body text but in titles and 
sub-titles in particular.
3. Line returns are to be avoided at all costs in body text of course.
4. Writing with a pen on paper first! As a writer I find it very useful to have 
a notepad and pen with me at all times - even a notebook computer can be an 
impediment to making a few quick notes. It's also easier to sketch out thoughts 
and even rough out a draft with a pen. Sometimes we labour under the delusion 
that because we have the technology, we should use it all the time for 
everything.  But it's often like being the guy who rides the elevator to the 
gymnasium on the third floor instead of climbing the stairs!

When formatting narrow columns of text in block setting, I find it necessary to 
rewrite a lot to avoid white 'rivers' and inappropriate word breaks - it's more 
of a problem with technical writing that uses more polysyllabic words. So the 
process of writing is not complete before formatting begins. I do baulk at 
adjusting for density variations, as proper designer might. I have the 
opportunity to do simple text rewrites and syntax adjustments to get it to look 
right, which a designer does not. The text handling in Blurb's free software is 
particularly recalcitrant - text can throw all over the place, sometimes a 
hundred pages away, or just refuse to move at all. Editing and proofing can be 
a nightmare. I should use InDesign I suppose as I have an older version but I 
haven't had time to make the switch lately

Andrew Fildes
afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Author/Publisher: 
The SLR Compendium,The TLR Compendium
http://www.soultheft.com/storehouse_photopublish/



On 20/06/2014, at 12:02 AM, Scott Gomez wrote:

> Andrew:
> 
> 1. Typewriter. Most folks wouldn't know a typesetter if it bit them. And
> the idea was to get them thinking about the fact that typing a line,
> hitting Enter and going on to the next wasn't going to work well.
> 2. Anywhere. I don't know a word processor that handles multiple
> consecutive spaces well. I'd like to know of a case where it may be of
> benefit.
> 3. Correct. And the point is that multiple consecutive tabs or enters not
> separated by additional text are a waste of one's time. Better to set
> proper tabs and inter-paragraph spacing using the appropriate formatting
> tools.
> 4. What's a 'pen draft'?
> 5. Why I said "write first" not "edit first". Formatting slows one down
> considerably when the objective is really just to get the data/one's
> thoughts/the report/whatever written.
> 
> The longer and more complex the formatting a document is likely to have,
> the more that extraneous spaces, tabs, enters (which normally produce
> paragraph marks) and so forth will make you miserable when editing or
> revising later. They'll cause rivers, odd page breaks, text that
> "mysteriously" jumps from where you wanted it and all sorts of other
> gremlins. Best for really long, complex documents is to define styles for
> the different types of paragraphs and apply the styles after the entire
> text is created.
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jun 19, 2014 at 12:39 AM, Andrew Fildes <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> 
>> Not entirely -
>> 1. 'Typesetter' is closer.
>> 2.  Only in body copy.
>> 3. Tabs and Return ARE separations so I don't quite get this.
>> 4. Pen draft first, edit into the machine (Oh, hang on that's typewriter
>> style! Works, but).
>> 5. Sometimes I have to edit to get the formatting right - to avoid
>> 'rivers' for instance.
>> 
>> Add -
>> NEVER use text underlining (it was done on typewriters only because they
>> can't do bold or italic). Use a 'rule' instead.
>> 
>> I used to use the word processor in Pagemaker and then import into a
>> document - partly to avoid using Word. A very different approach and so
>> typewriter style problems never crept in. But then I do have a bit of
>> design training. It's just talent that I lack.
>> 
>> Andrew Fildes
>> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> 
>> Author/Publisher:
>> The SLR Compendium,The TLR Compendium
>> http://www.soultheft.com/storehouse_photopublish/
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 19/06/2014, at 8:09 AM, Scott Gomez wrote:
>> 
>>> 1. A computer is NOT a typewriter.
>>> 2. More than one consecutive space is always an error.
>>> 3. Unseparated consecutive use of any formatting character (tab, enter,
>>> etc.) is most often an error.
>>> 4. Write first, format when done writing
>> 
>> --
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
>> Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
>> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
>> 
>> 
> -- 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
> Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
> 

-- 
_________________________________________________________________
Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Sponsored by Tako
Impressum | Datenschutz