Big developers may have the capital to purchase Microsoft Word but small or starting
developers may not, especially those enthusiastic and creative programmers in school.
It would be a shame to force them to get an illegal copy of Microsoft Word so that they
could learn the same wonderful magic tricks that others get from the Tech Notes.
Is it possible to produce the Tech Notes in a minimal text editor such as TeachText or
DocMaker? Or better yet, why not use Apple DocViewer like the New Inside Macintosh
documents?
-- Hoon Im
This is a timely question, as the format of Tech Notes on the CD has changed. But first,
some background.
There are several reasons why we distributed Tech Notes as Microsoft Word
documents. Internally we use Microsoft Word as the authoring tool for Tech Notes
because of its relatively powerful formatting abilities and ease of use. It also turns out
that most word processing packages, such as MacWrite ® II, have translators that do a
reasonable job on Microsoft Word documents, so most people have access to the
information. We're firmly against pirating software!
Also, our primary commitment has been to providing the highest quality technical
material possible; rather than focusing on format conversion, we chose to improve the
overall content and organization of the Tech Notes. Only then were we ready to turn our
full attention to the question of format.
You mention Apple DocViewer as a possible alternative format -- we have in fact
converted the Tech Notes into Apple DocViewer format (take a look on the CD). Over
time this will be improved to provide better indexing and cross-reference facilities
-- whose absence we've been painfully aware of in the Microsoft Word format.
-- Neil Day, Tech Note Pooh-Bah
LICENSING DOCVIEWER
We are a long-time Macintosh educational software developer. We've traditionally
converted our printed documentation to HyperCard® for on-line use by our
customers. I wondered to whom we should speak to request developer licensing of Apple
DocViewer?
--Rhett Tindall
Apple DocViewer documents are sourced from several word processors. These
documents must be processed in another application before they become DocViewer
documents. This application is currently not of commercial quality and is for Apple
internal use only. However, we're in the process of investigating whether to refine the
application and make it available outside Apple. This process may take some time and
may not result in providing the software to external parties. Please stay tuned!
--In-Yung Kim
MORE PRELIMINARY NIM?
Many thanks for your magazine and CD. I've been following the progress of New Inside
Macintosh for a while and I wanted to know if it would be possible to get more
preliminary drafts put on the CD. The Network volume and the book that includes the
Sound Manager would be naturals, since the information for both of those areas are
sprawled all over the regular Inside Macintosh books.
Having that handy soft copy would make life easier and give us a peek at what we won't
see till next year.
-- Ron StevensonI've asked around and haven't been able to get any specific answers
for you. It's not clear when or if preliminary New Inside Macintosh drafts will become
available for the CD in he future. But I've passed on your suggestions, and the
Technical Publicatiosn group will do the best they can. Once the books are final, they
will of course be put on the CD.
-- Caroline Rose
GIVE US A PIECE OF YOUR MINDWe welcome timely letters to the editors,
especially from readers reacting to articles that we publish in develop . Letters
should be addressed to Caroline Rose (or, if technical develop -related questions, to
Dave Johnson) at Apple Computer, Inc., 20525 Mariani Avenue, M/S 75-2B,
Cupertino, CA 95014 (AppleLink CROSE or JOHNSON.DK). All letters should include
your name and company name as well as your address and phone number. Letters may
be excerpted or edited for clarity (or to make them say what we wish they did). *