Re: 3VDQ : I want a .abw file *and* a .pdf file

On Tuesday 07 February 2006 02:01 pm, Bear Tooth wrote:
> I have a great huge long complicated recipe, my own
> invention, tweaked and re-tweaked for over thirty years, which my
> guests often ask for. I typed it originally in my regular mailer
> (Pine, from U Washington), and used to keep a copy in my shell to
> fetch into emails.
>
> But it looks like that master copy has gotten lost among the
> electrons, and I owe copies to a list of people; unless one of the
> original recipients sends it back (as I've just asked) -- and maybe
> even if one does -- meseems I better buckle down to re-type a/o
> rework the whole blessed thing.
>
> If I do, I might as well do it right, and use my word
> processor this time. That will save it as a .abw file, of course;
> but most of my correspondents, poor unretired souls, are still
> chained to the Gates of Hell and his Abominable OS -- and, probably,
> don't have good software; they may even do their email at work or in
> a public library, and be unable to install it. (Library machines
> commonly have a program that runs every night, and completely wipes
> anything that's been put on the machine since the previous night. I
> wouldn't put it past some employers to have that, too.)
>
> So I have three Very Dumb Questions. First, given that I
> once have waffle_recipe.abw in my shell -- and want to keep it, in
> case I decide to make additions or revisions -- is there an easy way
> to turn it into waffle_recipe.pdf, and save that separately? Then I
> could attach the good one to emails to those who can use it, and the
> .pdf to the poor souls.
>
> Second, in case I do find it or get it back, I know how to
> put it back into my shell as either waffles or waffles.txt, by
> simply exporting it from Pine and naming it that. In that case, do I
> simply call it up in abiword by editing the shell file, eliminating
> any extraneous email stuff, such as headers, and saving it? Or is
> there a trick? Can Abiword use a .txt file, or a file with no
> extension at all??
>
> Third, is .pdf in fact the most generally useful format for
> those who lack both linux and abiword? Or is that just what works on
> web sites best, while something else would be better elswhere? And
> if so, what? (I understand abiword *will* let me put stuff into
> actual MS formats; but my fingers would fall off and I would die
> choking on the next waffle if I did that.)
>
> No doubt all this is obvious to the meanest intelligence; I
> beg the pardon of serious AbiWord users (let alone the developers!)
> for asking. I hardly ever have any occasion to use a word processor
> myself, and follow this list on behalf of Her Who Must Be Obeyed,
> who's writing a book -- and is even less technoid than I ...
>
> If somebody merely tells me RTFM (*with* the location of the
> FM), or a URL without comment, such as to a FAQ, I'll be grateful.
>
> TIA!

PDF is the best for printing, and also the most useful "finished"
format for posting on the internet.

A file in text can be converted to the corresponding file in pdf
by following these simple steps:

1. Put the following at the front of the file:
\pdfoutput=1
{\obeylines

2.Put the following at the end of the file:
}
\bye

3. Download and install TeX from e.g. www.miktex.org

4. Run pdftex mydocumentname.txt

Now those who choke at step 3 can send it to me. I work in Linux
but the above recipe works for those stuck with Windows. TeX runs
on all three major platforms.

I don't understand why you don't have Abiword. It is free, and
also the subject of this list.

-- 
John Culleton
Books with answers to marketing and publishing questions:
http://wexfordpress.com/tex/shortlist.pdf
Book coaches, consultants and packagers:
http://wexfordpress.com/tex/packagers.pdf
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