Re: Generating PDFs with Ada

[Shark8 <onewingedshark@gmail.com>]

> BTW, I object to the use of Microsoft Word or any word processor for
> professional documents in the first place.  Professional document
> management requires:
>
> * separation of form from content (documents should not contain the
>   definition of styles; they should point to shared style sheets).
>
> * compatibility with multiple (current and future) professional version
>   control systems providing the ability to branch, merge and tag
>   versioned documents and versioned style sheets by multiple people at
>   the same time; the only format which in my experience has this
>   property is Plain Text, possibly with markup!
>
> * compatibility with multiple (current and future) editors and viewers
>   on multiple (current and future) platforms; think of legal
>   requirements that documents be readable 100 years from now, and the
>   fact that the only extant documents that have proven to have this
>   property are on paper, parchment or papyrus.
>
> * compatibility with search and indexing software.
>
> * compatibility with cryptographic signatures, for authentication of
>   documents
>
> * compatibility with multiple encryption algorithms, current and future,
>   for secrecy.

Interesting, I know Wordperfect's WPD format addresses, quite well,
points 1 & 3.
WP has/had a file Indexer *way* before version 11, addressing point 4.
As for Points 5 & 6, WP's had encryption and signing since at least
version 11.
Version 2 is, perhaps, the only one missing... and even that might be
debatible*.

And it is a stable format: "Files created in WordPerfect 6.x, through
12 are structured the same, and will hereafter be referred to as WP12
files." -- http://www.corelconnected.com/html/files/WPFF_!DocumentStructure.htm

"A key to WordPerfect's design is its streaming code architecture that
parallels the formatting features of HTML and Cascading Style Sheets."
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPerfect

*From my WP11 Help-file:
COLLABORATING ON A DOCUMENT
It is often helpful to get opinions about a document before you send
it to a wider audience. You can email the document to friends, co-
workers, and editors for comments. The Review Document feature lets
reviewers redline, highlight, and comment on your text. Use Document
Compare to gather all the selected changes. If you must keep multiple
copies of the same file, use Corel Versions to archive each one for
reference.

COMPARING DOCUMENTS
You can compare a current version of a document with an earlier
version to see what changes have been made. When comparing documents,
you can generate a compare summary and a list of changes. A compare
summary describes the color and the attributes used to display
deletions and insertions. It also lists the number of deletions,
insertions, and moves that were made. The list of changes details all
of the changes made in the document.

When you compare and review a document, the document that contains the
comparison markings is opened in review mode. For more information
about reviewing documents, see "Reviewing documents." In addition, you
can restore a document to the way it was before the comparison.