Bo Peng wrote:
The .lyx format is not really working. One can, e.g. not use
'real' text within math, which makes implementing e.g. \mbox
impossible.
There must be some good reasons to change .lyx format, and switch to
unicode. But those reasons are invisible to normal users like me. All
I don't know about the .lyx format. But there are certainly reasons
enough for unicode:
* Lyx is big on linux - and the linux desktop has gone unicode already.
We're trailing behind here, using obsolete encodings. Using unicode
have the potential of avoiding conversions, and have .lyx files
that are actually readable using unix tools. (Today, all the non-ascii
letters screw up.)
* Unicode is necessary for almost any document using two or more
languages - when both languages are supersets of ascii.
Now, english+anything may work today, but try two non-english
languages with different requirements.
* I guess you don't write chinese or other languages with more than
256 symbols. But there sure are lots of people who cares about this.
Having unicode means they too can use lyx.
I can see is that I need 2 hours to set up lyx on windows (before
Uwe's installer); I can not copy/paste freely between lyx and other
applications
A case where unicode will help getting the non-ascii stuff pasted right.
I can paste lots of stuff into lyx already, but not non-western webpages
for example.
or between two lyx sessions; there is no split-view or
multiple view that is arguably essential to word processors like lyx;
Nice and useful to have, sure. But not essential.
there are still latex errors from normal lyx input; it is difficult to
make use of outside .cls file; and it is a mystery how to customize
.layout file..... The list can go on and on, and these are what normal
users will care about, it they are not scared away because of these. I
do think some of these should have higher priority than unicode and
XML.
Lots of problems. But if volunteers for unicode+XML is what we get,
then that is what happens. :-) Feel free to find/fund programmers
for what you care about - it will be well received.
Helge Hafting
