Joshua D. Drake wrote: >> If you are dreaming of a situation in which LedgerSMB is used *and >> customized* by "average" office workers, I'd say LaTeX is the least of >> your worries.
> Spoken like a true geek. This isn't hard folks. The web has the whole > print thing down as long as you are using a modern browser. Simple > web-pdf tools exist as well. Color me skeptical. There a reason most small-business accounting systems are *not* web-based. It's a real PITA to get consistent good-quality print output via the Web without using PDF-generation tools that completely bypass HTML+CSS. And if you ARE going to use PDF-generation tools, you may as well use the best one available. You can still use LaTeX, but maybe come up with a set of templates that allow constrained customization (eg, drop your logo here, make a few minor changes there.) >> Realistically, installing and customizing LedgerSMB is currently done >> by Linux and FOSS geeks, and I don't see that changing any time soon. > You just made my point. One of my goals for 2.0 is to change that or at > least make large leaps toward it. Not to be discouraging, I don't think that's a realistic goal. I think a more realistic goal is to make it easier for the average office worker to *use* LedgerSMB. I believe installation and configuration will be the domain of the geeks for quite some time. (Consider that you need to set up Apache, PostgreSQL, a UN*X system... this is not for the average small-business owner.) > Again, I am not advocating the removal of latex (well I am, but it isn't > something I am willing to put any energy into.) Good. :) I hope that means my beloved LaTeX won't be going anywhere soon. :) >>> We *need* at least as an option to provide simple, easy to modify, >>> preferably from the browser, templates. >> How many people have asked for that? (Just curious.) > Every single quickbooks and peachtree user. Again, I don't mean to be discouraging, but I doubt that's the last remaining hurdle for most Quickbooks or Peachtree users. LedgerSMB has far more serious problems to worry about (eg, the Ontario HST nightmare) than template configuration. Regards, David. PS: Please don't take this the wrong way... I love LedgerSMB and appreciate all the work you are doing, but I think attempting to compete in the same market as Windows-based shrink-wrap accounting software is a recipe for disaster. Positioning LedgerSMB as a robust accounting system to be installed and configured by expert consultants and then used by office personnel is IMO a far more likely road to success. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Palm PDK Hot Apps Program offers developers who use the Plug-In Development Kit to bring their C/C++ apps to Palm for a share of $1 Million in cash or HP Products. Visit us here for more details: http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;226879339;13503038;l? http://clk.atdmt.com/CRS/go/247765532/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ Ledger-smb-devel mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ledger-smb-devel
