The newest development version of Scribus, 1.3.5, has a better interface and at least one significant new feature. It is now possible to create a "LaTeX" frame, add text, and have it typeset by the superior (but not wsiwyg) TeX typesetting system. Initially this feature was added to make use of the math typesetting facility of TeX. But the builders added more than they knew. First it is possible to use pdftex instead of pdflatex. With either variety of TeX It is possible to just key in text and get the superior H&J routines of real TeX. I will experiment with other advanced features of TeX to push the envelope as far as possible. A future enhancement may allow the linking of LaTeX frames similar to the way ordinary text frames are linked now.
The useful features of TeX in connection with Scribus can be accessed through pdflatex, but the less verbose pdftex provides a more direct and less complex path to them. This new facility may lead to an extraordinary fusion of the Quarkish product Scribus, which has many layout virtues, and the special features of TeX such as the newest feature microtypography. This fusion would rival not only Quark but also InDesign. -- John Culleton Resources for every author and publisher: http://wexfordpress.com/tex/shortlist.pdf http://wexfordpress.com/tex/packagers.pdf http://www.creativemindspress.com/newbiefaq.htm http://www.gropenassoc.com/TopLevelPages/reference%20desk.htm
