Re: Some issues

[Lars Clausen <lrclause cs uiuc edu>]

On 9 Dec 2003, Jon A. Solworth wrote:
> On Mon, 2003-12-08 at 14:42, Lars Clausen wrote:
> > If you're asking for something that'll invoke TeX inside Dia, it doesn't
> > exist yet.  An implementation would certainly be welcome -- dvips can do
> > EPS output which would be usable for getting the results back into Dia.
> > I won't have time to look at it this side of Christmas.
> >
> > -Lars
>
> Lars,
>       This would be the ultimate, especially if matched with
> a text area in which you could type in and edit the text (like
> in a spreadsheet).  (So that their would be a text based and
> display based versions of labels, also so the text would be more
> readable even at small sizes or low contrast colors).

That would have to be the case, like the UML Small Package, for instance.
We wouldn't be able to do continuous updates, naturally, but it would be
updated as part of 'Apply'.

>       But there should be easier things to do that would
> get the same output (if not user experience).  xfig export
> is a little broken and metapost doesn't do color.  A pdf+latex
> overlay [two separate files] would be nice (or almost as nice
> eps+latex).

Not being familiar with Metapost, I'd appreciate more info on the
colorlessness.  The code does some color handling, so there must be a bug
in there somewhere.  Any hints would be appreciated.

As for XFig, if you send me a diagram that is improperly exported, I shall
certainly take a look, it's one of my darlings:)

>       Dia is a pleasure to work with for drawing things, and
> its capability here is undergoing constant improvement.  So its
> a bit frustrating when one can't get the export to look reasonable.

Indeed.  I hope we can fix it together.

-Lars

-- 
Lars Clausen (http://shasta.cs.uiuc.edu/~lrclause)| HÃrdgrim of Numenor
"I do not agree with a word that you say, but I   |----------------------------
will defend to the death your right to say it."   | Where are we going, and
    --Evelyn Beatrice Hall paraphrasing Voltaire  | what's with the handbasket?