An Efficiency Comparison of Latex vs. Word (2014) • Hacker News Board

Re: An Efficiency Comparison of Latex vs. Word (2014)

#41

Post by jiggunjer » Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 2:18 PM UTC

marcodiego wrote: post #30

jiggunjer wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who needs documentation for Word. I typeset my entire thesis and never once googled how to X. I also used git without issues. With LaTeX every little thing required a search.

I like to define commands in LaTeX. These allow me to easily reorder parameters, change formatting for parts of the replacement rules. When I modify its definition, it changes everywhere it is used. How do I do that in word? Can you discover it without resorting to a search engine?

Yes this is typesetting basics. I used named styles, so e.g. I can change the format of level 2 headings.

Re: An Efficiency Comparison of Latex vs. Word (2014)

#42

Post by jiggunjer » Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 2:26 PM UTC

tombert wrote: post #37

jiggunjer wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who needs documentation for Word. I typeset my entire thesis and never once googled how to X. I also used git without issues. With LaTeX every little thing required a search.

> I also used git without issues I mean, sort of? Wouldn't a .docx file have all the same annoyances within Git as something like an image, or any other binary format? LaTeX, I can look at diffs between commits, see if someone changed a specific line, etc. Is that possible with Word?

There's a tracking feature and a multi-doc compare feature. But I hardly ever need them as I don't write collaboratively. My commit messages suffice.

Re: An Efficiency Comparison of Latex vs. Word (2014)

#43

Post by jiggunjer » Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 2:33 PM UTC

marcodiego wrote: post #29

jiggunjer wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who needs documentation for Word. I typeset my entire thesis and never once googled how to X. I also used git without issues. With LaTeX every little thing required a search.

How do you include a C source code from a file and specify color for a specific keyword in Word? Also, how to make it update the document automatically when the code changes? Can you discover how to do that without resorting to a search engine?

Sounds easy enough, maybe requires a manual refresh instead. Many people apparently get stuck on highschool level Word skills, but the featureset meets the needs of professionals too. I've literally seen journals provide Word typesetting tutorials for submission guidelines.