This blog is simply a collector of some notes about using ConTeXt on a Windows 7 environment. First and foremost, these notes are for me. From time to time, I happen to forget them, and so I've decided to set up a place where
- I can store them for future use
- Set up a resource from where other souls who are not hardcore TeX users, but are looking for a way to produce pleasant-looking documents in PDF format can tap into.
I take for granted that you, the reader, have some technical background of sorts: this means that command line does not scare you, you know what a programming language is and all in all, are somewhat curious about non-visual DTP -- that's the way I like to think about ConTeXt. I also assume that you know a little about ConTeXt; I will try to make my posts clear even for casual users -- since I'm little more than a casual ConTeXt user myself.
If you come from a different platform, as most of TeX/ConTeXt users do, fear not: most of my posts will be usable even on a non Windows platform. Should I ever post some code/applications, I'll try to use portable development tools. Bear in mind, however, that since while it's easy for me to set up a virtual linux machine on my notebook, it's not so easy (not to mention illegal and actively fought by Apple's policies) to set up a virtual OSX machine on a Win7 box. So, my effort will go first towards Linux compatibility, and OSX will take the third row seat.
A word of warning: I'm not a TeX wizard, but a slightly advanced user. So, bear in mind this if my posts will be too sketchy for you, TeX guru.
Hey! What about the "For Roleplayers" part?
I started examining ConTeXt some years ago, when I wanted to lay out some free rpgs out there, games that were formatted in XHTML. I've seen that most amateur/indie RPG authors
- publish PDF made out of horribly laid-out MS-Word / OOWriter files.
- more often than not, you stumble upon games lacking even a small Table of Content
- even when they resort to DTP programs (from humble but capable Page Plus to the all-powerful InDesign) the result is only marginally better than using Word or OOWriter in a proficient way.
TeX -- and ConTeXt -- were born to make book publishing easy. You lay out your text, focus upon writing and let your friendly computer take care. Nowadays, it sound so 1980. Yet, for a price that can't be beat (free!) Tex and ConTeXt can help the budding indie game author deliver a cool-looking game.
- Want an one-column 6"x9" paperback, simple and beautifully laid out? ConTeXt can help.
- You long for the AD&D3 days, where full color, watermarked pages were all the rage? Piece o' cake.
- Or else you just want your standard 2-columns fare? ConTeXt rules.
So, I think that's all for now. I hope to keep up with the pledges stated in this page. Read on, indie authors!
