Not off-topic: Wrong couple divorced after computer error by law firm Vardag's

[William F Hammond]

Paulo writes:

> XML is obviously the choice for archival format for
> journals, where one is highly concerned with verification,
> recreation of experiments, re-use of the material, etc. and
> where there is little concern for fine typography. To carry
> that into situations where typography matters is literally
> impossible or extremely cumbersome and expensive.

And many comments have followed.

First, let me observe that XML is a category of markup
languages (document types in XML lingo), whereas HTML and
TeX are particular markup languages.  What one gets -- or
can get -- from XML depends on the particular XML markup
language being used.

A particular profile of LaTeX (see my 2010 TUG talk) is a
particular markup language that is entirely equivalent to
an XML markup language.

For academic journals I support the use of an XML markup
language.  That can be a LaTeX profile if one wants.

The quality of typesetting obtained after an XML markup
language is translated to LaTeX depends on a number
of things including:

1.  The richness of the markup in regard to typesetting.

  For example, I've never created a LaTeX profile that
  provides for struts and kerns in the source language.  One
  could have that if it makes sense for the design of the
  profile.  (However, there is CSS kerning in my code for
  translating the name of TeX or the name of LaTeX into
  HTML.)

2.  The quality of the automatic translation code.

  In the case of GELLMU, I'm sure there are LaTeX experts
  who could write better code than mine for translating
  GELLMU's LaTeX profile into regular LaTeX.

3.  The attention to typesetting given by the author.

For most of the things I write GELLMU's LaTeX profile is
fine, and it provides for me the fastest way to produce my
document.

But if I want to be fussy about typesetting I will use
regular LaTeX.

                              -- Bill


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