[nfbcs] latex benefits

Wed Jan 25 14:06:48 UTC 2017

What I am wondering though is: Sure, LaTeX might be okay for drawing database diagrams for a computer science class, but what about in industry where you have a database with a hundred or more tables, and several columns per table, such as over thirty columns? Would LaTeX break down for very large systems?

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 8:03 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Steve Jacobson
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] latex benefits

Although Database relationships are not really on topic for BlindMath, there are many people over there who know a lot about LATEX.  Such questions might get some answers there.  I also wonder if some of what Doug is raising relates at all to how JAWS handles Unicode.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Doug Lee via nfbcs
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:14 PM
To: Christopher Chaltain via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Doug Lee <dgl at dlee.org>
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] latex benefits

Perhaps an ironic question, but a fair one nonetheless...

In my experience, pdflatex generates screenreader-readable text, but with the following problems. Any known way to address these?

1. No PDF tags: Accessible PDF documents should have tags that indicate how assistive technology should render them.

2. Ligature issues: Ligatures generate as low-numbered font characters that JAWS, at least, can call other things. For example, in a document I just now generated, "fi" in the word "figure" generates as character 12, which JAWS calls a space. "ff" in "different" generates as character 11, which JAWS calls "vertical tab." (For anyone who doesn't know, a ligature is a single character that represents two print characters in a more visually pleasing manner. Another common example is "ae.")

On Tue, Jan 24, 2017 at 09:02:52PM -0600, NFBCS mailing list wrote:
When sharing a LaTeX file, I usually generate a PDF file and distribute that.
That's what I do with my resume for example.

I haven't found a tool that does a good job converting a .tex file into a .doc file that you can then update in Word though.

On 24/01/17 20:23, Ryan Mann via nfbcs wrote:
>If you wanted to distribute a Latex document to somebody who uses 
>Microsoft
Word, would it be difficult?  When I checked years ago, it seemed like it would be.
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>>On Jan 24, 2017, at 6:42 PM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>
>>LaTex is a complex document processing and typesetting application 
>>that is
uniquely suited for blind users in my opinion. While the learning curve is steep the results you will get out of LaTex and it's parent TeX are without equal in quality.
>>
>>It is perfectly possible to generate database diagrams, math 
>>expression or
even music scores in LaTeX/TeX. There are addin modules to do all that and more. IT is suited for blind users because it is a code based system in which one composes the work in a text editor and then processes the code to generate the PDF typeset file.
>>
>>I have used LaTex since the 1970's and it has never failed me yet. 
>>HArd to
learn but well worth the effort.
>>
>>Greg Kearney
>>>On Jan 24, 2017, at 3:32 PM, Andy B. via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>Someone recommended that I should start using latex. Is this true, 
>>>and if so, what are the benefits?
>>>
>>>
>>>
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--
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail

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