Why do you still use a text editor?

neufsix · 04-13-2013, 12:05 PM

Hi !

When I started learning how to create epubs and mobis, it never crossed my mind not to use my favourite text editor, Emacs.

I've tried using Sigil but felt like a lot was missing: macros, scripting, programmable keys, custom theme...

Am I the only one using a text editor when designing EPUBs or MOBIs? Who is using Emacs, Vi, UltraEdit and the like? Why?

Jellby · 04-13-2013, 01:25 PM

I use vim

Why? Because I use vim everyday for my work (editing and viewing input and output files of scientific software). Because vim just works (no need to compile, upgrade to the newest version, setup third party repositories, etc.). Because I started creating ebooks before Sigil was even thought of. Because I'm a nitpicker and want full control on the code (I will spend some time indenting and aligning stuff in the OPF file!).

I still want to try using Sigil for real, but I'm lazy

pholy · 04-15-2013, 06:39 PM

I use vim and gedit/pluma for the same reasons Jelby does. I might try Sigil if I didn't have to compile the whole d..n QT 5 library set to use it on Linux Mint Mate. That's too much work just to see what Sigil does to me that I didn't really want to have done to me.

GrannyGrump · 04-16-2013, 12:49 AM

All you Linux users, I wish I were adventurous enough to get off Windows! (for what it's worth, I still use XP at home, have not been thrilled with the Vista or Win7 experience at work.)

I use Notepad ++. Mostly because of the customizable syntax coloring, but also because it does not hijack my hotkeys to run its own shortcuts (I use a lot of AutoHotkey scripting). Sigil wants to use those hotkeys for its own routines.

Also because I can have multiple tabs open with totally unrelated files, and can also have clones of my files display in the split-screen and drag&drop between the two screens.

Well, I could go on and on. I'm not a programmer, only do a little scripting, but I love Notepad++ for working with text in all kinds of situations.

pholy · 04-17-2013, 02:22 PM

Notepad++ is my editor of choice when I have to use Windows. We'll make you into a programmer yet, gG. You're halfway there now.

SBT · 04-17-2013, 03:11 PM

I use vim. Minimum of keypresses, maximum effect, plus regexp is a pretty integral part of the editor.
Besides, I'm convinced this GUI-WYSIWYG-thing is just a passing fad

I also use sed extensively, primarily because of its multi-line capabilities (e.g. commenting out first line on each page when it's a page header, joining words split over lines etc.), and sometimes awk.
Have accumulated a rather nice set of bash scripts for assisting the whole process of converting a book from scans to epub.

(Well, I'm deviating a little from the truth here. I also generate an html-document with the scans and ocr-text side-by-side, which I import into libreoffice writer for proofreading. Or convert to a PDF for proofreading on the tablet.)

Arios · 04-18-2013, 02:57 AM

To answer your question neufsix,

I think things are simple: we use what we know the best. Jellby and pholy are using vim because they know it a lot and you use Emacs for the very same reason.

Most people use Word (or the Writer of LibreOffice/AOO) so they tend or they want to use it to create epub.

And when people do not know much about the epub format or html, they just tend to use Calibre, an all in one solution.

If I must create an epub from strach, I'll certainly use NoteTab or Pspad but if the file is in doc format and well structured, I'm going to convert it first in html and use Sigil to set things up. I think this is where it comes handy and why I like to use it.

BTW Emacs is born in 1976 and the current version is 24.3; Sigil in 2009 and has not still reach version 1. Let it a chance!

ghostyjack · 04-18-2013, 07:31 AM

I like to use Edit+, it's got rubbish macro support, but I like its simple multi-line method of S&R, they give you two free-field text boxes that you can put anything in you like.

I always use a text editor is the originating format allows it. They are also excellent for cleaning up html files generated from word, much quicker than dumping it Sigil and sorting it out there. Although Sigil's "Open with" option is now making me rethink this as I can now load it into Sigil and use my editor of choice from within it.

najgori · 04-19-2013, 04:41 AM

notepad++ for complex multiline regex scripts (via python scripts).

& i like themes

- style configurator - when i work at night sigil screen is to bright for me and i guess i am to lazy to set colors myself.

neufsix · 04-21-2013, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by najgori

& i like themes

- style configurator - when i work at night sigil screen is to bright for me and i guess i am to lazy to set colors myself.

I can't stand white background either. Black background and green foreground saved my sight !

JSWolf · 04-21-2013, 09:14 PM

Notepad++ for me for Windows. I use Sigil for what Sigil does that Notepad++ does not do and then I move back to Notepad++.

04-13-2013, 12:05 PM	#1
neufsix Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 1010 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Archos A70 eReader, Kindle Touch, Sony PRS-T2	Why do you still use a text editor? Hi ! When I started learning how to create epubs and mobis, it never crossed my mind not to use my favourite text editor, Emacs. I've tried using Sigil but felt like a lot was missing: macros, scripting, programmable keys, custom theme... Am I the only one using a text editor when designing EPUBs or MOBIs? Who is using Emacs, Vi, UltraEdit and the like? Why?

04-18-2013, 02:57 AM	#7
Arios A curiosus lector! Posts: 463 Karma: 2015140 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch	To answer your question neufsix, I think things are simple: we use what we know the best. Jellby and pholy are using vim because they know it a lot and you use Emacs for the very same reason. Most people use Word (or the Writer of LibreOffice/AOO) so they tend or they want to use it to create epub. And when people do not know much about the epub format or html, they just tend to use Calibre, an all in one solution. If I must create an epub from strach, I'll certainly use NoteTab or Pspad but if the file is in doc format and well structured, I'm going to convert it first in html and use Sigil to set things up. I think this is where it comes handy and why I like to use it. BTW Emacs is born in 1976 and the current version is 24.3; Sigil in 2009 and has not still reach version 1. Let it a chance! Last edited by Arios; 04-18-2013 at 03:13 AM.

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04-13-2013, 01:25 PM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,570 Karma: 20150435 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I use vim Why? Because I use vim everyday for my work (editing and viewing input and output files of scientific software). Because vim just works (no need to compile, upgrade to the newest version, setup third party repositories, etc.). Because I started creating ebooks before Sigil was even thought of. Because I'm a nitpicker and want full control on the code (I will spend some time indenting and aligning stuff in the OPF file!). I still want to try using Sigil for real, but I'm lazy

04-15-2013, 06:39 PM	#3
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	I use vim and gedit/pluma for the same reasons Jelby does. I might try Sigil if I didn't have to compile the whole d..n QT 5 library set to use it on Linux Mint Mate. That's too much work just to see what Sigil does to me that I didn't really want to have done to me.

04-16-2013, 12:49 AM	#4
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,245 Karma: 35164265 Join Date: May 2011 Location: PA {back in the usa!} Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	All you Linux users, I wish I were adventurous enough to get off Windows! (for what it's worth, I still use XP at home, have not been thrilled with the Vista or Win7 experience at work.) I use Notepad ++. Mostly because of the customizable syntax coloring, but also because it does not hijack my hotkeys to run its own shortcuts (I use a lot of AutoHotkey scripting). Sigil wants to use those hotkeys for its own routines. Also because I can have multiple tabs open with totally unrelated files, and can also have clones of my files display in the split-screen and drag&drop between the two screens. Well, I could go on and on. I'm not a programmer, only do a little scripting, but I love Notepad++ for working with text in all kinds of situations.

04-17-2013, 02:22 PM	#5
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	Notepad++ is my editor of choice when I have to use Windows. We'll make you into a programmer yet, gG. You're halfway there now.

04-17-2013, 03:11 PM	#6
SBT Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 810184 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Norway Device: prs-t1, tablet, Nook Simple, assorted kindles, iPad	I use vim. Minimum of keypresses, maximum effect, plus regexp is a pretty integral part of the editor. Besides, I'm convinced this GUI-WYSIWYG-thing is just a passing fad I also use sed extensively, primarily because of its multi-line capabilities (e.g. commenting out first line on each page when it's a page header, joining words split over lines etc.), and sometimes awk. Have accumulated a rather nice set of bash scripts for assisting the whole process of converting a book from scans to epub. (Well, I'm deviating a little from the truth here. I also generate an html-document with the scans and ocr-text side-by-side, which I import into libreoffice writer for proofreading. Or convert to a PDF for proofreading on the tablet.)

04-18-2013, 07:31 AM	#8
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	I like to use Edit+, it's got rubbish macro support, but I like its simple multi-line method of S&R, they give you two free-field text boxes that you can put anything in you like. I always use a text editor is the originating format allows it. They are also excellent for cleaning up html files generated from word, much quicker than dumping it Sigil and sorting it out there. Although Sigil's "Open with" option is now making me rethink this as I can now load it into Sigil and use my editor of choice from within it.

04-19-2013, 04:41 AM	#9
najgori Klak Posts: 174 Karma: 150374 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Device: many	notepad++ for complex multiline regex scripts (via python scripts). & i like themes - style configurator - when i work at night sigil screen is to bright for me and i guess i am to lazy to set colors myself.

04-21-2013, 09:14 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Notepad++ for me for Windows. I use Sigil for what Sigil does that Notepad++ does not do and then I move back to Notepad++.