h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Felonious Monk has, or had, been working for some time on a WYSIWYG for GuideML. I think he did quite well, but recently I have been working with him on an idea that he had to make it cross-platform, and the method is elegantly simple...

OpenOffice.org can import and export XML files.

I've known that for ages, but I have to say the thought never occurred to me to make a filter for OpenOffice that allows it to read and write GuideML files. But after FM shed the light on it, that's exactly what I've done.

I've set up a page to explain all this at A7720562. At the moment, I think I have a serious bug, and I'd be grateful if somebody - anybody, really - could take a look and see what happens. The problem has probably come about because I've been swapping between two computers to do the development and testing of this thing, and I think I've just confused the whole thing by copying all the files into so many different places too quickly... Argh! That's my problem, though.

When it works, I think it works quite well. Currently it can do just about all the common tasks except tables.

Traveller in Time only working on low resource systems
"I will use 'Mesologist's system ,she has open office installed . Though I personally do not see much use for the concept.

Most people are using broadband nowadays it is easy enough to use the servers to preview your work. The only drawback working online is you can lose your entry due to a server glitch, but as is working local if you lost your files . "

Oh. Apparently a lot of people want a GuideML WYSIWYG. There are plenty more advantages:
-the text input box on h2g2 is very small,
-you can't do find and replace operations
-you have to learn GuideML

The first point is probably the most significant. It's nice to be able to see your whole Guide Entry at one time.

Sorry. That should be 'disadvantages of the h2g2 system'. Not 'advantages'.

Traveller in Time constraining line length to the text boxes
"But I like to be able to test my entries with the markup of the markup language visible.

GuideML is more easy for me then english "

It's fine if you prefer to do the GuideML by hand. Carry on. But it's important to cater for other people's tastes, because not everybody will feel that way.

I have now updated the project.

This is very handy to add to my Help links page