Re: Are all HTML conversion utilities PURE EVIL ?!??!!

You may have more luck getting an answer if you post your message to the
TECHNIQUES or SOFTWARE list.  This is totally off-topic for the CRITIQUE
list.

Regards,

Deborah

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul C. Lin-Easton <lineasto(at)hawaii.edu>
To: <hwg-critique(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 12:05 AM
Subject: Are all HTML conversion utilities PURE EVIL ?!??!!


>
> Here is what I need to do:=20
>
> Convert lengthy MS-Word and Word Perfect Documents into HTML. They are =
> not particularly fancy documents (articles for legal journals), but do =
> contain copious footnotes.=20
>
> I've worked with various conversion utilities in the past for MS-Word, =
> Word Perfect, and PageMaker. I have nothing good to say about them. That =
> was, however, three years ago. I'm hoping that things have improved =
> since then.=20
>
> It should be easy to convert the body of these articles into HTML. Even =
> MS-Word's save as HTML should be able to handle paragraphs and headings. =
>
>
> The footnotes will be the problem. They will be converted to endnotes =
> and perhaps saved as a seperate document. The major formating issue is =
> the heavy use of cutcaps in legal citation. They would require use of =
> CSS or messy and complicated use of the FONT tag. If I want the pages to =
> be downgradable, and not too messy, I would have to use the Legal =
> Practicioner Citation format, which is simpler in that it uses =
> underlining rather than italics and cutcaps. By using CSS, newer =
> browsers can transform the practicioner style into Law Review style. For =
> example, I could use: <U CLASS=3D"cutcaps">Title<U> and have a global =
> style-sheet that formats the text enclosed in any tag with the class =
> "cutcaps" as cutcaps. This would be cleaner and HTML 4 compliant, as =
> well using acceptable legal citation style.=20
>
> I would suspect that any conversion utility would either get creative =
> with the FONT tag or just botch up the whole job.=20
>
> The BEST utility would allow me to set the preferences, so that for most =
> formatting possibilities I could tell the program how to behave. Also, =
> it would be GREAT (and I would be shocked if it existed) if the program =
> could automatically convert all footnotes into endnotes and create the =
> appropriate links.=20
>
> Are there ANY utilities out there that can make my life EASIER?=20
>
> I can't be the only one willing to pay good money for a conversion =
> utililty that works reasonably well, and gives me control over how it =
> decides to convert formatting into HTML.  Can anyone recommend some =
> software that might be worth buying.=20
>
> Failing that, do any of you old-timers have some good time-saving tips =
> for transforming Word Processing documents into HTML as quikly, =
> accurately, and painlessly as possible.=20
>
> I will be profoundly grateful for your assistance.
>
>
> Paul C. Lin-Easton
> <lineasto(at)hawaii.edu>
>

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