this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2024
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I hate excel so much (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
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[–] helpImTrappedOnline 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

To be fair word isn't good at it either.

I've found setting a PowerPoint slide to standard paper size is the best for quick page layout and "graphic design" for things like a poster or sign.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Word being a word processor also sucks at document layout. Most software that isn't made for laying out documents suck at it, but people all try. My god do they try...

[–] helpImTrappedOnline 2 points 1 month ago

Add one small image to word and the whole page goes nuts:

[🖼️] h

E L

L

O

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

What software is good for document layout anyway? Something with PDFs?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There's so-called desktop publishing software.

In the open-source world, I typically see Scribus recommended.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm probably dead wrong somehow, but I don't see why these aren't the standard text document software. Is there some part of just a solid wall of text that can't be done with DPS? Is the limitations of word processors somehow good for office use to the exclusion of slightly interesting formatting?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Automatic formatting. Try to have an automatic table of content with and automatic index of tables in draw, it's not available. When I write a lab report, I don't want to check every page to make sure the title 3 is still on page 4.

Formatting software are good at manual formatting. Word processors are good at convenience. Once you know your way around, you can be fairly good at formatting with them, and you get the advantages of having some automatic features.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah, I find the similarity most striking with LibreOffice Draw vs. LibreOffice Writer. It very much feels like Draw is just a superset of the features of Writer.

There is certainly some differences, though, e.g. text doesn't automatically overflow onto new pages, text boxes don't automatically increase in size, things like that.
Everything is a lot more static, which is great for layout, and less great, if you just need to type out some text.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Adobe sucks but InDesign is still pretty much the standard; it begrudgingly does a pretty good job.

Affinity Publisher is coming along nicely though. And yeah Scribus is not too bad either.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

*Cries in vector