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PDF —
utilities
| - postscript |
: usage, macros, tips and examples. |
| - latex |
: usage, tips and resources. |
| Available information: |
there is more documentation available on the web for (La)Tex. While more
information allows the user to find the necessary information, less
information available does not imply a lack of information, simply may not
be needed and the quality of the information can be better. |
| Formatting: |
While both can change formatting options (margins, fonts, etc.) and
(La)TeX has more information available, examples in a web search show most
documents having the same style as defined by the selected document type,
therefore, finding information about formatting can sometimes be more
difficult. |
| Images: |
there's information about PostScript images using jpg, however, all
parameters need to be set and the image may need converting, (La)TeX has
more image options available. |
| macros: |
PostScript allows creating macros as needed, (La)TeX has prebuilt macros
as packages, which requires installing packages to use most formatting
options. A (La)TeX installation (macro packages) can vary beween 1GB and
6GB while PostScript has no extra requirements other than a text editor
and core utilities to export to PDF. |
| Platform: |
There are Windows programs available for (La)TeX, such as MiKTeX and
TeXworks, while PostScript needs a command line processor like
ghostscript. |
| Properties: |
PostScript can be set to display the document properties when using a
PDF viewer, I have not yet found a way to do that with (La)TeX. |
- (La)TeX may be a better choice for the non-tech user, on Windows or if
time available is to be considered.
- PostScript may be a better option when the content, simplicity and
presentation are the primary focus or available disk space is not enough
for the potential (La)TeX usage.
I prefer PostScript, however, when writing a document for end
users, for the time being, I use (La)Tex because, unfortunately, the company
for which I work does not focus on content and has marketing requirements
for the PDF header to have the company logo and I have not yet written a
PostScript macro for that.