Composer Features

MXN · Post by **MXN** » December 9th, 2002, 4:09 pm

I really think that Composer should turn into something that looks like a word processor. I think it would get a bit more usage than it does now, because most people who want to make websites will use a higher-end editor, a plaintext editor, M$ FrontPage Express, or those SiteBuilder thingies on the web. Most wouldn't use Composer for that. But if Composer were to function like a word processor, it would have the advantage of being cross-platform and cross-product. (Word can view HTML files, you know.) And HTML coupled with CSS can do most of what Word can do. Of course, Composer would still allow you to make webpages.

There was a <a href="http://www.mozdev.org/" title="MozOffice">MozDev.org project</a> aiming to do this, BTW, but I don't think it's gotten too far.

And as for the features and improvements I'd like:

A reorganized toolbar: <a href="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=148924" title="Assigned: [RFE] Reorganize Composer Primary Toolbar">Bug 148924</a>
An expanded Insert Symbols and Characters palette: <a href="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=158965" title="Assigned: Insert | Characters and Symbols should include more code blocks">Bug 158965</a>
Support for MathML editing: <a href="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=78128" title="New: Ability to MathML specific Stuff in Composer">Bug 78128</a> There's already a MathML Editor for Mozilla, but it would be nice if it were integrated into Composer. And Word already has an Equation Editor.
Support for SVG editing (at least for SVG-enabled builds) I know SVG support isn't very far along, but when it's to a decent level, I think Composer should allow you to add shapes and such, like Word allows with the Drawing toolbar.

Yeah, I know that most of these requests are a long way off, but they would be good features, IMO.

Ploum · Post by **Ploum** » December 9th, 2002, 4:30 pm

why not include support for latex ? and then ... and then...

I think you could have what you want with openoffice ! It's not the goal of mozilla....

MXN · Post by **MXN** » December 9th, 2002, 4:46 pm

Well, I was thinking that Composer could go in the direction of a word processor. I didn't mean to suggest that Composer should become a full-fledged OpenOffice. Then again, I think it would be an even better idea if Composer were broken off of the Mozilla suite and grown into a full-fledged word processor. Or maybe the Phoenix developers will find time to "Phoenix-ize" Composer after they get done with ThunderBird.

Also, according to <a href="http://216.239.39.100/custom?q=cache:Xy4cpTdYAM8C:www.mozillazine.org/articles/article2278.html+goal+mozilla&hl=en&ie=UTF-8">this article</a>, Mitchell Baker once said:

Mitchell Baker wrote:As the browser has become the main interface between users and the Web over the past several years, the goal of the Mozilla project is to innovate and enable the creation of standards-compliant technology to keep content on the Web open.

I'd say that a good program for creating standards-compliant pages would fit into Mozilla.org's goal.

nicubunu · Post by **nicubunu** » December 9th, 2002, 11:41 pm

I don't like the ideea of composer becoming a kind of word editor, for that is <a href="http://abimoz.mozdev.org/">AbiMoz</a> and, from what i understand, is working already in Penzilla

3rd-hand · Post by **3rd-hand** » December 10th, 2002, 3:29 pm

I've been thinking a bit about what I'd like to be made out of Composer.

I'd like to have a professional editor with support for HTML, XML, CSS and Javascript. There could be different editing interfaces for different XML languages - as an example, SVG could have image editing tools, and so on. You'd be able to make your own editing tools and install as XPIs.

Maybe this is outside the scope of Composer, but a standalone app would be cool. I'd love to start a mozdev project, but I'd need help from skilled coders (I only know a little XUL myself). Anyone interested?