[OS X TeX] Creating a Sensible PDF Document

[Jeffrey J Weimer]

On Feb 7, 2007, at 12:49 PM, André Bellaïche wrote (a since much  
commented on question):

> .... English language question : what do you mean by `sensible',  
> applied to a pdf file ? What is the difference with `sensitive' ?  
> In French, the two words are almost synonymous. For differential  
> equations, you can say "sensible aux conditions initiales".

Peter Dyballa summarized my intent in the usage best. As a way to  
expand this ...

In asking about how to obtain "a SENSIBLE PDF document" in the  
context of typesetting with LaTeX,  I meant something along the lines  
of "the PDF document obtained by the typesetting process conforms in  
such a way to my wishes that it leaves little doubt about its further  
utility". I thereafter defined my primary interests as small and  
cross-platform compatible (ie, I defined what for me were the  
requirements to be sensible).

By comparison, in proposing an option that uses only two font  
families, I could be said to be INSENSITIVE to the demands of those  
who want a plethora of font families within their document.

Actually, I am sensitive to the fact that others may want many font  
families in their documents. As such, they will find my first option  
makes no sense for them (ie, they will find it is not sensible).  
OTOH, demands to be able to include multiple fonts in a document are  
not sensible enough to me for what I wish to accomplish right now.  
Therefore, I will remain with what is for me a sensible option even  
though it may cause me to be labeled as being insensitive.

Considering the phrase "sensible aux conditions initiales" in the  
context of differential equations, I would translate this as "The  
solution to the differential equation is sensitive to the initial  
conditions". Now, how would you state that ... "A sensible solution  
to the differential equation must satisfy the initial conditions"?

Does that help?

--
J. J. Weimer, Chemistry / Chemical & Materials Engineering
University of Alabama in Huntsville, MSB 125, 301 Sparkman Dr
Huntsville, AL 35899                phone: 256-824-6954
------------------------- Helpful Info -------------------------
Mac-TeX Website: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/
TeX FAQ: http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq
List Archive: http://tug.org/pipermail/macostex-archives/
List Reminders & Etiquette: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/list/