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Why is Microsoft Word??? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 2 weeks ago by ksynwa@lemmygrad.ml to c/comradeship@lemmygrad.ml

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As a sweaty loser, all my adult life if I had to emit a document I either used LaTeX or Pandoc (which also uses LaTeX). LaTeX is its own can of worms (strange syntax, unwelcoming for newcomers, not easy to install, etc.) but if it's weird, it's weird in a way that I can wrap my head around.

For a group project we are using Microsoft Word, the online version, because I don't have it in me to extol the virtues of LaTeX or Typst to non-tech people. We are using the online version because of the collaboration thing also because no one wants to buy Office.

It's such a strange piece of software. Like what I am trying to do right now is this: semantically designate headings and subheadings to automatically number them and generate a table of content. But it just won't work and I have no idea why because it doesn't say anything.

When I am trying to number headings manually, it sees and understands what my intention it and turns into a numbered list, changes the number to "1.". To work around this I have to add "a6." then remove the "a".

I am sure that Word veterans are horrified that I am doing everything wrong. I am accept your accusations with humility and grace. But I just want to be done with.

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[–] Comprehensive49@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Much of this probably has to do with the online version being really limited, but in the desktop version, you can right-click (or is it hover-click?) on the numbering or heading icon in the ribbon, open the expanded dialog, and set up really nice custom numbering/heading systems.

I've used Word/LibreOffice all my life, and I'm trying to get into LaTeX and Typst. It feels just as bad moving the other way (except math, LaTeX math is awesome!), I've just resolved to have AI generate my damn LaTeX templates. We all like what we're used to.