Why Use MTX?
MTX is a powerful tool for creating World Wide Web documents. It has several advantages over other approaches including:
- Source files are easy to create and maintain
- No special editor or editing skills are needed
- Stylistic and functional elements are consistent across all documents
- Repetative and complex tasks are automated
- Many high level functional components are available
You should consider using MTX if you need to:
- Convert existing word processing documents into HTML
- Create and manage large collections of HTML documents
- Integrate HTML documents from several sources and authors
- Create interactive question banks with instructional feedback
- Create and distribute presentation slides for lectures
The following table summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of various World Wide Web authoring tools:
Comparison of World Wide Web Authoring Tools
| MTX Format | HTML Editing 1 | WYSIWYG Editors 2 | Application Translators 3 |
|---|
| WYSIWYG Editing | No | No | Yes | Partial |
|---|
| Source File Format | Plain Text | Plain Text | Plain Text 4 | Proprietary |
|---|
| Learning Curve | Short | Long | Short 5 | Short 6 |
|---|
| Additional HTML Editing Required | Rarely | Always | Occasionally | Often |
|---|
| High Level Components | Yes 7 | No 8 | No 8 | No 8 |
|---|
| Cross Platform Availability | No 9 | Yes | No | No |
|---|
| Cross Document Components | Yes | No | No | No |
|---|
| Enforced Document Consistency | Yes | No | No | No |
|---|
| Enforced Compliance with HTML Standards | Yes | No | No | Yes 10 |
|---|
| Encourages Distributed Work | Yes | No | No | Yes 11 |
|---|
| Scalable to Large Projects | Yes | No | No 12 | Yes 11 |
|---|
Notes
- Includes plain text and specialized HTML editors.
- Includes Adobe PageMill and Arachnid.
- Includes translators for various word processors, spreadsheets, and page layout programs.
- Limited by the WYSIWYG editor's ability to import HTML. Adobe PageMill, for example, does not correctly interpret certain hand coded HTML documents.
- Initially WYSIWYG Editors are easy to learn, however, extensive experience with HTML is required to use them well.
- This is highly variable and depends on the application. Translators are easy to learn, however, additional HTML editing is often required to make up for limited functionality.
- MTX currently supports automatic creation of headers, footers, tables of contents, outlines, navigation links, interactive questions, presentation slides, and keyword indexes.
- Some high level components are possible using page templates.
- The MTX format is generic to any computer. The the MTX to HTML conversion program is currently only available for the Macintosh. We are actively looking for collaborators to bring MTX tools to other systems.
- Highly variable since additional HTML editing is often required to make up for limited functionality.
- Work can only be distributed and scaled if all participants use the same application.
- Tools for managing large projects may be available on certain high end systems such as UNIX.
- The array of available HTML tools is constantly changing. Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of the information presented here. We welcome additions, corrections, and comments.
Edited on February 18, 1996 / Updated on March 5, 1996
MTX 1.3 User's Manual / Copyright 1996 by the University of Florida
Location: http://www.med.ufl.edu/medinfo/mtx/docs/why.html
Contact: Richard Rathe / rrathe@ufl.edu