WYSIWYG

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WYSIWYG is an acronym for __W__hat __Y__ou __S__ee __I__s __W__hat __Y__ou __G__et and it is pronounced "wizzy-wig." WYSIWYG is a graphical interface that allows the user to visually see the end result while it is being created.



WYSIWYG is a popular application for desktop publishing. One thing to be noted is that many of the desktop publishing applications will be different from the graphics, text and colours. Graphics and text will look sharper when printed than what is on the computer's display screen. The colours will appear differently on the monitor than when it is printed out. Other common uses are in word processors and Web (HTML).

=History=

Before WYSIWYG was invented, text and style characters required the user to enter code tags for styles like bold, italics, font typefaces or size.

Its Origins
The phrase was originated by Jonathan Seybold and made popular at Xerox PARC during the late 1970s. The first WYSIWYG editor was called Bravo and created on the Alto, which was the first personal computer. Seybold and the researchers at PARC reappropriated a popular catch phrase that originated by a character on //The Flip Wilson Show//.

Another PARC researcher, Charles Simonyi, who was responsible for Bravo, joined Microsoft in 1981 and started developing application programs. Therefore, Bravo can be seen as the direct ancestor of Microsoft Word.

=Importance=

Word processor softwares usually imitate the resolution of the printer, therefore to get as close to WYSIWYG. The main attraction of WYSIWYG is the ability of the user to be able to visualize what they are doing.

The following are different WYSIWYG modes from applications:
 * a composition mode: the user sees something somewhat similar to the end result but with more information useful while composing, i.e. section breaks, non-printing characters
 * a layout mode: the user sees something very similar to the end result but with some additional information useful for making sure elements are properly aligned and spaced, i.e. margin lines
 * a preview mode: the application tries to present a representation that is somewhat close to the final result

Design Goals
The design goals of a WYSIWYG application may include:
 * Providing high-quality printed output on a particular printer
 * Providing high-quality printed output on a variety of printers
 * Providing high-quality on-screen output
 * Allowing the user to visualize what the docuement will look like when printed

=Problems=

A major problem is that of varying output resolution, where the user is trying to lay out text. Other problems can be printers that have a selection of fonts that are not the same to those used for on-screen display and matching colour profiles between different devices.

=External Links=

[|Jakob Nielsen's R.I.P. WYSIWYG] [|WYSIWYG vs. Hand Coding, the Great Debate] [|Debate - WYSIWYG: a Web Designer's Dream] [|$9.99 WYSIWYG T-Shirt]

=Works Cited=

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/WYSIWYG.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYSIWYG