The Easy Guide To PP Tools

Introduction

This guide is meant as an easy step-by-step guide to installing and understanding some of the most commonly used PP tools. It is aimed at making the process as simple as possible for the beginning PPer.

Do I really need to install this stuff?

Theoretically, the entire PP process can be done in a normal text editor, without automated tools. However, the PP tools make light work of jobs which would otherwise take hours to do by hand, like renumbering pages or moving footnotes. They also allow you to automate checks to help identify errors which are very difficult to catch with just visual checks. You will save yourself a vast amount of work by using one of the PP tools and end up with a much better end result.

How difficult will it be to use?

Installing the PP tools can take a bit of work, but, once installed, they are very easy to use. Our developers have made them specifically with 'the average PPer' in mind and regularly request feedback from the community to make sure they are easy to use, free of bugs and up to date with the latest guidelines. You will recognise a lot of features from the proofing interface and of course, there is plenty of help available on the forums or from your PP mentor.

Fine, you've convinced me. Let's get started. What exactly do I need?

You will need the following:

• An interface: this is the program in which you can see the text and which can be used to run all the other tools from. Guiguts, Gutwrench and ppgen are interfaces.
• An interpreter program: The PP tools are written in code that is not automatically installed on most computers, so you will need to teach your computer this language first. Perl and Ruby are examples of programming language used frequently by our developers.
• Gutcheck: Gutcheck is a program that can run a whole variety of automated checks on your file, such as looking for invalid characters, long lines, incorrectly spaced formatting etc. PG uses it to check your text, so you need to make sure you have completed this as well.
• Aspell: this is the spell checker program. It comes with dictionaries in pretty much every language.
• HTML Tidy (Optional): this is a program that will check your HTML output for common errors. Essential if you make an HTML version. However, if you prefer to install it at a later date, you can also use one of the many online version for your first few texts.
• An image viewer to look at the scans and, if necessary for your project, prepare illustrations. You can also open the scans from the diff pages on the DP website, but be aware that they will take some time to download each time you open them.

Are there any other programs I should get?

The programs above are enough to get started on your first text. However, further down I've listed optional tools which you could also consider. None of those are essential, but they will make a few more jobs easier or quicker.

Optional Tools

Automatic TR Note with Errata: trnote

During post-processing you might come across a lot of printer errors. You can use trnote to automatically format all your corrections and make a nice note at the end of your HTML file that lists the changes you have made.

• Where to download:

• How to install:

• User instructions:

• What if I have questions?

trnote -- PP tool to manage corrections is the forum thread that introduces trnote and where the developer will answer your questions.

Format Checker: gwmap

• Where to download:

• How to install:

• User instructions:

• What if I have questions?

Self-Check Tools: pphtml, ppsps, pptxt

• Where to download:

• How to install:

• User instructions:

• What if I have questions?

GutAxe and GutWrench plugins in guiguts

GutAxe and GutWrench plugins have been converted for use in guiguts; the converted files (with directions), and the scripts to do the conversions, are here