GSoC 2011 Ideas

List ideas for prospective Google Summer of Code 2011 projects here...

scribus-dev mailling list

=Project ideas=

#1 - Real table support
See scribus-dev discussion for details. We already have a capable candidate with a proven track record (KWord GSoC project) ready to take this project on.


 * Skills required: C++, Qt4 knowledge.
 * Scribus lacks real table support. Currently if one wants to have a table he will need to make it in external application and paste it as PS.
 * Tables need to become a new kind of object (aside from image and text objects).
 * 1)  Scribus should do the laying out, including ensuring row height is big enough to provide enough room for the text, the same for columns (plus text wrapping and/or eliding). A possibility for table to flow over several pages should be available.
 * 2)  Easy way to navigate through the cells, and doing table-wide formatting (of all features, text, lines, background...) are much needed.
 * Completing at least first item of this list will count as a success for the project.
 * Scribus should allow importing data from CSV [and other sorts of data] easily (like specifying delimiter, " symbol handling -- see how openoffice.org does it).
 * It is important to keep extendability and good design in mind when you know something isn't going to be finished. The most important part of this project is to lay out a solid table framework that could have it's additional functionality fleshed out later on.

#2 - Extend the Property Palette for better text management

 * First line indent must be available in the PP (and everything that's available in the Styles must be in the PP too)
 * PP and Styles sorted out (see above)

#3 - Improvement of the Undo/Redo system

 * Recent work by Cezary has provided a new impetus for making the Undo system more comprehensive and on par with commercial software. However, more work is required. A GSoC project could provide a lot of benefit in this area in a reasonable time frame.

#4 - Additional import filters to clean-up the Get Text

 * RTF import and similar work has stalled and needs to be done.

#5 - A rewrite of the Style Manager

 * At this time it's probably better to start from scratch and follow the great ideas in the bug tracker.

#6 - Improve Hyphenation Settings

 * This could also be discussed with many of the teams working on word processors (LibreOffice?).
 * Include a hyphenation exception list (from a text file, not like it is now — remember, too many clicks...)

#7 - Allow thin space in Short Words

 * Use short workds or any other automated way. This is a must in French typography and a blocking issue for pros while having a great scope for a GSoC project.

#8 - Improve the handling of the text flow around an image

 * The current handling is inadequate.

#12 - Add export to PDF/X-1a (de facto standard in Norh America)
malex 19:30, 10 March 2011 (CET) =Template=

#xx - title

 * Introduction
 * Rationale
 * Deliverables
 * 1) Part
 * 2) Part
 * Time scale
 * Skills required


 * Summary