Variables, database, expressions in Pages

Question

*Making Pages a tool for techichans and researchers*
Most advanced literature contains text created from specific datastructures.
They could for example be
1 a database being a reference list. At the referring point you use on text, eg "Andersen 56",
at another place there is a refernce list with an entry being a line of a reference list.
In this list there is a header "Andersen 56" and a text entry "Andersen Henry, My research title".
2 there may be result described by an expression using several parameters and result.
Current software as Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, InDesign, Quark etc does not support such feratures.
Some simple variant was supported by FrameMaker, however discontinued.
Implementation
One need two parts, the TEXT and the EXPRESSIONS.
The TEXT should be a Pages document.
Into this document another view is included.
It consists of severeal rows of parameters linked by expressions as in Numbers (or Excel).
One entry (row and column) is referred from in the TEXT.
The referred value (content in the EXPRESSION) is substituted at the particular referencing point.
The text is styled according to style rules in Pages.
*Importing and exporting rows of EXPRESSION*
In order to export rows to other documents or rearrange the EXPRESSIONS andto recognize them: each row must use an IDENTITY.
The reference in TEXT thus consists of (IDENTITY, COLUMN).
Moving the row around among different documents or different tables is therefore possible.
*Apple style*
Combine Numbers an Pages in one product.
Do allow the inclusion of any number of these ones in onde document.
Make one as the main one.
Let the user select the proper document to edit.
*Power of the implementation*
This is one of the most powerful document tools ever designed.
The implementation cost is extremely low, Apple already have Numbers and Pages.
Only a small reference battery, similar to hyperlinks, needs to be developed.
GunnarC

Answer 1

Hello
Apple's programmers don't necessarily have the time to read user-to-user discussion groups.
In fact, they don't visit it.
Apple gave all of us an official channel to pass our wishes:
_*Go to "Provide Numbers Feedback" in the "Numbers" menu*_
My own point of view is that neither Pages nor Numbers are designed as tools for techichans and researchers.
But it costs nothing to try.
Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE dimanche 2 décembre 2007 18:32:49)