While Pathagoras has extolled its plain text underpinnings from day one, other programs are no adopting the term to try to project simplicity in their products. 'Plain text' has now become a buzzword among document automation programs. There is no legislated definition, so like so many other buzz words ('farm raised', 'cage free' and the like), it can mean anything the user can get away with.

   In the next pages, we do a deep dive into what Pathagoras means (and has always meant) by 'plain text,' it's benefits and even it's drawbacks.

   (This section is partly brand new, and partly a rearrangement of other sections of the Manual that discussed plain text. For a while, while editing of this section of the Manual proceeds, it may appear a bit repetitive and disjointed. We are working on that. But you will nevertheless get a good (if not overkill) feel for why we are so proud of out approach to plain text.