MagicPoint is one of several open-source presentation programs,[2] often used to produce slides for conferences.[3] Unlike most presentation programs, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, where a GUI is used to create slides, MagicPoint slides are created by writing text files using a simple markup language. The resulting file is then displayed with MagicPoint's X11-based viewer.
 | |
| Developer(s) | WIDE Project |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 1.13a
/ February 13, 2008 |
| Operating system | Any Unix-like |
| Type | Presentation program |
| License | BSD license[1] |
| Website | http://member.wide.ad.jp/wg/mgp/ |
History edit
MagicPoint was originally created in the autumn of 1997, at a WIDE Project camp. It was originally known as tp, standing for TinyPoint,[4] but in December the name was changed to MagicPoint.[5]
Features edit
- Content is written in text files and formatting is indicated by text features. For example, different level bullet points can be created by simply indenting the text with tabs[6]
- Many image formats are supported[7]
- Slides can be scaled to different screen sizes[8]
- External applications can be executed from inside the presentation
- A talk timer and slide guide are included[7]
- Presentations can be exported to HTML or PostScript files.[9]
Another feature of MagicPoint is the ability to draw on slides during a presentation.[2] By pressing x on the keyboard, the slide can temporarily be scribbled on with red "ink". Shift x allows you to cycle through other pen colours.
References edit
- ^ FSF Directory
- ^ a b Using Linux for Presentations Mini-HOWTO
- ^ List of MagicPoint presentation by Google
- ^ MagicPoint man page
- ^ Jun-ichiro itojun Hagino: itojun's pictorial diary Archived 2007-04-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Grumpy Editor's guide to presentation programs [LWN.net]
- ^ a b David MacKay: Useful stuff: Magicpoint
- ^ MGP Toolbox
- ^ (Linux) Event HOWTO