Flexible text display with Lector

Abstract

Lector, an X11 application for flexible text interaction, is described. Lector was originally devised as a simple, rapid formatter for the display of online text databases. It was then discovered that Lector exhibited useful capabilities for a wide range of text applications. The ways in which Lector distinguishes between content and tags in descriptively marked-up text and achieves flexible interaction are discussed. Its applications as a text previewer, database browser, code prettyprinter, and menu utility are also discussed.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>