UKTeX Digest Friday, 5 Feb 1993 Volume 93 : Issue 05 ``The UKTeX Digest is brought to you as a free, unfunded and voluntary service of the UK TeX Users Group and the UK TeX Archive.'' Today's Topics: {Q&A}: Re: Newsletter macros greek[tT]ex choices Easy Interfaces to LaTeX? Re: Easy Interfaces to LaTeX? Re: Gratuitous spacing with change bars TeX for Unix Re: TeX for Unix TeX for the PC Re: TeX for the PC Help - TeX filters for lpr under unix needed. {Archive News}: update of sparctex kit additions to UK TeX Internet archive RE: additions to UK TeX (Internet/Daughter) archive additions to UK TeX (Internet/Daughter) archive new release of footnpag.sty {Announcements}: abuse of privilege on uk tex archive a LaTeX style option to scale text to fit a box Administrivia: Moderators: Peter Abbott (Aston University) and David Osborne (University of Nottingham) Contributions: UKTeX@uk.ac.tex Administration, subscription and unsubscription requests: UKTeX-request@uk.ac.tex ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Feb 93 17:23:10 +0000 From: Philip Taylor (RHBNC) Subject: Re: Newsletter macros Peter J Knaggs asks: >Could someone point me to a set of macros for composing newsletters. I >know some exist, but what and where I don't know. I am wanting to group >a number of articles together under the one newsletter for internal >publication, with the possibility of going external in the future. A copy of the entire source for Baskerville Volume 2 has been sent to Peter, and is available on request for anyone else who wishes to set a basically two-column newsletter with full-width masthead through the medium of Plain TeX. Philip Taylor, RHBNC. ------------------------------ Date: 01 Feb 93 17:44:18 +0000 From: Andrew Haylett Subject: greek[tT]ex choices I picked up Kostis Dryllerakis' very good greekTeX (version 3.1) from ftp.tex.ac.uk, and have happily been using it to typeset a 70+ page dissertation with quite a bit of NT greek text in it. All works fine. Now I've seen an announcement for Yiannis Moschovakis' greektex package, which also looks pretty good. It's great that we have a choice between two such packages; but which to use? I'd be interested if anyone with experience of both could point out any significant differences. They both seem to use Levy's fonts, so I guess output will look more or less identical, the difference being ease of use under TeX/LaTeX, hyphenation, etc.. They seem to handle fonts differently; KD uses separate 256-character Greek fonts, while YM uses extended CM with Greek in the upper 128 positions. Any comments? Andrew Haylett (ajh@gec-mrc.co.uk) GEC-Marconi Research, Great Baddow, Essex. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Feb 93 17:31:14 +0000 From: A.F.Lack@uk.ac.city Subject: Easy Interfaces to LaTeX? My Director may be interested in using LaTeX if I can find him a package (free or commercial) which will allow him to compose LaTeX documents without having to learn to use the backslash key or any LaTeX commands. I suppose he wants some kind of `wimp' interface where formatting attributes may be plucked from menus. My Director draws a comparison with PC packages like Ventura and Quark which provide this kind of interface. Of course he also wants to see the effects of his labours instantly on the screen. And it should run under X-windows or on a PC. Any chance? sa346@uk.ac.city (JANET) sa346@city.ac.uk (INTERNET) ------------------------------ Date: 02 Feb 93 17:45:56 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: Re: Easy Interfaces to LaTeX? > My Director may be interested in using LaTeX if I can find him a > package (free or commercial) which will allow him to compose > LaTeX documents without having to learn to use the backslash key > or any LaTeX commands. I suppose he wants some kind of `wimp' > interface where formatting attributes may be plucked from menus. this is exactly what Arbortext's "Publisher" software does. I suggest you look at that. also consider Scientific Word; its incomplete, but going the right way. or consider using SGML, and one of the nice packages that are based thereon. > My Director draws a comparison with PC packages like Ventura > and Quark which provide this kind of interface. yes, but they suffer in other ways, dont they? > Of course he also wants to see the effects of his labours instantly > on the screen. And it should run under X-windows or on a PC. the above meet this need s ------------------------------ Date: 04 Feb 93 15:56:41 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: Re: Gratuitous spacing with change bars > Using Changebars.sty (v2.2d) I get extra spaces in the output when I use the > cbend macro. For example, > I write > This is the \cbstart{}third\cbend{} draft of a report .... > I get > > | This is the third draft of a report .... > ^^^^^ > How do I get rid of the extra spaces? read the changebar.sty very carefully and see if you can spot where the authors forgot to put in a % after a } ..... just call me cynical sebastian ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 05 Feb 93 10:16:52 +0000 From: Peter Abbott Subject: TeX for Unix Dear Mr Abbott Once more I find myself writing to request your kind assistance in a matter relating to the use of TeX and LaTeX. You were kind enough to help us out with some problems incorporating graphics output into EmTeX back in 1991, but I now find myself faced with a greater challenge. This company has used Prime computers since its formation, but with the demise of Prime we are (at long last?) turning to Unix, with all the incumbent problems of transferring software and systems. The particular 'flavour' of Unix which has been chosen is the IBM version, AIX, running on an IBM RS/6000. TeX, and more particularly LaTeX, have become critical to our operations, so the question now is simply what, if any, implementations of TeX and/or LaTeX are available on this platform? The timetable imposed upon us for transfer of systems is pretty tight, so any information or sources which you may be able to point us to would be greatly appreciated, as the more familiar our new system is the less painful (in theory, anyway) the transfer should be for the folk using it. Thank you once again, in anticipation of your kindness. Yours sincerely Kevin Atkins Customer Support Manager ------------------------------ Date: 05 Feb 93 10:47:34 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: Re: TeX for Unix > This company has used Prime computers since its formation, but with the > demise of Prime we are (at long last?) turning to Unix, with all the > incumbent problems of transferring software and systems. The sensible people > 'flavour' of Unix which has been chosen is the IBM version, AIX, running on > an IBM RS/6000. i withdraw last remark > TeX, and more particularly LaTeX, have become critical to > our operations, so the question now is simply what, if any, implementations > of TeX and/or LaTeX are available on this platform? easy; more or less all Unix configurations are supported by a single system, which works by converting the TeX Pascal-like source to C, and using your local C compiler (I assume you have purchased one). you can get the generic Unix distribution by sending a 1/4" cartridge to David Osborne Cripps Computing Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD (must include stamps for return postage) note that while `correct', this does not contain the latest or currently recommended versions of some things (drivers, previewers etc). if you have access to file transfer facilities, you can get a more up to date kit from the UK TeX Archive. the Unix TeX setup is one of the most advanced available. you will get a bewildering variety of things available. a lot depends on questions like what previewer and printer you want to use. if you have difficulties, or dont want to wade through everything yourself, you could consider getting someone to come and help you install TeX. a reasonably competent system programmer can expect to spend from 1 to 3 days fighting with the tape and getting it all working `just so'. a second-time complete compilation and setup (ie when you know what you're looking for!) is a few hours sebastian rahtz ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 05 Feb 93 10:17:39 +0000 From: Peter Abbott Subject: TeX for the PC I am interested in obtaining a copy of the TeX package with preview facility for a PC. I called your office some time ago and was told that there are EmTeX sets A, B, C and D. However, there are several points which still remain unclear: 1.Are there separate versions of TeX for PC-XT, PC-AT and for PS/2 or compatiles? 2.What is the minimum configuration of PC-XT and PC-AT or PS/2 for running TeX and the Preview properly? 3.What exactly do sets A, B, C, and D contain? You can give the reply through the e-mail and my e-mail address is: P.E.Panunggal@newcastle.ac.uk Thank you for your attention. Yours sincerely P E Panunggal ------------------------------ Date: 05 Feb 93 10:36:47 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: Re: TeX for the PC > 1.Are there separate versions of TeX for PC-XT, PC-AT and for PS/2 or > compatiles? no. but don't even think seriously about TeX on anything less than a 286 machine. eg junk that XT. the package has special versions for use if you have a 386 or higher, which you can use if you like > 2.What is the minimum configuration of PC-XT and PC-AT or PS/2 for running > TeX and the Preview properly? I'd say a 286 with 640k and 10 mb of disk space; if you have complex documents, you may need a `big' TeX; this is provided, but its very slow, and you get *much* better results using the 386-specific version. so it depends on your documents. > 3.What exactly do sets A, B, C, and D contain? A is the standard distribution from the author B includes a PostScript driver, and the 386 version described above C includes font files for dot matrix FX D includes font files for dot matrix P6M sebastian ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 05 Feb 93 15:11:00 +0000 From: "J.S. Albinson - Operator at KLVAD" Subject: Help - TeX filters for lpr under unix needed. Problem: Where can I find print filter programs for lpr (unix) to print dvi*** type files on a laser printer. Dear Colleagues, I have a problem trying to print TeX and LaTeX files on my system. The setup is as follows. I have Tex etc running on a Decstation 5000/133 running Ultrix 4.2a. The Canon LPB8AII laser printer is connected via LAT and a terminal server. Trying to print out TeX stuff, after it has been through dvican to produce a .dvi-can file, results in rubbish. Ordinary text files print out just fine. Some control characters are obviously not making it to the laser printer. I have tried sending files without a filter without success. The Ultrix manuals hint darkly that a special filter program is needed to print out DVI type files successfully. No information as to where one might find these programs is given. I have looked at all the FAQ's on the Internet that I can readily lay hands on without success in finding a clue. Has anybody got a similar setup running ? Or any idea as to where I might find a TeX dvi filter program? I have been bashing my head against this problem for many weeks without success, so any help would be appreciated very much. Regards, JAmes Albinson KLVAD::JSA or 19565::JSA on STARLINK, SPAN or DECNET JSA@UK.AC.KL.PH.STAR on JANET pha13@seq1.keele.ac.uk on Internet tel: 0782 621111 extn 7889 UK Phone. Dept of Physics, Keele University, Keele, Staffs, ST5 5BG. ------------------------------ Date: 01 Feb 93 14:21:00 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: update of sparctex kit thanks to comments from Tasman vanOmmen and Andrew Trevorrow, and some updated software, I have remade the sparctex kit on ftp.tex.ac.uk. changes - dvips now 5.499, and bug in MakeTeXPK fixed - Metafont X11 support should now work available as sparctex full expanded directory pub/sparctex.tar.Z whole kit as single archive pub/sparctex.tar.Z-nnn whole kit in 500k binary chunks further comments gratefully received sebastian rahtz ------------------------------ Date: 02 Feb 93 14:58:15 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: additions to UK TeX Internet archive Here are the latest additions to the UK TeX Internet/Daughter archive on ftp.tex.ac.uk; details, as usual, are brief. Many thanks to all the authors, and people who pointed to missing/bad items. Directory names are all under pub/archive. JANET users should do file transfer via ftp-relay. A trailing / means it is a directory. Happy TeXing. Sebastian Rahtz, Feb 2nd 1993 ***************************** macros/latex/styles/contrib/hvdashln.sty allows dashed lines around tables help/maltby-intro.tex a 70 page introductory guide to TeX by G Maltby help/virtualfonts.txt notes on virtual fonts by Jeremy Gibbons systems/pc/dos-dc/ a set of packages for using the DC fonts with emTeX - pk files in fli libraries, tfms, support etc dviware/dvimswin/dvimswin.zip Doug Macdonald's Windows previewer; not a new version, but correcting a long-standing mistake - this is the version compiled so it runs under Windows 3, not Windows 2 graphics/bm2font/bm2font.exe new release of popular program to convert graphics files to pk font format dviware/dvips/ upgrade to version 5.499; no changes to the interface (I think), but bugs fixed. gets better all the time languages/greek/moschovakis/ Yiannis Moschovakis version of greektex; a package of programs which make it easy to use the well known Greek text fonts of Silvio Levy in Plain TeX or LaTeX macros/musictex/ version 4.92, which *replaces* fonts/musictex, of Daniel Taupin's package for typesetting music indexing/glo+idxtex/ glotex and idxtex packages, for DOS and Unix. documentation in german so far as I can see. systems/os2/binaries/ latest versions of dvips.exe, afm2tfm.exe and maketexpk.cmd systems/pc/drivers/dvips/ latest versions of dvips, including a complete package ready to unpack for use with emTeX, and separate binaries for dvips, dvipswin, and afm2tfm, for those who want to just update their existing kit fonts/cm/modes-0.12.mf latest release of Karl Berry's modes.mf (loads of Metafont modes for different printers) macros/latex/styles/base/nfss/psnfss/timesmath.sty a style file by Kin Hoong Chung to get as much maths typesetting as possible done with the Times and Symbol fonts in PostScript. Works with the rest of PSNFSS support/os2/pmtex21e.zip Guillaume Schiltz's PM-TeX; this is A TeX-Shell for OS/2 Presentation-Manager to control programs used everyday for the TeX typesetting system such as editors, TeX-interpreters, previewer and printer drivers. support/os2/epmtex.zip Jon Hacker's EPMTeX; this is TeX Macro Enhancements for EPM 5.51 under OS/2. The E macro file tex.e when compiled with the IBM enhanced Editor translator ETPM.EXE will add a TeX pull down menu to the EPM menu bar. Menu items in the TeX pull down menu allow the user to TeX, preview (portrait and landscape), and print (portrait and landscape) the TeX file currently active in EPM. systems/os2/cmtex330.zip Common TeX add-in for emTeX (HPFS/no memory limits) systems/os2/cweb_2_8.zip CWEB programming language documentation program ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Feb 93 14:15:18 +0000 From: Philip Taylor (RHBNC) Subject: RE: additions to UK TeX (Internet/Daughter) archive >>> macros/plain/contrib/settosize.tex >>> macros by Phil Taylor which allow the >>> user to set text exactly in a fixed width, by scaling up the font >>> until it fits Might be worth pointing out that this incorporates \magsteps, which is useful in other contexts as well. \magsteps, when called with a natural number as parameter, re-defines \magstep to be defined for all integral magsteps in the range 0 .. $n$, where $n$ is that natural number. Philip Taylor, RHBNC. ------------------------------ Date: 04 Feb 93 13:58:43 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: additions to UK TeX (Internet/Daughter) archive The following files/directories have been updated/created. When usinmg ftp, these are relative to pub/archive on ftp.tex.ac.uk. bibliography/bibtex/utils/xbibtex/ This directory contains the xbibtex, bibsearch, and bibprocess utilities for bibtex. The xbibtex utility provides an X Window interface for inserting entries into a bibliography database in bibtex format. xbibtex provides a template of the required and optional fields for each entry type defined by \bibtex. In addition, xbibtex accommodates two additional entries named ``keyword'' and ``annote'' for maintaining an annotated bibliography. The user enters the information to be stored in the database; xbibtex automatically inserts the entry in the bibliography file in a format that conforms to bibtex's specifications. bibprocess allows one to merge the contents of user-defined fields into a .bbl file produced by bibtex; bibsearch allows one to retrieve the latex key of publications that contain user-specified keywords. (as described in most recent Tugboat) languages/polish/mex/ current release of Polish TeX system macros/plain/contrib/settosize.tex macros by Phil Taylor which allow the user to set text exactly in a fixed width, by scaling up the font until it fits ------------------------------ Date: 05 Feb 93 11:17:29 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: new release of footnpag.sty ftp.tex.ac.uk:pub/archive/macros/latex/styles/contrib/footnpag/ a new version (2.2) of footnpag.sty footnpag is a LaTeX style option which enables the enumeration of footnotes per page. With two small (documented) changes it runs under Plain TeX as well. (It was first released in August 1987, this is the fourth followup release.) It's supported by myself. Joachim Schrod Email: schrod@iti.informatik.th-darmstadt.de ------------------------------ Date: 01 Feb 93 16:00:28 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: abuse of privilege on uk tex archive It has been brought to my attention that ftp.tex.ac.uk, the UK TeX's Internet archive site, is being used for underhand swapping of pornographic material. Regardless of legality, this is a gross abuse of the generosity of those who offer their machines for the use of the TeX archive. Since all ftp activity is logged, I have a list of sites which have accessed the relevant files. All these sites will be denied ftp access from now on. If any genuine TeX users are at these sites, and are inconvenienced, please could they contact me directly. Sebastian Rahtz ------------------------------ Date: 05 Feb 93 15:21:58 +0000 From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster Subject: a LaTeX style option to scale text to fit a box Phil Taylor recently produced macros which let you scale a bit of text up and up by magsteps until it fits a requested width. I have taken his code and hacked it into a LaTeX style with additional functionality. The interface can be deduced from these examples \scaletowidth{3in}{This is the way of the world} \scaletoheight{7mm}{Cowabunga!} which sets the text in the appropriate size so that its width / height fits just inside the requested dimension. A complete example for railway peoples might be: \documentstyle[psboxit,textfit]{article} \begin{document} My favourite toten is \psboxit{5 cartouche}{\scaletowidth{2in}{GWR}} \end{document} NOTES - if you say \ScalebyMagstepstrue, Phil Taylor's scaling up by magsteps will be used; otherwise it will be just point sizes - this option requires the NFSS in LaTeX - you're certain to need weird-sized fonts; you had better be prepared to have Metafont to hand if you don't use PostScript - extension to paragraphs is left as an exercise for the reader :-} The style can be obtained using ftp from ftp.tex.ac.uk as pub/archive/macros/latex/styles/contrib/textfit.sty Sebastian Rahtz ------------------------------ UK TeX ARCHIVE at ASTON UNIVERSITY >>> UK.AC.TEX <<< *** Interactive and file transfer access *** JANET: uk.ac.tex (DTE 000020120091) Username: public, Password: public Internet: tex.ac.uk [134.151.40.18] -- telnet/rlogin, anon ftp ftp.tex.ac.uk [134.151.44.19] -- anon ftp only For telnet access, login: public, password: public For anonymous ftp, login: anonymous, password: *** Mail server *** Send mail to TeXserver@uk.ac.tex (JANET) or TeXserver@tex.ac.uk (rest of the world) with message body containing the word HELP \section FILES OF INTEREST [tex-archive]00readme.txt [tex-archive]00directory.list [tex-archive]00directory.size [tex-archive]00directory_dates.list [tex-archive]00last30days.files [tex-archive.doc]TeX-FAQ.txt (Frequently Asked Questions list) [tex-archive.doc]FAQ-Supplement-*.txt (FAQ supplement) \section DIGESTS This year's UKTeX back issues are stored in the archive in directory [tex-archive.digests.uktex.93] This year's TeXhax back issues are stored in the archive in directory [tex-archive.digests.texhax.93] Latest TeXhax: V93 #02 \section MEDIA DISTRIBUTIONS Postal addresses are given below. \subsection Washington Unix TeX distribution tape Latest copy of May/June 1991 contains: TeX 3.14, LaTeX 2.09, Metafont 2.7, plus many utilities suitable for Unix 4.2/4.3BSD & System V tar format, 1600bpi, blockfactor 20, 1 file (36Mb) Copies available on: One 2400ft 0.5" tape sent to Aston with return labels AND return postage OR One Quarter-Inch Cartridge, QIC-120 or QIC-150 format (DC600A or DC6150) sent with envelope AND stamps for return postage to Nottingham (Due to currency exchange, this service is offered only within the UK) \subsection VMS tapes VMS backup of the archive requires three 2400ft tapes at 6250bpi. VMS backup of TeX 2.991 plus PSprint requires one 2400ft tape. \subsection Exabyte 8mm tapes Same contents available as 0.5" tapes. Following tape types available: SONY Video 8 cassette P5 90MP, MAXELL Video 8 cassette P5-90, TDK Video 8 cassette P5-90MPB \section TeX IMPLEMENTATIONS FOR SMALL COMPUTERS \subsection OzTeX V1.4 (for Macintosh) Send 7 UNFORMATTED 800K disks to Aston with return postage. \subsection emTeX (for OS/2, PC-DOS and MS-DOS) The complete package (3.5" High density disk format ONLY) is available from Aston at a cost of 15 pounds sterling, including documentation, disks, post and packing (DO NOT SEND DISKS): specify Set A. Additional utilities including DVIPS, 5 pounds sterling: specify Set B. FLI files for FX, 5 pounds sterling: specify Set C. FLI files for P6M, 5 pounds sterling: specify Set D. For general enquiries, and a free catalogue detailing other disk formats, precompiled fonts and lots of other goodies, contact: Eigen PD Software, P.O. Box 722, Swindon SN2 6YB (tel: 0793-611270) (JANET e-mail address: kellett@uk.ac.cran.rmcs) \subsection TeX for the Atari ST All enquiries for disks etc. should be directed to: The South West Software Library, P.O. Box 562, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2YD (JANET e-mail address: mdryden@uk.co.compulink.cix) \section POSTAGE RATES All prices in Pounds Sterling. For Aston orders, make cheques payable to Aston University. 0.5" tapes: UK: 2.50 (one tape), 5.00 (two tapes). Europe: 5.00 (one tape), 9.00 (two tapes). Outside Europe please enquire. 8mm tapes: UK: 1.00, Europe: 2.00. Quarter-inch cartridges: UK: 1.00, Europe: 2.00. Diskettes: Quantity/Size Europe World UK 1st UK 2nd 18/3.5" 3.10 5.10 1.40 1.10 11/3.5" 1.80 2.90 0.80 0.65 18/5.25" 1.20 2.00 0.60 0.50 11/5.25" 0.80 1.30 0.50 0.35 \section POSTAL ADDRESSES Please include SELF-ADDRESSED ADHESIVE LABELS for return postage. Peter Abbott Information Systems, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET David Osborne Cripps Computing Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD (for Quarter-inch cartridges ONLY -- must include stamps for return postage) \section UK TeX USERS GROUP For details, contact: David Penfold, Edgerton Publishing Services, 30 Edgerton Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield HD3 3AD (tel: 0484 519462) or E McNeil-Sinclair, fax: 0272 236169 \bye End of UKTeX Digest [Volume 93 Issue 5] ***************************************