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authorNorbert Preining <norbert@preining.info>2019-09-02 13:46:59 +0900
committerNorbert Preining <norbert@preining.info>2019-09-02 13:46:59 +0900
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+TeXline
+
+TeXline is produced with plain TeX. It was never designed
+for electronic dissemination. However, it seems reasonable
+to archive some, at least, of the source files in the
+Aston Archive (or anywhere else that wants them). I have
+taken the step of including everything I could find, without
+consulting the original authors, who may, or may not,
+have copyright on the material. Given TeX's public domain
+image and status, it would seem churlish to insist on
+copyright of this material. Nevertheless, if you do
+steal/borrow/plagiarise (depending on your status), you
+could at least give some credit to the author (or even
+TeXline).
+
+The newsletter uses double columning. I am still not
+entirely happy with my double columning macros (other
+people's double columning macros). Since I anticipate
+that use of the material will not be to print out your
+own copy on your own laser printer, I do not see this
+as a problem. I also paste-up the masthead. I see nothing
+wrong with paste-up. It has worked for several centuries.
+
+TeXline is now prepared on a Macintosh (with TeXtures).
+This gives rather different opportunities for file names,
+which I have tended to exploit (more than six characters,
+inclusion of spaces and any other character I like, not
+necessary to have a .tex extension, etc.). I shall
+probably try to standardise on simpler, more `standard',
+less-friendly file names in the future. I have tried
+to make the file names correspond correctly to their
+\input name for VMS, but in the case of `conflict', you
+are on your own (in keeping with the pd image of TeX).
+Life is too short to sort such problems out.
+
+In very general terms, TeXline is organised along the
+following lines (this is a sort of meta-description --
+almost all specific examples will be different):
+texline.tex: a file of macros which sets up most
+ of the environment
+double.tex: one of two double column macros: i sometimes
+ use one set which enclose the whole setup
+ in \begindoublecolumns/\enddoublecolumns,
+ which has the advantage of allowing some
+ mixing of single and double columning;
+ and another set which just modifies the
+ \output routine and only gives double columns.
+verb.tex a verbatim macro (now usually called verbar.tex
+ to remind me that the | character is the
+ important one.
+head.tex does the mast head (sometimes uses PostScript
+ fonts).
+contents.lis this reveals the order of assembly of
+ TeXline. it has a few \TeX\ commands, but
+ it is usually simplified (without the \ejects
+ and other nasties which get inserted). also
+ sometimes given names like tl1-9 (for pages 1--9).
+
+All the other file names are bit arbitrary, depending on my
+mood. They are of course, the articles themselves.
+From time to time one of these input files may call
+another one. These extra `lower' files are the ones most
+likely to be omitted or with non-standard names (because
+I didn't notice them). Note that Kermit has a tendency to
+replace characters it does not like with `X'.
+
+Sometimes I organise things in little batches of a few files,
+and sometimes I don't. It depends.
+
+And sometimes there are pictures. Usually I paste them in.
+In other words, you won't find them here. Until the graphics
+people get their act together, transmitting device independent
+graphics is going to be awkward. Another reason for sticking
+to real paper instead of this electronic nonsense.
+
+malcolm clark