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diff --git a/info/digests/tex-mag/v3.n3 b/info/digests/tex-mag/v3.n3 new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..af15c47005 --- /dev/null +++ b/info/digests/tex-mag/v3.n3 @@ -0,0 +1,2043 @@ +******************************************************************************* +* * +* TTTTTTT X X M M GGGGGG A Mostly Unofficial * +* T X X MM MM G Publication for Users * +* T EEEEEEE XXX M M M M A G GG Of the TeX Computer * +* T E X X M M M A A G G Typesetting System. * +* T EEEE X X M M M AAAAA GGGGGG * +* E A A Volume 3, Number 3 * +* EEEEEEE A A Distribution: 1689 or so... * +* * +******************************************************************************* + +June 7, 1989 + +Contents +\footnote............................................................1 +Letters to the Editor................................................2 +News + Headlines...........................................................3 + Nordic TeX Meeting..................................................4 + Announcement of a Forthcoming Meeting on FONTS, DESIGN AND USE......5 + TeX Users Group TeX courses 1989....................................6 + TeX Users Group annual meeting: Ten years of TeX and Metafont.......7 + Second Announcement and Registration Form: TeX89....................8 +DANTE --- Deutschsprachige Anwendervereinigung TeX...................9 +Preliminary table of contents, TUGboat 10#2 July 1989...............10 +Report from the DVI Driver standards committee......................11 +PD version of TeX for MSDOS/PCDOS...................................12 +METAPLOT: a package for integrating line printer plots with TeX + using Metafont.............................................13 +RUMDJET -- A DVI Driver for the HP DeskJet..........................14 +Books on type: _An Atlas of Typeforms...............................15 +TeX mysteries and puzzles...........................................16 +A summary of TeX-related information of note........................17 + + + + + + + +__1 +\footnote{Come together} + +One of the stunning things that one might notice from this issue of +TeXMaG is that there is a large amount of activity of national TeX +groups in Europe. Those of you who remember my last \footnote on +TeX in Europe will doubtless be able to predict what comes next: I'm +still jealous. + +It could be said that TUG is America's national group and we're just +really nice guys for allowing all those foreigners in, but I don't +think that is a satisfactory solution to my malaise. What I would +like to see here in North America is a proliferation of regional TeX +Users Groups. Certainly some of the functions of the national groups +in Europe are unnecessary (e.g., developing protocols for TeX use in +the local vernacular), but other functions can certainly come into +play. Local help sessions would be helpful. Also, a local users group +might be helpful in convincing local typesetters to support +typesetting DVI output. A local users group might also be able to +efficiently sponsor courses in TeX, LaTeX, and Metafont as well as +other related topics. + +So let's hear from people from the U.S. about starting up local +groups. I'm more than willing whatever support I can through TeXMaG +to help get things started. + +--- + +On a related note, here are a couple of not-so-new local TeX mailing +lists on Bitnet. To subscribe to any of these lists, send the command + SUBS listname your name here +to LISTSERV at the node indicated. For example, if I were to subscribe +to GUT@FRULM11, I would send the command + SUBS GUT Don Hosek +to LISTSERV@FRULM11 + +GUT@FRULM11 French Language TeX discussion list. +TEX_D-L@DEARN German Language TeX discussion list. + + + + + + + +__2 +********************************************************************** +* Letters to the Editor * +********************************************************************** + +>Date: Thu, 13 Apr 89 13:05:29 -0400 +>From: bernsten@phoenix (Dan Bernstein) +>Subject: Re: TeXMaG V3N2 + +I respond to the message of Fritz Zaucker <F48@DHDURZ1> in V3N2. + +Mr. Zaucker wonders why TeX can't insert italic corrections for +itself. This would be an easy extension, and TeX could do the job much +more straightforwardly and reliably than my macros. However, a rule +like that goes against the generality and beauty of TeX. If there were +a sensible and simple way to specify such inter-font, general kerning +rules, it would indeed be appropriate to add such capability to TeX. +But I see no such general way, other than to allow arbitrarily +specified kerns between characters from arbitrary fonts, which would +require large and inefficient data structures, and destroy the +integrity of each individual font. + +I have never had a problem using my macros; I haven't typed \/ in a +long time. Who cares whether TeX can do it by itself? + +---Dan Bernstein, bernsten@phoenix.princeton.edu + +===================================================================== + +> Date: Thu, 13 Apr 89 11:39 EST +> From: TEXAMPLE@VUVAXCOM.BITNET +> Subject: HELP!?? + +Dear Don Hosek, + +I know you are not really the person to ask this question, but having +received the latest TeXMaG, with the TeX-related info at the end, I +thought I would give it a try. + +I receive TeXhax on Bitnet. + +CORRECTION: make that I RECEIVED TeXhax on Bitnet. + +In the changeover of managing of TeXhax, a sizable piece of the bitnet +distribution was screwed up. I received only issue 12.89 this year. I +got confusing messages from my listserver telling me I was transferred +to another one. At the new one I cannot even get a listing of TeXhax +files or any information. Now I cannot seem to get the listing from +the old listserver. + +When I did in October it was way behind and therefore useless. +Glenn Vandenberg doesn't answer me. I am stuck. How can I get the +first 20 issues of TeXhax on my own? Can I get them from Clarkson? If +so, your info is not sufficient for me; what is the full address +including username or whatever? or is SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU all I need? + +Through a special appeal to the editors of TeXhax, I have somehow been +put directly on a distribution I think (I am not sure) since issue 20. + +How can TeXhax function so poorly? Who can I complain to? All I want +is the possibility to get the back issues that have not been sent to +me, and resume the past reliable reception. + +Is it hopeless? Have I been lucky that TeXMaG seems to have reached +me? Or what? I cannot believe that there are not lots of other people +in my same situation. What can we do? + +Thanks for whatever help you can give me. + +Frustrated in Philly +Bob Jantzen Villanova University + +===================================================================== + +>Subject: Producing on-line and printed documentation +>Date: Fri, 14 Apr 89 12:41:22 -0400 +>From: Stephen Gildea <gildea@BBN.COM> + +In TeXMaG V3N2, Hubert Partl asks about systems that allow the same +source to produce both printed documents and on-line information +files. + +The Free Software Foundation's TeXinfo provides this feature. +Documents written for TeXinfo can be run through TeX to produce +beautiful printed documents, or can be run through an Info formatter +to produce a file that can be read with Info, a sophisticated +documentation reader. Info is currently part of GNU Emacs, but will +probably soon be available separately. + +From the manual, "TeXinfo files contain a stricly limited set of +constructs for a TeX macro package quite different from plain TeX. The +strict limits make it possible for TeXinfo files to be understood also +by the texinfo program, which converts them into Info files." + +Information about TeXinfo can be obtained by sending mail to +gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu or by writing to the Free Software Foundation, +675 Mass Ave, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139. + +====================================================================== + +> From: <msholind@sol.UVic.ca> +> Date: 21 Apr 89 12:28 -0800 +> Subject: resume.tex + +I hope you can remember resume.tex. My question is how to separate +lines inside the \tag...\endtag so it looks somewhat like the +following + + Heading + + (date) first line + second line + third line + +or + Heading first line + second line + ... +where each line is not long enough to fill the whole line. + +Any help which would point me in the right direction so I can solve +this would be great, eh. + + Murray Sholinder + +[Anyone care to offer some solutions?]] + +======================================================================== 121 + +>Date: Wed 24 May 89 16:51:36-EST +>From: bbeeton <BNB@MATH.AMS.COM> + +A recommended book: + Raymond Seroul, Un petit Livre de TeX + InterEditions, Paris, 1989 + 317 pages, in French + Includes a substantial glossary of control sequences, with + good explanations and references to more substantial coverage + in the text. TUG is investigating the possibility of having + it translated into English and publishing it. + +(I got a copy at the recent GUTenberg meeting in Paris. The topic of +the meeting was "TeX and Graphics". Very interesting -- a short +report will be in the "editorial comments" column of TUGboat 10#2.) + + + + + + + +__3 +********************************************************************** +* Headlines... * +********************************************************************** + +-> Northlake Software has renamed and expanded their family of DVI + drivers for VAX/VMS systems. A recent relase stated: + T2 Family + T2 is our new name for a family of products that interface TeX to + a variety of output devices. T2 mimics the VMS PRINT command and + builds on this familiar foundation to give full control over the + appearance of the typeset document. + T2/jet Prints TeX output on Hewlett Packard LaserJet printers. The + current release is 1.0 and is currently in field test. Initial + release is scheduled in April. + T2/ln03 Prints TeX output on DEC LN03 printers. (Previously called + LNTeX.) The current release is 1.0.5. Version 1.1 is scheduled for + shipment May 30 and will include fixes to all known bugs, new + documentation, and other enhancements. + T2/script Prints TeX output on PostScript printers and + typesetters. It supports the full range of PostScript devices, and + allows access to the font and graphic capabilities inherent in the + PostScript language. The current release is 1.0 and is in field + test. Initial release is scheduled in May. + The address for Northlake software is: + Northlake Software + 812 SW Washington Street + Portland, Oregon 97205 (USA) + Phone: 503-228-3383 + Fax: 503-228-5562 + +-> Some more new versions of MFware have been released: MFT 1.1, + GFtoDVI 2.0, and GFtoPK 2.0. These are available for anonymous FTP + from Score.Stanford.Edu + +-> Score, the DECsystem-20 machine at Stanford that has been the home + of the "canonical" TeX source files since the beginning, will be + unplugged on 31 August 1989. Members of the TUG Board are + investigating possible alternative arrangements, at Stanford and + elsewhere, to try to avoid any disruption of service to TeX users. + Developments will be publicized in TeXMaG and in the other + TeX-related periodicals. + +-> The following new files are available from LISTSERV@DHDURZ1: + In TEXTOOLS FILELIST: + SUPERTAB STY - a new version + In TEX-PC FILELIST: + RUMDJET UUE - a driver for a HP DESKJET + RUMHELP UUE - a help text (in German) + CDVI12 UUE - a preview for a IBM PC + + If the files are uuencoded, the programs to decode are available in + the TEXTOOLS FILELIST. + +-> In an effort to let the TeX community know what public domain TeX + resources are available, and how to get them, a regular column will + begin in an upcoming issue of TUGboat which will describe how you + can obtain a public domain copy of TeX for your computer. If you + have, or are aware of public domain copies of TeX that can be + requested, FTP'd, or in some other manner be obtained, please send + a note to: + Dean Guenther + WSUCSC + Pullman, WA. 99164-1220 + USA + + Bitnet: GUENTHER@WSUVM1 + Internet: guenther@wsuvm1.wsu.edu + + + + + + + +__4 +********************************************************************** +* NORDIC TeX Meeting * +********************************************************************** + + June 12th, 1989 + + To be held at + Lindstedtsv\"agen 25, + room D1, + Royal Institute of Technology, + Stockholm + +Program: + +TeX today and in the future. -- Niels Mortensen +Back to international standards. -- Malcolm Clark +Nordic national letters. -- Staffan Romberger +Standard proposal (recommendations for TUG 89) +TeX and graphics. -- Bj\o{}rn Larsen +Integeration of Autocad in LaTeX. -- Anders Eriksson +Graphics in TeXtures. -- Miro Sedlacek +TeX on workstations (demo of the Publisher). +Phototypesetting and high quality output. -- Peter Busk Laursen +TeX and PostScript -- experiences. -- Jan M Rynning +Panel discussion. +Dinner at the KTH "V\"ardshus" + +Contact: Roswitha Graham + tel: 46 8 790 6525 + fax: 46 8 25 10 + tlx: 103 89 KTHB S + email: roswitha@admin.kth.se + + + + + + + + +__5 +********************************************************************** +* UKTUG * +* The UK TeX Users Group * +* Announcement of a Forthcoming Meeting on * +* FONTS, DESIGN AND USE * +* on Wednesday 5th July 1989 * +* at Aston University, Birmingham, U.K. * +********************************************************************** + +The main topic of this third one-day meeting of UKTUG will be "Fonts, +Design and Use", with a programme of invited speakers. Anyone else +wishing to contribute a talk on this topic should contact Peter Abbott +at the address below. There will also be a session during the day to +provide an update on the organisation and structure of UKTUG, together +with an election of committee members. + +MEETING DETAILS: +The meeting will be held in Room G17, Main Building, Aston University. +It will commence at 11.30am, with coffee available from 11 o'clock. +There will be breaks for lunch and tea -- it is expected that the +meeting will finish around 4.30pm. + +DIRECTIONS: +By train: To Birmingham New Street Station. After passing the ticket + barrier go up the escalator opposite, turn left and walk + through the shopping area, and down a ramp into Corporation + Street. Walk along Corporation Street (two underpasses) and + across the road where the QE II Law Courts are on the + right. At the end of the street (which turns back on itself + is a grassy bank on the right, and a subway. The fire + station (white tower with a defunct clock) and the campus + can be seen across the road to the right. Take the subway + to the University campus, and follow the signposts to the + Main Building. + +By car: From the M6 leave at junction 6, the A38(M). Follow the + signs to the end of the expressway (DO NOT follow the signs + to Aston -- this is a district of Birmingham, NOT the + University). At the end of the expressway move to the left + hand lane (do not go over the flyover). Drive past the fire + station and the first road, but turn into the slip road + signposted to the University car park. Park on the visitors + car park, and walk across the campus to the Main Building. + +Once at the Main Building, room G17 will be signposted from the +entrance. + +BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS: +There will be a charge for the meeting of 12.00 (pounds) to cover +room hire and refreshments, including a buffet lunch. Please complete +the booking form below, and send it together with your payment to: + + Peter Abbott + UKTUG + Computing Service + Aston University + Aston Triangle + Birmingham Tel: (021) 359 5492 + B4 7ET Janet: ABBOTTP@UK.AC.ASTON + + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + UKTUG BOOKING FORM + +I wish to attend the third one-day UKTUG meeting at Aston University +on 5th July 1989. + +Name: ________________________________________________________ +Organisation: ________________________________________________________ +Address: ________________________________________________________ +______________________________________________________________________ +______________________________________________________________________ +Telephone: ____________________ Email: ___________________________ + + + Car parking space required: Yes/No + * 12 pounds payment enclosed: Yes/No + ** or 17 pounds purchase order number: _________________________ + + Signed: _________________________ + + Date: _________________________ + +Notes: +* Cheques should be made payable to UKTUG. +** A Purchase Order, with an order number, is an acceptable + alternative method of payment, but will attract a 5 pounds + surcharge (total 17 pounds). + +Please send this completed booking form, together with your payment, +to: + Peter Abbott + UKTUG + Computing Service + Aston University + Aston Triangle + Birmingham + B4 7ET + + + + + + + +__6 +********************************************************************** +* TeX Users Group European TeX courses 1989 * +********************************************************************** + + Exeter University, England + +Intensive Beginning/Intermediate TeX 10th--14th July 1989 +Advanced TeX/Macro Writing 18th--22nd September 1989 +Beginning METAFONT 26th--29th September 1989 + +All three courses are being run on behalf of the TeX Users Group. +All courses will include a mixture of lectures and hands-on practical +sessions, using networked IBM-PC compatibles with screen preview, +connected to a laser printer. Instruction on use of the PCs and a +text editor will be provided where necessary. For each course, the +course fee and accommodation bookings have been combined to give one +"package" if required. All bookings and payment are being handled +within the U.K. (in pounds sterling). Details of the courses are given +below. An email version of the registration form is also included. +Anyone wishing more details, or a TeXed registration form, should +contact either Cathy Booth <BOOTH.CM@UK.AC.EXETER> (outside the U.K., +<BOOTH.CM@EXETER.AC.UK>) or Clive Nicholas at the address below. + +*** Important Note: + Early booking for all courses is highly recommended, since if + insufficient registrations have been received *at least* three + weeks prior to the start of each course, then the relevant course + will probably be cancelled (see registration form below). + +Beginning/Intermediate TeX: +This 5-day course is an introduction to TeX using the standard plain +TeX macro package. It will be appropriate for those with little or no +knowledge of using TeX. Each registrant will be given extensive course +notes plus a copy of The TeXbook. Topics covered include: altering the +default plain TeX page layout, dealing with TeX's error and warning +messages, and the fundamental concepts of boxes and glue. Other topics +will include accents and diacritical marks, the use of fonts in a +variety of styles and sizes, the creation of simple macros, and text +indentation. Page layout features like headers, footers and page +numbering will also be included, using the output routine provided +in plain TeX. Various methods of producing simple tables will be +introduced. Instruction on TeX's mathematical capabilities will +include the use of Greek letters, special symbols, fractions and +delimiters -- using both display and text style maths -- as well as +multi-line equation alignments. Pre-requisite: Familiarity with a +text editor. + +Advanced TeX/Macro Writing +This 5-day course is designed for *all* experienced TeX users. +Following on from the Beginning/Intermediate TeX course, there will be +more detailed explanations of the relationship of boxes and glue, +using \hbox, \vbox and \vtop. Also ruled tables, using \halign. The +course will discuss how to construct macros which are both elegant and +useful, as well as how to avoid some of the more obvious pitfalls of +the art. Consideration will also be given to the use of registers, +grouping and conditional statements, as well as tools such as \let and +\futurelet, \begingroup and \endgroup. It is hoped that participants +will come along with lots of questions and home-grown macros +(successful or otherwise), and be prepared to learn by discussion and +"trial and error" as well as by example. Pre-requisites: A sound +working knowledge of TeX (or LaTeX) -- at least equivalent to +Beginning/Intermediate standard, coupled with day-to-day experience. +Please bring your own well-thumbed copy of The TeXbook. + +Beginning METAFONT: +This 4-day course presents the basics of METAFONT, a system for the +design of alphabets. The course includes: basics (coordinate systems, +control points, pens and curves), the organisation of Computer Modern +fonts, METAFONT utilities, and an introduction to logo creation. After +learning how to make logo characters, participants design and produce +a logo of their own during hands-on sessions. The course will be +presented by Doug Henderson -- the METAFONT coordinator for the TeX +Users Group for the past three years -- who works at the University of +California at Berkeley. + + +------------------ cut here for registration form ----------------- + + + TeX USERS GROUP + REGISTRATION FORM + EUROPEAN TeX COURSES 1989 + +This registration form should be completed in block capitals, and +returned with your payment to the address below. Please photocopy this +form as necessary, and complete a separate copy for each participant +on each course. Alternatively, a TeXed version of this form may be +obtained either from Cathy Booth <BOOTH.CM@UK.AC.EXETER> (outside the +U.K.: <BOOTH.CM@EXETER.AC.UK>) or from Clive Nicholas at the address +below. Detailed course descriptions are given above. + +REGISTRATION FEES: +The fee for each 5-day course is 360 pounds per person for those from +academic organisations, and 420 pounds for commercial (non-academic) +companies. For the 4-day METAFONT course the corresponding rates are +300 pounds academic and 360 pounds non-academic. TUG Institutional +Members will be eligible for a 10% discount on the course fee. Groups +of 3 or more from one organisation attending the same course may also +deduct 10% per person. Substitutions may be made at any time before +the start of the course for no additional charge. Individual +cancellations will however incur cancellation charges. If a complete +course has to be cancelled by the TeX Users Group through lack of +numbers, then payment will be refunded in full (including any +accommodation fee). + +INDIVIDUAL CANCELLATIONS: +80% of the registration fee is refundable if notification of +cancellation is received or postmarked not less than two weeks prior +to the starting date. Thereafter 50% is refundable. There is no refund +for partial completion of the course. + +LATE REGISTRATION: +Registration notification received or postmarked less than two weeks +before the start of the course will incur a 5% late registration +surcharge. Notification of late bookings by telephone to Exeter +(0392) 411906 will be accepted up until the Friday before the course. + +ACCOMMODATION: +On-campus accommodation in a hall of residence can be booked for +25 pounds per night -- amounting to an additional 125 pounds for each +5-day course, or 100 pounds for the 4-day course. This includes all +meals, commencing with dinner on the evening preceding the course. +Further accommodation, travel and course details will be circulated to +all registrants a couple of weeks before the course start. Discounts +do not apply to the accommodation charge. + + +REGISTRATION INFORMATION: + +Name: _______________________________________________________________ + +Employing Organisation: _____________________________________________ + +Telephone: ___________________________ Institutional Member? Yes/No + +Address: __________________________________________________________ + +_____________________________________________________________________ + +_____________________________________________________________________ + + +Course Title: _______________________________________________________ + +1 Course fee (5-day: 360/420; 4-day: 300/360) ________ + +2 Institutional member discount (-10% of line 1) - ________ + +3 Group discount (-10% of line 1) - ________ + +4 Late registration surcharge (+5% of line 1) + ________ + +5 TOTAL course fee (total of lines 1 to 4) ________ + +6 Accommodation (5 nights: 125; 4 nights: 100) ________ + +7 TOTAL REMITTANCE (total of lines 5 & 6) ________ + + +REMITTANCE DETAILS: +Payment for the course fee and accommodation may be combined on one +cheque. This must be in pounds sterling, made out to the "University +of Exeter", and sent to: + + Mr. Clive Nicholas + Continuing Education and Training Officer + University of Exeter + Cotley + Streatham Rise Telephone: (0392) 411906 + Exeter EX4 4PE Fax: (0392) 263108 + U.K. Janet email: NICHOLAS.CS@UK.AC.EXETER + Outside U.K.: NICHOLAS.CS@EXETER.AC.UK + + + + + + + +__7 +********************************************************************** +* TeX Users Group annual meeting: * +* Ten years of TeX and Metafont * +********************************************************************** + + Stanford University + August 20-23, 1989 + Updated Program as of April 25, 1989 + +Sunday -- August 20 + + 12:00 - 2:00P.M. Registration +Font Forum + 1:00 - 1:30 Introduction to Metafont -- Doug Henderson + 1:30 - 2:00 From Character Set to Font -- Pierre MacKay + 2:00 - 2:30 Opening Pandora's Box -- Neenie Billawala + 2:30 - 3:00 Order into Chaos: Typesetting Factal Images + -- Alan Hoenig + + 3:00 - 3:15 Break + + 3:15 - 3:45 Design of Oriental Characters with Metafont + -- Don Hosek + 3:45 - 4:15 Thai Languages and Metafont + -- Bob Batzinger (Thailand) + 4:15 - 4:45 A Metafont-like System with PostScript Output + -- John Hobby + 4:45 - 5:15 Migration from Computer Modern Fonts to Times Fonts + -- Ralph Youngen, Daniel Latterner, and + William Woolf + 5:15 - 5:45 Fine Typesetting with TeX Using Native Autologic Fonts + -- Arvin Conrad + 7:00 - 10:00P.M. Dinner at the Sino Restaurant + Reservation required. Formerly known as the China + First restaurant + +Monday -- August 21 + + 7:45 - 9:30A.M. Registration + 8:00 - 8:30 Introduction to TeX and TeX Systems + (for New Members) -- Bart Childs and Alan Hoenig + 8:30 - 9:00 Introduction to TUG and TUG Officers and Staff + +Keynote Address + 9:00 - 11:30 The Errors of TeX -- Don Knuth + + 11:30 - 1:00P.M. Lunch + + 1:00 - 2:30 Elections/Business Meeting + 2:30 - 2:45 Break + 2:45 - 3:00 Report from the Driver Standards Committee + -- Robert McGaffey + 3:00 - 5:00 Output device manufacturer/exhibitor presentations: + ArborText, Inc.; Blue Sky Research; + Computer Composition Corp.; + K-Talk Communications; Kinch Computer Co.; + Micro Publishing Systems; Personal TeX; + TeXnology, Inc. (Tentative listing based on + previous participation. Representatives will be + available throughout the meeting. Exhibit rooms + will be open from 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, until + 5:00 p.m., Wednesday. + +Orientation + 5:00 - 5:15 Things to do in and around Palo Alto -- Ginger Brower + 5:15 - 5:30 Organization of the Birds-of-a-Feather Sessions for + Sites (DG, CMS, MVS, CDC, UNIX, VMS, etc.) + to be held during and after the Wine & Cheese + 5:30 - ??? Wine & Cheese -- hosted by Personal TeX, Inc. + + +Tuesday -- August 22 + +TeX Training + 8:30 - 9:00A.M. Of the Computer Scientist, by the Computer + Scientist, for the Computer Scientist + -- Michael Doob (Canada) + 9:00 - 9:30 Mastering TeX with Templates -- Hope Hamilton + 9:30 -10:00 TeX and its Versatility in Office Production + -- Jo Ann Rattey-Hicks + 10:00 -10:30 TeX for the Word Processing Operator + -- Robin Kubek + + 10:30 - 10:45 Break + + 10:45 - 11:30 Site coordinators' status reports: + (Preliminary listing based on previous participation) + CDC Cyber -- Jim Fox + Data General & Cray -- Bart Childs + IBM MVS -- Craig Platt + IBM VM/CMS -- Dean Guenther + Small Systems -- Lance Carnes + VAX (VMS) -- David Kellerman + UNIX -- Pierre MacKay + + 11:30 - 1:00P.M. Lunch + +General Applications + 1:00 - 1:30 TeX in M\'exico -- Max D\'\i az (M\'exico) + 1:30 - 2:00 TeX for 30,000 -- James Haskell, Wally Deschene and + Alan Stolleis + 2:00 - 2:30 TeX Enslaved -- Alan Wittbecker + +Graphics Applications + 2:30 - 3:00 Methodologies for Preparing and Integrating PostScript + Graphics -- Tom Renfrow + 3:00 - 3:40 TeXpic -- Design and Implementation of a Picture + Graphics Language in TeX \`a la {\sl pic} -- + Rolf Olejniczak (West Germany) + 3:40 - 4:00 Break and organization of Topical Birds-of-a-Feather + (Topics to be decided at this time.) + +Database Applications + 4:00 - 4:30 TeX at Mathematical Reviews -- William Woolf and + Daniel Latterner + 4:30 - 5:00 Lexicography with TeX -- J\"orgen Pind (Iceland) + 5:00 - 5:40 Automated Database Publishing -- Two Case Studies + -- Alex Warman, Alun Vaughan, and Tim Kelly + (Australia) + 5:40 - ??? Topical Birds-of-a-Feather sessions (LaTeX, + graphics, fonts, etc.) + 6:30 - 8:00 10th Anniversary ``Mexican Fiesta'' Dinner + -- sponsored by the TeX Users Group + 8:00 - ??? Social Hour/Party Time -- hosted by ArborText + + +Wednesday -- August 23 + +Help Sessions + 8:30 - 9:30A.M. TeX Help Session -- Barbara Beeton + 9:30 -10:15 WEB Help Session -- Wayne Sewell + 10:15-10:30 Break + +General Information + 10:30 - 11:00 The State of TeX Users Groups in Europe + -- Malcolm Clark (England) + 11:00 - 11:30 Keeping an Archive Dust Free + -- Peter Abbott (England) + + 11:30 - 1:00P.M. Lunch + +TeX Tools + 1:00 - 1:30 Recent Improvements of jTeX and jLaTeX + -- Hideki Isozaki (Japan) + 1:30 - 2:00 TeXreation -- Playing Games with TeX's Mind + -- Andrew Greene + 2:00 - 2:30 Indexing TeX's Commands -- Bill Cheswick + 2:30 - 3:00 DVI File Processing Programs -- Stephan von Bechtolsheim + " - " A Study in Producing Local Style Files for Letters and + Memos -- Steve Sydoriak + + 3:00 - 3:15 Break + + 3:15 - 3:45 Using WordPerfect 5.0 to Create TeX and LaTeX Documents + -- Anita Hoover + " " Inserts in Multiple Columns -- Gary Benson, Debi + Erpenbeck, and Janet Holmes + 3:45 - 4:15 TeX Macros for COBOL Syntax Diagrams + -- Mary McClure + 4:15 - 4:45 Coordinating a Procedural Language and Text Editor to + Create an Efficient and Workable PC Interface for TeX + -- Brad Halverson and Don Riley + 4:45 - 5:00 General wrap-up and closing -- Bart Childs et al. + +An IBM PC and an Apple Macintosh will be available so that member may +exchange software. + +Program Coordinator: + Dean Guenther -- Washington State University, Pullman, Washington +Program Committee: + Hope Hamilton -- National Center for Atmospheric Research, + Boulder, Colorado + Doug Henderson -- University of California, Berkeley, California + Christina Thiele -- Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario + +For more information and a registration form contact the TeX Users +Group, <TUG@Seed.Ams.Com>. + + + + + + + +__8 +********************************************************************** +* Second Announcement and Registration Form * +* TeX89 * +* 4th Annual Meeting of European TeX Users * +* September 11-13, 1989, Karlsruhe, FRG * +********************************************************************** + +As announced before, TeX89, the 4th European TeX Conference, will take +place at Karlsruhe University, FRG, from Monday, September 11, to +Wednesday, September 13, 1989. The conference will be organized by +Anne Br\"uggemann-Klein, Institut f\"ur Informatik, Universit\"at +Freiburg, and Rainer Rupprecht, Rechenzentrum, Universit\"at +Karlsruhe. + +Karlsruhe is a young town situated in the valley of the upper Rhine +and surrounded by the wooded mountains of the Black Forest, the +Palatinate, and Alsace. Some information about Karlsruhe and a +registration card for the room reservation by the Karlsruhe tourist +center are enclosed. + +So far, about 20 papers have been submitted. Main topics are: + +o Retrieving archived files +o SGML and TeX/LaTeX +o Fonts +o LaTeX ... + +There is great interest to discuss special topics, so discussion +groups will be scheduled as part of the conference. Highlights of the +discussions will be presented to the general audience on the last day +of the conference. + +Workshops before and after the conference will be announced +separately. + +The conference fee is DM 280,--. The fee includes registration +materials, lunches, social events and a copy of the conference +proceedings. If paid before the July 1, the fee will be reduced to +DM 250,--. + +If you have any questions or suggestions for the conference, don't +hesitate to contact Rainer Rupprecht, Universit\"at Karlsruhe, +Rechenzentrum, Am Zirkel 2, 7500 Karlsruhe 1, FRG; e-mail: +RZ32@DKAUNI48 (bitnet); tel. (0721) 608-4031. Please give copies of +this form to your colleagues, as the mailing list is incomplete. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + TeX89 + Conference Registration Form + + Name ________________________________________________________________ + Affiliation _________________________________________________________ + Address _____________________________________________________________ + _____________________________________________________________ + _____________________________________________________________ + Telephone ___________________________________________________________ + E-mail ______________________________________________________________ + + Please tick where appropriate: + + ___ Conference fee DM 250.-- (DM 280.-- + after July 1) is enclosed by check. + ___ Conference fee DM 250.-- (DM 280.-- + after July 1) will be sent by check. + ___ Please invoice me, bank transfer will be done + immediately. + ___ I would like to contribute to or participate in discussion + groups on: + 1st choice _______________________________________________ + __________________________________________________________ + 2nd choice _______________________________________________ + __________________________________________________________ + 3rd choice _______________________________________________ + __________________________________________________________ + +Send to: Rainer Rupprecht + Rechenzentrum + Universit\"at Karlsruhe + Postfach 6980 + 7500 Karlsruhe 1, FRG + Telephone: (0721) 608-4031 + e-mail: RZ32@DKAUNI48 (bitnet) + +TeX89 -- We hope to see you in September + + + + + + + + +__9 +********************************************************************** +* DANTE --- Deutschsprachige Anwendervereinigung TeX * +********************************************************************** +By Joachim Lammarsch <RZ92@DHDURZ1.BITNET> + +Last year, when I was in Exeter at the European TeX meeting, was the +first time that the idea of a German TeX society came into my mind. I +saw that the organisation and representation of the European TeX users +was not very good. And the first step towards making it better, in my +opinion, is to improve the organisation of the national groups. + +So because of that, in Freiburg at the German TeX meeting I made the +proposal in my capacity as the coordinator of the German group to +found a German TeX society, and asked for comments about that idea. +The response has been so positive that I have gone on to prepare the +foundation. + +On 14th of April 1989 in Heidelberg, it has come to fruition. DANTE, +Deutschsprachige Anwendervereinigung TeX, has been founded. I agree, +the name is not from a German. But the French users group has taken +the German GUTenberg, so we needed another well-known name. 17 persons +were present to found the society, and after a discussion about the +statutes the board was elected. For chairman of the society the +persons present elected me. For vice chairwoman Mrs. Gabriele Kruljac, +Max--Plank--Institut Stuttgart, for treasurer Mr. Friedhelm Sowa, +Research Center of the University Duesseldorf, and for secretary Mrs. +Luzia Dietsche, Research Center of the University Heidelberg, have +been chosen. + +The principal aim of the society is to encourage advice and +cooperation among German language TeX users. But this is not the only +intention. The user group will examine proposals of members for new +TeX software, if there are some. It will above all cooperate with +other related national and international TeX groups. Besides, DANTE +shall represent the interests of the German language TeX users to the +TeX Users Group more than has happened up till now. Perhaps that will +be done in team-work with other European TeX groups. + +Another activity will be the organisation of training and education. +The first training course will perhaps be held at the next German TeX +meeting. Last, but not least, a newspaper will be edited and +published. + +Institutions as well as individuals can become members. Membership is +possible for universities, publishers, software houses, computer +companies, public authorities, private persons, students, etc. to name +but a few. The dues for the various groups are graduated. + +The first general meeting will take place together with the German TeX +meeting on 11th-13th October 1989 in Eichstaett. The first day of the +meeting will be reserved for the members of DANTE; the other two days +will be the same as normally happens at meetings. + +For more information about DANTE please contact: + + DANTE -- Deutschsprachige Anwendervereinigung TeX + Research Center of the University Heidelberg + Im Neuenheimer Feld 293 + 6900 Heidelberg 1 + West Germany + Bitnet: DANTE@DHDURZ1 + +or + + Joachim Lammarsch + Research Center of the University Heidelberg + Im Neuenheimer Feld 293 + 6900 Heidelberg 1 + West Germany + Bitnet: RZ92@DHDURZ1 + + + + + + + +__10 +********************************************************************** +* Preliminary table of contents, TUGboat 10#2, July 1989 * +********************************************************************** + +General Delivery + Bart Childs From the President + Barbara Beeton Editorial comments + The TeX tests: Determining your level of knowledge + +Software + Michael Spivak, Michael Ballantyne and Yoke Lee + HI-TeX cutting & pasting + +Fonts + Georgia K.M. Tobin Another dingbat idea + Zalman Rubinstein Chess printing via Metafont and TeX + Don Hosek Guidelines for creating portable Metafont code + +Graphics + Phil Andrews Integration of TeX and graphics + at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center + Patricia Wilcox MetaPlot: Machine-independent line graphics + for TeX + +Output Devices + Don Hosek TeX output devices -- Addenda + Tom Reid and Don Hosek + Report from the DVI driver standards committee + +Resources + Malcolm Clark TeXline: A newsletter of the TeX community + Don Hosek Announcing (belatedly) TeXMaG + Peter Abbott UKTeX and the Aston archive + Michael DeCorte The Clarkson archive server -- + Update as of 1 May 1989 + M. Edward Nieland The DECUS TeX collection + +Site Reports + Data General + Bart Childs Data General site report + +Typesetting on Personal Computers + Jon Radel ``Free'' TeX software for IBM PCs + Andrew Trevorrow Public domain TeX for the Mac + +Tutorials + Stephan v. Bechtolsheim \csname and \string + +Macros + David Salomon DDA methods in TeX + Brother Eric Vogel Printing Vietnamese characters by + adding diacritical marks + +LaTeX + Dezso Nagy A bar chart in LaTeX + Hubert Partl Producing on-line information files with LaTeX + Frank Mittelbach The doc-option + B. Hamilton Kelly The autodoc-option + Frank Mittelbach An environment for multicolumn output + +News & Announcements + Calendar + Joachim Lammarsch DANTE -- Deutschsprachige Anwendervereinigung TeX + Nordic TeX meeting, 12 June 1989, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm + + + + + + + +__11 +********************************************************************** +* Report from the DVI Driver standards Committee * +********************************************************************** + +By Tom Reid <X066TR@TAMVM1.BITNET> +and Don Hosek <U33297@UICVM.UIC.EDU> + +The first few months of 1989 have shown a healthy increase in the +discussion in the DVI driver standards discussion. For those people +with network access, much has been done to provide for the +dissemination of the information which has come through our hands. + +The group has a LISTSERV discussion group, DRIV-L, which is the +primary means of communication between its members. The list is set up +so that anyone who wants to contribute ideas may do so by sending mail +to DRIV-L@TAMVM1 (Bitnet) or DRIV-L@TAMVM1.TAMU.EDU (Internet). These +notes will be automatically be distributed to the membership of the +group. + +Archives of past discussions as well as papers on the topic and the +current versions of standards documentation, programs, and macros are +stored on the Clarkson archive in the dvi-standard group. Individuals +with FTP access may obtain the files from sun.soe.clarkson.edu in the +directory pub/dvi-standard. Those without FTP access may still obtain +the files via e-mail using the same mechanism as is used by the LaTeX +style collection, substituting dvi-standard for latex-style where +appropriate. For example, to obtain the file driv-l.log8809 and a list +of other files, one might send a message to +archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu which looks like: + path fschwartz%hmcvax.bitnet@clvm.clarkson.edu + get dvi-standard driv-l.log8809 + index dvi-standard +By the TUG meeting in August, we hope to have much of the proposed +standard documented and available from the archive. + +Bitnet users may also obtain log files from Listserv@tamvm1 by sending +the command + get driv-l log{\it yymm} +to Listserv@tamvm1 where yy is the last two digits of the year and mm +is the month, expressed as a two digit number. For example, to obtain +the log from September, 1988, one would send the command get driv-l +log8809 to Listserv. Listserv commands should be sent either as the +first line of a single-line mail message or as an interactive message +(TELL on CMS, SEND on VMS). + +The remainder of this article outlines some preliminary results of +the committee's work. Persons interested in implementing portions +of this standard should contact check the Clarkson archive or contact +Robert McGaffey <McGaffey@ORN.MFEnet> to obtain the most recent +information on the standard. + +1. \special commands +The committee has decided that the \special commands defined to date +will be labeled as "experimental" and later classified as +"production" after they've undergone sufficient testing to justify +the reclassification. Experimental \special commands are distinguished +by the prefix X_. + +Further work on the precise syntactical rules for \special are under +development. + +1.1 Interface +One of the early decisions of the committee was that \special will be +treated as a primitive command which the end user should never need +to type. Instead, \special should be accessed through a high level +macro set. This has the additional advantage that users at beta test +sites will usually not be affected by changes to the syntax or names +of \special commands. This is important since when a \special changes +status from "experimental" to "production," its name will change as +noted above. + +The committee is developing macros for both plain TeX and LaTeX to +interface with the developing standard. At the present time, only +preliminary versions of these macros have been written, but a full +macro set for both plain TeX and LaTeX should be be available by the +publication time of this article. + +1.2 Scope +\special commands have been broken down into six classes depending +on what portion of the DVI output they would affect. +Global: These \special commands affect the entire document. Examples + of this class of \special include commands for selecting duplex + printing or setting the printing orientation (portrait, landscape, + etc.). +Page: These \special commands affect only the page on which they are + printed. Examples of this class include requests for feeding of + special paper from an auxiliary tray ({\it e.g.,\/} for a cover + sheet) or a single-page change in orientation. +Box: These \special commands affect a block of output that is + enclosed in a TeX box (and thus is, by necessity on a single + page). For example, a command to rotate a block of text would fall + under this class. +Delimited: These \special commands are those that affect a block of + output which is not necessarily enclosed by a TeX box or contained + entirely on a single page. For example, a \special command to set + color would fall into this class. +Output generating: These \special commands are those which generate + self-contained output of some sort. For example, the X_vec + \special of Section 1.3 falls into this class. +Attribute setting: These \special commands modify the next output + generating command which appears on the current page. If no output + generating command follows an attribute setting command, the + command is ignored and the DVI driver program should issue a + warning. An example of this class of commands would be the + X_linewidth \special described in Section 1.3. +The remainder of this section will consist of additional notes on +those classes of \special commands which need additional comment. + +Global specials +Global specials, it has been decided, will be required to appear on +the first page of the document. They will either be identified with +a prefix (X_global:), delimited by a pair of \special commands +(X_begin_globals ... X_end_globals) or some similar scheme. + +One issue that has not been decided is whether the first page +containing the global \special commands should be the first page of +text or a special page on its own. Having global options specified as +part of the actual first page of text minimizes the impact on existing +drivers. However, it does present some problems with existing macro +packages in regard to ensuring that the options are output at the +right place. This problem stems from the fact that the \special +commands used to convey the options to the drivers are normally placed +in the body of the document. Macro packages which place headline text +or entirely separate title pages prior to writing the first part of +the "body" of the document will cause text to appear in the DVI file +before the global options. Headline text may or may not have any +impact upon the global options, but separate title pages will prevent +the global options from being on the first page of the DVI file. To +get around this problem, the mechanism used for passing global +information will need to "cooperate" with the output routine within +the macro package. + +Requiring an entirely separate page at the start of the DVI file +avoids the need for special interaction with the output routines of +various macro packages. Instead of placing \special commands in the +body of the first page, a separate macro is used which issues a +separate \shipout containing the \special commands. This approach +makes things easier for programs which sort or otherwise reorganize a +DVI file since no culling of global options from the first text page +is necessary. However, the separate page technique has an undesired +effect: it produces a blank page on existing drivers which do not +understand the options page. + +Box specials +A box \special command, since it will always be entirely typeset on a +single page, will be enclosed in a TeX box (\hbox or \vbox). In the +DVI output, box structure is reflected by surrounding push and pop +commands. For example, the TeX commands: + normal + \hbox{\special{abc} special} + text +generate the following DVI code: + "normal" + push + right + xxx "abc" + "special" + pop + right + "text" +A DVI driver can exploit this for a command such as X_rotate by +maintaining on the DVI stack, values for items such as rotation_angle. + +Delimited specials +The committee has not found an effective way to deal with open block +\special commands yet. They will probably need to be issued in +cooperation with the output routine, to insure that every delimited +command is broken down into matching pairs of \special commands on +each page within its bounds. + +This approach is necessary for two reasons: +o If pages are reordered for any reason (e.g., reverse ordering for + laser printers which stack output face up) the driver should not + need to have to scan the entire file to insure that it does not + inadvertently break up a pair of \special commands producing a + delimited command. +o Without special care being taken, an delimited command which spans + pages may inadvertently affect page headers and footers which are + typeset between the beginning and ending blocks. + +1.3 Graphics commands +Three techniques for including graphics have been discussed. These +are: +1. Make graphics entirely with TeX primitives. +2. Use METAFONT to build a graphic as a font. +3. Allow the driver to include a device-specific graphic. + +Graphics by TeX +Handling graphics entirely with TeX macros and primitives which use +dots or characters from a special graphics font is a technique which +has been in use for some time. The LaTeX picture environment and +PiCTeX work in this way with the former assembling characters from a +graphic font and the latter using closely spaced dots. + +In TUGboat 10(1), (This article also appeared in TeXhax.89.007) David +F. Rogers proposed a series of TeX macros to provide plotting +primitives; these macros would generally be used by TeX input +generated by some graphics package. The macros which were proposed +created graphics by closely spacing dots along each line in the same +manner as PiCTeX. + +The problem posed by creating graphics in this manner is that TeX must +store all of the graphic elements in memory at once for an entire page +quickly exceeding TeX's capacity. + +To calculate the memory needs, the technique for positioning each dot +was defined. This is: + \kern\DX \raise\Y \hbox{\DOT}% +where \DX is a dimension register giving the displacement in the "x" +direction from the previous point and \Y is a dimension register +giving the displacement in the "y" direction from the reference point +of the graph. \DOT defines the plotting symbol and \DX accounts for +the width of this symbol. + +In memory, TeX saves \kern\DX in a kern node, the raised hbox in an +hlist node, and the plotting symbol in a char_node. These take two +words, seven words, and one word of memory, respectively, for a total +of ten words per dot. A normal-size implementation of TeX with +64k-words of memory allows about 6000 dots to be positioned before it +runs out of memory (assuming that no other macros are loaded and +neglecting other text on the page). Spacing the dots at 100 per inch, +this gives about 60 inches which is not sufficient for many graphs. + +To enhance the capacity of this graphics technique, we decided to use +a \special to add a vector drawing capability to TeX and DVI drivers +and use the \special instead of closely-spaced dots. This changes the +TeX command sequence to: + \kern\DX \raise\Y \hbox{% + \special{X_vec \number\XC \space + \number\YC}% +where \XC and \YC are dimension registers giving the components of the +vector. Component values in scaled points are likely to be six-digit +numbers with an additional minus sign for negative numbers. Thus, an +average length for the \special string is likely to be around 18 +characters. In memory, a \special is saved in a two-word whatsit node +which points to the \special string. Thus the total memory needs, +counting the kern and hlist nodes, will average 29 words per vector +which allows roughly 2000 vectors. This may be sufficient for many +graphs, but falls somewhat short for complex three-dimensional surface +plots. (One sample 3D surface plot consisted of 13,000 vectors.) + +Two \special commands have been defined for graphics of this sort (and +specialized commands for more complicated graphic elements will be +defined in the future). The commands defined are: +X\_linewidth n: Specify that the following vector is to be drawn with + a line width of n DVI units (scaled points for TeX). Vectors are + normally 1 point in width. If no vector follows the X_linewidth + \special on this page, the command is ignored and the DVI driver + program should issue a warning. +X\_vec Dx, Dy: Draw a diagonal line from the current point to the + point which is offset by Dx and Dy from the current point. Dx and + Dy are specified in terms of DVI units. + +Graphics by METAFONT +A different approach to graphics inclusion is to use METAFONT to +produce the graphic as a character of a font and position it using +TeX's normal character positioning capabilities. The advantage of this +technique is that the graphic is in a format which many drivers will +already accept. + +METAPLOT by Pat Wilcox (See the AmigaTeX notes of March 12, 1989 or +TeXMaG V3N3 for information about this package.) is one example of a +package which takes this approach. + +However, the technique has a number of drawbacks: Graphic fonts are +resolution-dependent; a separate graphic font is needed for different +resolution devices. METAFONT records changes in pixel values across a +scan line when it builds a character. Thus, the memory needs depend +upon the complexity of the graphic in addition to the size and +resolution of the device. To circumvent this limitation, it is +necessary to break the whole graphic into smaller pieces. It is +important to ensure that the heights and widths of each piece are +integral numbers of pixels to allow them to be reassembled without the +alignment problems which occur for letters within words. + +Including device-dependent files +With this approach, the DVI driver processes a special Graphics +Description File (GDF) which, among other things, indicates the names +and formats of separate graphic files in device-dependent format. A +driver searches this list to find a file in a format appropriate for +the device it supports. This allows a greatly simplified graphic files +to be defined for previewing purposes while a detailed, higher +resolution version is used when the DVI file is printed. + +GDF files are processed both by TeX and by the DVI driver. TeX \inputs +the file and executes code at the start of the file. This code sets +some dimension and box registers giving the size of the graphic then +terminates with an \endinput to return control to the macro which did +the \input. The portion of the GDF file following the \endinput is +processed by the driver. + +The driver section of the file consists of a series of keywords which +identify lines that apply to a particular graphics format, rotation, +etc. The driver scans these lines searching for a format which it +understands. Depending on the driver and the graphics format, +additional lines may have to be searched for other attributes such as +rotation. Eventually, the name of the graphics file to be included +will be found and the driver will incorporate it into the output file. + +In TUGboat 10(1), Bart Childs, Alan Stolleis, and Don Berryman +suggested another scheme for using \special for inclusion of +device-dependent graphics files in "A portable graphics inclusion." + +2. Additional reference material +In addition to the works mentioned in the Editor's note at the end +of our last report, the following may also be of interest: + +Guntermann, Klaus and Joachim Schrod. "High quality DVI drivers" + Available from the Clarkson archive as the file + schrod-guntermann1.tex +Hosek, Don. "Proposed DVI \special command standard" Available from + the Clarkson archive as the file hosek1.tex. + +In addition, anyone interested in implementing any portion of the +developing standard should read the logs available from the Clarkson +archive or Listserv@tamvm1. + + + + + + + +__12 +********************************************************************** +* PD version of TeX for MSDOS/PCDOS * +********************************************************************** +By Joachim Lammarsch <DANTE@DHDURZ1> + +At the LISTSERV@DHDURZ1 is a new filelist installed for the Public TeX +of Klaus Thull, which he has announced in TUGboat 10(1). + +For this version of TeX on PC you need the WEB files and Turbo Pascal +4.0 or newer. The PCHACKER GUIDE of Klaus is in German, the INST GUIDE +is in English. + +To get a directory of the filelist you have to send to +LISTSERV@DHDURZ1 the command + + GET TEX-PUB FILELIST + +To get the files you have to send the command + + GET fn ft TEX-PUB + +to the Listserv. + +For members of DANTE it is possible to get the files on diskettes. For +more information about that ask + + DANTE, Deitschsprachige Anwendervereinigung TeX e.V. + Im Neuenheimer Feld 293 + 6900 Heidelberg 1 + West Germany + + DANTE@DHDURZ1 + +With kind regards +Joachim Lammarsch +(Chairman DANTE) + + + + + + + +__13 +********************************************************************** +* METAPLOT: a package for integrating line printer plots with TeX * +* using METAFONT * +********************************************************************** +by Pat Wilcox +The Coolspring Banjo Works +6617 Home Road +Delaware, OH 43015 + +[[Editor's note: This article is re-printed from the AmigaTeX +newsletter.]] + +METAPLOT is a macro package that converts black and white line +graphics to METAFONT input. METAPLOT macros digest plot commands and +spit them out as a mosaic of puzzle pieces, which TeX can reassemble +using ordinary typesetting commands. Using this scheme, you can +publish TeX documents with diagrams as an integral part of the text, +with no "special" or device-dependent commands. + +This all started when my husband the engineering consultant started +in on a major contract to document a collection of Computer Aided +Engineering programs. He got tired of changing the little typewriter +keycaps with the Greek letters, just about the time I got fascinated +with AmigaMETAFONT (I won't tell you what I was trying to do with +it...) TeX could do all but the pictures, and we planned to use Aegis +Draw 2000 to draw diagrams on the line plotter and paste them in. + +The Aegis Draw family is good about documenting the internal data +structures of files. They manage device configurations as small ASCII +files in a "plotters" subvolume, so that custom plotter configurations +are easy to add. I stared at the Aegis plot file structure for a bit, +then cooked up a new plotter called META. META is a very strange +plotter with the property that any drawing sent to META emerges as a +sequence of calls to the METAPLOT macros. + +Voila! Instant pictures. We're up to Figure 25 in the first document, +and METAPLOT has most of the bugs shaken out, far as I can tell. +(We're still working on performance tuning and frills.) The approach +should work for anybody who has access to both TeX and METAFONT on any +system. We had it running this morning with PersonalTeX and +PersonalMETAFONT on an IBM PS/2 model 70. + +How do I generate input data for this marvel of modern engineering, +you ask? If you have one of the Aegis Draw programs (upgrade to Draw +2000, if you haven't already!), just select plotter META and you're on +the air. + +If you have another CAD package, you're still OK as long as it allows +output to some flavor of HP line plotter (which most of them do) and +you can capture the line plotter commands to a file. We're working on +a VGtoMF (vector graphics to METAFONT) preprocessing program which +translates HPGL to META-plotter language, as well as scaling, +rotating, and possibly windowing your plot. VGtoMF will probably +change a lot in the next few months as we match its capabilities to +your individual needs. + +Of course, there's always a trouble-maker around. Tom Rokicki has come +up with the Gold Disk Professional Draw program, which refuses to +admit that line plotters exist. We're working on that one, but it's +going to be a non-trivial and non-general exercise in decoding the +Gold Disk structured drawing file format. (Everybody call Gold Disk +and say you need line plotter support!) + +METAPLOT is neat. It really works; if you need it, you need it badly; +and I want everybody to have it. Alas, with two kids in college and no +visible means of support, I can't just give it to you, but for $50.00 +(postpaid) you can become a certified METAPLOT Beta Test Site, with +the META plotter driver, the plotmacs.mf package, and lots of +individual attention to tailoring the VGtoMF preprocessor to work with +your CAD package--with a free upgrade to the production versions of +all of the above as soon as the dust settles. + +Available only from: +Pat Wilcox +The Coolspring Banjo Works +6617 Home Road +Delaware, OH 43015 + + + + + + + +__14 +********************************************************************** +* RUMDJET -- A DVI Driver for the HP DeskJet * +********************************************************************** +By Wolfgang Kaspar <Urz86@Dmswwu1a.Bitnet> + and H.-W. Kisker <Urz10@Dmswwu1a.Bitnet> +Westf\"alische Wilhelms Universit\"at M\"unster +Universit\"atsrechenzentrum +April 1989 + +RUMDJET (RUM = Rechenzentrum der Universit\"at M\"unster) is a DVI +driver for the HP DeskJet printer. It is part of an extensive TeX +toolkit which one of us (H.-W. Kisker) has developed during the last +year for the IBM PC. + +The driver is a dedicated version for IBM PC compatible computers +running MS-DOS. Although it is derived from Beebe's DVI driver family, +no efforts have been made to achieve portability to other hardware or +other operating systems. + +The state of the software is preliminary. The runtime behaviour is +rather stable indeed, but the program is still under development. +Above all the source code at the time is not up to our normal standard +and will not be distributed by default. For those who are courageous +enough to deal with more or less "writeonly" code, the sources are +available on special request. The final version of the driver +including the sources will be available together with the above +mentioned TeX toolkit in a few months. + +Notes on Concepts and Facilties +------------------------------- +The HP DeskJet is a pleasingly silent printer which offers an +excellent 300 dpi print quality at a very attractive price. We +consider it as a low cost laser printer alternative for everybody's +everyday use. The greatest disadvantage is that by default the printer +comes without a single byte of RAM for downloading fonts. Even +upgrading it with the maximum of two RAM cartridges will supply no +more than 256 KB of font storage. For many documents this amount is +far away from being sufficient. Therefore most of the print job has to +be done in graphic mode. Unfortunately this brings two unpleasent +aspects into account. First the driver has to manage a rather great +bitmap (over 1 MB for a default DIN A4 page) and second printing in +high resolution graphic mode is a very dull affair. + +Both problems can be solved by reducing the resolution to 150 or even +100 dpi. RUMDJET offers this possibility as an option. For high +quality output, however, the 300 dpi resolution is indispensable. This +demands a careful handling of storage. The usual approach of swapping +the bitmap to disk led to an unacceptable increase of processing time. +Better results were obtained by dividing the page from top to bottom +into several pieces which were processed and printed independently. +The multiple reading of the DVI file can be almost neglected. + +Some other points concerning the driver software should be mentioned: + o RUMDJET does not need any swap space on disk. For us this point is + rather important. All of the university PCs are connected to a + campus network. Via the network, software including TeX can be + loaded, but there is no disk capacity to store private data. So + all the micro computers which are equiped just with a floppy disk + drive can run \TeX\ and RUMDJET, but cannot store a great bitmap. + + o The output can be directed to a printer immediately. This helps to + avoid the creation of big printer output files. RUMDJET is able to + compute the next output part while the DeskJet is processing its + internal print buffer. So the printer is busy without any + interruption. + + o An arbitrary number of arbitrary large fonts can be used in a + document. If the RAM-storage is not sufficient to hold a character + image, the image is read line by line into the current bitmap + immediately. The above mentioned toolkit contains a set of + programs to insert pictures created by normal PC software into a + TeX document. This is achieved by making a special font with + possibly very large characters of every picture. RUMDJET can + handle those fonts independent of their sizes. + + o The output can be sent to a HP LaserJet of an arbitrary version as + well. + + o For a quick look at the printed document the resolution can be + reduced to 150 or 100 dpi. This leads to a noticeable decrease of + printing time and printfile size. + +Implementation Efficiency +------------------------- +According to Beebe we measured the runtime for processing this +document on a ACER 1100. The ACER 1100 is a 386 based micro computer +running at 16 MHz. Here are the results: + + Operation time size + (using PK fonts) (sec) (kbytes) + ---------------------------------------------- + RUMDJET (300 dpi) 100 942 + RUMDJET (150 dpi) 67 271 + RUMDJET (100 dpi) 50 134 + DVIJEP (300 dpi) 62 60 + DVITOS (180 dpi) 176 827 + ---------------------------------------------- + +The values for DVIJEP and DVITOS have been added for comparison. + + +Outlook +------- +The TeX toolkit for the PC which we mentioned above will be ready for +distribution in the second part of 1989. + +It will consist of: + o the DVI driver RUMDJET for the HP DeskJet (300, 150 and 100 dpi), + + o the DVI driver RUMNEC for the NEC P5/P6/P7 printer family (360 and + 180 dpi), + + o the DVI driver RUMVIEW for a wide range of video cards including + those with 1024x768 pixel resolution, + + o the Program ADI2PXL which converts Autodesk's ADI pixel file + format into TeX fonts, + + o a set of conversion programs which converts the grafic output of + nearly every PC Program to ADI file format and + + o a set of utility programs to manipulate ADI files and TeX fonts + including a font editor. + +The RUMDJET driver itself will be extended by several additional +features for example the possibility to specify a list of pathnames +for searching pixel or TFM files. + +Although we consider the released preliminary version of RUMDJET +to be rather stable, we are of course highly interested in bugs or +malefunctions which will show up during everyday use. Please don't +hesitate to write us if you run into an error. + + +Obtaining the Programm +---------------------- + o Get it from the file server listserv@dhdurz1.bitnet. + + o Send one of the following formatted disks to the authors: + + 3 1/2" 720 KB + 3 1/2" 1.44 MB + 5 1/4" 360 KB + 5 1/4" 1.2 MB + + +Addresses of the authors +------------------------ +Postal mail: + Wolfgang Kaspar H.-W. Kisker + University of M\"unster University of M\"unster + University Computing Center University Computing Center + Einsteinstra\ss e 60 Einsteinstra\ss e 60 + D-4400 M\"unster D-4400 M\"unster + Federal Republic of Germany Federal Republic of Germany +E-mail: + urz86@dmswwu1a.bitnet urz10@dmswwu1a.bitnet +phone: + 49 251 832473 49 251 832467 + + + + + + + +__15 +********************************************************************** +* Books on type: * +* _An Atlas of Typeforms_ * +********************************************************************** + +by Don Hosek <U33297@UICVM.UIC.EDU> + +Title: An Atlas of Typeforms +Authors: James Sutton and Alan Bartram +Publisher: Chartwell Books, Inc. (Secaucus, New Jersey) +125pp., Folio + +I came across this book last December in the discount tables at +Krochs & Brentano's on sale, so it may not be readily available. This +is a pity since the book is a rather interesting survey of typefaces +from the earliest Roman stone cuttings (the term "typefaces" is used +somewhat loosely in the first part of the book which also discusses +various medieval calligraphic styles as well) to modern typefaces. +Since the book was written in 1968, there is no discussion of digital +typefaces, but for a person interested in the development of the +contemporary letterforms, this is a rather interesting work. + +One feature which makes this book particularly interesting are the +large samples of entire typefaces representative of each type +discussed. For example, in the section on Modern typefaces, a full set +of Roman and Italic types is given in 24 or 30pt for each of Bauer +Bodoni, Monotype 135 Bodoni, Ludwig & Mayer Firmin Didot, Berthold +Walbaum, Monotype 374 Walbaum, Stevens Shanks Extended 3, and +Stephenson Blake Modern 20. In addition their are samples of the +letters "RQENbaegn" given as greatly enlarged samples so the +characteristic features of the typeface might be examined more easily. +It is highly instructive to compare the common features of one group +of typefaces given in this manner to those of a different group (for +example, comparing the Moderns and Old Styles) to better understand +what distinguishes the two groups and binds the typefaces in the +group together. + +The decorative typefaces grouped together near the end might +certainly be interesting material for an ambitious Metafounder, and +for anyone hoping to design their own alphabet on any model, this +book would certainly be helpful in understanding why certain features +of characters are the way they are. + +If I have any complaint against this book, it would be that the +authors show too strong a preference towards sans-serif typefaces (or +"grotesques" as they refer to them). The text, set in eight point +Univers is made somewhat more difficult to read due to the choice of +face (especially in the dim light of my home work area). + + + + + + + +__16 +********************************************************************** +* TeX mysteries and puzzles * +********************************************************************** + +TeX mysteries and puzzles has returned with two new puzzles. The first +is from Victor Eijkhout <U641000@HNYKUN11.BITNET>. He writes: + + The following lay-out problem is too hard for me. It may not even + be solvable with TeX. + + In advertising material you encounter, every once in a while, text + that has been "varioset" (this is the Dutch term). Meaning that it + is left and right justified, except on lines (about one in five + gives a pleasant visual effect) where the stretch is deemed too + large, there it is raggedright, with glue set at its natural + width. The difficulty with this problem is of course that glue is + proportional, whereas this is an all-or-nothing phenomenon. + +Does anybody have any possible solutions? + +The second puzzle comes from Rainer Schoepf <SCHOEPF@DMZNAT51> who +would like someone to + + Write a macro \futurelettwo thats acts as a \futurelet, but with + *two* assignments, i.e. + \futurelettwo <token1> <token2> <token3> <token4> + should behave as + \let <token1> <token3> \let <token2> <token4> <token3> <token4> + + + + + + + +__17 +********************************************************************** +* A summary of TeX-related information of note * +********************************************************************** + +Please note that all Janet addresses are given in the UK "backwards" +format. Non-Janet users should reverse the address to reach the +address in question. For example, Uk.Ac.Aston is Aston.Ac.Uk to the +rest of the world. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +Electronic magazines/newsletters/mailing lists + +*TeXMaG +TeXMaG is an independently published electronic magazine available +free of charge to all interested parties reachable by electronic +mail. It is published sporadicly, and the editor likes to think that +it's bi-monthly and the readers humor him. + SUBSCRIPTIONS: + CDNnet: Send a note to <list-request@ubc.csnet> asking to receive + TeXMaG. + JANET: Send a note to Peter Abbott, <Abbottp@Uk.Ac.Aston> asking to + receive TeXMaG. + All others: Send the following command as an interactive message + (Bitnet) or as a single-line mail message to LISTSERV@UICVM + or LISTSERV@UICVM.UIC.EDU: + SUBS TEXMAG-L Your_Full_Name. + If you have difficulty doing this, send a note to Don Hosek + <DHOSEK@HMCVAX.BITNET>. + SUBMISSIONS: + Please send submissions to <TEXMAG-L@UICVM.UIC.EDU> or + <TEXMAG-L@UICVM>; they will automatically be forwarded to the + editor. + BACK ISSUES: + Back issues may be FTP'd from SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU from the + directory pub/texmag. Users without FTP access may request back + issues from the Clarkson repository by sending a mail message + to <archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> with the form + path A_MAIL_PATH_FROM_CLARKSON_TO_YOU + get texmag texmag.V.NN + where V is the volume number and NN is the issue number. Including + a line "index texmag" in the message will return a list of back + issues available. + Back issues may also be FTP's from SCIENCE.UTAH.EDU from the file + BBD:TEXMAG.TXT. + LISTSERV@TCSVM also has some back issues available which may be + obtained with the command GET TEXMAG VvNn where v is the volume + number and n is the issue number). + Janet users may obtain back issues from the Aston archive. + DECNET/SPAN users may obtain them from the Decnet repository (see + below). + +*GUT +GUT is a French language TeX discussion group and also a communication +channel for GUTenberg, a TeX Users Group concerned with special +problems involved in typesetting French with TeX. Each note is +distributed separately. The list is managed by Christian Metairie +<METAIRIE@FRIUTO11>. + SUBSCRIPTIONS: + To subscribe, send the command + SUBS GUT your full name + to LISTSERV@FRULM11. + SUBMISSIONS: + Submissions should be addressed to GUT@FRULM11. Note that a copy + of your submission will NOT be sent to you. Most submissions are + in French, but they need not be. + BACK ISSUES: + Monthly logs are available to list members from LISTSERV@FRULM11 + Each log is named GUT LOGyymm where yy is the last two digits of + the year and mm is the month as a two digit number. The command + to retrieve a log is + GET GUT LOGyymm + Be sure to send the command to LISTSERV@FRULM11 and NOT the list. + +*TeXhax +TeXhax is a mailing list for persons with questions, suggestions, etc. +about TeX, LaTeX, MetaFont and related programs. It is a service of +the TeX Users Group and is published 1-3 times per week. + SUBSCRIPTIONS: + ACSnet (Australia): Send a note asking for a subscription to + <munnari!elz> + Internet: Send a note asking for a subscription to + <TeXHAX-REQUEST@Cs.Washington.Edu>. Be sure to include a + valid Internet address in the request. + Janet: Send a note asking for a subscription to + <texhax-request@uk.ac.nsfnet-relay>. + JUnet (Japan): Send a note asking for a subscription to + <takagi@icot.jp> + All others: Send the following command as an interactive message + (Bitnet) or as a single-line mail message to LISTSERV@UWAVM + or LISTSERV@UWAVM.ACS.WASHINGTON.EDU + SUBS TEXHAX Your_Full_Name. + SUBMISSIONS: + Submissions for TeXhax should be sent to <TeXHAX@Cs.Washington.Edu>. + BACK ISSUES: + Back issues may be FTP'd from SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU from the + directory pub/texhax. Users without FTP access may request back + issues from the Clarkson repository by sending a mail message + to <archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> with the form + path A_MAIL_PATH_FROM_CLARKSON_TO_YOU + get texhax texhax.YY.NNN + where YY is the year of the issue and NNN is the issue number. + Including a line "index texhax" in the message will return a list + of back issues available. + Back issues since 88(75) may be FTP'd from JUNE.CS.WASHINGTON.EDU + in the directory TeXhax. + Back issues prior to 88(75) may be FTP'd from SCORE.STANFORD.EDU + in the directory PS:<TEX.TEXHAX> + Back issues may also be FTP'd from SCIENCE.UTAH.EDU from the file + BBD:TEXHAX.TXT. + LISTSERV@TAMVM1 also has some back issues available which may be + obtained with the command GET TEXHAXnn yy where yy is the year of + the issue and nn is the issue number). Issues 100 and above are + named TEXHAnnn yy. + Janet users may obtain back issues from the Aston archive. + DECNET/SPAN users may obtain them from the Decnet repository (see + below). + +*TeX_D-L +TeX_D-L is a German language TeX discussion group. Each note is +distributed separately and no logs are kept. The list is managed +by Joachim Lammarsch <RZ92@DHDURZ1>. + SUBSCRIPTIONS: + To subscribe, send the command + SUBS TEX_D-L your full name + to LISTSERV@DEARN. + SUBMISSIONS: + Submissions should be addressed to TEX_D-L@DEARN. Note that a copy + of your submission will NOT be sent to you. Submissions should be + in German. + +*TeX_D-PC +TeX_D-PC is a German language TeX discussion group directed towards +users of TeX on PCs. Each note is distributed separately and no logs +are kept. The list is managed by Joachim Lammarsch <RZ92@DHDURZ1>. + SUBSCRIPTIONS: + To subscribe, send the command + SUBS TEX_D-PC your full name + to LISTSERV@DEARN. + SUBMISSIONS: + Submissions should be addressed to TEX_D-PC@DEARN. Note that a copy + of your submission will NOT be sent to you. Submissions should be + in German. + +*UKTeX +UKTeX is essentially a U.K. version of TeXhax. It is published on a +weekly basis. + SUBSCRIPTIONS: + To subscribe, send a note to <info-tex-request@uk.ac.aston>. + SUBMISSIONS: + Submissions should be sent to <info-tex@uk.ac.aston>. + BACK ISSUES: + Back issues may be FTP'd from SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU from the + directory pub/uktex. Users without FTP access may request back + issues from the Clarkson repository by sending a mail message + to <archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> with the form + path A_MAIL_PATH_FROM_CLARKSON_TO_YOU + get uktex uktex.YY.NNN + where YY is the year of the issue and NNN is the issue number. + Including a line "index uktex" in the message will return a list + of back issues available. + Janet users may obtain back issues from the Aston archive. + DECNET/SPAN users may obtain them from the Decnet repository (see + below). + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +Hardcopy magazines/newsletters + +*Les Cahiers GUTenberg +Cahiers GUTenberg is a quarterly production of GUTenberg, a TeX Users +Group concerned with special problems involved in typesetting French +with TeX (although the journal is not limited to that area). There +is a subscription fee of FF250 per year to receive this journal. For +more information, write to <GUT@IRISA.IRISA.FR>. + +*TeXline +TeXline is "a newsletter of the TeX community" edited by Malcolm +Clark. To subscribe, send a note to <texline@uk.ac.imperial.cc.vaxa> +with your *postal* address. There is no charge for a subscription. The +publication is slanted towards the UK TeX user but is still a useful +source of information to others. + +*TUGboat +TUGBoat is the newsletter of the TeX Users Group. It is an +indispensable reference for TeX users. For more information about +joining TUG and subscribing to TUGBoat send (real) mail to: + TeX Users Group + P. O. Box 9506 + Providence, RI 02940-9506, USA +Inquiries may be also be sent via e-mail to <Tug@Math.Ams.Com>. +Submissions for TUGboat may be sent via electronic mail to +<Tugboat@Math.Ams.Com>. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +Other information + +LaTeX-style collection. A collection of LaTeX files is available for +FTP and mail access at sun.soe.clarkson.edu. To obtain files via +FTP, login to sun.soe.clarkson.edu as anonymous, password guest and go +to the directory pub/latex-style (where the files are). Mail access is +accomplished by sending a mail message to +<archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> with the first line containing +"path" followed by a network address FROM clarkson TO you, then file +requests with one or more files per line prefixed by "send latex-style". +For example, +path fschwartz%hmcvax.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu +send latex-style Readme Index +send latex-style resume.sty +Note that this syntax is different than that used by the server at +the University of Rochester. +Submissions should be sent to <mrd@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> or +<archive-management@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> + +LISTSERV@DHDURZ1 has file archives of interest to TeX users. Included +are the Beebe drivers and contents of the LaTeX style collection, as +well as some TeX macros. Many files are available only in German. + +LISTSERV@TAMVM1 also has file archives that may be of interest to TeX +users on BITNET, including the files from the Score.Stanford.EDU FTP +directories and back issues of TeXHAX. For a list of files available, +send the following command to LISTSERV@TAMVM1: GET TeX FILELIST. +>>> THIS SERVICE IS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE. + +DECNET. There is a TeX file collection on DECnet accessible from +DECnet and SPAN. Available files include the Beebe DVI drivers, the +LaTeX style collection, and back issues of TeXhax, TeXMag, and UKTeX. +For more information, contact Marisa Luvisetto (DECNET: +<39947::luvisetto>, Bitnet: <LUVISETTO@IBOINFN.BITNET>) or Massimo +Calvani <fisica@astrpd.infn.it> U.S. Users should contact Ed Bell +<7388::Bell> + +JANET. Peter Abbott keeps an archive of TeX-related files available +for FTP (JANET only) and mail access. The archive is stored in +[tex-archive] on the system uk.ac.aston.tex. Mail access is achieved +by sending mail to <texserver@tex.aston.ac.uk>. For a help file +send a message to that address of the form: + --- + a return address to you from Aston + HELP +Note that all text MUST begin in column one. For Bitnet users, a +return address will take the form: <user%node@EARN-RELAY>. For +Internet users, the return address will be <user%host@NSFNET-RELAY>. + For more information send mail to Peter Abbott <Abbottp@Uk.Ac.Aston>. + +Special thanks to those who contributed to this issue, Rodeway Inn and +their endless fountain of stationery, everyone who reads TeXMaG this +far to the end (and possibly past the character code reference as well) +and the people who make those little bags of peanuts they serve on +airplanes. + +Have you registered for the TUG conference yet? + +The now famous character code reference: +Upper case letters: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ +Lower case letters: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz +Digits: 0123456789 +Square, curly, angle braces, parentheses: [] {} <> () +Backslash, slash, vertical bar: \ / | +Punctuation: . ? ! , : ; +Underscore, hyphen, equals sign: _ - = +Quotes--right left double: ' ` " +"at", "number" "dollar", "percent", "and": @ # $ % & +"hat", "star", "plus", "tilde": ~ * + % |