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diff --git a/support/mathspad/README b/support/mathspad/README new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..ab8f6adb00 --- /dev/null +++ b/support/mathspad/README @@ -0,0 +1,115 @@ +README FILE MathSpad +--------------------- + + +Introduction +------------ + +This directory contains the distribution of MathSpad version 0.60. +MathSpad is an experimental program and this is the beta release. +If you install it and encounter problems with the program, +we can't guarantee immediate help (although we'll try). A mailing +list is available to ask questions or make suggestions. + +MathSpad is a document preparation system particularly oriented to the +production of articles involving large amounts of (non-standard) +mathematical material. It is an interactive system designed to make +on-screen mathematical calculation a pleasure rather than a chore. +MathSpad generates LaTeX output. Existing LaTeX documents can be +incorporated directly into a MathSpad document, no special conversion +being required (or performed). + +The fundamental idea introduced by MathSpad is that individual users +can compose their own ``stencils'' specifying mathematical and +non-mathematical notational conventions, in particular the screen +layout and how to convert the MathSpad document to LaTeX. Fractions, +superscripts, subscripts, different fonts, different sizes, displayed +equations and lots of other mathematical (and non-mathematical) +structures can be used (and defined). + +Version 0.31 was first released in January 1994 but is no longer supported. +Version 0.31 files can be easily converted to 0.60 format, but not the other +way around. + + +Installation +------------ + +To install MathSpad, you need a UNIX operating system, the X window +environment, an ANSI C compiler and a C++ compiler. If you don't have them +all, you can still try to install it, but I can't guarantee that it will +work. + +The distribution is available in the file mathpad-0.60.tar.gz . This file can +be unpacked with the command: + + gunzip -c mathpad-0.60.tar.gz | tar xf - + +Having unpacked the system, the installation should be simple. The +command + + ./Install + +will check out your system, compile everything and install it in the proper +place. Afterwards, you have the option to report the installation problems, +so I can adjust the installation procedure and help you if you want that. +If there were no problems, you might still want to send an acknowledge that +it was a successful installation, because I'm interested in the success rate +of the installation script and how portable it is. + +After successfully installing the program, you can test it easily with +the command + + mathpad manual + +which causes a welcome document to appear on your screen. This document +explains more about the system and how to get started. + + + +Documentation +------------- + +The distribution contains a copy of the system manual as a MathSpad +document. It is hoped to publish the manual in book form in which form screen +dumps will be included. + +The system manual is also available for online help. You can use the 'Help' +key to get context sensitive help. If you don't have a 'Help' key, either +use xmodmap to define one or edit the file `emacs.mpk' in the lib directory. + +It is possible to produce a hard copy of the manual using the standard system +features. In order to respect our copyright you should however NOT do so. +If you would like a hard copy of the manual before its official publication +please write to us stating the purpose for which the manual will be used. +We will supply academic users and non-profit organisations with a postscript +version of the manual provided that guarantees are given that it will not be +used for commercial gain and the number of copies to be made is agreed in +writing beforehand. + +Feedback +-------- + +There is a mailing list which can be used to ask questions and to make +suggestions. To subscribe to this list, mail a message to +majordomo@win.tue.nl with the body (not the subject): + + subscribe mathpad-users + end + +You can mail the messages to + + mathpad-users@win.tue.nl + +to reach the complete group (even if you're not subscribed). + + +If you have any problems installing the program, or with its use please +report them to + + mathpad@win.tue.nl + +We will try to react as soon as possible. + + +Richard Verhoeven. |