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\centerline{\bf Atari-ST \TeX}
\medskip
\noindent
There are several implementations of \TeX\ for the {\sc atari-st}.
The review program was version 1.1 of
\TeX\ (version 2.1) from TooLs GmbH.
This implementation will run on the {\sc atari {\rm 520} st}+, the 1040 {\sc stf},
and any of the larger machines. It is supplied on three diskettes,
but will run quite happily on a machine with two disk drives. A hard disk
is not essential.
The main program is executed
from the desktop by double-clicking the |tex.ttp| file. This
implementation does not preload any formats (e.g.~|plain.fmt|), but
the required formats are specified as parameters at start-up or
alternatively can be introduced once the program has loaded. A
sample file, previously used on an {\sc ibm} version of \TeX, was tested
and as expected there were no major surprises, it worked! To cater
for the different ST-system configurations, a facility has been
provided for specifying a search-path for the various
input\slash output\slash font\slash format files which is achieved by means of
environment-variables (similar to {\sc unix}), and these can be defined
in a separate file |environm.ent| which must be present in the
current directory. A useful idea for tailoring your own set-up.
A single program provides both a preview facility on the
screen, and drives a selection of printers. The |dvi| information is
converted into a bitmap-graphic image in memory and, depending on
the selected options, is either sent to the screen or to the
printer. The options are selected from the familiar GEM-Menu and
if required, these can be stored on a file called |dvi.inf| and
recalled in the future using the file options. The display uses a
default screen resolution of 95 pixels/inch so that the width of a
standard A4 page fits nicely on a single screen avoiding
having to shift the text sideways in order to see the covered
portion. The text is quite legible at this resolution, though
subscript and superscripts do suffer. However, the screen
resolution can be altered to suit one's particular preferences,
but this is only possible provided the appropriate fonts are
available at the chosen resolution. Consequently it would be quite
handy to have the ST-\MF\ package (also by TooLs GmbH) with
which to generate the necessary fonts. Apart from altering the
screen resolution, the same effect can be achieved using the
magnification option, but once again lack of suitable fonts may be
a hinderance. However, using the latter option, it is possible
to substitute
different (probably smaller) fonts to get an idea of the
final layout.
At high resolutions, the machine memory may not be sufficient
to hold the Bitmap-graphic image of an entire page,
but an option is provided where the page is formed in `stripes', and
this will overcome the memory problem.
When processing the |dvi| file the entire file will be
processed by default. Options have been provided to override this
and these enable the user to specify the starting page and the
number of pages required. Furthermore, by preceeding the starting
page number by a '?', it is possible to format and view the
pages in any order one desires simply by entering the required
page number. Alternatively it is possible to specify the order in
a file called |dvi.pag|, which is helpful when it comes to printing
the pages in a predetermined order.
A very wide range of printers are supported, including 9-pin and
24-pin dot-matrix printers, {\sc atari} Laserprinter and {\sc hp} Laserjet.
It can support the Laserjet in 150\,dpi draft resolution, as well as 300\,dpi.
Unfortunately, \PS\ printers
have not yet been catered for. Printout is possible in draft and
quality mode (provided the necessary fonts in the required
resolution are present). For some printers, landscape mode is also
possible. The sample file was printed on an {\sc epson} compatible
{\sc juki}-5510 9-pin dot-matrix printer and the
printout was impressive. There exist an additional option for
improving the printout, analogous to switching the printer from a
bidirectional mode to unidirectional print mode. However
the printed results are impressive even without
using this extra facility.
The mode of operation of the preview\slash print program is such
that options are selected first before formatting of the |dvi|
information takes place. Thus everytime the |dvi| processing is
initiated, the required fonts need to be loaded in first and this
can be time consuming. To by-pass this slow process a library
manager program has been supplied. This can be used to set-up a
library of fonts which are regularly used and this font library
once loaded will remain in-core.
Apart from the main \TeX\ program and the preview/print
program, |initex| comes supplied as standard, and can be
used to generate the format form of macro-packages, such as \LaTeX\
and \AmSTeX. These can then be linked in at \TeX\ load time.
The \LaTeX\ format file and associated fonts can be
purchased separately to complement the basic package. \LaTeX\ is
priced at 70 DM, and \BibTeX\ at 17.50 DM.
This particular implementation of \TeX\ on the
{\sc atari-st} at 230 DM (approx. \quid80)
must be excellent value for money
and I have not come across any major bugs. The accompanying manual
(in German, and soon in English)
is quite good and covers the various aspects of the implementation
in detail.
I would like to see a number of enhancements
in future versions to extend the scope of the package as well as
making it more user-friendly. It would be nice if a GEM-based
shell environment could be provided with access to a simple text
editor so that errors or other changes to the \TeX\ file could be
done without the need to leave the \TeX\ environment and load in an
editor. I would also like additional fonts to be supplied so that
the preview could be magnified one or two steps in either
direction without the need to purchase the \MF\ package in
order to generate the necessary font information. Printing onto a
\PS\ device would also be a welcomed addition, and the
option of \AmSTeX, though I agree that this may not be widely
used, it should appeal to those of us who are involved with
writing scientific reports.
A comparison of this and the Kettler-{\sc edv} implementation was
published in the July/August '87 German edition of
{\it Atari Computer} --- `\TeX\ auf dem Atari ST'.
For further details contact:
{\obeylines
TooLs GmbH
Kaiserstra\ss e 48
D-5300 Bonn 1
FRG
}
\rightline{\sl Bijan Djahansouzi}
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