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author | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:43:17 +0000 |
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committer | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:43:17 +0000 |
commit | f9ba1f4431124f48769a2666d5d9ec921345ca71 (patch) | |
tree | 84f6056d0a7a06c9fed9927a8be9210064de058c /Master/texmf-dist/doc/eplain/base/intro.texi | |
parent | fd423d0bb64fe29a2be1fbae5baaf4bc386cc274 (diff) |
doc 2
git-svn-id: svn://tug.org/texlive/trunk@78 c570f23f-e606-0410-a88d-b1316a301751
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diff --git a/Master/texmf-dist/doc/eplain/base/intro.texi b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/eplain/base/intro.texi new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..00ccc5ad313 --- /dev/null +++ b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/eplain/base/intro.texi @@ -0,0 +1,71 @@ +@c This is part of the Eplain manual. Public domain. + +@node Introduction +@chapter Introduction + +@cindex Eplain, purpose of + +@pindex xeplain.tex +The @dfn{Eplain} macro package expands on and extends the definitions in +plain @TeX{}. This manual describes the definitions that you, as either +an author or a macro writer, might like to use. It doesn't discuss the +implementation; see comments in the source code (@file{xeplain.tex}) for +that. + +Eplain is not intended to provide ``generic'' typesetting capabilities, as +do @LaTeX{} (written by Leslie Lamport) +@cindex @LaTeX{} +@cindex Lamport, Leslie +or Texinfo +@cindex Texinfo +(written by Richard Stallman and others). +@cindex Stallman, Richard +@cindex rms +Instead, it provides definitions that are intended to be useful +regardless of the high-level commands that you use when you actually +prepare your manuscript. + +For example, Eplain does not have a command @code{\section}, which +would format section headings in an ``appropriate'' way, such as +@LaTeX{}'s @code{\section}. The philosophy of Eplain is +that some people will always need or want to go beyond the macro +designer's idea of ``appropriate''. Such canned macros are +fine---as long as you are willing to accept the resulting output. If +you don't like the results, or if you are trying to match a different +format, you are out of luck. + +On the other hand, almost everyone would like capabilities such as +cross-referencing by labels, so that you don't have to put actual page +numbers in the manuscript. The author of Eplain +@cindex Berry, Karl +is not aware of any generally available macro packages that (1)@tie{}do +not force their typographic style on an author, and yet (2)@tie{}provide +such capabilities. + +Besides such generic macros as cross-referencing, Eplain +contains another set of definitions: ones that change the conventions of +plain @TeX{}'s output. For example, math displays in @TeX{} are, by +default, centered. If you want your displays to come out +left-justified, you have to plow through @cite{The @TeX{}book} to find +some way to do it, and then adapt the code to your own needs. Eplain +tries to take care of the messy details of such things, while still +leaving the detailed appearance of the output up to you. + +Finally, numerous definitions turned out to be useful as Eplain was +developed. They are also documented in this manual, on the chance that +people writing other macros will be able to use them. + +You can send bug reports or suggestions to +@email{tex-eplain@@tug.org}. The current version number of Eplain is +defined as the macro @code{\fmtversion} +@cindex version number +@findex fmtversion +at the end of the source file @file{eplain.tex}. When corresponding, +please refer to it. + +To get on this mailing list yourself, email +@email{tex-eplain-request@@tug.org} with a message whose body contains +a line +@example +subscribe @var{you@@your.preferred.address} +@end example |