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+@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