dgold@basso.actrix.gen.nz (Dale Gold) (04/10/91)
I've just got PasTeX, and I'm really impressed by the results, although I've had lots of trouble getting things working correctly in the fonts department. I've learned a bit of German along the way though! A couple of questions for the experts: 1- I've heard of a version of Metafonts for the Amiga. Where can I find it? PD or commercial. 2- As a TeX novice, I'm not sure if this will be worth my trouble. Would I find life easier with the commercial version of AmigaTeX? Any suggestons will be welcome. Dale Gold dgold@basso.actrix.gen.nz
withers@nitmoi.enet.dec.com (George A. Withers) (04/10/91)
In article <7176.tnews@basso.actrix.gen.nz>, dgold@basso.actrix.gen.nz (Dave Gold) writes: >I've just got PasTeX, and I'm really impressed by the results, although I just want to add my voice to that. Using 180dpi NECLOW setting, PasTeX's output is the best looking proportional fonts my printer has ever done. Far better spacing and look than other things I've used. Great job to Knuth and to Georg Hessmann for the Amiga implementation. > 1-I've heard of a version of Metafonts for the Amiga. Where can I > find it? PD or commercial. Available from ab20.larc.nasa.gov (128.155.23.64) via anonymous FTP in the incoming/amiga/TEX directory (at least it was, don't know after the reorg thats been going on), is an archive MF2_7.lzh that is METAFONT for the Amiga in the Public Domain. I'm also a TeX novice and with the help of Stefan Becker and Georg Hessmann I am up and running. I'll try to pass along what they told me to help you out. First, when setting up METAFONT you get two executables along the same vein as PasTeX, inimf and virmf. virmf is the METAFONT for making fonts and inimf is to make base files. You'll need to make a base file to get started. To do this you'll need a mydevices.mf file (not really NEED it but it defines modes for the printer types dealt with by PasTeX (previewer, NEC low-res, NEC high-res, et al.). The mydevices file should contain entries for each printer (or mode) you are using, giving info such as DPI, etc. An example mydevices file with entries for NEC lowres, NEC highres, and Previewer is given at the end of this note. You'll also need the CMBASES.MF file, any worthy TeX METAFONT archive should have this. I picked it locally from a DECUS tape. Finally, you define an assignment such as: AMIGA> ASSIGN MFBASES: TeX:Bases Assuming you already have TeX: defined for PasTeX and you unpacked METAFONT in the same directory. Then to build a new base file, type: AMIGA> TeX:exe/inimf plain METAFONT C Version 2.7 <<mumble>> <output lines deleted> * \input mydevices <output lines deleted> * \input cmbases <output lines deleted> * \dump <output lines deleted> This builds your base file. Now you can make fonts. Suppose you found a font metafont file cmr10.mf. This file would be added to the directory TeX:MFinputs, you then change directorys to TeX:Fonts and type: AMIGA> CD TeX:Fonts AMIGA> TeX:exe/virmf "\mode:=neclow; mag:=magstep(1); input cmr10" This would now build a magstep cmr10 GF font file and a TeX TFM font file. You could replace the "neclow" with whatever device mode you had defined in mydevices.mf. NEC LOW (180dpix180dpi) also works on EPSON LQ printer types (like my Citizen GSX140). An option you could have exercised was to add the command screenchars, as in: AMIGA> TeX:exe/virmf "\mode:=neclow; mag:=magstep(1); screenchars; input cmr10" This would cause a new screen to be built and each character would be displayed on a grid as it was being converted. Makes it slower but if you are trying out a new font it saves some time in getting an idea what the characters look like. Now, in you TeX:Fonts directory, you have a file cmr10.180gf, GF format cmr10 at 180dpi. To convert this file into the PK format (actually just a packed version of GF), type: AMIGA> TeX:bin/gftopk cmr10.180gf This creates a file cmr10.180pk, copy that file to you TeX:PK/180 directory, delete the GF file (no longer needed), and you have created a new font! If this verbose explaination was too long or inappropriate I'm sorry. I just had trouble getting through all of this (not able to read German) and thought I'd try to save any net.readers from any hassle I got by. > 2-As a TeX novice, I'm not sure if this will be worth my trouble. > Would I find life easier with the commerical version of AmigaTeX? The number of $$$ in my wallet precludes me even thinking about the commerical version. If you have the means it has gotten rave reviews from people. Some, most even, proclaiming it the best TeX implementation they have ever worked with. It also gives everything at once. Here you get PasTeX, then get MF2.7, then go net.searching for LaTeX Style files, PK fonts, MF sources, etc. An easier option for your first large volley of fonts is also to find an archive somewhere that has the pk fonts already done for you. As to documentation about TeX, everyone recommends the TeXBook by Knuth as being THE source. Myself, I haven't gotten to buying yet and a you can find a suitable introduction in the free, net accessible, "A Gentle Introduction to TeX", by Michael Doob. There is also another free book about LaTeX called "Essential LaTeX" but it doesn't go into the sort of detail that Micheal's book does. LaTeX also appears more intuitive. Anyway, commerical if you can afford it but the public domain offerings are a very feasible and powerful alternative. >Dave Gold >dgold@basso.actrix.gen.nz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ George A. Withers, Jr. | "There is no life I know to compare Digital Equipment Corp., 97 Piper Road | with pure imagination. Living Acton, MA 01720 AT&T: 508.264.2339 | there you'll be free .. if you Addr: withers@nitmoi.enet.dec.com | truly wish to be." - W. Wonka ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER: "Don't look at me! I didn't do it!" (Krusty the Clown) ----------------cut here for example MYDEVICES.MF------------------------------ mode_def previewer = % Amiga Previewer proofing:=0; fontmaking:=1; tracingtitles:=0; pixels_per_inch:=100; blacker:=0; fillin:=0; o_correction:=.2; enddef; mode_def neclow = % NEC P6 Low Resolution proofing:=0; fontmaking:=1; tracingtitles:=0; pixels_per_inch:=180; blacker:=0; fillin:=0; o_correction:=.2; enddef; mode_def nechigh = % NEC P6 High Resolution proofing:=0; fontmaking:=1; tracingtitles:=0; pixels_per_inch:=360; blacker:=0; fillin:=.2; o_correction:=.6; enddef; localfont:=previewer; ----------------------------------end of example MYDEVICES.MF------------------
tomb@hplsla.HP.COM (Tom Bruhns) (04/11/91)
withers@nitmoi.enet.dec.com (George A. Withers) writes: George, thanks for the help in running mf! I'm bogged down in other things right now, but expected to get back to it soon, so really appreciated the step-by-step description. There seem to be a bunch of us TeXnovices right now... >As to documentation about TeX, everyone recommends the TeXBook by Knuth as >being THE source. Myself, I haven't gotten to buying yet and a you can find >a suitable introduction in the free, net accessible, "A Gentle Introduction >to TeX", by Michael Doob. There is also another free book about LaTeX called >"Essential LaTeX" but it doesn't go into the sort of detail that Micheal's >book does. LaTeX also appears more intuitive. I borrowed the TeXBook, and got started in it, but I think Doob's book is much better for a novice (till you get to the point you really have to know what's going on..., and maybe even then better in some ways). The "Gentle Intro" has helped me up the learning curve much faster. In addition, it's distributed as a .tex file, so you get a lot of examples along with it. In fact, if you see something you like in it, just look at the corresponding point in the .tex file and see how he did it. Cheers, Tom Bruhns -- tomb@hplsla.hp.com
conan@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Faulkner) (04/11/91)
> 1- I've heard of a version of Metafonts for the Amiga. Where can I > find it? PD or commercial. > 2- As a TeX novice, I'm not sure if this will be worth my trouble. > Would I find life easier with the commercial version of AmigaTe you should be able to get mf_2.7 ( a metafont package) on abcfd20, which if I am not mistaken the same place you got PasTeX. I have talken (e-mail) with the author of PasTeX, and he will work with you if you have any problems. I think PasTeX is great, I have it completely integrated with Cygnus Ed. And I am currently working on an Arexx LaTeX document builder interface with PasTeX and CED. It will allow you to select the document styles, layouts, fonts, sections etc. and generate the correct LaTeX language. Later, -- Robert Faulkner conan@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu /// Recursion: Thinking \\\/// University of Texas about \\// Amiga Computers Thinking
tomb@hplsla.HP.COM (Tom Bruhns) (04/16/91)
Several folk have sent me email asking where to get "A Gentle Introduction to TeX." Since there may be more out there, here's a more public answer: Send email to FILESERV@SHSU.BITNET with the single line SENDME GENTLE and you will get over a dozen parts in reply. Cat them together and run them through TeX to produce a .dvi file that will print into about 100 pages of manual. You can also send the single line HELP to get more info on the SHSU fileserver. Also, you may wish to try similar things with archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu, sending a single line help message as above. Also, try the same help message to MAILSERV@ymir.claremont.edu. If this doesn't put you on the road to more TeX information than you can stand, nothing will -- but of course there are more servers, too... see comp.text.tex for an occasional Frequently Asked Questions sort of posting with these and more... Cheers, Tom -- tomb@hplsla.hp.com