gok0840a@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (KULP, GO) (01/17/91)
To all you TeX gurus
I have read your posts that TeX is so powerful, and decided to try it.
I found TeX, CommonTeX, and PasTex at various sites.
TeX and PasTeX seem to uncompress well, into directories, but CommonTeX
lost all its directory structures.
I have not been able to get any of these TeX programs to work - TeX and PTeX
both say they can't find the Plain Format File. I see that file in the TeX
version, but not in the PTex version.
My Questions:
1) How do I set up the directories (and assigns etc) Can I use any of these
programs with a hard disk?
2) The LaTeX manual we have in my department states that for the particulars
of a certain computer system, I should see the specifics-type manual
that would come with the program. I don't seem to find that with
any of these programs. I figure that would explain how to set up
the directories. Does anyone know where to get a PD version of one?
3) Any other hints or suggestions specific to the Amiga would be greatly
appreciated.
All you TeX gurus really have me worked out to try this - I hope I can soon.
Thanks Again,
Geno Kulp
- Hmm Hmmmmmmmmm Hmmmm Hmmmm
Hmmmmm Hm Hmmmm Hmm
Hm Hmmm Hm Hm Hmm Hmm
- A song written just for you net.godsgok0840a@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (KULP, GO) (01/17/91)
To all you TeX gurus (especially to the Amiga ones)
I have read your posts that TeX is so powerful, and decided to try it.
I found TeX, CommonTeX, and PasTex at various sites.
TeX and PasTeX seem to uncompress well, into directories, but CommonTeX
lost all its directory structures.
I have not been able to get any of these TeX programs to work - TeX and PTeX
both say they can't find the Plain Format File. I see that file in the TeX
version, but not in the PTex version.
My Questions:
1) How do I set up the directories (and assigns etc) Can I use any of these
programs with a hard disk?
2) The LaTeX manual we have in my department states that for the particulars
of a certain computer system, I should see the specifics-type manual
that would come with the program. I don't seem to find that with
any of these programs. I figure that would explain how to set up
the directories. Does anyone know where to get a PD version of one?
3) Any other hints or suggestions specific to the Amiga would be greatly
appreciated.
All you TeX gurus really have me worked out to try this - I hope I can soon.
Thanks Again,
Geno Kulp
- Hmm Hmmmmmmmmm Hmmmm Hmmmm
Hmmmmm Hm Hmmmm Hmm
Hm Hmmm Hm Hm Hmm Hmm
- A song written just for you net.godsTSPLIB@lure.latrobe.edu.au (Space Physics Library mail.....) (01/20/91)
G'day, KULP, GO (gok0840a@ritvax.isc.rit.edu ) writes: > To all you TeX gurus (especially to the Amiga ones) I'm no Guru {well perhaps a sub-Guru, ;-)} but I have overcome some of your problems that you note below, > I have read your posts that TeX is so powerful, and decided to try it. > I found TeX, CommonTeX, and PasTex at various sites. > TeX and PasTeX seem to uncompress well, into directories, but CommonTeX > lost all its directory structures. I've only tried PasTeX so I'll limit myself to this package, okay? > I have not been able to get any of these TeX programs to work - TeX and PTeX > both say they can't find the Plain Format File. I see that file in the TeX > version, but not in the PTex version. I obtained PasTeX from `new Xanth' (i.e. ab20.larc.nasa.gov) where included in the PasTeX-extras.zoo file (I think) in the incoming/amiga/TEX directory is a plain.fmt file. I _think_ the lplain.fmt file for LaTeX is _not_ with any part of the PasTeX distribution on `new Xanth'. At any rate, I made my own lplain.fmt file, by following the PasTeX-extras. readme file after I snarfed a lplain.tex file (which I _think_ is PD, does any one who knows care to fill me in? Please see my e-mail address below), from my local VAX TeX distribution. You will also need the LaTeX.tex file (for initex when you make a .fmt file for LaTeX). You also need the lfonts.tex file for LaTeX in order to create a LaTeX .fmt file but I think this came with the stuff I got. > My Questions: > 1) How do I set up the directories (and assigns etc) Can I use any of these > programs with a hard disk? I found this to be a point where I tripped up with PasTeX. The `new Xanth' PasTeX archives contain the newest version of TeX stuff (version 3.1) and some earlier stuff. The earlier stuff has a different setup to the v 3.1 stuff. They both use environment variables and are documented. There is also English documentation (most of PasTeX is doc'ed in German) in a file EnglishDoc.dvi but the previewer (ShowDvi, a nice one too!) didn't show all the text for my friend and I when we previewed it. There is the text file EnglishDoc.tex (a LaTeX program) that is readable, but may be a little confusing for the raw beginner (it's not TOO bad :-). Yes, we setup the programs on a Hard Disk just fine! > 2) The LaTeX manual we have in my department states that for the particulars > of a certain computer system, I should see the specifics-type manual > that would come with the program. I don't seem to find that with > any of these programs. I figure that would explain how to set up > the directories. Does anyone know where to get a PD version of one? For PasTeX I believe these are mostly in German {:-( for us non Germans}. Perhaps your best bet is to ask in this newsgroup and later (say) in the comp.text.tex newsgroup where _lots_ of TeX type help is available. > 3) Any other hints or suggestions specific to the Amiga would be greatly > appreciated. I am working up to the last part of the PasTeX installation (when I find time) ... that of building the fonts and/or setting up the Arexx mediated creation of fonts as needed. {I don't have Arexx :-( yet!} You (unless they are already available conveniently PD etc for the Amiga) will need to build the fonts (.tfm and PK (packed pixel bitmap data ?)). { The PasTeX-extras.zoo file, or 1 of the others in the `new Xanth' set } { also has some (a few) PK font files and .tfm files. } I would appreciate _any_ help that could shorten the length of my efforts here. One other subjective point. TeX (or is it just LaTeX?) is slow'ish to run for long documents on a 68000 based Amiga. I find it quite acceptable ie. in comparison to our user loaded VAX 8800 system however :-). { I figure as you haven't tried it yet you might be dissapointed without } { a little bit of forewarning. ;-) } The previewer is much better and quicker to use than that on our VAX! > All you TeX gurus really have me worked out to try this - I hope I can soon. Good luck! > Thanks Again, > Geno Kulp yours truly, Lou Cavallo. PS: if anyone wishes to send me e-mail on this subject please try to send mail to U3364521@xvax.unimelb.edu.au if you can. I'm losing this acct today. PS: I'm sorry if I seem vague about the details I went through with PasTeX but I have also (2 days later) this week setup a PD Tex & LaTeX for an IBM PC... several of the problems were the same and which belonged to which has sort of blurred in my mind a little. Sorry. PS: lastly, thankyou to the creators of PasTeX! So far it seems just fine. Now, if I can only get to finish setting it up. :-)