UKTeX Digest Friday, 25 Sep 1992 Volume 92 : Issue 35
``The UKTeX Digest is brought to you as a free, unfunded and voluntary
service of the UK TeX Users Group and the UK TeX Archive.''
Today's Topics:
{Q&A}:
Re: MAKEINDX problem
Re: MAKEINDX problem
Dotted lines in LaTeX tabular environment
Re: Dotted lines in LaTeX tabular environment
Unwanted Page Numbers
Re: Unwanted Page Numbers
Re: Re: Unwanted Page Numbers
Re: UKTeX V92 N33
Font packing.
Re: Font packing.
Spacey .LOG files in square brackets
RE: Spacey .LOG files in square brackets
Re: Punk fonts
Fancy Headings
Re: Printer drivers
macros and catcodes
Re. macros and catcodes
RE: Re. macros and catcodes
{Archive News}:
!!!! major change to layout of LaTeX directory in uk tex archive!!
update to Mainz packages in UK TeX Archive
musictex update
Excalibur 1.2 - LaTeX Spelling Checker for the Macintosh
{Announcements}:
Announcing a Mailbase list for SGML (fwd)
LaTeX3 Call for Volunteers
LaTeX3 Call for Volunteers (LaTeX version)
Administrivia:
Moderators: Peter Abbott (Aston University) and
David Osborne (University of Nottingham)
Contributions: UKTeX@uk.ac.tex
Administration, subscription and unsubscription requests:
UKTeX-request@uk.ac.tex
------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 14:52:32 +0000
From: Malcolm Clark <malcolmc@uk.ac.pcl.sun>
Subject: Re: MAKEINDX problem
i had a similar problem, but on a different system.
i solved it (clumsily) by sorting the entries (most
systems have some system primitive to do this), then
splitting the master file into parts, which i then put through
makeindex. then stick it back together. i would note that
makeindex (in my view) needs some handwork.
malcolm clark
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 17:20:55 +0100
From: Eberhard Mattes
<mattes%de.dbp.uni-stuttgart.informatik.azu@uk.ac.nsfnet-relay>
Subject: Re: MAKEINDX problem
David Harvey posts this for a colleague:
> "I am currently writing a book using EMTEX, with an extensive index
> On using MAKEINDX my system responds with
> 'Scanning input file book5.idx.....Not enough core...abort'
> The version of MAKEINDX is the portable version 2.9 [13-Dec-1989].
> "
Your college should use MakeIndex 2.11 instead -- since June, emTeX
comes with MakeIndex 2.11.
Eberhard Mattes (mattes@azu.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de)
------------------------------
Date: 11 Sep 92 14:17:24 +0000
From: pm1mjp%hicks1.shef@uk.ac.sheffield.sunc
Subject: Dotted lines in LaTeX tabular environment
Does anyone know how to obtain vertical separators which consist of dotted/
dashed lines in LaTeX' array and tabular environments?
Using
&$\vdots$&
looks ugly. The dots do not join up correctly.
Mike Piff
------------------------------
Date: 21 Sep 92 07:59:26 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: Re: Dotted lines in LaTeX tabular environment
LIST_SERVER@TEX.AC.UK writes:
>
> Does anyone know how to obtain vertical separators which consist of dotted/
> dashed lines in LaTeX' array and tabular environments?
>
> Using
> &$\vdots$&
> looks ugly. The dots do not join up correctly.
>
if you wait a couple of days, I will put on the archive a (plain TeX)
package by Kees van der Laan which demonstrates what you are talking
of. might give you some starting points. order a copy of the Prague
Eurotex proceedings to read all about it..
sebastian
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 10:07:14 +0000
From: Ivan Fabian <IGBF@uk.ac.rutherford.ibm-b>
Subject: Unwanted Page Numbers
I am trying to find out how to suppress page numbers with
\documentstyle{article}. \pagestyle{empty} seems to do the trick
but if I use \maketitle all pages are numbered. I found a similar
problem reported in LATEX.BUG distributed with our version.
Does a fix exist for the \maketitle problem? Can anyone help?
FROM LATEX.BUG
43. With \pagestyle{empty}, a \chapter command still produces a page
number on the first page of a chapter. (Reported by Peter Schilling 3
June 88. Deemed not worth correcting.)
Thanks
Ivan Fabian
+-----------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Central Computing Department | IGBF@UKACRL |
| R27, Room G37, Chilton, Didcot | IGBF@UK.AC.RL.IB |
| Oxon. OX11 0QX | GB3FFQjF at IBMMAIL |
+-----------------------------------+------------------------------------+
------------------------------
Date: 21 Sep 92 08:47:32 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: Re: Unwanted Page Numbers
> I am trying to find out how to suppress page numbers with
> \documentstyle{article}. \pagestyle{empty} seems to do the trick
> but if I use \maketitle all pages are numbered.
just edit the style file and remove the
\pagestyle{plain}
from the definition of maketitle
s
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 92 14:08:59 +0100
From: schoepf%de.zib-berlin.sc@uk.ac.uknet-relay
Subject: Re: Re: Unwanted Page Numbers
> I am trying to find out how to suppress page numbers with
> \documentstyle{article}. \pagestyle{empty} seems to do the trick
> but if I use \maketitle all pages are numbered.
Put
\pagestyle{empty}
IMMEDIATELY after \maketitle
Rainer Schoepf
Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum ,,Ich mag es nicht, wenn
fuer Informationstechnik Berlin sich die Dinge so frueh
Heilbronner Strasse 10 am Morgen schon so
W-1000 Berlin 31 dynamisch entwickeln!''
Federal Republic of Germany
<Schoepf@sc.ZIB-Berlin.de> or <Schoepf@sc.ZIB-Berlin.dbp.de>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 16:06:03 +0000
From: Brian {Hamilton Kelly} <TeX@uk.ac.cranfield.rmcs>
Subject: Re: UKTeX V92 N33
Readers (not to mention the Editor) may be interested to know that
there's a spurious Ctrl/N character towards the end of the announcement
of EuroTeX'92 in the above-mentioned digest.
When the output is directed to a DEC printer, one ends up with an
interesting collection of characters from the VT100 Line Drawing
character set --- not very useful!
Brian {Hamilton Kelly}
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+ Phone: Swindon (0793) 785252 (UK), +44-793-785252 (International) +
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 92 14:56:38 +0700
From: Allan Reese <R.A.Reese@uk.ac.hull.cc.sequent>
Subject: Font packing.
I've been asked for Euler (AMS2) fonts, so ran the mfjob supplied
with emTeX. That's fine, but it puts each .pk in a separate file
under texfonts. Should I now pack the .pk's into .fli libraries,
and if so, how should these be arranged? Options seem to me,
1) leave .pk files in RRRdpi\ directories for all but canonical
TeX fonts. At the moment these contain the Euler fonts and a few
fonts generated by my own use of seminar.sty (large LaTeX symbols).
2) add 300dpi\*.pk fonts into existing lj_0.fli etc
3) make new .fli files for Euler fonts. Perhaps the name should be
lj_e0.fli etc, to indicate the mode. Is it necessary to have each
magnification in a separate library or is this just a convenient way
of chunking the canonical fonts?
General opinions on font management, especially using fontlib, would be
welcomed. I think all three options have pros and cons. In the absence
of specific advice or apparent problems here, I am currently opting
for (1).
- --
(R.) Allan Reese Janet: r.a.reese@uk.ac.hull
Head of Applications Direct voice: +44 482 465296
Computer Centre Voice messages: +44 482 465685
Hull University Fax: +44 482 466441
Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
------------------------------
Date: 21 Sep 92 09:11:50 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: Re: Font packing.
> under texfonts. Should I now pack the .pk's into .fli libraries,
> and if so, how should these be arranged? Options seem to me,
you can do whatever makes sense in your environment! it really doesnt
matter
s
------------------------------
Date: 18 Sep 92 13:44:12 +0000
From: pm1mjp%hicks1.shef@uk.ac.sheffield.sunc
Subject: Spacey .LOG files in square brackets
Why do I so often get something like...
...
) (indepex.tex [1.3.1] [2.3.1] [3.3.1] [4.3.1] [5.3.1]) (indepsol.tex [1.3.2]
[2.3.2] [3.3.2] [4.3.2] [5.3.2] [6.3.2] [7.3.2] [8.3.2] [9.3.2] [10.3.2]
[11.3.2] [12.3.2] [13.3.2] [14.3.2] [15.3.2] [16.3.2] [17.3.2]) (linear.aux
...
...on my screen, but...
...
) (indepex.tex [1.3.1
] [2.3.1] [3.3.1] [4.3.1] [5.3.1]) (indepsol.tex [1.3.2
]
[2.3.2] [3.3.2] [4.3.2] [5.3.2] [6.3.2] [7.3.2] [8.3.2] [9.3.2] [10.3.2]
[11.3.2] [12.3.2] [13.3.2] [14.3.2] [15.3.2] [16.3.2] [17.3.2]) (linear.aux
...
in my .LOG file? Anybody know? (Using emTeX)
Has someone left an odd WriteLn in TeX?
Mike Piff
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 22:09:03 +0000
From: Brian {Hamilton Kelly} <TeX@uk.ac.cranfield.rmcs>
Subject: RE: Spacey .LOG files in square brackets
In message <MAILQUEUE-101.920918134412.829@hicks1.shef.ac.uk> of 18 Sep 92
13:44:12 GMT0BST, pm1mjp%hicks1.shef@uk.ac.sheffield.sunc wrote:
> Why do I so often get something like...
> ...
> ...on my screen, but...
> ...
> in my .LOG file? Anybody know? (Using emTeX)
I can't answer for emTeX; this is an implementation-dependent issue.
Under VMS, TeX uses the Pascal writeln function for ALL output to the
terminal; this is necessary if the report of page numbers is to appear
in real-time rather than when a whole lineful has been buffered. The
terminal is reopened with appropriate mode such that no carriage-return
line-feed pairs are inserted by the operating system; they are inserted
as required (once again through writeln) explicitly when TeX decides to
split the line.
Output to the log file (with filetype extension .LIS under VMS) doesn't
use this mechanism, so output appears normally. However, if one runs
TeX as a VMS batch-mode job, the *batch* log file (this time with the
.LOG extension) contains the output to the ``terminal'', with each
little `gobbet' from TeX as a separate RMS record. Printing this file
produces exactly the phenomenon you have observed here.
I think this question should maybe be directed to Eberhard.
Brian {Hamilton Kelly}
------------------------------
Date: 21 Sep 92 09:16:56 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: Re: Punk fonts
R.A.Reese@sequent.cc.hull.ac.uk writes:
> I am unable to generate punk fonts and the problem seems to lie in
> the .mf files. I have checked that the .mf unpacked from the DOS
> morefont.zip file matches the punk.mfx in other Aston directories.
> The other possibility is that I have an out of date MetaFont, but it
> came with emTeX.
>
> The log file starts:
>
>
> This is METAFONT, Version 2.0 [3a] (preloaded base=cm 90.9.19) 18 SEP 1992
12:41
> **&cm \mode=hplaser; mag=1; input punk10
> (punk10.mf
> ! Missing argument to dot.
> <to be read again>
> #
its a bit unfriendly to the rest of the world to include *quite* so
much log file in a mail message, since it conveys very little.
moderation in all things.
try not using the cm base
s
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 92 14:32:09 +0000
From: Peter Abbott <p.abbott@uk.ac.aston>
Subject: Fancy Headings
I use
% fancyheadings.sty version 1.0
% Fancy headers and footers.
% Piet van Oostrum, Dept of Computer Science, University of Utrecht
This gives me the page number at the top with the title of the book or
chapter (odd and even pages) and a rule. The page number is on the outside
(i.e. away from the binding).
I need to suppress the book/chapter name and the rule on selected pages
i.e. print the page number only. Something like
\thispagestyle{pagenumberonly}
Has anyone amended the style file to do this or can anyone suggest a way
of achieving it?
Peter
------------------------------
Date: 24 Sep 92 14:37:03 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: Re: Printer drivers
> I am looking for a PC latex HP deskjet printer driver that
> goes directly from the .dvi file to the printer. I have tex version
> 3.0 (sbtex) on a 386 machine. I could find nothing remotely like it
> in the archives. I am told the emtex package will do what I want,
> but that directory is empty.
no, it isnt. you may be looking in the wrong place. look in
[tex-archive.tex.ms-dos.emtex]
its full of goodies
I regret to say that there are empty directories lying around which
are unpurged
Sebastian
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 92 10:05:00 +0000
From: Mark Templeton <"CAERCN::druid"@uk.mod.hermes>
Subject: macros and catcodes
I am running TeX C Version 3.14t3 (format=plain 92.7.29),
on a Sun 3/60 running SunOS 4.1.1,
and I am having trouble picking up end-of-line.
Could anyone suggest what is happenning?
Have I hit a known bug?
Please note that the example code below is a VERY cut down
version of what I am trying to do, but shows the problem.
It seems that ^^M works outside a macro definition, but fails
inside one. The following works, and gives a simple obeylines:
> \tracingmacros=1
> \catcode`\^^M=\active%
> \def^^M{\par}
>
>
> hello
> my name is freddy
> speces
> \bye
Whereas the following program fails:
> \tracingmacros=1
> \def\typesettitle{
> \catcode`\^^M=\active%
> \def^^M{\par}
> }
>
> \typesettitle
> hello
> my name is freddy
> speces
> \bye
The effect in the second program above is that the ^^M{\par}
disappears. Thus the log sais:
> This is TeX, C Version 3.14t3 (format=plain 92.7.29) 24 SEP 1992 18:44
> **baby.tex
> (baby.tex
> \typesettitle -> \catcode `\^^M=\active \def
>
> Runaway definition?
> hello^^Mmy name is freddy^^Mspeces^^M
> ! Forbidden control sequence found while scanning definition of ^^M.
> <inserted text>
> }
> <to be read again>
> \bye
> l.11 \bye
>
> ? h
> I suspect you have forgotten a `}', causing me
> to read past where you wanted me to stop.
> I'll try to recover; but if the error is serious,
> you'd better type `E' or `X' now and fix your file.
Note that even using gdef in this latter case fails in the same way.
Hope you can help,
Mark D Templeton
B1013 Internet : Mark.Templeton%hermes.mod.uk@relay.mod.uk
RSRE(S) Janet : Mark.Templeton@hermes.mod.uk
St Andrews Road
Malvern Internal : druid@caercn
Worcestershire
WR14 3PS Phone UK : 0684-892733 x2109
United Kingdom Phone Intl: +44-684-892733 x2109
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 92 10:44:00 +0000
From: Mark Templeton <"CAERCN::druid"@uk.mod.hermes>
Subject: Re. macros and catcodes
Ok, I get it.
The ^^M in the macro defn is seen as end of line.
Therefore, need to use an outer catcode line to allow the macro
to be correctly defined.
>> How was I supposed to know this ?? <<
Mark D Templeton
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 92 14:11:22 +0000
From: Philip Taylor (RHBNC) <P.Taylor@uk.ac.rhbnc.vax>
Subject: RE: Re. macros and catcodes
>> How was I supposed to know this ?? <<
By attending a certain course in Prague?! Best wishes to Woon Su...
** Phil.
------------------------------
Date: 10 Sep 92 13:17:56 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: !!!! major change to layout of LaTeX directory in uk tex archive!!
to bring the UK TeX Archive into line with current suggestions for a
common archive format, I have moved a lot of stuff in the UK TeX
Archive under [tex-archive.latex]. the two main trees of interest are
now
[tex-archive.latex.styles.base] the Lamport styles, and the Mainz
packages which will form part of
LaTeX3
[tex-archive.latex.styles.contrib] everything else; often in
subdirectories
At the same time I have taken the opportunity to update the LaTeX
style file collection to bring it up to date. It now contains
*everything* (well, give or take a file or two) described in David
Jones majestic cataloge of TeX macros and styles (in the LaTeX
section). You better believe it.
WARNING! My brain goes to pieces when I'm logged into a Vax; my
operations have left some old directory structures intact, but empty!
these directories will be removed, but for the moment, watch out, and
search a little further for your poison.
WARNING TWO!! This was a big set of files to move, and I did it from
a Unix machine. This means I will have left some binary files in
there, like .tfm files. Please be tolerant, and just warn me of things
that dont make sense on a VMS archive. A new method for accessing the
archive may help - watch this space.
WARNING THREE!!! I have been known before now to place things in the
Vax archive that were not accessible (gasp!) for file transfer to other JANET
sites. If this is the case with this latest set of material, rest
assured that a giant conversion job will run very shortly.
Sebastian
------------------------------
Date: 10 Sep 92 12:32:12 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: update to Mainz packages in UK TeX Archive
The following packages can be found in the Uk TeX Archive under
[tex-archive.latex.styles.base]
for the convenience of those who can deal with compressed tar archives and
uuencoding, there is also
[tex-archive.src.unix-archives]mainz.tarz_uue
which has everything from the Mainz stable
Sebastian
********************************************
Additions and updates to the Mainz packages
Frank Mittelbach Rainer Sch"opf
August 27, 1992
We proudly present a new release of the "Mainz packages". A
number of people contributed to this release: A big Thank You goes to
Johannes Braams, David Carlisle, Denys Duchier and Dave Love. The
most obvious changes are the separation of the multicol package into
two: multicol and doc, and the complete new automatic installation
procedures. A more detailed discussion of the new features follows.
*doc* This is the basic package needed for all distributions. It
contains doc.sty and the docstrip.tex file which are utility programs
that are used by other packages to produce the documentation and the
executable versions from the distributed .doc files. doc.doc was
updated by Dave Love, the file docstrip.doc was rewritten by Johannes
Braams with support from Denys Duchier.
*multicol* This package contains the multicol style option for
producing multicolumn output with standard LaTeX. The main changes
are better support for marks and the possibility to use this
environment inside a box.
*theorem* This is the new implementation of the theorem environment
that allows different styles for theorem-like constructs to be used.
*nfss* A number of bugs have been fixed. This release contains now
support for using the so-called dc fonts, which implement the 256
character extended text font layout, and for scaling the math
extension font with the current size.
*array* David Carlisle contributed many useful additions to the array
style options: alignment on a decimal point, a customizable version of
"hline, implict delimiters, the tabularx and longtable environments.
*ftn* This is the ftnright style option which defines a layout where
all footnotes are placed in the second column of a two-column
specification. It was designed to work with the standard twocolumn
option of LaTeX. Note that it doesn't work in combination with the
multicol option.
1
------------------------------
Date: 21 Sep 92 13:00:52 +0000
From: spqr@uk.ac.york.minster
Subject: musictex update
I have put the latest version of Daniel Taupin's MusicTeX in the UK
TeX Archive as
[tex-archive.src.unix-archives]musictex.boo (sources and docs)
and
[tex-archive.src.unix-archives]musicpk.boo (prebuilt pk files)
These are boo-encoded zip files. Version 4.76 -- September 10th, 1992.
The documentation includes a paper Daniel gave at EuroTeX
sebastian
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 92 16:52:32 +0000
From: David Osborne <cczdao@mips.nott.ac.uk>
Subject: Excalibur 1.2 - LaTeX Spelling Checker for the Macintosh
Rick Zaccone's Excalibur 1.2 is now in the UK TeX Archive.
The binhex-encoded Compact Pro archive is stored in the UK TeX Archive in
[tex-archive.utils.spell.mac]excalibur-12.hqx
Here's Rick's announcement...
~~Dave
- ------- Forwarded Message
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 20:51:58 EDT
From: zaccone%edu.bucknell@uk.ac.nsfnet-relay
Subject: Excalibur 1.2 - LaTeX Spelling Checker for the Macintosh
Excalibur is a Macintosh spelling checker for LaTeX documents. It also
does a fairly good job with plain TeX files. It reads files of type
TEXT and it is smart enough to ignore most LaTeX commands and a fair
number of plain TeX commands. Since it just ignores these commands, it
will also serve quite nicely as a spelling checker for any TEXT file
that doesn't contain any LaTeX or TeX commands. (It is not completely
accurate to say that Excalibur ignores LaTeX commands. It will process
any arguments that contain text).
Excalibur is a stand-alone application that we have tested with both
OzTeX and Textures documents. The fact that it is a stand-alone
application should not present any inconvenience since it works with
MultiFinder under System 6 and it is System 7 aware.
You will need System 6.0.4 or higher to run Excalibur.
There is extensive on-line help. You will find it under the Apple
menu if you are running System 6, and under the Balloon Help menu if
you are running System 7 or greater.
Excalibur is free.
Some new features of Excalibur 1.2 include:
* It saves your preferences between invocations.
* You can convert dictionaries to text files so that you may edit them.
* You can convert text files to dictionaries.
* Excalibur recognizes Apple's extended character set. This should
help non-English speaking users.
* Support for AMS-LaTeX
* Support for drag and drop operations
* LaTeX manual.
* Many other changes. See Excalibur Genealogy in the help facility or
in the LaTeX manual for more details.
***Important***
If you have an old version of Excalibur, be sure to replace the
Standard Dictionary with the new one. We found a couple of problems
with the old Standard Dictionary.
Rick Zaccone
zaccone@bucknell.edu
- ------- End of Forwarded Message
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 92 16:43:48 +0700
From: Allan Reese <R.A.Reese@uk.ac.hull.cc.sequent>
Subject: Announcing a Mailbase list for SGML (fwd)
> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 92 16:56:55 BST
> From: MGPopham@uk.ac.ex.ua
> Subject: Announcing a Mailbase list for SGML
Comment: This message has been distributed to a number of lists but
not that of TeX users.
>
> sgml is an open list for discussion, news and reviews of SGML (the Standard
> Generalized Markup Language defined in ISO 8879:1986) and all related
> Standards, products and services -- including the work of the ISC-funded
> SGML Project.
>
> You should subscribe if you are interested in:
>
> * text/word processing
> * publishing - on paper, on-line, and CD-ROM
> * text databases
> * hypertext and multimedia
> * managing structured information
> * scholarly analysis using electronic texts
> * document/information exchange or re-use
> * collaborative authorship
> * electronic review of documents
> * publishing documents containing mathematical equations,
> chemical formulae, or complex tables
>
> This list is intended for members of the U.K. academic and research community
,
> but anyone is welcome to join provided that they are eligible under the
> usual JNT NISP guidelines.
>
> To subscribe, send the following mail message with your details:
>
> To: mailbase@uk.ac.mailbase
> Subject:
> Text: join sgml your_firstname your_lastname
>
> An archive of general information files has already been set up using
> conventional Mailbase facilities. When you join the list you might like
> to down-load a few of these files first. Send the following mail message
> to get a list of the available files:
>
> To: mailbase@uk.ac.mailbase
> Subject:
> Text: index sgml
>
> Then to obtain a file such as the one called "sgml.project.overview" send:
>
> To: mailbase@uk.ac.mailbase
> Subject:
> Text: send sgml sgml.project.overview
>
> We hope you will find the list useful, and that its existence will help
> to raise awareness of SGML and its possibilities within the academic
> and research community.
>
>
> Michael Popham
> List Owner (sgml-request@uk.ac.mailbase)
> *************************************************************************
> MAIL sgml-request@uk.ac.mailbase TO CONTACT ME ABOUT THE SGML LIST.
> MAIL sgml@uk.ac.mailbase TO SEND TO THE LIST ITSELF.
> MAIL mailbase@uk.ac.mailbase TO SEND MAILBASE COMMANDS.
> *************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 17:38:36 +0000
From: CHAA006@VAX.RHBNC.AC.UK
Subject: LaTeX3 Call for Volunteers
LaTeX3 Call for Volunteers
This is a call for volunteers to help in the development of LaTeX3.
There are many tasks needing to be done in support of the LaTeX3
project which can be worked on concurrently with the development of
the LaTeX3 kernel. Furthermore, some tasks require special expertise
not found among the core programming team. Initial research,
analysis, and work on these tasks by volunteers can greatly speed up
the process of integrating a number of desirable features into
LaTeX3. Many of these features can be extensively developed and
tested under LaTeX 2.09 even before the LaTeX3 kernel is available.
Therefore we are publishing a list of tasks to the LaTeX user
community through various channels and we ask readers to consider
contributing some time and effort (particularly, but not exclusively,
readers with expertise in the various areas touched on). The task
list is distributed in the form of a LaTeX article; it is fairly
readable in electronic form, and it can be printed on paper if
desired.
GETTING AND READING THE LATEX3 VOLUNTEER TASK LIST
- ---Anonymous FTP from the following sites.
niord.shsu.edu
directory [fileserv.vol-task]
ftp.uni-stuttgart.de
directory soft/tex/vol-task
- ---Mail server from fileserv@shsu.bitnet
or mail-server@rus.uni-stuttgart.de
Send mail to fileserv@shsu.bitnet. No subject line is necessary. In
the body of the mail, write one line:
sendme vol-task
Send mail to mail-server@rus.uni-stuttgart.de. No subject line is
necessary. In the body of the mail, write one line:
send soft/tex/vol-task/vol-task.tex
- ---Request a printed copy from the TeX Users Group:
TeX Users Group
tug@math.ams.org
PO Box 9506
Providence, RI 02940
USA
401-751-7760
- ---Read it in your copy of TUGboat (or your friend's copy, or your
library's copy ...) when it is published there [soon].
It will also be mailed initially to some mail lists and newsgroups
that are likely sources of volunteers. Suggestions for additional
publication destinations are welcome.
If after reading the descriptions you are interested in working on a
particular task, the first step is to contact the coordinator for
that task (if one is listed), or else contact the volunteer list
manager:
George D. Greenwade
Department of Economics and Business Analysis
College of Business Administration
P. O. Box 2118
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas, USA 77341-2118
bed_gdg@SHSU.edu (Internet)
BED_GDG@SHSU (BITNET)
SHSU::BED_GDG (THENET)
telephone (409) 294-1266
FAX (409) 294-3712
If someone else is already serving as the task coordinator for that
task, that person will discuss with you the current status of the work
and ways in which you might contribute. Otherwise, the list manager
will designate you as the `task coordinator' for that task, and assist
you in getting answers to any initial questions you may have. Further
details are found in Appendix A of the task list.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 17:42:51 +0000
From: CHAA006@VAX.RHBNC.AC.UK
Subject: LaTeX3 Call for Volunteers (LaTeX version)
Via: UK.AC.NSFNET-RELAY; Tue, 22 Sep 92 17:41 BST
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Date: 22 Sep 1992 12:38:21 -0500 (EST)
From: MJD@ORG.AMS.MATH
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MIME-version: 1.0
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%%% ======================================================================
%%% @LaTeX-file{
%%% filename = "vol-task.tex",
%%% version = "2.4b",
%%% date = "22 September 1992",
%%% time = "07:24:33.21 CDT",
%%% list-manager = "George D. Greenwade",
%%% address = "Department of Economics and Business Analysis
%%% College of Business Administration
%%% P. O. Box 2118
%%% Sam Houston State University
%%% Huntsville, Texas, USA 77341-2118",
%%% email = "bed_gdg@SHSU.edu (Internet)
%%% BED_GDG@SHSU (BITNET)
%%% SHSU::BED_GDG (THENET)",
%%% telephone = "(409) 294-1266",
%%% FAX = "(409) 294-3712",
%%% supported = "yes",
%%% archived = "*Niord.SHSU.edu:[FILESERV.VOL-TASK],
%%% pip.SHSU.edu:/vol-task.tex",
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%%% docstring = "This is general volunteer task list in the
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%%% the development of the LaTeX3 kernel.
%%% Furthermore, some tasks require special expertise
%%% not found among the core programming team.
%%% Initial research, analysis, and work on these
%%% tasks by volunteers can greatly speed up the
%%% process of integrating a number of desirable
%%% features into LaTeX3.
%%%
%%% If you are interested in working on a particular
%%% task, the first step is to contact the volunteer
%%% list manager, noted above,for details. He will
%%% either immediately designate you as the `task
%%% coordinator' for that task, and assist you in
%%% getting answers to any initial questions you may
%%% have, or if someone else is already serving as the
%%% task coordinator for that task, you will be put in
%%% touch with that person, who will discuss with you
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%%% you might contribute.
%%%
%%% The checksum field above contains a CRC-16
%%% checksum as the first value, followed by the
%%% equivalent of the standard UNIX wc (word
%%% count) utility output of lines, words, and
%%% characters. This is produced by Robert
%%% Solovay's checksum utility."
%%% }
%%% ======================================================================
% This document can be run with ordinary LaTeX 2.09.
\documentstyle[twocolumn]{article}
%%%+%+%+%+% The innovative code delimited by ``%%%+%+%+%+%'' was provided by
%%%+%+%+%+% David Carlisle. It's function is to use the information from the
%%%+%+%+%+% file header directly in the processing of the document.
\makeatletter
{\obeylines%
\long\gdef\FHfield#1
#2 = "#3"#4,{%
\global\@namedef{FH#2}{#3}%
\def\temp{#2}\ifx\temp\chksum\else\expandafter\FHfield\fi}%
\gdef\FHuse#1{\gdef^^M{\\}\csname FH#1\endcsname}}%
\def\chksum{checksum}
\@namedef{LaTeX-file}{\catcode`\@=12 \FHparse}
\long\def\FHparse#1{\FHfield#1\endinput}
\begingroup
\catcode`\%=9
\catcode`\-=11
\catcode`\@=0
\setbox0=\hbox{\obeylines\input\jobname.tex }
\endgroup
%%%+%+%+%+% Thanks, David!!
\title{Volunteer work for the \protect\LaTeX3 project\thanks{Keywords:
\protect\FHuse{keywords}}\\} %% extract keywords from header
\author{\protect\LaTeX3 project \protect\\[5pt]
Frank Mittelbach\protect\\
Chris Rowley\protect\\
Michael Downes}
\date{\FHuse{date}\\ %% extract date from header
Version: \FHuse{version}} %% extract version from header
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% Adjustments for printing two columns with more text per page.
\oddsidemargin -0.65in \evensidemargin -0.65in \topmargin -0.75in
% Select paper size.
\def\firstletter#1#2\end{#1}
\typein[\papersize]{Intended paper size?^^J%
Choices: US letter size or A4; enter u or a, please:}%
\edef\setpapersize{\lowercase{\edef\noexpand\papersize{%
\noexpand\firstletter\papersize u\noexpand\end}}}
\setpapersize
\if a\papersize\relax
\typeout{%
OK, adjusting textwidth and textheight for A4 paper size}
% A4 paper size, 21cm x 30cm
\textwidth 19cm \textheight 26cm
\else
\typeout{%
Adjusting textwidth and textheight for US letter paper size}
% US letter-size paper, 8.5 x 11 in:
\textwidth 7.7in \textheight 9.7in
\fi
%
\tolerance 5000 \pretolerance 1000
\ifx\undefined \emergencystretch\else \emergencystretch 2pc \fi
\hfuzz=\columnsep
% Reduce type sizes
\makeatletter
\let\Huge\huge \let\huge\LARGE \let\LARGE\Large \let\Large\large
\let\large\@normalsize \let\@normalsize\small \let\small\footnotesize
\let\footnotesize\scriptsize
\makeatother
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\newcommand{\vollistmanager}{George Greenwade}
\begingroup \catcode`\%=12 \catcode`\_=12 \catcode`\@=12
\gdef\vollistmgraddress{\relax
Internet: bed_gdg@SHSU.edu\\
Bitnet: BED_GDG@SHSU\\
THEnet: SHSU::BED_GDG\\
Voice: (409) 294-1266\\
FAX: (409) 294-3612\relax
}
\endgroup
% Listing of the volunteer(s) for a given task can be done using
% the \coordinator, \email, and \volunteer commands:
%
% \coordinator{DATE}{NAME}\email{name@xyz.abc.volunteer}
% \othervolunteers
% \volunteer{NAME}\email{name@xyz.abc.de}
% \volunteer{NAME}\email{name@xyz.abc.de}
% . . .
%
% Percent sign can be used inside the argument of \email without a
% preceding backslash, provided that \email is not itself used
% inside the argument of some other command.
\newcommand{\coordinator}[1]{\par\smallskip
\noindent{\it Coordinator\/} [#1]:\volunteer}
\newcommand{\othervolunteers}{\par\noindent{\it Other volunteers:}}
\newcommand{\volunteer}[1]{\par#1\quad \ignorespaces}
\newcommand{\email}{\begingroup \catcode`\%=12 \xemail}
% Auxiliary function for \email. It applies \meaning to the
% argument to make all the characters category 12.
\newcommand{\xemail}[1]{\def\temp{#1}\tt
\expandafter\xmeaning\meaning\temp\xmeaning\endgroup}
% Auxiliary function for \xemail. \newcommand cannot be used here.
\def\xmeaning#1->#2\xmeaning{#2}
\newcommand{\timeestimate}[1]{\par \smallskip\noindent
{\it Estimated time required:}
#1.\par}
\newenvironment{tasklist}[1]{\section{#1}}{}
\newcommand{\task}{\subsection}
\newcommand{\AmSTeX}{AMS-\TeX\@}
\newcommand{\BibTeX}{{\sc Bib}\TeX\@}
\newcommand{\eg}{e.g., \ignorespaces}
% \cs{xxx} is a robust command to print a control sequence name.
\chardef\bslash=`\\
\newcommand{\cs}[1]{{\tt\bslash#1}}
\edef\doublehat{{\noexpand\tt\string^\string^}}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Introduction}
This is a call for volunteers to help in the development of \LaTeX3.
There are many tasks needing to be done in support of the \LaTeX3
project which can be worked on concurrently with the development of
the \LaTeX3 kernel. Furthermore, some tasks require special expertise
not found among the core programming team. Initial research,
analysis, and work on these tasks by volunteers can greatly speed up
the process of integrating a number of desirable features into
\LaTeX3. Many of these features can be extensively developed and
tested under \LaTeX2.09 even before the \LaTeX3 kernel is available.
Therefore we are publishing a list of tasks to the \LaTeX{} user
community through various channels and we ask readers to consider
contributing some time and effort (particularly, but not exclusively,
readers with expertise in the various areas touched on). The task
list is distributed in the form of a \LaTeX{} article; it is fairly
readable in electronic form, and it can be printed on paper if
desired.
If you are interested in working on a particular task, see
Appendix~\ref{vlminfo} for details on how to volunteer.
The task list will be updated at regular intervals. Time estimates are
measured in man-days or man-weeks, the values are guesses according to
our experiences.
\begin{tasklist}{General tasks}
\task{Volunteer list management}
Organization, publication and maintenance of the general volunteer
task list.
\timeestimate{?}
\smallskip
{\it Undertaken:} 22 July 1992 by \vollistmanager.
\task{Validating \protect\LaTeX 2.09}
Writing test files for regression testing: checking bug fixes and
improvements to verify that they don't have undesirable
side effects; making sure that bug fixes really correct the problem
they were intended to correct; testing interaction with
various document styles, style options, and environments.
We would like three kinds of validation files:
\begin{enumerate}
\item General documents.
\item Exhaustive tests of special environments/modules such as tables,
displayed equations, theorems, floating figures, pictures, etc.
\item Bug files containing tests of all bugs that are supposed to be
fixed (as well as those that are not fixed, with comments about their
status).
\end{enumerate}
A procedure for processing validation files has been devised; details
will be furnished to anyone interested in this task.
\timeestimate{2 to 3 weeks, could be divided up}
\coordinator{25 August 1992}{Daniel Flipo}
\email{flipo@citil.citilille.fr}
\othervolunteers
\volunteer{Chris Martin} \email{cs1cwm@sunc.sheffield.ac.uk}
\end{tasklist}
\begin{tasklist}{Syntax questions}
\task{.sty metacomments for smart editors}
Develop conventions for documentation of styles which could be picked
up by editor packages to provide editing help.
The idea is to place metacomments in .sty files which smart text
editors (in particular) can use to get information about the
`exported' (user interface) macros for that particular style. The
information would be useful for word completion and spelling checking,
at least. (The auc-tex package for GNU Emacs currently has such
information hard-wired for a number of common styles.) If the editor
has access to the \cs{documentstyle} line or suitable alternative
instructions it can poke about in the appropriate style files rather
than using its own database.
Such information could be written out by a run with {\tt doc.sty} on
the basis of \verb=\Describe{Macro,Env}= commands in the {\tt.doc}
file and subsequently included in the {\tt docstrip}'ped {\tt.sty}
file. That's easy enough, but if it's to be generally useful the
result ought to be somewhat standardized and in a form suitable for
use by as many editors or other tools as possible.
Would conventions for supplying other information this way be useful
(along the lines of the PostScript structuring conventions)?
\timeestimate{probably 2-5 days over a longer period of time}
\coordinator{25 August 1992}{David Love}\email{JANET: d.love@uk.ac.dl},\\
\rule{23.5mm}{0pt}\email{BIT/INTERNET: d.love@dl.ac.uk}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Syntax proposal for bibliographical commands}
Extensions of current \LaTeX{} syntax for \cs{cite} commands and
bibliography commands. A number of specialties have conventions for
citations and bibliographies that \LaTeX{} 2.09 is ill equipped to
handle.
David Rhead published several papers concerning the handling of
bibliographies and citations
\cite{texline:DRh90,texline:DRh91,unp:DRh92a,unp:DRh92b}.
Some of them have been distributed via the {\tt latex-l} mail list.
Counter-proposals or further argumentation for David Rhead's ideas
would be useful.
\timeestimate{1--2 days}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Research on syntax for tables}
What features are important (and not covered)? Logical representation
of tabular material versus visual representation. Syntax proposal and
report.
About tabular material presentation many interesting papers are
published. For example, general articles \cite{Nottingham:RBe86},
\cite{XEROX:RBe85}, \LaTeX{} related \cite{unp:DCa90}, \cite{unp:DCa91}
\cite{unp:DRh91b}, logical table representation \cite{Lausanne:CVa92}.
Important work was done by Michael Spivak in \cite{TpC:MSp89} and of
course in his ``Tables to die for'' (T2D4). Standard books on
typesetting like \cite{CUP:JBu81}, \cite{TH:RMcL80},
\cite{UCP:CMoS82}, \cite{W-G:JWh88} to name only a few, also usually
contain important information about tabular typesetting. What is
necessary, is a survey of the requirements for tabular material in
printing, a proposal for an extended standard syntax, and perhaps
proposal for syntax of extra features that could be provided
through a separate `super tables' module that is not loaded until the
user requests it.
\timeestimate{2--6 weeks (could be shared by several volunteers)}
\coordinator{20 September 1992}{Ed Sznyter}\email{ews@babel.com}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Research on syntax for chemistry}
The typography of chemical texts is rather different from, say,
mathematics. We need a taxonomist to classify the primary elements of
an article or book on chemistry and suggest syntax for user commands
to handle each element. What proportion of chemical diagrams can be
constructed with primitive line graphics such as given by the \LaTeX{}
picture environment (with suitable extensions)? Or should diagrams be
simply always done in some other graphics language and imported via
\cs{special}?
\timeestimate{?}
\coordinator{10 September 1992}{Chris Carruthers}\email{cjc@acadvm1.uottawa.ca}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Research on syntax for commutative diagrams}
Commutative diagrams occur often enough in mathematical literature
that even the first version of \AmSTeX{} back in 1983 or so included a
rudimentary facility for constructing rectangular commutative
diagrams. Since then several people have produced various
alternatives, most involving special fonts with line segments slanted
at various angles, and arrow heads. The commutative diagram macros of
L\AmSTeX{} have arrow directions specified as vectors with the units
being rows and columns rather than distances, \eg \verb'\arrow(1,2)'
means a diagonal arrow from the current element to the element one row
over and two columns down.
There is a {\tt catmac.sty} by Michael Barr that uses the line fonts
of \LaTeX{} for drawing slanted arrows. The {\tt XY-pic} package by
Kristoffer Rose is reportedly usable with \LaTeX{} and comes with its
own line and arrowhead fonts.
For \LaTeX3 we would like to see an analysis of the logical structure
of commutative diagrams and recommendations on user syntax.
\timeestimate{2--4 days}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\end{tasklist}
\begin{tasklist}{Research tasks}
\task{Experimenting with \cs{emergencystretch}}
Testing the new features of \TeX3 where no experience is available so
far. Writing up a report.
Research on \cs{emergencystretch}, in particular, is an important
area where the \TeX{} community doesn't have enough experience so
far, \eg what are good values in what situations, why? What happens
if\ldots\ and so on. This would also make a good article for {\em
TUGboat} if the report were given some finishing touches afterwards.
\timeestimate{$\approx$ 4 days plus 2 days for publication}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Research on indexing commands}
What kinds of indexes are needed for various fields? What kinds of
indexes are needed for various specialties? What kind of \cs{index}
commands/syntax need to be provided for marking entries? What kind of
commands need to be provided for printing indexes after they have been
processed by a program like Makeindex?
\timeestimate{$\approx$ 1-2 weeks}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Research footnote/endnotes conventions}
What conventions are used for various specialties? What user commands
and syntax would be recommended? Report about the results.
\timeestimate{$\approx$ 1-2 weeks perhaps divided into disciplines}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%% Modified into two tasks per MJD, 17-SEP-1992 13:53
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\task{Syntax diagrams}
Designing a command syntax (and implementation in \LaTeX2.09) for
syntax diagrams used to illustrate programming language syntax.
Reference:
\begin{verbatim}
@article(tub:MPl81,
AUTHOR = {Michael F. Plass},
TITLE = {Charting your Grammar with {\TeX}},
JOURNAL = tub,
YEAR = 1981,
VOLUME = 2,
NUMBER = 3,
PAGES = {39-56},
keywords = {TeX, Macros, Syntax diagrams}
)
\end{verbatim}
The described syntax is probably not appropriate for \LaTeX{} and the
implementation needs refinement since it was done for \TeX79 but it is
a good starting point.
\timeestimate{1-2 days for syntax}
\timeestimate{4-8 days for prototype implementation}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{BNF notation}
Designing command syntax and prototype \LaTeX2.09 implementation for BNF
(Backus-Naur) notation used to describe syntax of programming languages.
\timeestimate{1-2 days for syntax}
\timeestimate{3-5 days for prototype implementation}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%% End Modifications of 17-SEP-1992 13:53
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\end{tasklist}
\begin{tasklist}{Research tasks (cont.)}
\task{Research on use of shorthand forms}
In SGML there is a concept called `short ref' which means for example
that the double quote character \verb="= can be defined to produce
directional quotes, blank line can be interpreted as end of
paragraph, and so forth.
What kind of similar shorthand forms in ASCII files may be desirable
for \LaTeX{} users, \eg \verb|=>| to be converted to $\Rightarrow$,
\verb|/=| or \verb|<>| to be converted to $\neq$, \verb|'?| to be
converted to upside-down Spanish question mark, \verb|"u| to be
converted to umlaut \"u, and so forth. What conventions are currently
in use for various kinds of documents?
Something along these lines is currently done in \AmSTeX{} with
the \verb'@' character: \verb'@-' is a shorthand meaning `nonbreaking
hyphen', \verb'@,' is a shorthand meaning one-tenth of a thinspace,
\verb'@>' is a shorthand for an extensible right arrow, and so forth.
It is envisioned that in \LaTeX3 the user will be allowed to designate
certain characters to be shorthand initiator characters. For
efficiency reasons, the set of allowed initial characters will
probably be restricted to nonalphanumeric only.
\timeestimate{?}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Research on figures and captions}
What rules are in common use for placement and formatting of floating
figures and their associated captions? Propose syntax for user
commands. Write report.
Placement rules for floats and their captions are so far very limited
in batch formatters like \TeX{}. We are interested in rules for such
placement which are used in practice, algorithms, and possible user
syntax. What could be a good user syntax for putting captions above,
below, on the side, centered or top or bottom or left or right? Do we
need to allow different action for different classes of floats? What
do we need for multi-figure groups and their captions?
\timeestimate{2-4 weeks (could be divided in sub-tasks)}
\coordinator{21 September 1992}{Sebastian Rahtz}\email{spqr@minster.york.ac.uk}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\volunteer{Claus Langhans}\email{Claus_Langhans@wildcat.fido.de}
\task{Research on the use of {\protect\doublehat} % that is, ^^? or ^^xx
conventions}
Check the actual use of the {\doublehat} convention for special
characters in the \LaTeX{} community by polling as many users,
organizations, mail-lists, usenet groups, etc.\ as possible.
Write report.
In \TeX{} the \verb=^^= notation is sometimes used for access to
unusual characters ($< 32$ or $> 126$). It would be useful to
separate this function from the superscript function by assigning it
to some character other than \verb|^|, if that would not be too large
an inconvenience for users. One application, for example, would be to
change \verb|^| and \verb|_| to be active characters so that they can
always keep track of current math style, which would allow a better
definition for \cs{mathchoice} and simplify many things having to do
with math fonts. It seems that the \verb=^^= notation is indispensable
only when the character is used in a control sequence name or as a
macro argument delimiter (or in hyphenation patterns?). Note:
document styles are less concern since they will have to be mostly
rewritten for \LaTeX3 anyway.
\timeestimate{$\approx$ 3-5 days}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\end{tasklist}
\begin{tasklist}{Misc items}
\task{Math font handling}
Test math font handling in the latest release of NFSS and write up
detailed comments.
Last year there was some discussion among the \LaTeX3 programmers and
others on how to handle math fonts under an enhanced release of NFSS
for \LaTeX3. The discussion finally drifted off into areas that are
far beyond the scope of the \LaTeX3 project but the actual questions
that were raised have not yet been answered. The only contribution
that came close was the detailed suggestion and experience report by
Sebastian Rahtz about the alpha release for an extended text font
handling which was sent around via the {\tt latex-l} list.
\timeestimate{1--2 days}
Thinking about a proper math font handling taking into account the
papers already sent around.
\timeestimate{2--4 days}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Converting numbers to textual form}
Currently counter values can be displayed in certain styles, \eg as
roman numerals. But it may be interesting to extend the available
commands by cardinal and ordinal representations, \eg 5
$\longrightarrow$ `five' or `fifth' (for example, if you wanted to
refer to `the fifth item' in a list using something like \LaTeX{}'s
\cs{ref}.) Spivak's L\AmSTeX{} has \verb=\cardinal= and \verb=\ordinal=
macros to do this, for handling cross-references such as `the fifth
item in the list' where `fifth' is supposed to be generated by a
\verb=\ref= command. The main question: How much do we need this
capability? Should it be standard, or merely a nice option for those
who want it? Can it be easily extended to support various language
conventions? Are there other significant uses besides the
cross-reference idea?
\timeestimate{1 day}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\end{tasklist}
\begin{tasklist}{Misc items (cont.)}
\task{Rewrite of MakeIndex in WEB}
Convert/rewrite the C source code of MakeIndex.
For consistency it would seem desirable to have all auxiliary programs
designed for use with \LaTeX3 to be compilable in the same way
as \TeX{}. Currently this means use of the WEB language, with or
without the CWEB intermediate step.
Furthermore, the MakeIndex program could use some work to deal with
a few shortcomings that have become evident with the passing of time
and extended usage.
\timeestimate{?}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Write other auxiliary programs}
Create programs for support tasks related to \LaTeX{} documents but
not part of the primary typesetting functions.
Question: what other auxiliary programs do we need? Conjectures:
Compiled version of {\tt docstrip}? Programs to help designers in
creating document styles? Program for dealing with graphics files in
various formats (\eg read Bounding Box comments from a PostScript file
and compute scaling and translation numbers for passing to a \LaTeX{}
\cs{special} command?) Checksum utility by R.~Solovay for updating
Nelson Beebe's standardized file headers. Auxiliary program to help
in constructing complicated tables (decimal point alignment, row
spanning, other fancy effects that are hard to do in \TeX{}
currently)? Auxiliary program similar to Type \& Set to do
interactive page-breaking/float placement?
\timeestimate{Arbitrarily long}
\coordinator{\FHuse{date}}{None yet}\email{}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Bibliography style programming}
Write bibliography styles for \BibTeX1. The current version of
\BibTeX{} is 0.99. A reimplementation of \BibTeX{} for \LaTeX3 is
under way, by Oren Patashnik. When this is finished, or perhaps even
before, suitable standard bibliography styles for \LaTeX3 need to be
written.
\timeestimate{1-3 days per style}
\coordinator{18 September 1992}{Robert Tolksdorf}\email{tolk@cs.tu-berlin.de}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\task{Timing tests}
Run tests to compare speed of various possibilities.
To make the \LaTeX3 kernel sufficiently fast it is necessary to
write efficient code. This means testing several variants against each
other to see which one is fastest. One example is the case of global
versus local assignments for temporary registers. In the recent issue of
TUGboat \cite{tub:LSi92} speed issues for token registers have been
discussed.
\timeestimate{2--3 days}
\coordinator{20 September 1992}{Jonathan Fine}\email{J.Fine@pmms.cam.ac.uk}
\othervolunteers
%\volunteer{NAME}\email{}
\end{tasklist}
\begin{thebibliography}{Rhe92b}
\bibitem[Bea85]{XEROX:RBe85}
Richard~J. Beach.
\newblock Setting tables and illustrations with style.
\newblock Technical Report CSL-85-3, Xerox Corporation, Research
Center, Palo Alto, Califonia 94304, May 1985.
\bibitem[Bea86]{Nottingham:RBe86}
R.~J. Beach.
\newblock Tabular typography.
\newblock In J.~C. van Vliet, editor, {\em Text processing and document
manipulation}, British Computer Society Workshop Series, pages 18--33,
Cambridge, April 1986. Cambridge University Press.
\bibitem[But81]{CUP:JBu81}
Judith Butcher.
\newblock {\em Copy editing: the Cambridge handbook}.
\newblock Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, second edition, 1981.
\bibitem[Car90]{unp:DCa90}
David Carlisle.
\newblock Some notes on the longtable environment.
\newblock Available from \TeX{} servers, December 1990.
\bibitem[Car91]{unp:DCa91}
David Carlisle.
\newblock narray.sty.
\newblock Available from \TeX{} servers, July 1991.
\bibitem[Chi82]{UCP:CMoS82}
{\em The Chicago Manual of Style}.
\newblock University of Chicago Press, Chicago, London, 13th edition,
1982.
\bibitem[Fin91]{unp:JFi91}
Jonathan Fine.
\newblock Some basic control macros for {\TeX}.
\newblock Presented at a \LaTeX3 workshop 1991 in London, February 1991.
\bibitem[Fin92]{tub:JFi92}
Jonathan Fine.
\newblock Some basic control macros for {\TeX}.
\newblock {\em {TUG}boat}, 13(1):75--83, April 1992.
\bibitem[McL80]{TH:RMcL80}
Ruari McLean.
\newblock {\em The Thames and Hudson Manual of Typography}.
\newblock Thames and Hudson, London, 1980.
\bibitem[Rhe90]{texline:DRh90}
David Rhead.
\newblock Towards {\BibTeX} style-files that implement principal
standards.
\newblock {\em {\TeX}line}, (10):2--8, May 1990.
\bibitem[Rhe91a]{texline:DRh91}
David Rhead.
\newblock How might {\LaTeX3} deal with citations and reference lists?
\newblock {\em {\TeX}line}, (13):13--20, September 1991.
\newblock Suggestions for \LaTeX3.
\bibitem[Rhe91b]{unp:DRh91b}
David Rhead.
\newblock Some ideas for improving {\LaTeX}.
\newblock Suggestion for \LaTeX3, July 1991.
\bibitem[Rhe92a]{unp:DRh92a}
David Rhead.
\newblock Short form citations: how a manual might describe the
suggested user interface.
\newblock University of Nottingham {\tt JANET:
d.rhead@uk.\linebreak[0]nottingham.\linebreak[0]ccc.\linebreak[0]vme},
May 1992.
\bibitem[Rhe92b]{unp:DRh92b}
David Rhead.
\newblock Short form citations: some examples.
\newblock University of Nottingham {\tt JANET:
d.rhead@uk.\linebreak[0]nottingham.\linebreak[0]ccc.\linebreak[0]vme},
May 1992.
\bibitem[Sie92]{tub:LSi92}
L.~Siebenmann.
\newblock Elementary text processing and parsing in {\TeX} ---
the appreciation of tokens ---.
\newblock {\em {TUG}boat}, 13(1):62--73, April 1992.
\bibitem[Spi89]{TpC:MSp89}
Michael~D. Spivak.
\newblock {\em {L\AmSTeX} The Synthesis}.
\newblock The \TeX plorators Corporation, Houston, 1989.
\bibitem[Van92]{Lausanne:CVa92}
Christine Vanoirbeek.
\newblock Formatting structured tables.
\newblock In C.~Vanoirbeek and G.~Coray, editors, {\em Electronic
Publishing '92}, pages 291--309, Cambridge, April 1992. Cambridge
University Press.
\bibitem[Whi88]{W-G:JWh88}
Jan White.
\newblock {\em Graphic Design for the Electronic Age}.
\newblock Watson-Guptill, Xerox Press, New York, 1988.
\end{thebibliography}
\newpage
\appendix
\section{Volunteer list manager name and address}
\label{vlminfo}
The manager of the volunteer list is:
\begin{center}
\begin{minipage}{13.5pc}
\vollistmanager\\
\tt\vollistmgraddress
\end{minipage}
\end{center}
If you are interested in volunteering for one of the listed tasks,
please start by contacting the coordinator for the task in which you
are interested, if a coordinator name is given. Otherwise contact the
volunteer list manager. The proposed organization of volunteers is
as follows:
\begin{itemize}
\item The first person to volunteer for each task will automatically be
accepted and designated `task coordinator', without regard to their
expertise. Responsibilities: keep in contact with any other volunteers
that later volunteer for the same task; avoid duplication of effort;
collect and organize the results of volunteer work on that task.
\item The first job of a task coordinator is to gather together
information relevant to the task (such as previous discussions on the
{\tt LaTeX-L} mail list, articles published or unpublished mentioned
in the task list, etc.). For this you may need some assistance. If
you are not already subscribed to the {\tt LaTeX-L} list, you should
subscribe in order to receive announcements about the progress of the
\LaTeX3 project. To do this, send mail to
\email{listserv@vm.urz.uni-heidelberg.de}, with one line as the body
of the message (substituting your own name):
\begin{verbatim}
subscribe LaTeX-L Your-first-name Your-surname
\end{verbatim}
\item The second job of a task coordinator is to write a `task
specification' containing more details than were in the volunteer
task list. It should describe the goals and any restrictions that
apply. This task specification will need to be reviewed by someone on
the \LaTeX3 kernel team, and afterwards it can be sent out to any
additional volunteers for the same task, as a guide for the work.
\item If other persons volunteer later for the same task, the volunteer
list manager will put them in contact with the task coordinator.
Arrangements for dividing the work and keeping in touch should then be
made by the task coordinator; in addition, if a later volunteer has
greater expertise or more spare time or other useful qualifications,
he/she may become the task coordinator by mutual agreement among the
volunteers who are working on that task.
\end{itemize}
\end{document}
------------------------------
UK TeX ARCHIVE at ASTON UNIVERSITY
>>> UK.AC.TEX <<<
*** Interactive and file transfer access ***
JANET: Host: uk.ac.tex, Username: public, Password: public
(DTE 000020120091)
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\section FILES OF INTEREST
[tex-archive]00readme.txt
[tex-archive]00directory.list [tex-archive]00directory.size
[tex-archive]00directory_dates.list [tex-archive]00last30days.files
[tex-archive.doc]TeX-FAQ.txt (Frequently Asked Questions list)
[tex-archive.doc]FAQ-Supplement-*.txt (FAQ supplement)
\section DIGESTS
This year's UKTeX back issues are stored in the archive in directory
[tex-archive.digests.uktex.92]
This year's TeXhax back issues are stored in the archive in directory
[tex-archive.digests.texhax.92]
Latest TeXhax: V92 #17
TeXMaG back issues are stored in the archive in directory
[tex-archive.digests.tex-mag]
Latest TeXMaG: V5N3
\section MEDIA DISTRIBUTIONS
Postal addresses are given below.
\subsection Washington Unix TeX distribution tape
Latest copy of May/June 1991 contains:
TeX 3.14, LaTeX 2.09, Metafont 2.7, plus many utilities
suitable for Unix 4.2/4.3BSD & System V
tar format, 1600bpi, blockfactor 20, 1 file (36Mb)
Copies available on:
One 2400ft 0.5" tape sent to Aston with return labels AND return postage
OR
One Quarter-Inch Cartridge, QIC-120 or QIC-150 format (DC600A or DC6150)
sent with envelope AND stamps for return postage to Nottingham
(Due to currency exchange, this service is offered only within the UK)
\subsection VMS tapes
VMS backup of the archive requires three 2400ft tapes at 6250bpi.
VMS backup of TeX 2.991 plus PSprint requires one 2400ft tape.
\subsection Exabyte 8mm tapes
Same contents available as 0.5" tapes.
Following tape types available: SONY Video 8 cassette P5 90MP,
MAXELL Video 8 cassette P5-90, TDK Video 8 cassette P5-90MPB
\section TeX IMPLEMENTATIONS FOR SMALL COMPUTERS
\subsection OzTeX V1.4 (for Macintosh)
Send 7 UNFORMATTED 800K disks to Aston with return postage.
\subsection emTeX (for OS/2, PC-DOS and MS-DOS)
The complete package (3.5" High density disk format ONLY)
is available from Aston at a cost of 15 pounds sterling,
including documentation, disks, post and packing (DO NOT SEND DISKS):
specify Set A.
Additional utilities including DVIPS, 5 pounds sterling: specify Set B.
FLI files for FX, 5 pounds sterling: specify Set C.
FLI files for P6M, 5 pounds sterling: specify Set D.
For general enquiries, and a free catalogue detailing other disk
formats, precompiled fonts and lots of other goodies, contact:
Eigen PD Software, P.O. Box 722, Swindon SN2 6YB (tel: 0793-611270)
(JANET e-mail address: kellett@uk.ac.cran.rmcs)
\subsection TeX for the Atari ST
All enquiries for disks etc. should be directed to:
The South West Software Library, P.O. Box 562, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2YD
(JANET e-mail address: mdryden@uk.co.compulink.cix)
\section POSTAGE RATES
All prices in Pounds Sterling.
For Aston orders, make cheques payable to Aston University.
0.5" tapes: UK: 2.50 (one tape), 5.00 (two tapes).
Europe: 5.00 (one tape), 9.00 (two tapes).
Outside Europe please enquire.
8mm tapes:
UK: 1.00, Europe: 2.00.
Quarter-inch cartridges:
UK: 1.00, Europe: 2.00.
Diskettes:
Quantity/Size Europe World UK 1st UK 2nd
18/3.5" 3.10 5.10 1.40 1.10
11/3.5" 1.80 2.90 0.80 0.65
18/5.25" 1.20 2.00 0.60 0.50
11/5.25" 0.80 1.30 0.50 0.35
\section POSTAL ADDRESSES
Please include SELF-ADDRESSED ADHESIVE LABELS for return postage.
Peter Abbott
Information Systems, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET
David Osborne
Cripps Computing Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD
(for Quarter-inch cartridges ONLY -- must include stamps for return postage
)
\section UK TeX USERS GROUP
For details, contact:
Geeti Granger, Text Processing Dept, John Wiley & Sons,
Baffins Lane, Chichester, W Sussex PO19 1UD (tel: 0243 770329)
or David Penfold, Edgerton Publishing Services,
30 Edgerton Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield HD3 3AD (tel: 0484 519462)
\bye
End of UKTeX Digest [Volume 92 Issue 35]
****************************************