🚀 go-pugleaf

This article contains answers to some frequently asked questions on
comp.text.tex. Please don't ask these questions again, as they've been
answered many times before.

This article includes answers to:

  1) Where can I get a DVI to PostScript conversion program?
  2) How can I include a PostScript figure in LaTeX?
  3) Where can I find a DVI previewer for machine Y running Z?
  4) Where can I get the manual for PiCTeX?
  5) What is VorTeX and where can I get it?
  6) What is OzTeX and where can I get it?
  7) What is Fig and where can I get it?
  8) How do I get WEB for C or FORTRAN?
  9) How can I typeset music in TeX?
  10) What is TUGboat?
  11) How do I convert Adobe's afm files to tfm format?
  12) In LaTeX, how do I get a double-spaced document?
  13) In LaTeX, how do I include a file in the verbatim environment?
  14) In LaTeX, how do I do Z?
  15) Where can I find a LaTeX style file for doing Y?
  16) How do I generate an index in TeX/LaTeX?
  17) How do I get METAFONT to do what I want it to do?
  18) Where do I get TeX/LaTeX for machine Y running Z?
  19) What is the Clarkson archive server?
  20) Where can I get a thesis style for LaTeX?

If you are looking for the answer to, for instance, question 17, and wish
to skip everything else, you can search ahead for the regular expression
"^17)"

These are all legitimate questions, but they seem to appear too frequently
for long-time readers of the list. 

Many of the answers below tell you that you can obtain something
through anonymous ftp. Remember that anonymous ftp is a privilege
and that the system administrators for these sites have made these
files available out of their own generosity. Therefore please restrict
your ftp'ing to non-prime hours at the various sites.

I would like to acknowledge Don Hosek, Ken Yap, Tomas Rokicki, and
Micah Beck, whose postings provided many of the answers. The format of
this document is based on that of the Frequently Asked Questions appearing
in comp.unix.wizards, and written by Steve Hayman. Any mistakes
are mine. Corrections, suggestions, and additions to bobby@hot.caltech.edu.

1) Where can I get a DVI to PostScript conversion program?

   Three very nice DVI to PostScript conversion programs that run
   under Unix are:
     dvitps - part of the TeXPS package by Stephan Bectolsheim.
       Available via anonymous ftp from arthur.cs.purdue.edu
       (128.10.2.1) in ./pub/TeXPS.
     dvi3ps - by Kevin Coombes. Available via anonymous ftp
       from tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (128.146.8.60) in 
       ./pub/dvi3ps.tar.Z 
     dvips - by Tomas Rokicki. This driver (in version 5.0 and later)
       has the ability to deal with the virtual fonts of TeX 3.0.
       Version 4.21 is for versions of TeX before 3.0 (or 2.995).
       Available via anonymous ftp from labrea.stanford.edu 
       (36.8.0.47) in ./pub.

2) How can I include a PostScript figure in LaTeX?

   Perhaps the best way to do this is to use the psfig macros written
   by Trevor Darrell. They are available via anonymous ftp from
   whitechapel.media.mit.edu (18.85.0.124) in ./psfig or 
   linc.cis.upenn.edu (130.91.6.8) in the directory ./dist/psfig. You 
   will also need a dvi to PostScript conversion program that supports 
   the macros. The ones mentioned in question 1 do. The psfig macros
   work best with Encapsulated PostScript Files (EPS). In particular, psfig
   will need the file to have a BoundingBox (see Appendix C of the
   _PostScript Language Reference Manual_). If you don't have an EPS
   file, life can be difficult.
   

3) Where can I find a DVI previewer for machine Y running Z?

   This briefly lists some previewers which are available via anonymous
   ftp:
      dvipage - For SunView. Available via anonymous ftp from 
        june.cs.washington.edu (128.95.1.4) in ./tex/dvipages.tar.Z.
      xtex - For X Windows. Available via anonymous ftp from
        expo.lcs.mit.edu (18.30.0.212) in ./contrib/SeeTeX-2.15.tar.Z.
      dviapollo- for Apollo Domain. Available via anonymous ftp from
        june.cs.washington.edu in ./tex/dviapollo.tar.Z.
      dviis - For Integrated Systems. Available via anonymous ftp from
        june.cs.washington.edu in ./tex/dviis.tar.Z.
      dvidis - For VAXstation VWS. Available via anonymous ftp from
        venus.ycc.yale.edu (130.132.1.5) in [.dvidis] (VMS machine).
      xdvi - Also for X Windows. Available via anonymous ftp from
        expo.lcs.mit.edu in ./contrib/xdvi.shar.Z and 
        ./contrib/xdvi.patch7.Z
   
4) Where can I get the manual for PiCTeX?

   The PiCTeX manual is not free. It is available for $35 from the
   TeX Users Group:
                     TeX Users Group
                     P. O. Box 9506
                     Providence, RI 02940 (USA)
                     401-751-7760
                     tug@math.ams.com

   The proceeds from this sale go to Michael Wichura, the author of PiCTeX,
   and TUG.

5) What is VorTeX and where can I get it?

   VorTeX is a package of programs written at the University of California.
   It includes several nice previewers and some Emacs modes for TeX and
   BibTeX. It is not free, but is not expensive. Inquiries should be 
   directed to vortex@ucbarpa.berkely.edu or
        Professor Michael A. Harrison
        Att. Vortex Dist.
        Computer Science Division
        University of California
        Berkeley, CA 94720

6) What is OzTeX and where can I get it?

   OzTeX is a public domain version of TeX for the Macintosh. It was 
   written by Andrew Trevorrow, and is available via anonymous ftp from 
   watmsg.waterloo.edu (129.97.129.9) in ./pub/oztex. The most recent
   version is 1.2. Questions about it may be directed to 
   oztex@tank.uchicago.edu.

7) What is Fig and where can I get it?

   Fig is a menu driven tool similar to MacWrite that allows you to 
   draw objects on the screen of a Sun Workstation running SunView.
   TransFig is a set of tools which translate the code fig produces
   to other graphics languages including PostScript and the LaTeX
   picture environment. Both are available via anonymous ftp from
   svax.cs.cornell.edu (128.84.254.2) in ./pub/fig. Both Fig and
   TransFig are also available from the Clarkson archive server at 
   sun.soe.clarkson.ede (see question 19). Both Fig and TransFig 
   are supported by Micah Beck.

   XFig is essentially the same program except that it runs under 
   X Windows. It is available via anonymous ftp from expo.lcs.mit.edu 
   (18.30.0.22) in ./contrib/xfig-2.0.*.Z. Note that version 2.0 is
   the most recent. It was written by Brian Smith.

   For complete compatibility with TransFig, be sure to get at least
   patchlevel 4 of XFig 2.0.

8) How do I get WEB for C or FORTRAN?

   There is a version of WEB for C called CWEB written by Silvio Levy. It
   is available via anonymous ftp from princeton.edu (128.112.128.1) in 
   the directory ./pub/cweb.

   There is a version of WEB called Spidery WEB which supports many languages
   including ADA, awk, and C. It was written by Norman Ramsey and, while
   not in the public domain, is usable free for research purposes. It is 
   available via anonymous ftp from princeton.edu in ./pub/spiderweb.tar.Z.

   There is a versions of WEB call FWEB for Fortran, Ratfor, and C written
   by John Krommes. It is available via anonymous ftp from ccc.nmfecc.gov
   (128.55.128.30) in the directory tex$root:[distr.fweb] (note that this 
   is a VMS machine).

9) How can I typeset music in TeX?

   A package called MuTeX, written by Andrea Steinbach and Angelika Schofer,
   aids in doing this. It is available via anonymous ftp from
   sol.cs.ruu.nl (131.211.80.5) in pub/TEX/mtex.tar.Z

10) What is TUGboat?

    TUGboat is the newsletter of the TeX Users Group:
                  TeX Users Group
                  P. O. Box 9506
                  Providence, RI 02940 (USA)
                  401-751-7760
                  tug@math.ams.com

11) How do I convert Adobe's afm files to tfm format?

    Use the afm2tfm program distributed with dvips, available via anonymous
    ftp from labrea.stanford.edu (36.8.0.47) in ./pub. If you are using a
    pre-VF version of TeX, get dvips4.21; if you are using a version of
    TeX that understands virtual fonts, get dvips5.02 (or later).

12) In LaTeX, how do I get a double-spaced document?

    One way is to change the value of \baselinestretch to 2 or 1.5 with
    the command \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{2}. A better way is to
    the doublespace style file doublespace.sty in ./pub/latex-style from
    sun.soe.clarkson.edu (see question 19).

13) In LaTeX, how do I include a file in the verbatim environment?

    A good way to do this is to use the alltt environment defined in
    the style file alltt.sty available in ./pub/latex-style from
    sun.soe.clarkson.edu (see question 19).

14) In LaTeX, how do I do Z?

    If you can't figure out how to do something in LaTeX after you
    have read the manual very carefully, asked your local LaTeX
    guru, and thought about it, there is a LaTeX help service 
    available (more information is periodically posted about this 
    by Don Hosek). Send mail describing your problem to
    latex-help@sumex-aim.stanford.edu. This is a volunteer service,
    so please don't abuse it.

15) Where can I find a LaTeX style file for doing Y?

    Before you ask for a LaTeX style file to do something, please check
    the latex style collection at sun.soe.clarkson.edu, either through
    the archive server or via anonymous ftp (see question 19).

16) How do I generate an index in TeX/LaTeX?

    Making an index is not trivial. There are several indexing programs
    which aid in doing this. Some are:
      makeindex - for LaTeX under Unix. Available via anonymous ftp
         from ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23, VMS) in the directory
         [.tex.utilities.makeindex]
      idxtex - for LaTeX under VMS. Available via anonymous ftp from
         ymir.claremont.edu in the directory [.tex.utilities.idxtex].
      texix - for TeX on CMS and MacIntosh machines. Available via
         anonymous ftp from ymir.claremont.edu in the directory
         [.tex.utilities.texix].

17) How do I get METAFONT to do what I want it to do?

    METAFONT, unlike TeX, requires some customization. Each output device
    for which you will be generating fonts needs a mode associated with it.
    Modes are defined using the mode_def convention described on page 94 of
    _The METAFONTbook_. So first create a file, which we will call local.mf,
    containing all the mode_defs you will be using. The file waits.mf 
    (in the standard distribution or available via anonymous ftp from 
    labrea.stanford.edu (36.8.0.47) in ./lib) is a good starting point for 
    this. Listings of settings for various output devices are also published 
    periodically in TUGboat (see question 10). Now create a plain base
    file using inimf, plain.mf, and local.mf:
       % inimf
       This is METAFONT....
       **plain                 # you type plain
       (output)
       *input local            # you type this
       (output)
       *dump                   # you type this
       Beginning to dump on file plain....
       (output)
       %
    This should create a base file named plain.base (or something close)
    and should be moved to the directory which contains the base files on
    your system.
 
    Now we need to make sure that METAFONT loads this base when it starts
    up. If METAFONT loads the plain base by default on your system, then
    you're ready to go. Under Unix, we might, for instance define a 
    command mf which executes "virmf &plain," loading the plain base
    file.
 
    The usual way to create a font with plain METAFONT is to then start it
    with the line
       \mode=<mode name>; mag=<magnification>; input <font file name>
    in response to the * prompt or on the METAFONT command line. If 
    <mode name> is unknown or omitted, then the mode defaults to proof 
    mode. If this has happened METAFONT will produce an output file
    called <font file name>.2602gf. The <magnification> is a floating 
    point number or magstep (magsteps are defined in _The METAFONTbook_ 
    and _The TeXbook_). If mag=<magnification> is omitted, then the 
    default is 1. For example, to generate cmr10 at 12pt for an epson 
    printer you would type
       mf \mode=epson; mag=1.2; input cmr10
    Note that under Unix the '\' and ';' characters must usually be escaped,
    so that this would typically look something like
       mf \\mode=epson\; mag=1.2\; input cmr10
 
    If you don't have inimf or need a special mode that isn't in the
    base, you can put its commands in a file (e.g., ln03.mf) and invoke
    it on the fly with the \smode command. For example, to create 
    ln03.300gf for an LN03 printer, using the file
	% This is ln03.mf as of 2/27/90
	% mode_def courtesy of John Sauter
	proofing:=0;
	fontmaking:=1;
	tracingtitles:=0;
	pixels_per_inch:=300;
	blacker:=0.65;
	fillin:=-0.1;
	o_correction:=.5;
    (note the absence of the mode_def and enddef commands), we would type
       mf \smode="ln03"; input cmr10
    
18) Where do I get TeX/LaTeX for machine Y running Z?

     Unix - The Unix TeX distribution is available for anonymous
       ftp from labrea.stanford.edu (36.8.0.47) in the directory
       ./tex/unix. It is large, so please be sure to observe proper
       ftp etiquette when getting it. It is also available through
       the University of Washington. Contact:
                  Director
                  Northwest Computer Support Group
                  University of Washington
                  Mail Stop DW-10
                  Seattle, WA 98195 (USA)
                  (206)543-6259
     PC - A TeX package for the PC is available via anonymous
       ftp from eedsp.gatech.edu (128.61.2.1) in ./pub/TeX.
       TeX for the PC is also available through
                  Jon Radel
                  P. O. Box 2276
                  Reston, VA 22090
       Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to obtain information
       on what's available.

     Mac - see question 6 for a public domain version. 

     TOPS-20 - TeX was originally written on a DEC-20. A Distribution
        that runs on TOPS-20 is available via anonymous ftp from
        science.utah.edu (128.110.192.2) in aps:<tex> (this is a 
        TOPS-20 machine).

     VAX/VMS - VMS executables are available via anonymous ftp from
        ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) in [.tex.exe]. Source is
        available in [.tex.sources].

     Atari - TeX is available for the Atari ST from dsrgsun.ces.cwru.edu
        (129.22.16.2) in ./pub/atari/StTeX.

     Amiga - Disk 1 of the Amiga CommonTeX distribution is available
         via anonymous ftp from xanth.cs.odu.edu (128.82.4.1) 
         in ./pub/commontex.zoo. This file is in zoo format so you may 
         need to retrieve the file ./pub/zoo-2.00.arc to uncompress it.
         The file copying.tex in the distribution contains information
         on how to obtain the other disks.

19) What is the Clarkson archive server?

    The Clarkson archive server is a program that allows you to 
    retrieve files via electronic mail. So it provides a way of
    getting many neat things if you don't have anonymous ftp. To
    get the archive server to do something you should send a message
    to archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (128.153.12.3). To get
    started using it, send the archive server a one line message
    "help" (case is unimportant). It will send you back a file
    describing how to use it more fully.
 
    In particular, the Clarkson archive contains, among other things,
    a repository for LaTeX style files, AMSTeX macros and style
    files, BiBTeX style files, PiCTeX source (not the manual, see
    question 4), back issues of TeXhax and TeXMaG, files from
    TUGboat, and source to TeX, LaTeX, WEB, and various utilities.
    The archive is maintained by Michael DeCorte.
 
    If anonymous ftp is available to you, you may get the files directly
    from sun.soe.clarkson.edu.

    If you have problems, contact archive-management@sun.soe.clarkson.edu.

20) Where can I get a thesis style for LaTeX?

    Thesis styles are usually very specific to your University, so it's
    usually not profitable to ask the whole newsgroup for one. If you
    want to write your own, a good place to start is the ucthesis style
    available in the latex style collection at sun.soe.clarkson.edu
    (see question 19).
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is version number 1.2 last changed 4/3/90
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bobby Bodenheimer				@hot.caltech.edu
// BITNET: bobby@caltech.bitnet                 |
// ARPA  : bobby@csvax.caltech.edu              | Woof!
// UUCP  : {amdahl,ames!elroy}!cit-vax!bobby    |