*=============================================================================* | | | =====//===== \\ // ____ A Mostly Unofficial | | // \\ // |\ /| // Publication for Users | | // //====== \V/ ||\ //| \\ of the TeX Typesetting | | // // // \\ || \// | /\ \\ ===\ System. | | // //==== // \\ || | // \ \\ | | | // // // \\ || | //===\ \\___/ Volume 4, Number 2 | | //======= // \ Distribution: 2150 or so | | | *=============================================================================* Contents Departments \headline..........................................................1 \footnote..........................................................2 ToolBox............................................................3 Features Reader's Survey....................................................4 Bart Childs' Thoughts on TUG.......................................5 Notes on Coming Issues.............................................6 TeXMaG Volume 4 Number 2 page 1 *-----------------------------------------------------------------------------* | \headline{TeXMaG's New Look...} | *-----------------------------------------------------------------------------* TeXMaG is undergoing some changes, the biggest of which is a change of editorial staff. Formerly, as we all know, it was produced by Don Hosek, who is putting TeXMaG aside for greater and grander pursuits. In the past TeXMaG was published rather sporadically. We would like to change this and produce TeXMaG close to once a month. If this becomes an unreasonable goal, it will be published regularly, no less that once every two months. In the past TeXMaG has been a sort of melting pot for articles ranging from macros to device drivers to fonts to beginning topics in both TeX and LaTeX. We feel it would be good to narrow the scope of TeXMaG somewhat. While we feel it should definitely be a valuable resource for TeX and LaTeX users alike, we also feel its topics should be more centralized as an aid to the reader. This issue contains a Reader's Survey which we feel will help guide us in finding your biggest needs. PLEASE! Help us by filling it out and returning it by July 20. In addition, we would also like to start a letters to the editor column. Feel free to send your comments and suggestions for TeXMaG to my address (which is listed about a dozen times in this issue so I won't type it again). This issue is abbreviated in size due to the change in editing staff coupled with the fact that we wanted to get the survey out as quickly as possible. The last article details some upcoming features to look for in future issues. -ed. TeXMaG Volume 4, Issue 2 page 2 *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* | \footline{The Banner Contest} | *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* Avid readers of the TeXMaG probably noticed the revised banner. We thought it was time for a change, but we were not perfectly satisfied with the results. While we thought it looked nice and was a good effort, we feel more could be done. ***** NOW HERE THIS!! ****** We are calling for all interested parties to butt your heads together and devise a new banner. We are going to have a judging between now and the next issue to determine the winner. The prize? Well, your banner will be the NEW banner and we will announce your name and put your banner in the next issue of TeXMaG. Of course, all entries are subject to the approval of the editing staff, and we reserve the right to keep the current banner if we deem it to be the best (so there!). Regulations for a New Banner: Only standard printable characters. 80-columns wide. Must reserve a place for volume, issue, and distrib- ution counts. The current caption describing TeXMaG is fine, but if you think you have a better one, send it in. Send entries to NABTEXM@TAMVENUS (NABTEXM@VENUS.TAMU.EDU). -ed. TeXMaG Volume 4, Issue 2 page 3 *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* | The ToolBox | *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* In this month's ToolBox we have a LaTeX style file which allows you to create an outlined box with a shadow; following we have a plain TeX macro to do the same. In addition, the TeX macro allows you the option of having angled corners on the shadowed box. We played around with the style file some and got some nice results. You can put an entire paragraph in the box if you like; however we did have some problems trying to use this in multiple column mode, so don't try that unless you are sure your box is less than the column width. (Mauro, any solutions to this problem?) (cut here for LaTeX style file) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ % % File: SHADOW.STY % (adapted from the file dropshadow.tex by drstrip@cd.sandia.gov) % % Creation date: 6 June 1990 % % Abstract: The command \sbox has the same meaning of the LaTeX command % \fbox except for the fact that a "shadow" is added to the % bottom and the right side of the box. % It computes the right dimension of the box, also if the text % spans over more than one line; in this case a warning message % is given. % There are three parameters governing: % 1. the width of the lines comprising the box -> \sboxrule % 2. the separation between the edge of the box % and its contents -> \sboxsep % 3. the dimension of the shadow -> \sdim % To use this file put it in the preamble, as usual: % \documentstyle[...,shadow,...]{...} % % Syntax: \sbox{} % where is the text to be put in the framed box % Example: \sbox{This is an example.} % % Author: Mauro Orlandini % International School for Advanced Studies - Trieste - Italy % ORLANDIN@ITSSISSA % 38007::ORLANDINI % \newdimen\sht \newdimen\shw \newbox\shbox \newdimen\sboxsep \newdimen\sboxrule \newdimen\sdim \sboxsep = 10pt \sdim = 4pt \sboxrule = .4pt \def\sbox#1{\setbox\@tempboxa\hbox{#1} \shw\wd\@tempboxa \ifdim\shw<\textwidth \leavevmode\setbox\@tempboxa\hbox{#1} \else \typeout{Warning. Box dimension greater than textwidth.} \setbox\@tempboxa\vbox{\hsize\textwidth\advance\hsize-2\sboxsep \advance\hsize-2\sboxrule \advance\hsize-\sdim#1} \fi \setbox\shbox\hbox{\@tempdima\sboxrule \advance\@tempdima \sboxsep \advance\@tempdima \dp\@tempboxa \hbox{\lower \@tempdima\hbox {\vbox{\hrule \@height \sboxrule \hbox{\vrule \@width \sboxrule \hskip\sboxsep \vbox{\vskip\sboxsep \box\@tempboxa\vskip\sboxsep}\hskip \sboxsep\vrule \@width \sboxrule} \hrule \@height \sboxrule}}}} \sht\ht\shbox \advance\sht-\sdim \leavevmode\vbox{\baselineskip0pt\lineskip0pt \hbox{\copy\shbox\vrule width\sdim height\sht} \hbox{\kern\sdim\vrule height\sdim width \wd\shbox}}} % % End of SHADOW.STY % ____________________________________________________________________ (cut here) Here is a similar macro for use in plain TeX. The format is \shadowbox{...text...}. You also have the option of angled edges (which is the default). To get non angled edges, the appropriate command is \anglesfalse. The accuracy of the angled edges can be adjusted. The default is 50 (this means that there are 50 hrules in each of the angles). Use the \accuracy= token to do this. Of course, to typeset a paragraph, put the text into a \vbox within \shadowbox. (cut here for TeX macro) --------------------------------------------------------------------- % % Shadow Box Macro v1.0 % % Academic Computing Services % % Texas A&M University % % Written by Robert Nilsson (RANHELP@VENUS.TAMU.EDU) % \message{} % % Control Values % \newdimen\shadowwidth \shadowwidth=4pt \newdimen\normalwidth \normalwidth=0.4pt \newcount\accuracy \accuracy=50 \newif\ifangles \anglestrue % % Define \shadowbuff to be the amount of space on % either side of the contents of the box. % \def\shadowbuff{\quad} % % Internal Variables % \newdimen\shadowboxwd \newdimen\shadowboxht \newcount\shadowloop \newdimen\shadowamount % % Macro Body % \def\shadowbox#1{% \setbox0=\hbox{\strut\shadowbuff#1\shadowbuff}% \shadowboxwd=\wd0% \shadowboxht=\ht0% \advance\shadowboxht by \dp0% \advance\shadowboxht by -\shadowwidth% \advance\shadowboxht by 2\normalwidth% \shadowamount=\shadowwidth% \divide\shadowamount by \accuracy% \vbox{\hbox{\vrule width\normalwidth% \vbox{\hrule height\normalwidth% \hbox to\shadowboxwd{\box0}\hrule height\normalwidth}\vrule% \shadowloop=\accuracy% \hbox{\vbox{% \ifangles \loop% \ifnum\shadowloop>0% \hbox to \shadowwidth{\leaders\hrule height \shadowamount\hfil% \hskip\shadowloop\shadowamount}\nointerlineskip% \advance\shadowloop by -1% \repeat% \else% \vskip \shadowwidth% \fi% \hbox to \shadowwidth{\leaders\hrule height\shadowboxht\hfil}}}% }\nointerlineskip% \advance\shadowboxwd by 2\normalwidth% \shadowloop=0% \hbox{\hbox to \shadowwidth{% \ifangles% \vbox{% \loop% \ifnum\shadowloop<\accuracy% \hbox to \shadowwidth{\hskip\shadowloop\shadowamount% \leaders\hrule height \shadowamount\hfil}\nointerlineskip% \advance\shadowloop by 1% \repeat}% \else% \hfil% \fi}% \hbox to \shadowboxwd{\leaders\hrule height \shadowwidth\hfil}}}}% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TeXMaG Volume 4, Issue 2 page 4 *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* | Reader's Survey | *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* PLEASE! We need YOUR help to make TeXMaG the electronic mailer YOU want it to be. Help us by editing the (short) survey below with your favorite text editor and returning it to the address below. Name________________________________________________________________ E-mail Address______________________________________________________ Part I. What kind of Machine do you run TeX on? (Check all applicable answers) ___ VAX running VMS ___ Unix system ___ IBM running VM/CMS ___ IBM running MVS ___ SUN ___ Apple MacIntosh ___ IBM PC or Clone ___ Amiga ___ Other (Specify)______________ What type of printer do you use? ___ PostScript ___ HP LaserJet Series // ___ DEC LN03 (or compatible) ___ Xerox 4050/9700 ___ Dot Matrix Printer ___ QMS Laser Printer ___ Other, specify: ______________________________ Which version of TeX are you currently running? ___ 3.0 ___ 2.9x ___ Other:___ ___ Not sure Which of the following do you subscribe to/read regularly? ___ TeXHAX (Arpanet mailing list) ___ TUGBoat ___ TeXline ___ Other__________________ Part II (The important part.) What would you like to see in the coming year in TeXMaG? (check all applicable) ___ Beginning Articles on TeX, LaTeX, etc. ___ Intermediate Articles on TeX, LaTeX, etc. ___ Advanced Macros and Articles for TeX, Latex, etc. ___ Graphics in TeX ___ Articles on installing/upgrading TeX, et al... ___ Reviews of TeX formats/services/utilities... ___ Articles you don't find anywhere else ___ Other __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ The one thing I dislike most about TeXMaG is________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________. The one thing I like the most about TeXMaG is_______________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________. More than anything, I wish TeXMaG talked more about_________________ ___________________________________________________________________. I feel I get repeated information in TeXMaG. It isn't anything new. ___Agree ____Disagree. Additional Comments: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Return this survey to NABTEXM@TAMVENUS (that's NABTEXM@VENUS.TAMU.EDU to those of you on internet) sometime before July 20. We will use this information to help point TeXMaG in the right direction. A summary of the results will be published in the next issue. TeXMaG Volume 4, Issue 2 page 5 *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* | Bart Childs' Thoughts on TUG | *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* Bart Childs, the local host for the recent TeX User's Group Annual Conference, was kind enough to post his reflections on the classes and meeting. Our thanks goes out to him for his hard work and his desire to make the meeting the best it could be. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Some Reflections on Hosting a Meeting (by S. Bart Childs) Let me begin with a few ramblings. Those of you who weren't here might be helped by the following annotated capsule of the conference and some related activities. My last conference at Stanford was wonderful and frustrating. Each day of the conference we had 1.5 hours for lunch. The TUG Board of Directors spent at least 10 minutes (probably more like 15) walking to lunch, meeting until the line was short, breaking and going through the line, eating, meeting, and then allowing 10 minutes to hurry back to the conference. We lost a valuable time to meet with "our constituents." This time we scheduled Sunday from noon till five and that was not enough! Next year it will probably be scheduled for 8 till 5 and be through at 10:30. I have heard lots of good reports on the courses before and after the conference. This is in spite of the horrible problems I had with the equipment. File served PS2s are a logical way to provide a lot of TeX with previewers ... to a lot of people. However, there are problems. Ours was not transparent! Help files placed in /usr/tex/inputs from the unix side of the server were not compatible with the PC's TeX. The utilities to convert between did not work! There were errors in PATH on systems without hard drives... The actual conference was held on the usual Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday schedule. We had a get acquainted "ethnic feast" on Sunday night, for a price. About 70 percent of those registered paid and were there (I think a few more sneaked in.) This started out with snacks from a Mexican Restaurant and was to be followed by a wonderful TeXas barbecue. Well, when my handwritten instructions were converted to the order, the time I left for clean up and be gone got used as the time to serve. That was the longest hour and a half in my life. We had a polka band from a nearby Czech community for entertainment. I invited seven couples from the area to be designated dancers. The band had to start before the main course was served. They broke while we ate because they got to eat, too. We had a ball, even our Executive Director, Ray Goucher, did the "Chicken Dance." Most of the Monday schedule is necessary and boring stuff. We had elections, status reports, business meeting, ... I am sure that some of the new attendees wondered. We finally got to TeX things in the last session of the day. The last two days were primarily papers that you would expect at a TeX conference. We had a good set of exhibitors showing some really good TeX systems. Really neat gifts were given by TUG and the exhibitors. We got key fobs, nard badges, TeX rulers, bought T-shirts, ... The worst loss was one vendor's high resolution display was damaged in transit and couldn't show his wares. The conference was held on campus but campus housing was not offered because we wanted to gauge the effects of having ONE place (a hotel in this case) for everybody. We generally rode back and forth in shuttles. The after hours meetings were held in hotel facilities. I had some wonderful helpers and volunteers. The only problem is that I should have always finished every conference or agreement by putting it in writing and copying everybody. That would have avoided the problem like I had with the BBQ. In retrospect, I thought it was a wonderful conference. We had some really good discussions, disagreements, and agreements. I guess one of the most telling stories is: One person saw me standing across the room and was on his way to thank me for the conference. As he walked he thought about what he would say and was going to start it with a compliment about the BBQ and dance. He planned to mention my friends who danced with any willing experimenters. On the way, he heard from another conversation, "it was really a good conference but we sure could do without the dancing and singing." A recommendation to the next local host: if you have any continuing local obligations you had better have a good and available staff to carry the load for you. TeXMaG Volume 4, Issue 2 page 6 *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* | An Afterthought on Coming Issues | *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* Like we mentioned earlier, this issue has been abbreviated for various reasons. But stay tuned! Next issue promises to have a Tables Macro called S-Tables (don't know what the S stands for, yet). It provides multi-row, multi-column, variant-width ruled tables (by variant I mean you can *easily* set the width of rules throughout the table). In addition, it provides for easy paragraph insertion into a table which again can span multiple columns and rows. Full documentation will be provided. We also will have survey results, and you can be sure to see TeXMaG grow to fit the interests of the general reader as best as we can. Feel free to submit articles you feel would be a general help to the TeX community. We are at present accepting articles on all aspects of TeX, MetaFont, etc. Macros and style files are always helpful, too. -ed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TeXMaG is an independently published electronic magazine available free of charge to all interested parties reachable by electronic mail. It is published monthly. Letters to the editor may be sent to NABTEXM@TAMVENUS (BITNet) or NABTEXM@VENUS.TAMU.EDU (Internet) and may be published in a future issue. Publisher: Academic Computing Services of Texas A&M University Managing Editor: Neil Burleson TeX Editor: Robert Nilsson LaTeX Editor: Saad Mir Graphics/TeX Editor Stewart Robinson Copy Editor: Diana Armstrong Chief Consultant: John McClain, Ph.D SUBSCRIPTIONS: CDNnet: Send a note to asking to receive TeXMaG. JANET: Send a note to Peter Abbott, asking to receive TeXMaG. All others: Send the following command as an interactive message (Bitnet) or as a single-line mail message to LISTSERV@UICVM or LISTSERV@UICVM.UIC.EDU: SUBS TEXMAG-L Your_Full_Name. If you have difficulty doing this, send a note to Neil Burleson . SUBMISSIONS: Please send submissions to or ; they will automatically be forwarded to the editor. BACK ISSUES: Back issues may be FTP'd from YMIR.CLAREMONT.EDU from the directory [ANONYMOUS.TEX.PERIODICALS.TEXMAG] Back issues may also be FTP'd from SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU from the directory pub/texmag. Users without FTP access may request back issues from the Clarkson repository by sending a mail message to with the form path A_MAIL_PATH_FROM_CLARKSON_TO_YOU get texmag texmag.V.NN where V is the volume number and NN is the issue number. Including a line "index texmag" in the message will return a list of back issues available. Back issues may also be FTP's from SCIENCE.UTAH.EDU from the file BBD:TEXMAG.TXT. Janet users may obtain back issues from the Aston archive. DECNET/SPAN users may obtain them from the Decnet repository (see below). \bye bye! % End of TeXMaG %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%