;PS:TEX-FOR-IBM-PC.TXT.12, 18-Jan-90 09:40:59, Edit by BEEBE TeX for PC DOS [18-Jan-1990] There are several commercial sources of TeX on the IBM PC (and clones): PC-TeX: Personal TeX 12 Madrona Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941 USA Tel: (415) 388-8853 Turbo-TeX: Kinch Computer Company 501 S Meadow St Ithaca, NY 14850 USA Tel: (607) 273-0222 mu-TeX: Arbortext Inc. 535 W. William St, Suite 300 Ann Arbor, MI 48103 USA Tel: (313) 996-3566 TeX Plus Micro Publishing Systems, Inc. 1273 Clyde Avenue West Vancouver, BS V7T 1E6 CANADA Tel: (604) 926-0500 and Oregon House Software 12894 Rices Crossing Road Oregon House, CA 95962 USA Tel: (916) 692-1377 Vector TeX: MicroPress Inc. 67-30 Clyde St, Suite 2N Forest Hills, NY 11375 USA Tel: (718) 575-1816 DOSTeX: Gary Beihl - Price $US75 E-mail: beihl%cadillac.cad.mcc.com@mcc.com Jon Radel: Jon Radel P.O. Box 2276 Reston, VA 22090-0276 USA E-mail: jonradel@gogey.princeton.edu Personal TeX was the first to port TeX to the PC, and concentrates exclusively on the PC market. ArborText also serves the UNIX market. Kinch is a newcomer, and their version is optimized for PC's with extended memory (it is VERY slow on systems without) and will handle larger TeX files than the others (it does software virtual memory swapping). Vector TeX from MicroPress is a new entry (November 1989) into the PC DOS TeX market. Gary Beihl did his own port, and simply sells the result at a low cost. Jon Radel offers a wide selection of public-domain PC TeXware. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From TUGboat v10#2pp15--1989: Klaus Thull's PubliC TeX for IBM PC available from LISTSERV@DHDURZ1.BITNET ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From TUGboat v10#3p328--1989: Klaus Thull's PubliC METAFONT for IBM PC available from LISTSERV@DHDURZ1.BITNET as a version 0 changefile. Distribution is being handled by DANTE, the German speaking TEX users association: contact Joachim Lammarsch Research Center Universit\"{a}t Heidelberg Im Neuenheimer Feld 293 6900 Heidelberg Federal Republic of Germany Bitnet: rz92@dhdurz1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>From: TeXhax Digest Friday, March 3, 1989 Volume 89 : Issue 19 >> >> >>Date: Wed, 1 Mar 89 12:03 EST >>From: "James A. O'Brien (203) 432-4382" >>Subject: SBTeX for MS-DOS PCs >>Keywords: SBTeX, MS-DOS >> >>A public domain implementation of TeX V2.93 is now available for anonymous >>FTP from VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU. The file is in the default directory on >>login and is called SBTEX.ARC. It was archived using PKPAK V3.61. The >>archive is 651 521k blocks (i.e. 326 kbytes) in size. [Note that SBTEX >>is also available on SIMTEL20] >> >>This implementation was developed by Wayne G. Sullivan of the Department >>of Mathematics at University College Dublin in Ireland using Turbo Pascal >>V4.0. The archive contains enough to build a working PLAIN TeX on any MS-DOS >>PC with at least 512k of memory (although 640k or more is much better e.g. >>DEC Rainbows have 896k). Included are TEX.EXE, INITEX.EXE, the PLAIN format, >>and TFMs for the 16 basic CM fonts in the PLAIN format. Full details on >>installation are contained in SBTEX.DOC in the archive, and an INSTAL.BAT >>file is provided. >> >>SBTeX has already gone through extensive testing both at UCD and at Yale, >>and is believed to be relatively bug-free. It has been verified to run >>on PC hardware as well as on a DEC Rainbow. It should run on any 80x86/8 >>processor machine which runs MS-DOS. Reports of any bugs should be >>addressed to the author, Wayne G. Sullivan, WSULIVAN@IRLEARN.BITNET >>(note only one "L" in the ID). >> >> >> 11/15/88 >> Jim O'Brien >> Department of Chemical Engineering >> Yale University >> OBRIEN%OBRIEN@YALEVMS BITNET >> OBRIEN%OBRIEN@VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU Internet >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>From: Info-IBMPC Digest V89 #88 >> >>Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 11:27 EDT >>From: "James A. O'Brien (203) 432-4382" >>Subject: New release of SBTEX, MSDOS version of Knuth's TeX >> >>An upgraded version of sbtex contained in SB26TEX.ARC is now available >>from SIMTEL20 (EARN sites use TRICKLE) in the pd1: directory >>and by anonymous FTP from VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU. sbtex is a "vanilla" MSDOS >>application and therefore will run on any MSDOS machine. >> >>Improvements over the previously released sb08: >> >> 1. It is faster; it requires about 30% less time to process tex files. >> >> 2. It has greater capacity: up to 3050 multiletter control sequences may >>be used (2400 for sb08). >> >> 3. Environment variables are provided to override the defaults for >>inputs, formats, and tfm directories. >> >> 4. User-adaptable support for 8-bit byte input files is provided. Byte >>values above 127 are replaced in the input buffer by strings from the pool >>file. These strings can be changed by editing the pool file. stats) is >>smaller than 150Kb. >> >> 5. Font swapping to disk has been implemented to cater for macro packages >>which preload extensive font data. Main mem swapping is not implemented: a >>CHKDSK value of 562,000 bytes of available RAM is required for a full >>sized 32-bit mword TeX, but most TeX files can be processed with less >>available RAM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>From: TeXhax Digest Sunday, November 5, 1989 Volume 89 : Issue 100 >> >>Date: Tue, 31 Oct 89 10:54:40 EST >>From: jrv@sdimax2.mitre.org >>Subject: Public Domain TeX--screen previewer and driver >>Keywords: previewer, driver, TeX, PD >> >>> Date: Wed, 23 Aug 89 12:18:24 EDT >>> From: Will Thacker >>> Subject: Public Domain TeX--screen previewer and driver >>> Keywords: driver, previewer, PD TeX >>> >>> Does anyone know where I could get a public domain version of a >>> screen previewer for the IBM/PC and/or a public domain version of >>> an IBM graphics printer driver for the PC. Thanks. >> >>Will: >> >>There are several previewers among the files at wsmr-simtel20.army.mil. >>Here is a description of their collection... >> >> >>PD1:-READ.ME >> This file. >> >>PD1:SB26TEX.ARC >> TeX 2.98 plus files for Plain TeX. Adapted for Turbo Pascal by Wayne >> G. Sullivan. >> >> If at least 562,000 bytes of RAM are available (per CHKDSK), then >> sbtex can run to the memory limit for 'standard' versions of TeX. For >> sb26 to run at least 431,000 bytes of available RAM (CHKDSK data) are >> required. In sb26 font swapping is included, with unwanted font data >> gently dumped onto disk. >> >> [sb26tex appears somewhat simpler than dostex to install. It does not >> include a .dvi previewer, so it doesn't require font files and >> takes only about 350 KB on the disk.] >> >>PD1:DOSTEX1.ARC >>PD1:DOSTEX2.ARC >>PD1:DOSTEX3.ARC >>PD1:DOSTEX4.ARC >>PD1:DOSTEX5.ARC >>PD1:DOSTEX6.ARC >> DosTeX is Electronetics, Incorporated's port of TeX to the Microsoft >> MSDOS Operating system for IBM-compatible personal computers. >> DosTeX version 2.93a corresponds to TeX version 2.93. >> >> DosTeX is a complete and true implementation of TeX, having passed the >> `trip' verification suite. This distribution contains versions of >> TeX, LaTeX (Leslie Lamport's macro package) and AmSTeX (American >> Mathematical Society's macro package). System requirements are 640K >> memory and 4.5Mb disk space. >> >> Includes: >> DVI2HERC - A .dvi previewer for Hercules Graphics Cards >> DVIEPS - TeX DVI to Epson translator >> >>PD1:BIBTEX99.ARC >> >>PD1:CDVI12.ARC >> CDVICGA/EGA, CDVIO, CDVIH and CDVI-2 are programs for making making >> TeX DVI output visible on the graphics screen of compatible PC's. >> CDVIH is for Hercules 720 by 348 graphics; >> CDVICGA, for CGA graphics; >> CDVIEGA, for EGA graphics; >> CDVIO, for Olivetti/ATT 640 by 400 graphics; >> CDVI-2 for VGA/MCGA graphics. >> >> [CDVI series programs are faster than DVIVGA because they have fonts >> stored internally. However, this restricts them to PLAIN >> fonts. Zooming and horizontal scrolling are not implemented.] >> >>PD1:DVIEW.ARC >> DVIEW is a program for IBM PC compatibles for viewing TeX .dvi output >> files, including those using the MIT graphics extensions. >> Currently DVIEW supports the CGA and the high-resolution mode of >> the Toshiba T3100 (& presumably the T5100); other displays may be >> supported in time. >> >> >>PD1:DVIVGA.INF >>PD1:DVIVGA1.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA2.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA3.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA4.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA5.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA6.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA7.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA8.ARC >>PD1:DVIVGA9.ARC >> >> DVIVGA is a TeX screen previewer for the IBM PC. This driver and the >> associated font files are public domain. It is part of a family >> written by Nelson Beebe of the University of Utah and others. The >> screen previewer is an adaptation of this code by Doug McDonald at >> the University of Illinois. >> >> Requires an IBM PC computer with 512K or more of memory. Alternately, >> a compatible with similar specs. The screen driver needs an EGA, VGA >> or MCGA graphics adapter, or a clone. A clock speed of 8MHz minimum >> is essentially necessary, unless you are a very patient person. A 20 >> or 25MHz machine is fast enough that you will be very happy. A fast >> hard disk is also necessary. >> >> [DVIVGA reads its fonts off the disk, which makes it slower but more >> general than CDVIEGA. Horizontal scrolling and zooming are >> implemented.] >> >>PD1:PCWRITEX.ARC >>PD1:WEB.ARC >>PD1:HP2TEX.ARC >>PD1:UNRETEX.ARC >> >> >>Hope this helps. >> - Jim Van Zandt >> (jrv@mbunix.mitre.org) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Date: Wed, 13 Dec 89 12:19:12 GMT >> From: "Wayne G. Sullivan" >> Subject: TeX: Upgrade of sbtex >> >> An upgrade of sbtex, sb29, is now available as sb29tex.arc in the SIMTEL20 >> pd1: directory. >> >> sb29 is TeX 2.991 for MSDOS. I regret that I have not had, nor will have >> in the near future, time to include the 2.992 changes: sbtex is a spare >> time project. >> >> The features of sb29: >> >> 1. Bug fix concerning CTRL-BREAK during terminal I-O. >> >> 2. Editing support: sb29 includes Peter Sawatzki's TE editor which >> facilitates rapid scrolling between errors in the TeX file which are >> marked in the LOG file. Support for the 'E' option by means of batch >> files. >> >> 3. Increased hash-size. sb29 can handle up to 3500 multi-letter control >> sequences; sb26 was limited to 3050. >> >> 4. User adjustable pool-size and save-size: some of the recent work by >> Rainer Schoepf and Frank Mittelbach requires larger values for these than >> that specified in TeX.WEB. >> >> 5. Multiple paths for TEXINPUTS and FONTTFMS. (sbtex uses FONTTFMS for the >> TFM directories rather than TEXFONTS because the Beebe drivers use >> TEXFONTS for fonts, which seems reasonable.) Wayne Sullivan >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From TeXhax v90#39 Date: Tue, 17 Apr 90 09:56:59 GMT From: "Wayne G. Sullivan" Subject: **TeX 3.0 (sb30)** Keywords: TeX 3.0, MS-DOS SB30TEX.ZIP is now available for anonymous FTP at VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU. It should also be available soon from the Aston repository. sb30 implements TeX 3.0 for MS-DOS. The code size is about 5Kb larger (in TEX.EXE) and the speed is very slightly slower than sb29. To allow extra space in the data segment for 8-bit stuff, the maximum number of multiletter control sequences has been reduced from 3500 for sb29 to 3050 for sb30. Versions of sbtex up to and including sb30 are designed for macro packages like Plain and LaTeX which preload less than 32K memory words of main memory. The memory allocation between high and low memory of sbtex does not work satisfactorily for macro packages which load substantially more than this. Those who use such packages should try some other implementation, preferrably one with a memory-word size greater than 32 bits which allows more than 64K memory words main memory. If you use more than one hyphenation table in your format files, you should read carefully the section of the DOC file regarding setting the trie size. Wayne Sullivan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: TeXhax Digest V91 #003 Mon, 21 Jan 91 21:41:15 -0800 Date: Wed, 9 Jan 91 11:38 CDT From: U2591AA@VMS.UCC.OKSTATE.EDU Subject: Summary of responses concerning free TeX for the PC. Keywords: TeX, PC Thanks for all who sent me information regarding Public Domain (PD) implementations of TeX for the PC. Here is my brief summary. Note that it is a summary of responses and NOT a testimonial. I haven't used any of these (yet)! Five PD versions of TeX were mentioned in the responses: 1. emTeX (terminator.cc.umich.edu in dir msdos/text-mgmt/TeX/emtex). 2. sbTeX (terminator.cc.umich.edu in dir msdos/text-mgmt/TeX). 3. dosTeX (tut.cis.ohio-state.edu -- i forget which dir). 4. PublicTeX (rusmv1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de) 5. CTeX (LISTSERV@DHDURZ1) The first four are available by anonymous ftp. For 1. and 2. you will need the pkunzip program which is also available from terminator.cc.umich.edu (shareware program). For 3., you need the pkxarc program (also shareware, and available from terminator.cc.umich.edu). See the article on servers which appeared in earlier issues of TeXhax for information on using ftp and listserv. If you don't want to read any further, the votes and evidence indicate the order of preference, with a possible tie between emTeX and sbTeX. emTeX -- Advantages: Very complete, pretty fast, support for LaTeX, bibtex big TeX, big LaTeX, metafont, big metafont, scripts to make fonts, a collection of printer drivers (including a generic dot matrix driver which can be set up to work on almost any printer), and a screen previewer. exe files for 286 machines are also included. Does fine in terms of memory use. TeX version 3.0. Disadvantages: Since it is complete, it is big. 6.8 Megabytes. It will fit on 22 floppies or 6 1.44 Meg diskettes. Original documentation was in German, but some kind soul translated the docs to English (also available from terminator.cc.umich.edu as engdoc.zip). sbTeX -- Advantages: Very fast, and not a memory hog. Distribution fits on one floppy (.zip file)! TeX version 3.0 (yup!). Disadvantages: Preloaded versions not possible (though all sbtex users said this isn't a disadvantage). Someone said it is a little difficult for a novice to get latex going with sbtex (Cookbook advice on how to run latex with sbtex would be nice -- anyone out there done it?) You are left on your own to come up with printer drivers. There is no version of metafont with this, and no screen previewer in the package. (I heard that the author of sbtex, Wayne Sullivan, has a PC screen previewer which he has made available. Any one care to comment.) dostex -- Advantages: Complete system. Screen previewer, drivers, metafont, latex, bibtex. Allows for preloaded formats. Disadvantages: Bugs and memory problems. Slow. Metafont very buggy. The last two, PublicTeX and CTeX, were mentioned only once or twice and in each case some serious problem was mentioned. I will not say more about these because I don't know more and because the others are apparently (based on the responses) better versions. Dostex, PublicTeX and CTeX may be unfairly represented in these responses. I would welcome public comments and clarifications regarding public domain TeX for the PC. Finally, alternate places to get these versions of TeX. -- wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (if you can get on, this may have everything) emtex -- rusmv1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de ( == 129.69.1.12) sbtex -- venus.ycc.yale.edu Scott McCullough u2591aa@vms.ucc.okstate.edu Dept. of Physics Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078-0444 405-744-5813 405-744-7673 (FAX) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The End] ------------------------------------------------------------------------