The prime objective of this project was to create a powerful, well integrated and cross-platform document preparation environment. The environment has been specifically tailored so that researchers, educators and students at tertiary institutions find it useful for the development of teaching and research materials. It is also intended to make the environment useful for recycling the existing material and make the resulting material recyclable for future use.
The environment uses widely available freeware and shareware packages and programs on the Internet. An IBM compatible Personal Computer with Linux installation is chosen for the development, testing and debugging the desired environment. The programs incorporated in the environment, however, are cross-platform that give interoperatability and portable results generation.
The project has accommodated carefully selected application programs. These include the famous emTeX (an excellent DOS and OS/2 implementation of TeX/LaTeX typesetting system), METAFONT (automatic font generator) a few graphic packages, database, a wide range of utilities and drivers (screens and printers) and filters. All these programs are cross-platform (interoperatability and portable results generation) with source code. They are also programmable which makes the development of the required environment (shell) possible.
The following features were in mind during the selection process:
The following is a copy of the faculty-wide email to announce the completion of the project.
Faculty of Informatics
University of Wollongong
Dear all,
I've downloaded and kept upgrading quite a few very useful
and widely used freeware (public-domain, GNU Copy left, etc.)
packages for MSDOS ( and a few OS/2 ) based PC's.
These include the famous emTeX (an excellent DOS & OS/2
implementation of TeX/LaTeX typesetting system), a few
graphic packages, database and corresponding screen and
printer drivers along with required freeware fonts,
utilities, etc.
My prime objective was to create a powerful and well
integrated working environment comprising a typesetting,
a database, few graphics, and a spreadsheet programs
where the output of one application becomes useful for
another to deliver the final output.
Moreover, the following features were in mind while trying
to select the required application programs for this system:
a) cross-platform (DOS-OS/2-UNIX- ...) interoperatability
and portable results generation,
b) access to source code and/or macros if needed,
c) prospect for further upgrading and enhancement,
d) programmability, and
e) support (local and/or internet user discussion groups,
authors, etc.)
Perhaps the most difficult part of tackling a freeware
package is its installation and putting together its
documentation. I have installed the following programs
and I maintain an archive of their relevant
documentations (hard and/or soft copy) for local use.
If you are interested in seeing how an absolutely free
integrated environment, supported by features list above,
is working please don't hesitate to come along and see it
for yourself. I personally believe that even some
beta-test versions of these programs are more trustworthy
than most commercial shipping (shrink-wrapped) versions of
software.
Herein is a very brief list of these programs and
utilities:
emTeX package:
Standard tex: DOS; 8086/88 CPU
32-bit: tex386: DOS; 386+ CPU (Beta release)
METAFONT: Automatic Font Generator (Beta release)
bibtex: Database and bibliography preparation
tib: Database and bibliography preparation
makeindex: index preparation
pictex: graphic package
slitex: slides with overlays
Screen and
printer drives:
for almost all printers and screens
dvips: uses tex output and generates postscript file
jspell: spell checker
and many many other supporting programs, utilities, macros, etc.
fonts: for epson, laser jet, . . . .
support for other languages from an ASCII transliteration
GLE package:
A high quality graphic package for producing publication
quality graphics, diagrams. posters, plots and slides.
It has its own device drivers and its output can be easily
embedded in TeX document in the form of PS, EPS, PCX or BMP
formats.
The source file for GLE is a pure ascii code; can be written
using any screen editor or draw the diagram, blocks, etc. and
GLE writes its corresponding ascii source code.
The brand new 32-bit implementation of GLE is what make
everybody satisfied.
Ghostscript:
A postscript file driver (screen and printer)
Fonts: GSfonts and PSfonts are also available
DOS Utilities:
A good deal of DOS utilities are also available.
Further Works:
1)Spreadsheet:
I downloaded one a while back and couldn't bother working
out what the hell it did! (Hope to find a good one soon).
A postscript output (export) file of most spreadsheet
packages (Excel, MS-Works, .. ) will work fine with
TeX document.
2)Linux installation on 386+ machines:
This is a freely distributable UNIX done for 386+ machines.
The official site for Linux is the MIT site with mirrors
around the world (archie.au -- 139.130.4.6). Mr Stein Krav
(Elec & Comp) has installed Linux (ver 0.99PL14, late
1993 slackware) on his 486 and it works fine.
Any queries on the programs mentioned here are most welcome.
It is also possible to arrange for a demonstration.
I am trying to organize a local TeX/LaTeX user group to share
the available resources (books, tutorial, codes, . . .).
If you are interested please let me know.
Parviz Doulai
Dept of Elec & Comp Eng
Room 35 G32 (EXT: 3404)
parviz@cc.uow.edu.au
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