PasTeX and Tpp
7 messages in this thread
Is anyone here familar with TeX, specifically using TeXPlus Profession
with PasTeX. I am having a few problems getting this combo to work>
I have both, and I've never gotten TPP to work right, at least in the way I
expect it to work. For the most part, I've just done all the TeX stuff by
hand, as I haven't figured out how to get "Compile" to work from TPP
Wayne,
Boy, I am glad I found a PasTeX user. For some reason I had AmigaTech
turned off on autopilot, so disregard the message I just posted on
AmigUser.
Here is my problem. Forget TPP for now, I am just trying to get PasTeX to
print out.
First of all, it really ticks me off that all the docs to PasTeX and
metafont are in TeX format. Because I can't get any TeX printouts, and
because I do not have the Preview fonts, I have to read the docs as a text
file, which can be a real pain.
I have been meaning to get the Preview fonts, unfortunately, I have found
them in only two places on internet. One has such a slow connection it
would take days to get all the disks and the other seems to have a problem
ftp'ing with Portal. Could you tell me where on internet I could get the
preview fonts, or would you be willing to upload them here? This would at
least help me view the docs for PasTeX and Metafont.
I think my printing problem is with Metafont. Whenever I call dviprint
Metafont tries to generate some 180×360 fonts. I get an error message
saying that it "can't find a matching mode" and telling me to update my
MF:config/modes file. Unfortunately, I cannot find out how to do that. I
have a Star XB2410 24pin printer. It can immulate an Epson LQ-850 and
LQ-1050, NEC Pinwriter or an IBM Proprinter X24/XL24.
Also, sometimes in the Metafont I get an error saying "unknown command
plain".
I sure hope you can help me. I really want to start learning TeX, but
don't really want to fork over $300.00 for AmigaTeX right now.
Thanks….
What I need to do is take a look at my system, and get back to you. It's
easiest if you can generate the fonts you need with ARexx, provided you
have it (if you're running WB 2.0, then you have it) rather than D/L all
the preview fonts. Lemme put some info together and I'll email it to you
asap.
-W-
Wayne,
Yes, I have ARexx and showdvi and dviprint both try to generate the fonts
I need via MF:rexx/MakeTeXFont.rexx. The errors I get occur then (I
think). I get the error "unknown command plain" when showdvi calls
metafont and I get a "update your MF:config/modes file when dviprint calls
it.
Thanks….
Type the following command "search #? mode_def" in the directory where the
Metafont nput files are. You should find a text file with lines like
"mode_def = imagen % blah blah…", and "mode_def = NEC % blah blah ..".
Those "mode_def
.. enddef;" define the parameters for an ouput device. You then run
Metafont like this: mf "\mode:=imagen; mag:=magstep(0.0); input cmr10",
where imagen is your output device, 0.0 is the magnification of the font
cmr10. cmr10 will be in the search path for Metafont (I guess; I don't have
PasTeX) in a file called cmr10.mf. Of course you replace all three with
values appropriate to you. You will get a cmr10.log and a cmr10.nnngf file.
nnn will be the value "pixels_per_inch*(1.2**(0.0))" (i.e. times 1.2 raised
to the magstep value). pixels_per_inch is from the mode_def definition. The
magstep value usually has values like …,-1.0,-0.5,0.0,0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0,…
etc.
Preview font mode_def parameters are specific to an implementation's
previewer. You will need to refer to your documentation on that one. If you
need to make a new modedef, you can make a new Metafont base file with the
program inimf, the input file plain.mf (mine is 22396 bytes long and has
the name …; base_version="2.7"; on line 4) and your mode_def file. Type
the command inimf "plain; input <mode_def filename>; dump". You will get a
file like plain.blah. Rename it to mf.blah and replace the previous mf.blah
file where Metafont looks for it.
—–> Brian Simmons, Denver, Colorado. – via Whap!
Brian,
Thanks for the help. I will try what you suggest. Some of it I think I
have done before, but maybe incorrectly.