README FILE MathSpad --------------------- Introduction ------------ This directory contains the distribution of MathSpad version 0.60. MathSpad is an experimental program and this is the beta release. If you install it and encounter problems with the program, we can't guarantee immediate help (although we'll try). A mailing list is available to ask questions or make suggestions. MathSpad is a document preparation system particularly oriented to the production of articles involving large amounts of (non-standard) mathematical material. It is an interactive system designed to make on-screen mathematical calculation a pleasure rather than a chore. MathSpad generates LaTeX output. Existing LaTeX documents can be incorporated directly into a MathSpad document, no special conversion being required (or performed). The fundamental idea introduced by MathSpad is that individual users can compose their own ``stencils'' specifying mathematical and non-mathematical notational conventions, in particular the screen layout and how to convert the MathSpad document to LaTeX. Fractions, superscripts, subscripts, different fonts, different sizes, displayed equations and lots of other mathematical (and non-mathematical) structures can be used (and defined). Version 0.31 was first released in January 1994 but is no longer supported. Version 0.31 files can be easily converted to 0.60 format, but not the other way around. Installation ------------ To install MathSpad, you need a UNIX operating system, the X window environment, an ANSI C compiler and a C++ compiler. If you don't have them all, you can still try to install it, but I can't guarantee that it will work. The distribution is available in the file mathpad-0.60.tar.gz . This file can be unpacked with the command: gunzip -c mathpad-0.60.tar.gz | tar xf - Having unpacked the system, the installation should be simple. The command ./Install will check out your system, compile everything and install it in the proper place. Afterwards, you have the option to report the installation problems, so I can adjust the installation procedure and help you if you want that. If there were no problems, you might still want to send an acknowledge that it was a successful installation, because I'm interested in the success rate of the installation script and how portable it is. After successfully installing the program, you can test it easily with the command mathpad manual which causes a welcome document to appear on your screen. This document explains more about the system and how to get started. Documentation ------------- The distribution contains a copy of the system manual as a MathSpad document. It is hoped to publish the manual in book form in which form screen dumps will be included. The system manual is also available for online help. You can use the 'Help' key to get context sensitive help. If you don't have a 'Help' key, either use xmodmap to define one or edit the file `emacs.mpk' in the lib directory. It is possible to produce a hard copy of the manual using the standard system features. In order to respect our copyright you should however NOT do so. If you would like a hard copy of the manual before its official publication please write to us stating the purpose for which the manual will be used. We will supply academic users and non-profit organisations with a postscript version of the manual provided that guarantees are given that it will not be used for commercial gain and the number of copies to be made is agreed in writing beforehand. Feedback -------- There is a mailing list which can be used to ask questions and to make suggestions. To subscribe to this list, mail a message to majordomo@win.tue.nl with the body (not the subject): subscribe mathpad-users end You can mail the messages to mathpad-users@win.tue.nl to reach the complete group (even if you're not subscribed). If you have any problems installing the program, or with its use please report them to mathpad@win.tue.nl We will try to react as soon as possible. Richard Verhoeven.