[OS X TeX] Next generation TeX

[Ross Moore]

Hi Will, Bob,

On 09/09/2004, at 5:36 AM, William F. Adams wrote:

>
> On Wednesday, September 8, 2004, at 02:52  PM, Bob Kerstetter wrote:
>
>> Was Textures able to produce cross platform documents?

Was it able to -- yes.

It depends on what level you mean:

   * at (La)TeX source level, the files are TEXT so readable:
   -- use .cfg files to handle platform-dependency of packages
      such as  color  and  graphicx ;
   -- don't use Textures-specific \special commands for graphics,
      but convert all to .eps and use  \includegraphics ;
   -- font issues (see below).

   * at .dvi  level:
   -- save the typeset-view as a .dvi file.

   * at PostScript or PDF level:
   -- use the "Print to PostScript" or "Print to PDF" features
      (perhaps requiring some Adobe software).


Did everyone always write platform-independent source -- no.

> Not if one took advantage of its Mac-specific font access features.

   * font issues:
   -- stick to standard TeX fonts, or write conditional coding
        (i.e. detects the platform and adjusts accordingly)
      that caters for loading the same (Adobe?) fonts on different
      systems.

In fact, Textures had the resources to handle the various encodings
that are common in the (English-speaking) TeX world; in particular
for compatibility with Y&Y's Lucida, etc.
(I added TeX'n'ANSI and others to the list of supported encodings.)

The tools were available to create new virtual fonts to match what
is used on other platforms -- you need to purchase/supply the .pfa
or .pfb fonts yourself, and make Mac suitcases from them.

The complexity there is similar to what's needed for font-support
on other platforms.


Cheers,

	Ross


>
> William
>
> -- 
> William Adams, publishing specialist
> voice - 717-731-6707 | Fax - 717-731-6708
> www.atlis.com
>
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Ross Moore                                         ross at maths.mq.edu.au
Mathematics Department                             office: E7A-419
Macquarie University                               tel: +61 +2 9850 8955
Sydney, Australia                                  fax: +61 +2 9850 8114
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           & FAQ: http://latex.yauh.de/faq/
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