AMS-LaTeX 1.2beta release, e-math.ams.org (fwd)

[Petr Sojka]

Date: 13 Oct 1994 10:28:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Downes <MJD at MATH.AMS.ORG>
Subject: AMS-LaTeX 1.2beta release, e-math.ams.org

A new release of AMS-LaTeX, 1.2beta, for use with current LaTeX
(`LaTeX2e'), is available now via anonymous FTP from e-math.ams.org in
the directory /ams/amslatex (a tar.Z file is in the parent directory).
Version 1.1 has been moved to the directory /ams/amsltx11. There is a
READ.ME file giving some general information and installation
instructions; a synopsis of changes is also provided, in the file
amslatex.chg.

Upgrading to current LaTeX is recommended for most AMS-LaTeX users, for
the following reasons:

(a) Better user support (well-organized bug-reporting and maintenance
procedures)

(b) Removal of many minor bugs and confusing aspects of LaTeX 2.09 that
often cost users valuable time

(c) More on-line documentation (for example, the files usrguide.tex,
clsguide.tex, and fntguide.tex in the base distribution).

(d) Many internal improvements in font handling. Font definition files
are more compact; procedures for dealing with math symbol fonts are
better organized; etc.

(e) Easier switching between font sets (anyone who wants to use
PostScript fonts with LaTeX is well advised to abandon LaTeX 2.09
in favor of current LaTeX)

(f) Better support for non-English languages

(g) Much better support for graphics and color

(h) Ongoing development and enhancements will be done for current LaTeX,
not 2.09 (among other reasons, current LaTeX provides a much better,
and better documented, interface for developers working on extensions)

(i) Easier installation

(j) Strong `compatibility mode' that in eight to ten months of real
world testing so far has been extremely successful in processing
existing LaTeX documents without change.

Most of the makers of commercial TeX products already provide, or will
soon provide, an up-to-date version of LaTeX with their products.

Some AMS-LaTeX 1.1 users whose TeX implementation has relatively limited
memory capacities may not be able to use AMS-LaTeX 1.2. For example,
there is an upper limit of 3500 control sequence names (hash size) in
emTeX's tex286. This was marginally sufficient for LaTeX 2.09 +
AMS-LaTeX 1.1, but is not enough for current LaTeX + AMS-LaTeX 1.2.

Michael Downes
Electronic Products and Services
American Mathematical Society
P.O. Box 6248
Providence, RI 02940
Internet: tech-support at math.ams.org
401-455-4080
800-321-4AMS extension 4080