NOTES ON xtem_TeXMenu

Local version

• The version of xtem installed locally is 6.05.
  • Links to available xtem versions.

• To run it, execute xtem in any command shell, or use the xfm interface under TeXToolS. Running xtem with xfm is quick.
  • Open a File Window.
  • Pick up the FILE.tex which is to be processed and drop it on the xtem icon in the Applications window.
  • The utility xtem will now come up and be ready to process FILE.tex.

• Some sane settings (i.e., settings where the applications under xtem are not initialized in strange locations on your screen), start xtem with a sensible .xtem_english.vst file installed in your home directory, $HOME/.xtem_english.vst. Try xtem_english.vst . Move this file to .xtem_english.vst in your home directory to install. A version setting up xtem for slides is available in xtem_english_landscape.vst.

• Please contact Joseph.Kolibal@usm.edu to report any local difficulties, before consulting with the authors. The problem may be with the local installation.

  The product xtem is often introduced as an aid for novice Latex users. Equally, tt is a valuable, useful interface for expert users. The feature, quick and dirty, is very convenient and a great productivity tool.

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Local copy of the home page of xtem_TeXMenu Version 5

Contents

• What is xtem_TeXMenu
• The new xtem version 5 compared with the previous version 4.16:
• How to get xtem_TeXMenu:

What is xtem_TeXMenu

xtem provides for a simple and comfortable graphical user interface (GUI) to control the following TeX/LaTeX facilities:

• file and directory selection, directory creation
• editor (vi, emacs, ...) including additional windows for the LaTeX-syntax (using hypertext) and examples
• TeX, LaTeX, ...
• previewer (ghostview, xdvi, TkDvi, ...)
• printing (including comfortable printer selection, ...)
• syntax and spelling check
• makeindex
• bibtex
• additional programs as required
• Online help is available for all the buttons and windows by simple mouse click.
• English or German language by choice, other languages may easily be adapted
• ...

The following descriptions (select by choice) give you more detailed information:

• Local Description file. Please use this for quick reference because the connection times to Bremen can be slow.

• English description (.dvi, without pictures, ~ 20 KB)
• English description (Postscript: .ps.gz, with pictures, ~ 200 KB)
• English description (Postscript: .ps, with pictures, ~ 2 MB)
• German description (.dvi, without pictures, ~ 20 KB)
• German description (Postscript: .ps.gz, with pictures, ~ 200 KB)
• German description (Postscript: .ps, with pictures, ~ 2 MB)

xtem is written for Unix platforms and has been tested on many systems. It requires Tcl, the appropriate Tk and TclX. This version runs with Tcl/Tk/TclX (Tcl7.6/Tk4.2, Tcl7.5/Tk4.1 and Tcl7.4/Tk4.0).

There is an old xtem_texmenu version 4.16 running with a very old version of Tcl/Tk/TclX: Tcl7.3/Tk3.6

The configuration has to be done by the local TeX-Administrator by adapting configuration files ("open lists").

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The new xtem version 5 compared with the previous version 4.16:

• Better installation of the menu (installation and maintenance menu, installation and maintenance guide now as LaTeX file).
• `quick&dirty' button for quick (La)TeXing and previewing of a small piece of text by means of mouse grab.
• Logfile analyze after (La)TeX run with creation of tags for quick editing the .tex files at the positions of errors and warnings.
• The edit file can now be selected from another directory than the main file.

The setting files from older versions of xtem are mostly compatible (mkcommand.vst needs an updating and you are recommended to update texfmt.vst in order to use the new `quick&dirty' facilities), thus switching from the older version (4.16) to the new release will be done easily.

How to get xtem_TeXMenu:

• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/xtem.v5/xtem_texmenu.tar.gz --- the source, etc. (~ 1.3 MB), which is in fact a symbolic link to distribution xtem_texmenu.5.23.tar.gz
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/xtem.v5/xtem_texmenu_Patch_961018 --- this patch corrects an error in logfile analyze and should be added to xtem version 5.23 if you use logfile analyze.
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/xtem.v5/xtem_texmenu_Patch_961024 --- this patch corrects one more error in logfile analyze and a (minor) error in file selection and should be added to xtem version 5.23 if you use logfile analyze.
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/xtem.v5/xtem_texmenu_5eng.ps.gz --- the english description (with pictures) (~ 200 KB)
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/xtem.v5/xtem_texmenu_5ger.ps.gz --- the german description (with pictures) (~ 200 KB)
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/xtem.v5/ --- the xtem directory
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tcl/ --- the Tcl/Tk/TclX directory on our ftp server (sources, binaries for Linux and Solaris 2.5/SPARC)
• ftp.iwd.uni-bremen.de/pub/tex/texchk.tar.gz --- a (La)TeX syntax checker which can be used in xtem

subscribe xtem announcing your_email_address your_name
end

Bug reports and suggestions are also welcome at the same address.

Happy and comfortable TeXing.

Address:

Dr. Roland Weibezahn

Universität Bremen, IWD

Postfach 330 440, D 28334 Bremen, Germany

e-mail: weibezahn@iwd.uni-bremen.de

Phone: +49 - 421 - 218 - 3532

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