ctan-ann April 2008

ctan-ann@ctan.org

2 participants
32 discussions

CTAN support of simple installation files
by Robin Fairbairns 22 Apr '08

22 Apr '08

Over the years, installing files on a TeX system has become increasingly tiresome. When I started using TeX, in the 80s, most packages would say install the files where (La)TeX can find them (if they gave any advice at all on installation). While this advice was plainly good, it didn't help much since few people would want to do the contrary, and it offered no real hints. However, it didn't matter much: I found it easy, as a complete novice, to guess where the file ought to go. TeX systems have changed a lot since then, and most modern systems use a standard called TDS (TeX Directory Structure) to specify how TeX-files should be arranged on disc. The TDS is pretty straightforward once you've read it, and it will give good a usable answer, about where to put a new file, every time. However, not many people _want_ to read it, and as a result TeX forums are forever being asked how to get TeX to find new files. (I keep rewriting the text in the UK FAQ, in this area, too -- see http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=installthings which doesn't yet mention these installation files.) The TDS is a simple structure, and almost all files can be installed simply by putting them in the right place, and updating a single index. The CTAN network is therefore starting to hold TDS ZIP files, which have a built-in directory structure that matches the TDS. These things have to be built, of course, and we're expecting that package writers will supply them for us. This puts an extra burden on the writer; however, it should make the package user much happier, which in turn must help keep the TeX community lively and active. Nitty gritty details (users): Users can see whether a TDS file is available, when they view the catalogue entry for the package they propose to download. A user should download that file, and unpack it in a TDS directory to which she has access, and then generate a file index for the TDS directory tree. The TDS directory on Unix-like systems will typically be the local tree, or the user's tree ~<userid>/texmf Users of MiKTeX systems should not ordinarily need the TDS files; the management of updates for MiKTeX is very efficient indeed, and it is seldom as much as a week between a (free) package appearing, and there being a new (version of a) MiKTeX package being available. However, in extremis, the user of a MiKTeX system see which trees are available using the MiKTeX Options app, Roots tab; see http://docs.miktex.org/manual/localadditions.html for details. The user may generate an index using texhash under unix-like systems. On an MiKTeX system, use the Refresh FNDB button on the MiKTeX Options app General tab. Nitty gritty details (developers): Package writers should refer to the web page http://www.ctan.org/tds-guidelines.html for details of the file structure we assume. Note that the ZIP file does _not_ contain the texmf/ directory itself; it is made at the texmf/ level. Robin Fairbairns For the CTAN team

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CTAN package update: siunitx
by CTAN Announcements 22 Apr '08

22 Apr '08

The package below has been updated at tug.ctan.org and should soon be at your favorite mirror. Thank you, Jim Hefferon St Michael's College .................................................................... The following information was provided by our fellow contributor: Name of contribution: siunitx Author's name: Joseph Wright Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/exptl/siunitx Summary description: A comprehensive (SI) units package License type: lppl Announcement text: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- v0.7a: - Bug fix for minus sign in text mode - Improved output of prefixes when using units literally ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This package is located at http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/exptl/siunitx . More information is at http://tug.ctan.org/pkg/siunitx (if the package is new it may take a day for that information to appear). We are supported by the TeX Users Group http://www.tug.org . Please join a users group; see http://www.tug.org/usergroups.html .

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CTAN package update: The vc bundle
by CTAN Announcements 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

The package below has been updated at tug.ctan.org and should soon be at your favorite mirror. Thanks, Jim Hefferon St Michael's College ................................................................. The following information was provided by our fellow contributor: Name of contribution: The vc bundle Author's name: Stephan Hennig Location on CTAN: /support/vc Summary description: version control for TeX and friends License type: pd Announcement text: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The vc bundle ----------------------------------- This is a script based approach to version control for TeX documents. It works more reliably than keyword substitution based approaches, since it tracks all files in a working copy, not only .tex files. The vc bundle works with LaTeX and plain TeX. Currently, Bazaar, Git and Subversion are supported. v0.5 (2008-04-21) ---------------------- Incompatible changes: * Don't write sensitive information to vc.tex, by default (see appendix A). - Bazaar: BZRBranchNick - Subversion: SVNPath, SVNName, SVNUrl, SVNNodeKind, SVNRepositoryRoot ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This package is located at http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/support/vc . More information is at http://tug.ctan.org/pkg/vc (if the package is new it may take a day for that information to appear). We are supported by the TeX Users Group http://www.tug.org . Please join a users group; see http://www.tug.org/usergroups.html .

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CTAN package update: achemso
by CTAN Announcements 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

that elusive beast, ctan-upload(a)tex.ac.uk wrote: > The following information was provided by the package's contributor. > > Name of contribution: achemso > Author's name: Joseph Wright > Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/contrib/achemso > Summary description: LaTeX and BibTeX support for American Chemical > Society publications > License type: lppl > > Announcement text given by the package's contributor: > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > v2.2i: > - Added usetitle option to include journal titles in bibliography > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Users may view the package catalogue entry at > http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/achemso.html > or they may browse the package directory at > http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/achemso/ i have installed the update, and updated the catalogue repository. the package itself is on its way to the other ctan nodes, and will spread to other mirrors over the next 24 hours. the catalogue entry has little change, and the web page will be regenerated separately at each ctan site, overnight tonight. Robin Fairbairns For the CTAN team

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CTAN packages updatged: pstricks and pstricks-add
by CTAN Announcements 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

Herbert Voss wrote: > I have uploaded pstricks.tgz and pstricks-add.tgz to the uk ctan node. > These files update the packages whose names they share. > > > pstricks.tex ----------- > 1.22 2008-04-14 - added shift=* option to get a vertically centered > pspicture box. It is the old pspciture[0.5] option > - add pscircleOA(center)(point on the circle) > - changed code for transparency making distiller work > > pstricks-add.tex ----------- (Dominik Rodriguez/hv) > v 3.01 2008-04-15 - import changes from pst-plot in ps@axisiv > new option mathLabel for setting labels in text > or math mode > - fix bug with labelstyle thanks for the updates; i have installed both, and updated the catalogue repository as necessary. for pstricks -- catalogue: http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/pstricks.html directory: http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/graphics/pstricks/base/ and for pstricks-add -- catalogue: http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/pstricks-add.html directory: http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/graphics/pstricks/contrib/pstricks-add/ Robin Fairbairns For the CTAN team

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CTAN Update: hypcap v1.8
by CTAN Announcements 16 Apr '08

16 Apr '08

On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 Heiko Oberdiek submitted an update to the hypcap package in the oberdiek bundle. Location on CTAN: macros/latex/contrib/oberdiek/ License: LPPL Changes: * hypcap v1.8: Fix for package float. _______________________________________________ Thanks for the upload. For the CTAN Team Rainer Schöpf

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CTAN Update: TeXshade v1.18
by CTAN Announcements 16 Apr '08

16 Apr '08

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 Eric Beitz submitted an update to the texshade package. TeXshade is an alignment shading software completely written in TeX/LaTeX which can process multiple sequence alignments in the .MSF and the .ALN file format. It provides in addition to common shading algorithms special shading modes featuring functional aspects, e.g. charge or hydropathy, and a plenitude of commands for handling shading colours, text styles, labels, legends and even allows the user to define completely new shading modes. TeXshade combines highest flexibility and the habitual TeX output quality—with reasonable time expenditure. Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/contrib/texshade/ Summary description: Update of the DNA and protein sequence alignment LaTeX package TeXshade License type: lppl Announcement text: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Update of the DNA and protein sequence alignment LaTeX package TeXshade (v1.18). It mainly contains bug fixes concerning featurenames, ordering, numbering, and the setends command. Further, T-Coffee shading can now be imported and displayed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This package is located at http://mirror.ctan.org/macros/latex/contrib/texshade/ . More information is at http://tug.ctan.org/info/?id=texshade (if the package is new it may take a day for that information to appear). We are supported by the TeX Users Group http://www.tug.org . Please join a users group; see http://www.tug.org/usergroups.html . _______________________________________________ Thanks for the upload. For the CTAN Team Rainer Schöpf

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new CTAN package: siunitx
by CTAN Announcements 16 Apr '08

16 Apr '08

>From my upload daemon: > Name of contribution: siunitx > Author's name: Joseph Wright > Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/exptl/siunitx > Summary description: A comprehensive (SI) units package > License type: lppl i have installed the package as suggested, and have made an entry in the catalogue. > Announcement text given by the package's contributor: > ----------------------------------------------------------- > The siunitx package --- A comprehensive (SI) units package > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Typesetting values with units requires care to ensure that > the combined mathematical meaning of the value plus unit > combination is clear. In particular, the SI units system > lays down a consistent set of units with rules on how these > are to be used. However, different countries and > publishers have differing conventions on the exact > appearance of numbers (and units). A number of LaTeX > packages have been developed to provide consistent > application of the various rules: SIunits, sistyle, > unitsdef and units are the leading examples. The numprint > package provides a large number of number-related > functions, while dcolumn and rccol provide tools for > typesetting tabular numbers. > > The siunitx package takes the best from the existing > packages, and adds new features and a consistent interface. > A number of new ideas have been incorporated, to fill gaps > in the existing provision. The package also provides > backward-compatibility with SIunits, sistyle, unitsdef and > units. The aim is to have one package to handle all of the > possible unit-related needs of LaTeX users. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > This release is the second public version of the package, > which was originally released as si in February 2008. > Thanks to all of the feedback contributors to date, many of > whom have provided valuable ideas for this new release. > The new version brings with a a large number of changes > (see siunitx.pdf for a full list). Many of these are > internal, and so the headline changes only are given > here. > > Major/interface changes: > - Package name change from si to siunitx, to make searching > archives easier and to emphasise unit-related nature of the > package. > - unitsym macro renamed si > - Now use e-TeX protected mechanism for all user macros and > units > - unitsdef-like unit macros can now be turned on and off, > allowing direct use of single unit macros in running text > - Various improvements to handling of numerical input, such > as removal of excess leading zeros > - Potential macro names clashes with other packages handled > better; known clashing macros all available with doubled > initial letter (e.g. ssquare, bar, ...) > - meter added to package kernel > - liter defined along with litre > > Bug fixes: > - Material added to columns by array package > ({stuff}>c<{more stuff}) now works correctly when s column > is last in a table > - Errors in some unit definitions fixed > - Fixed minor alignment bug in tabular material > - Binary units now give correct base when using > prefixsymbolic=false option > > Option changes: > - Separated out font macros into unit and value variants > - Tabular options overhauled: tabalign, tabtextalign, > tabformat now used for fine control > - Several options given clearer names > - New options added to support new features > > New features: > - Colour support > - fancynum and fancyunits emulation > - Better control of alignment of tabular material > - Automated handling of error data in numbers > - per macro can now be set to sticky > > Plus a large amount of work on documentation, including > much better description of package options. The package > documentation needs quite a complete TeX system to compile. > It is therefore provided pre-built in two versions: - > siunitx.pdf includes code - 158 pages - siunitx-manual.pdf > - user documentation only, 43 pages The later should be > okay for most users. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Feedback on all aspects of the package is welcome. The > current road map allows one more release with arbitrary > interface changes. Comments on macro and option names are > therefore particularly welcome at this stage. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Please be advised that this package is in beta stage and > released for testing only. TeX distributors are advised to > wait for version 1.0. The version number will be stepped up > to 1.0 as soon as it is considered suitable for general > distribution. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Users may view the package catalogue entry at > http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/siunitx.html > or they may browse the package directory at > http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive//macros/latex/exptl/siunitx thanks for the upload. Robin Fairbairns For the CTAN team

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CTAn Update: ctable 1.12
by CTAN Announcements 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 Wybo Dekker submitted an update to the ctable package. ctable.sty provides commands to easily typeset centered or left or right aligned tables and (multiple-)figure floats, with footnotes. Instead of an environment, a command with 4 arguments is used; the first is optional and is used for key,value pairs generating variations on the defaults and offering a route for future extensions. Location on CTAN: macros/latex/contrib/ctable License: LPPL --------------------------------------------------------------------- - major changes (relative to v1.11): - added option notespar, typesetting footnotes in a paragraph, one after the other. Useful for tables with many short footnotes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This package is located at http://mirror.ctan.org/macros/latex/contrib/ctable . More information is at http://tug.ctan.org/info/?id=ctable (if the package is new it may take a day for that information to appear). We are supported by the TeX Users Group http://www.tug.org . Please join a users group; see http://www.tug.org/usergroups.html . _______________________________________________ Thanks for the upload. For the CTAN Team Rainer Schöpf

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CTAN Update: biblatex-dw
by CTAN Announcements 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 Dominik Wassenhoven submitted an update to the biblatex-dw package. It is a small collection of styles for the biblatex package. It was designed for citations in the humanities and offers some features that are not provided by the standard biblatex styles. Biblatex-dw is dependent on biblatex (at least version 0.7) and cannot be used without it. Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/exptl/biblatex-contrib/biblatex-dw/ License type: lppl Announcement text: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- v1.1b - BUGFIX: When using parencite with 'footnote-dw', additional parentheses (e.g. enclosing the string 'editor') were lost; they are now replaced by brackets. - BUGFIX: In 'footnote-dw', the normal cite command always produced a capital letter at the beginning. This is fixed now. - Fixed a small punctuation error in connection with 'herename';. - New command itleaddonpunct for the punctuation before titleaddon, booktitleaddon and maintitleaddon. The default is a period now (not a comma, as before). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This package is located at http://mirror.ctan.org/macros/latex/exptl/biblatex-contrib/biblatex-dw/ . More information is at http://tug.ctan.org/info/?id=biblatex-dw (if the package is new it may take a day for that information to appear). We are supported by the TeX Users Group http://www.tug.org . Please join a users group; see http://www.tug.org/usergroups.html . _______________________________________________ Thanks for the upload. For the CTAN Team Rainer Schöpf

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ctan-ann April 2008