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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!dayton!rosevax!umnd-cs!steve
From: steve@umnd-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.text
Subject: Re: Why troff?
Message-ID: <372@umnd-cs-gw.umnd-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 25-Jan-87 15:33:04 EST
Article-I.D.: umnd-cs-.372
Posted: Sun Jan 25 15:33:04 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 26-Jan-87 02:40:50 EST
References: <362@linus.UUCP> <106@tg.UUCP>
Distribution: comp.text
Organization: University of Minnesota at Duluth, Computer Science
Lines: 34
Keywords: TeX, troff
Summary: fonts aren't TeX's fault!

In article <106@tg.UUCP>, scott@tg.UUCP (Scott Barman) writes:
> Another advantage to ditroff is the ASCII output file it produces.  This
> output allows for the output destined for one device to be previewed on
> a Tektronix 4014 display...

TeX previewers also exist...
  

> THE biggest disadvantage of TeX vs. ditroff I can see is the requirement
> of TeX to use its own generated fonts (metafont).  We have looked into
> the possibility of using TeX, but have resisted up until now because the
> Computer Modern fonts of TeX does not compare with the Times Roman
> availble on the VideoComp.  We cannot download fonts to this typesetter
> nor is it fiscally feesable to have Information International Inc. (the
> makers of the VideoComp) digitize these fonts for us.  For APS, this is
> a big factor!

TeX doesn't have to use it's own fonts.  Your problems are with the programs
that convert dvi format files to files your output devices can understand.
We use the Apple Laserwriter's built-in fonts regularly in our TeX files.
Arbortext (previously Textset) provides a dvi->ps program that works just
great with this, and I doubt that the changes to the public domain version
are that great either.  All TeX needs are new .tfm files, simply the .tfm
files provided by Adobe remapped in the order TeX wants its characters.


Steve.


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