Dear fellow diagram drawers and TeX users! This is to announce the release of a new version of my DIAGRAM DRAWING PACKAGE, XY-pic: version 2.9. In particular this version represents the stage where XY-pic 3 has left ALPHA test (and entered BETA confidence test) and the kernel should be stable. The release is mainly a BUG FIX RELEASE fixing several problems reported in version 2.7 and 2.8 by users; in addition it ADDS THESE NEW FEATURES: * The speed of diagram typesetting has been increased back closer to the version 2.6 speed, faster for very large diagrams. * The set up of the style of \arrow command must now be clearly marked. * It is possible to `compile' large diagrams (with some restrictions) to a file such that retypesetting is faster still. * Options can now be loaded safely in any order. * The bug that required removal of \\ before \enddiagram has been fixed. * The PostScript backend by Ross Moore has been greatly enhanced and now supports varying line thickness, colour, rotation, and scaling. * There is a new feature by Ross Moore: \xyoption{2cell} loads special commands typesetting pairs and triples of curved arrows like categorical two-cells. Below I have attached the TRAILER of the package that gives some more details and explains how to obtain it; the version packaged specially for the Apple Macintosh by Ross Moore will be available shortly. Regards, Kristoffer Rose (.signature at end of TRAILER) -*-text-*- $Id: TRAILER,v 2.9 1994/06/09 14:53:07 kris Exp $ ====================================================================== TRAILER: ANNOUNCING the XY-pic version 2.9 DIAGRAM TYPESETTING PACKAGE ====================================================================== XY-pic is a package for typesetting a variety of graphs and diagrams within TeX that works with most formats (including LaTeX 2.09, LaTeX2e, AMS-LaTeX, AMS-TeX, and plain TeX). In particular XY-pic is provided as a LaTeX2e `package'. NOTE: version 2.9 is a final BETA CONFIDENCE TEST release of XY-pic 3 in the sense that it is likely to contain minor bugs in both documentation and code but should be stable. If you are a user of an earlier version of XY-pic then PLEASE TEST this release with your existing diagrams and REPORT PROBLEMS you encounter to the authors! The intention remains to maintain full backwards compatibility with XY-pic 2 but we need feed-back from users in order to achieve this goal (see `The future and backwards compatibility' in the User's Guide for the unavoidable exceptions). Version 2.9 is the final result of the effort this springs to outline XY-pic 3 in collaboration with Ross Moore while visiting Macquarie U, Sydney: The package has been restructured and extended into a kernel and several orthogonal modules and is now ready for the implementation of several independent `specialist' modes for convenient typesetting of Graphs and Trees, 2-cells, String and braid diagrams, etc. (some are already under construction). Below I discuss the main features of XY-pic and how it is available. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VERSION 2.9 FEATURES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- XY-pic version 2.9 provides two modes of specifying drawings: * A matrix-like mode where the dimensions of the drawing are automatically computed by aligning diagram entries in rows and columns (this is also the `version 2 compatibility mode'). * A general `turtle graphic' drawing language for specifying graphs with objects and connections between them in a manner independent of orientation. Both modes support the following specific features: + Positions can be given in variety of formats (extendable) including user defined coordinates (x,y) and relative to previous positions, objects, object edges, and points on connections. + Objects may be circular or rectangular (more shapes can be added) and adjusted in several ways. + Large library of objects with mnemonic names. + Objects that orient themself along a connection when placed relative to it, e.g., `\dir{|-}' is like \vdash but thus oriented; new such objects can be defined in a convenient way. + Includes circle segments and arbitrary TeX text. + Connections are aligned between the reference points of objects but start and end on the edges. + Any object can be used to build a connection (using `diagonal filling'); library objects provide common line types. + Special notation for drawing arrows with tail, stem, and head build from any object(s). Special support for arrows that cross each other, arrows that `go by' other entries, combined arrows, and arrows with n/8 bends. + Library of frames. + NEW: Special notation for rotation, scaling, colour, and line thickness. The correct typesetting of these features requires a backend that supports it (i.e., PostScript) but even when PostScript is not available XY-pic tries to approximate what is requested. + Output can use PostScript for drawing (several \special formats are supported: dvips, dvitops, Textures, and OzTeX -- more are being added continuously: contact Ross Moore <ross@mpce.mq.edu.au> for the current list). Notation for inclusion of literal PostScript. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AVAILABILTY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- XY-pic can be retrieved by anonymous ftp from at least the following locations (given as `site : directory'): ftp.diku.dk : /diku/users/kris/TeX ftp.mpce.mq.edu.au : /pub/maths/TeX as well as (unpacked) on CTAN in macros/generic/diagrams/xypic. The following distribution files should be available in the above two locations but check the `README' file in each case: xy29.TRAILER These release notes xy29run.tar.Z XY-pic 2.9 `ready to run' distribution for un*x and similar systems xy29src.tar.Z XY-pic 2.9 complete sources xy29mac.sit.hqx XY-pic adapted for the Macintosh (Textures and OzTeX) by Ross Moore <ross@mpce.mq.edu.au> xyguide.ps.Z User's Guide and Reference Manual preformatted xyrefer.ps.Z for a 300dpi PostScript printer Please note that XY-pic is `copyleft' under the terms of the GNU General Public License. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the end of the TRAILER. I hope you will enjoy XY-pic! -- Kristoffer H o/gsbro ROSE Internet: kris@diku.dk DIKU, U of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 1, 2100 K o/benhavn O/, DANMARK phone: +45 35321400 direct: +45 35321420 fax: +45 35321401 -- World Wide Web URL: file://ftp.diku.dk/diku/users/kris/WWW/home.html