Reply to: kris@diku.dk Dear XY-pic current, former, and potential XY-pic interestees, This is to announce the release of a new version of my DIAGRAM DRAWING PACKAGE, XY-pic: version 2.7. The release is slightly overdue (16 months late, in fact) but this is due to the ABUNDANCY OF NEW FEATURES in the package. Below I have attached the TRAILER of the package that gives some more details and explains how to obtain it. If you have lost interest in XY-pic then I apologise; otherwise I hope that you'll find it worth the wait! Regards, Kristoffer Rose (.signature at the end below) ====================================================================== TRAILER: ANNOUNCING THE XY-pic version 2.7 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 in compatibility mode, AMS-LaTeX, AMS-TeX, and plain TeX). XY-pic version 2.7 has been a long time underway because it is a MAJOR REWRITE of XY-pic. The reason is that the version 2.6 code has been reorganised into a kernel and several orthogonal modules to make the development of XY-pic 3 possible while maintaining backwards compatibility. Therefore * version 2.7 is a BETA TEST release in the sense that it is likely to contain bugs in both documentation and code! If you are a version 2.6 user then PLEASE TEST this release with your existing diagrams and REPORT PROBLEMS you encounter to the author: the intention is to maintain full backwards compatibility but I need feed-back from users in order to achieve this goal (see the `Incompatibilities' appendix in the User's Guide for some known problems)! * version 2.7 is an ALPHA TEST and RFC release of the forthcoming XY-pic version 3 being developed by myself in collaboration with Ross Moore while visiting Macquarie U, Sydney, until May 1994. It will add special modes for convenient specification of at least the following high-level diagram types Generalised trees, Planar graphs, Commutative diagrams with 2-cells, and String and braid diagrams, as well as provide special output drivers for at least PostScript (eliminating the need for special fonts in this case). If you wish to peek at the kind of diagrams we are working on then take a look at the files available for ftp at ftp.mpce.mq.edu.au in /pub/maths/tex/Quantum (and trough my WWW hyperlink cited below). The package will also be provided as a LaTeX2e and LaTeX3 `package' as soon as the guidelines for how to do this are available to the author. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VERSION 2.7 FEATURES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- XY-pic version 2.7 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. + 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. If you wish to check out the facilities (using a 300 dpi PostScript printer), then you can print the file `xyguide.ps' that contains a preformatted version of the User's Guide. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AVAILABILTY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- XY-pic is available by anonymous ftp from at least the following sites: ftp.diku.dk : /diku/users/kris/TeX/xy27run.tar.Z ftp.mpce.mq.edu.au : /pub/maths/TeX/xy27run.tar.Z The same locations also contains manuals formatted for printing on 300dpi PostScript printers in `xyguide.ps.Z' and `xyrefer.ps.Z' and a special distribution for Textures (by ross@mpce.mq.edu.au) in `xy27mac.sit.hqx'; check out the README files! You can also use my WWW hyperlink cited below to retrieve the package. 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 Hxgsbro ROSE Internet: kris@diku.dk DIKU, U of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 1, 2100 Kxbenhavn X, DANMARK phone: +45 35321400 direct: +45 35321420 fax: +45 35321401 -- World Wide Web URL: file://ftp.diku.dk/diku/users/kris/WWW/home.html