README
August 6, 1997

ArabTeX Version 3

Last changes: Version 3.06, 06.08.1997

The set of files, of which THIS file is supposed to be part of, contains a package extending the capabilities of TeX/LaTeX to generate the arabic writing from an ASCII transliteration for texts in several languages using the arabic script.

The package is available in packed form as "arabtex.zip" and "arabtex.tar.Z". Depending on the server there may be also the unpacked files; check for the latest version of "apatch.sty"!

The following ASCII files give more detailed information:

	arabtex.doc  :    a short introduction ( rather out of date)
	arabtex.faq  :    answers to some Frequently Asked Questions 
        	                  (updated as necessary)
	changes.txt  :    release history, new features, and known bugs
        	                  (updated as necessary)
	changes2.txt :    release history up to version 3.00
	install.txt  :    list of available files, and installation notes
	apatch.sty   :    last minute corrections; put this file onto the
		      	  TEXINPUT path; it will patch automatically.
        			  (updated as necessary)

        There are also various additional documentation files.

The subdirectory "REPORT" contains the LaTeX/ArabTeX sources of the user manual as a collection of text files "arabdoc*.*". If they will not compile, check your installation procedure and your TeX/LaTeX versions; you need TeX >= 3.0 and LaTeX >= 2.09 of 1990 or later, or LaTeX 2e. If any troubles remain, complain fiercely.

There was a prototype, ArabTeX Version 1, which is now OBSOLETE.
Version 2 was the first complete release accompanied by a manual.

Version 3 is an upward compatible extension of Version 2 with many new features, e.g. the possibility to read input files in the ASMO 449 and ISO 8859-6 Codes, and a host of new commands for better formatting of Arabic text, or catering for historic writing styles. Versions from 3.05 onward contain a package to process Hebrew, and provide long right-to-left insertions. For details, consult the manual and the ASCII file "readme.305".

ArabTeX is copyrighted. However, you may use it freely for any scientific, experimental and strictly personal, non-commercial purposes if you give proper credit to the author. Offprints of papers produced with ArabTeX are welcome. If you consider other uses, apply for a license agreement.

ArabTeX may be redistributed on the same terms PROVIDED THAT

you will inform the author, AND
that you distribute the complete package including THIS file and any updates you know about, AND
that you will forward any comments and suggestions to the author, AND
that you will not charge more than a reasonable fee for data media and handling.

ArabTeX is an experimental system and supposed to change without prior notice. Whoever will use it does so at her/his/its own risk. We cannot take any responsibility on correct function or correct documentation. If you have any complaints or suggestions, please inform the author. We shall consider any reasonable suggestion, but we will use our own judgment on changes, and our resources are severely limited.

If problems turn up while running ArabTeX, please check first at "ftp.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de" whether there is a new version, or whether there are any new corrections in "apatch.sty". If the problem goes away with the new version, please inform the server you got ArabTeX from; otherwise send a bug report to the author.

The reference site "ftp.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de" always holds the current version.
The CTAN servers "ftp.tex.ac.uk" , "ftp.dante.de" are known to mirror this site and to update regularly.

An empty E-Mail message to "arabtex@informatik.uni-stuttgart.de" will produce a current status report.

	    Prof. Klaus Lagally
	    Institut fuer Informatik
	    Universitaet Stuttgart
	    Breitwiesenstrasse 20-22
	    D-70565 Stuttgart
	    GERMANY

	    lagally@informatik.uni-stuttgart.de