Internet Surfer 2.0/Internet Surfer 2.0 (Wayzata Technology) (1996).iso/pc/text/mac/faqs.531

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS);faqs.531



    Are you producing a thesis, and trying to obey regulations that were
    drafted in the typewriter era?  LaTeX is a typesetting system, so the
    appropriate design conventions are for ``real books''.  Find whoever
    is responsible for the regulations, and try to get the wording changed
    to cater for typeset theses (e.g., to say ``if using a typesetting
    system, aim to make your thesis look like a well-designed book'').

    If you fail to convince your officials, or want some inter-line
    space for copy-editing:
     - Try changing \baselinestretch: \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{1.2}
       may be enough to give officials the impression you've kept
       to their regulations.  Don't try changing \baselineskip: its
       value is reset at any size-changing command.
     - Alternatively, get doublespace.sty from ./pub/tex/latex-style at
       sun.soe.clarkson.edu, or, if you are using the new font selection
       scheme, get doublespace.sty from ymir.claremont.edu
       (134.173.4.23) in [anonymous.tex.inputs.latex-contrib].  There's
       a setspace.sty from [e-mail] which is more flexible, and
       consistent with the latest release of LaTeX.  See question 22.

    It's not worth going to a lot of trouble.  (If officials won't allow
    standard typographic conventions, you won't be able to produce an
    aesthetically pleasing document anyway!)

14) In LaTeX, how do I include a file in the verbatim environment?

    A good way to do this is to use Rainer Sch\"opf's verbatim.sty,
    which provides the command \verbatiminput that takes a file
    as an argument. This file is available from both the Aston archive
    (see question 22) and ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23). Several
    files are needed. From ymir.claremont.edu, get the file
    [tex.inputs.latex-mainz]verbatim.readme to find out what other
    files you will need.

    Another way to do this is to use the alltt environment defined in
    the style file alltt.sty available in ./pub/tex/latex-style from
    sun.soe.clarkson.edu (see question 22).

15) In LaTeX, how do I do Y?

    If you can't figure out how to do something in LaTeX after you
    have read the manual very carefully, asked your local LaTeX
    guru, and thought about it, there is a LaTeX help service
    available. Please note that the way to accomplish something
    in LaTeX is often by using an appropriate style file, so please
    check this also (see question 16). If none of this works, send mail
    in English describing your problem to [e-mail].
    If you haven't gotten a reply to your problem within about a week,
    send mail to [e-mail].

16) Where can I find a TeX macro or LaTeX style file for doing Y?

    Before you ask for a TeX macro or LaTeX style file to do something,
    please search the TeX macro index written by David M. Jones
    ([e-mail]) and available via anonymous ftp
    from theory.lcs.mit.edu (18.52.0.92) in ./pub/tex/TeX-index. Those
    without access to anonymous ftp can send a message containing the
    line ``send tex TeX-index'' to [e-mail].
    The index is an excellent reference document with plenty of
    cross-references. Also, many of the archive sites mentioned in
    question 22 maintain extensive latex style collections, which you
    can look through if you need something not in the index.

17) How do I generate an index in TeX/LaTeX?

    Making an index is not trivial. There are several indexing programs
    which aid in doing this. Some are:
      makeindex - for LaTeX under Unix (but runs under other OS's
         without changes). Available via anonymous ftp from
         ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23, VMS) in the directory
         [.tex.utilities.makeindex]. A version for the Macintosh is
         available from Johnny Tolliver at
         [e-mail]. The Makeindex documentation
         is a pretty good source of information on how to create your
         own index.
      idxtex - for LaTeX under VMS. Available via anonymous ftp from
         ymir.claremont.edu in the directory [.tex.utilities.idxtex].
      texix - for TeX on CMS and Macintosh machines. Available via
         anonymous ftp from ymir.claremont.edu in the directory
         [.tex.utilities.texix].
      indexor - for LaTeX under Unix, VMS, and DOS. Available via
         anonymous ftp from ymir.claremont.edu in [.tex.utilities.indexor].
      texindex - for LaTeX under Unix. Available from
         comp.sources.misc archives in Volume 23.

18) How do I get METAFONT to do what I want it to do?

    METAFONT allows you to create your own fonts, and ordinary TeX users
    will never need to use it. METAFONT, unlike TeX, requires some
    customization. Each output device for which you will be generating
    fonts needs a mode associated with it. Modes are defined using the
    mode_def convention described on page 94 of _The METAFONTbook_. So
    first create a file, which we will call local.mf, containing all the
    mode_defs you will be using. The file modes.mf by Karl Berry,
    available via anonymous ftp from ftp.cs.umb.edu (192.12.26.23) in
    ./pub/tex is a good starting point for this. Listings of settings for
    various output devices are also published periodically in TUGboat
    (see question 11). Now create a plain base file using inimf, plain.mf,
    and local.mf:
       % inimf
       This is METAFONT....
       **plain                 # you type plain
       (output)
       *input local            # you type this
       (output)
       *dump                   # you type this
       Beginning to dump on file plain....
       (output)
       %
    This should create a base file named plain.base (or something close)
    and should be moved to the directory containing the base files on
    your system.

    Now you need to make sure METAFONT loads this base when it starts
    up. If METAFONT loads the plain base by default on your system, then
    you're ready to go. Under Unix, we might, for instance define a
    command mf which executes ``virmf &plain,'' loading the plain base
    file.

    The usual way to create a font with plain METAFONT is to then start
    it with the line
       \mode=<mode name>; mag=<magnification>; input <font file name>
    in response to the * prompt or on the METAFONT command line. If
    <mode name> is unknown or omitted, then the mode defaults to proof
    mode. If this has happened METAFONT will produce an output file
    called <font file name>.2602gf. The <magnification> is a floating
    point number or magstep (magsteps are defined in _The METAFONTbook_
    and _The TeXbook_). If mag=<magnification> is omitted, then the
    default is 1. For example, to generate cmr10 at 12pt for an epson
    printer you would type
       mf \mode=epson; mag=1.2; input cmr10
    Note that under Unix the '\' and ';' characters must usually be
    escaped, so this would typically look something like
       mf \\mode=epson\; mag=1.2\; input cmr10

    If you don't have inimf or need a special mode that isn't in the
    base, you can put its commands in a file (e.g., ln03.mf) and invoke
    it on the fly with the \smode command. For example, to create
    ln03.300gf for an LN03 printer, using the file
    % This is ln03.mf as of 2/27/90
    % mode_def courtesy of John Sauter
    proofing:=0;
    fontmaking:=1;
    tracingtitles:=0;
    pixels_per_inch:=300;
    blacker:=0.65;
    fillin:=-0.1;
    o_correction:=.5;
    (note the absence of the mode_def and enddef commands), you would type
       mf \smode="ln03"; input cmr10

19) Where do I get TeX/LaTeX for machine Y running Q?

    Unix - The Unix TeX distribution is no longer available via anonymous
       ftp from one location. An up-to-date version of Unix TeX can
       be assembled, however, by ftp'ing from several different sites.
       If you don't want to do this, you can order it from the
       University of Washington, for a small fee. Contact:
                  Director
                  Northwest Computing Support Center
                  Thomson Hall, Mail Stop DR-10
                  University of Washington
                  Seattle, WA 98195 (USA)
                  [phone]
       or send electronic mail to Elizabeth Tachikawa at
       [e-mail] (note the ``s''). The fee charged
       for getting the TeX distribution through the University of
       Washington helps fund the further development of Unix TeX, so
       it's a good idea to order it this way. This distribution compiles
       under Ultrix. Executables for the 386/ix are available via
       anonymous ftp from tik.vtt.fi (130.188.52.2) in
       ./pub/tex/bin-386ix and from math.berkeley.edu (128.32.183.94)
       in ./pub/tex386ix.tar.Z.

       To get TeX via anonymous ftp, first get the current web2c
       distribution from ftp.cs.umb.edu (192.12.26.23) in ./pub/tex. If you
       plan on using METAFONT, also grab the current version of modes.mf
       (see question 18). The web2c distribution will allow you to create
       initex, virtex, inimf, virmf, bibtex, and several programs for
       manipulating fonts. Next you will need the basic TeX and METAFONT
       macro files, available from labrea.stanford.edu (36.8.0.47) in
       ./pub/tex/lib. The basic BibTeX style files are here as well, in
       ./pub/tex/bibtex. If you want LaTeX, the current distribution is
       available from rusinfo.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (129.69.1.12) in
       ./soft/tex/latex. I recommend LaTeX be installed with the New Font
       Selection Scheme (NFSS) (see question 35).  It resides in
       ./soft/tex/latex-style-supported/nfss.  If you want AMSLaTeX or
       AMSTeX, get them from e-math.ams.com (130.44.1.100) in ./ams.
       Finally, you need fonts. TeX itself needs font files with the
       extension ``.tfm''.  Your output device driver needs fonts in a
       different format, probably ``.pk''. Both ymir.claremont.edu
       (134.173.4.23) and rusinfo.rus.uni-stuttgart.de maintain collections
       of fonts in these formats. These collections contain the necessary
       fonts for the plain format and LaTeX, and other fonts you might
       want.  Alternatively, the necessary font formats can be generated
       from the METAFONT source, either by you, or automatically if you use
       the dvips driver mentioned in question 2. The METAFONT sources are
       available from the ymir and rusinfo archives.  Note that I have
       tried to mention the definitive sources for all the programs above.
       The nearest archive server (see question 22) may have everything
       mentioned above, without having to ftp around the world.

    AIX - TeX for the IBM RS6000 running AIX can be found on
       rusinfo.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (129.69.1.12) in
       ./soft/tex/machines/unix/aix3.1.

    PC - A TeX package for the PC, including LaTeX, BibTeX, previewers,
       and drivers is available via anonymous ftp from
       vax.eedsp.gatech.edu (130.207.226.7) in ./pub/TeX. The variety here
       is sbtex version 30 by Wayne Sullivan. EmTeX, another TeX package
       for the PC by Eberhard Mattes, is available via anonymous ftp from
       rusinfo.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (129.69.1.12) in
       ./soft/tex/machines/pc/emtex and also from niord.shsu.edu
       (192.92.115.8) in [.emtex]. This package includes LaTeX, METAFONT,
       BibTeX, etc., as well. Documentation is available in both German
       and English.

       All Public Domain TeX software for the PC is also available
       through TUG. A catalog is available free from them at the
       address given in question 11. This collection is maintained by
       Jon Radel, who will answer technical questions on the material
       (with no service guarantee). Send electronic mail to [e-mail].

    Mac - see question 7 for a public domain version.

    TOPS-20 - TeX was originally written on a DEC-10 under WAITS, and so
        was easily ported to TOPS-20. A Distribution that runs on TOPS-20
        is available via anonymous ftp from science.utah.edu
        (128.110.198.2) in ./pub/tex/pub/web.

    VAX/VMS - VMS executables are available via anonymous ftp from
        ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) in [.tex.exe]. Source is
        available in [.tex.sources]. Version 3.1 is available in
        [.tex.sources.tex3_1]. Ymir has a mailserver for those without
        ftp access, although executables are not available through it.
        Send a message containing the line ``help'' to
        [e-mail]. Standard tape distribution is
        through DECUS or Maria Code.

    Atari - TeX is available for the Atari ST from atari.archive.umich.edu
        (141.211.164.8) in ./atari/tex. If anonymous ftp is not available
        to you, send a message containing the line ``help'' to
        [e-mail]. The mail server can uuencode
        binary files. Another version can be obtained via anonymous
        ftp from ifi.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de (129.69.211.1) in
        ./pub/atari.st/tex. There is also lots of TeX stuff for the
        Atari on the rusinfo and ftp.cs.ruu.nl archives mentioned in
        question 22.

    Amiga - Disk 1 of the Amiga CommonTeX distribution is available
         via anonymous ftp from ab20.larc.nasa.gov (128.155.23.64)
         in ./amiga/commontex.lzh. The file copying.tex in the
         distribution contains information on how to obtain the other
         disks. Also, experimental versions of TeX 3.1 and METAFONT 2.7
         are available in ./incoming/amiga/TEX. There is also a full
         implementation of TeX 3.1 called PasTeX available via anonymous
         ftp from forwiss.uni-passau.de (132.231.1.10) in ./pub/amiga/tex.

    Tandy 6000 - If you are interested in building TeX on this machine
         contact Ken Yap ([e-mail]), and he'll help you.

20) Where can I get a thesis style for LaTeX?

    Thesis styles are usually very specific to your University, so it's
    usually not profitable to ask the whole newsgroup for one. If you
    want to write your own, a good place to start is the ucthesis style
    available in the latex style collection at sun.soe.clarkson.edu
    (see question 22).

21) How do I get symbols for ``the real numbers'', ``the complex numbers'',
    and so on?

    These symbols are known as ``blackboard bold'' and are available in
    the AMS fonts ``msam'' (e.g., ``msam10'' for 10pt) and ``msbm''.
    They replace the older ``msxm'' and ``msym''. The fonts have a large
    number of mathematical symbols to supplement the ones
    provided by TeX. The fonts are available via anonymous ftp from
    e-math.ams.com (130.44.1.100) in the directory ./ams/amsfonts.
    Two files which load the fonts and define the symbols are provided,
    and both work with either TeX or LaTeX. Questions or suggestions
    regarding these fonts should be directed to
    [e-mail].

    A set of LaTeX macros for a ``lazy person's'' blackboard bold are:
       \newcommand{\R}{{\sf R\hspace*{-0.9ex}\rule{0.15ex}%
       {1.5ex}\hspace*{0.9ex}}}
       \newcommand{\N}{{\sf N\hspace*{-1.0ex}\rule{0.15ex}%
       {1.3ex}\hspace*{1.0ex}}}
       \newcommand{\Q}{{\sf Q\hspace*{-1.1ex}\rule{0.15ex}%
       {1.5ex}\hspace*{1.1ex}}}
       \newcommand{\C}{{\sf C\hspace*{-0.9ex}\rule{0.15ex}%
       {1.3ex}\hspace*{0.9ex}}}

22) What repositories of TeX material are available, and how can I access
    them?

    There are many repositories of TeX material available. Most of them
    also have a mail server, i.e., a program that will send you files
    via electronic mail. Here are some of the better ones:
      - In the US, the archive at ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) has
        a lot of PD TeX software, and even if it's not explicitly stated,
        much of the software mentioned in this document is available there.
        Anonymous ftp is supported, as is a mail server. Unfortunately,
        executables are not available through the mail server. Send a
        message containing the line ``help'' to [e-mail].
      - The archive at Clarkson University, although out of date, still has
        some things of interest. Use anonymous ftp to get files from
        sun.soe.clarkson.edu (128.153.12.3). An archive server is available
        if you can send mail to the United States. Send a one-line message
        ``help'' to [e-mail] and it will send
        you a file describing how to use it more fully. If you have
        problems, contact [e-mail]
      - In the United Kingdom, you can get TeX-related material from the
        UK TeX archive at the University of Aston. (FTP access is also
        available for people on JANET or the Internet. Use anonymous ftp
        to tex.ac.uk (134.151.40.18). You will be placed in the root of
        of the [tex-archive]. Telnet access is also allowed, to permit
        more intelligent browsing. Use the username PUBLIC and the same
        password. A known file is [tex-archive]000directory.list.) For
        electronic mail access, send a message to [e-mail]. The
        first non-blank line of the message must contain a valid TeXserver
        command (help, directory, files, whereis, search, or path). The
        program will then mail you a response notifying you that your
        request has been received. If you fail to get a response from the
        TeXserver, you may need to use the ``path'' command to help the
        program out. For Internet users the return address is of the form
        name%site@nsfnet-relay, while for Bitnet and EARN it is
        name%site@earn-relay (i.e., include a line that says
        ``path name%site@nsfnet-relay'' along with a line containing
        ``help''). Note that the old three hyphen format is obsolete, but
        still accepted by the program for backward compatibility.
      - ftp.cs.ruu.nl (131.211.80.17) also contains a substantial TeX
        archive with ftp access. To use it via email, send a message
        containing the line ``help'' to [e-mail]. This mail
        server can send binary files in a variety of different formats.
      - In Germany, the host rusinfo.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (129.69.1.12)
        is an anonymous ftp site with much TeX material. In particular
        it is the definitive source for new font selection scheme in
        LaTeX, for emtex (TeX for the IBM PC, see question 19), and contains
        a set of hyphenation patterns for languages other than English. To
        use it via email, send a message containing the line ``help'' to
        [e-mail].
      - There are LISTSERV facilities for TeX at [e-mail].
        Send a message containing the line ``help'' to this address.
      - Another aggressively maintained archive is [e-mail].
        Sending a message with the line HELP will get help, and
        SENDME FILELIST will get an annotated listing of all packages
        available there. The archive is accessible via anonymous ftp to
        the host niord.shsu.edu (192.92.115.8).
      - For users on BITNET, access to anonymous ftp for some files can
        be obtained indirectly by sending mail to [e-mail].
        Send a message containing the line ``help'' to this address for
        more information.

    There is also the DECUS TeX collection, a collection of TeX material
    for VMS, Unix, MS-DOS, and the Macintosh. It is available via
    anonymous ftp from wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4) in ./decus/tex.
    It can also be obtained from the DECUS Library (reference number
    VS0058) in the US, or through your DECUS office outside of the US. To
    contact the DECUS Library, send mail or call:
                 The DECUS Program Library
                 219 Boston Post Road BP02
                 Marlboro, MA 01752-1850
                 [phone]
    or send electronic mail to the DECUS TeX Collection Editor, Ted
    Nieland, at [e-mail].

    Another good source of information is NETWORK SOURCES OF TeX WARE by
    Peter Flynn which appeared in TeXhax, volume 90, issues 45-47 (in
    May 1990).

23) How do I use PostScript fonts with LaTeX?

    The best way to do this is to install the New Font Selection
    Scheme (NFSS) (see question 35), and use the psnfss package
    written by Sebastian Rahtz. It is available from all the major
    archives mentioned in question 22. Unfortunately, on some it is
    known as soton and on others as psnfss. The definitive home for
    it is the UK TeX archive, tex.ac.uk (134.151.40.18) in
    [tex-archive.latex.styles.fontsel.soton]. Other methods for using
    PostScript fonts in LaTeX are cumbersome at best.

24) How can I convert from format Y to TeX or LaTeX, and vice-versa?

    troff - TROFF-TO-LATEX.TAR-Z is available via anonymous ftp from
      wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (26.2.0.74) in the directory
      pd2:<unix-c.textproc>. This program, written by Kamal Al-Yahya
      at Stanford, assists in the translation of a troff document into
      LaTeX format.  It recognizes most -ms and -man macros, plus most
      eqn and some tbl preprocessor commands. Anything fancier needs
      to be done by hand.  Two style files are provided.  There
      is also a man page (which converts very well to LaTeX :-).
      The program is copyrighted but free. An enhanced version of this
      program, tr2latex, is available from
      tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-acchen.de (137.226.112.31) in
      ./pub/textproc/TeX. The DECUS TeX distribution (see question 22)
      also contains a program which converts troff to TeX. If you are
      interested in obtaining a copy of this program without getting the
      entire DECUS TeX distribution, send the command: SENDME TROFFTOTEX
      in the body of a mail message to [e-mail]
      ([e-mail]), or use anonymous ftp to the directory
      [.TROFFTOTEX] on Niord.SHSU.edu (192.92.115.8).

    scribe - Mark James has a copy of scribe2latex he has been
      unable to test but which he will let anyone interested have.
      Send email to [e-mail]. The program was written
      by Van Jacobson of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

    wordperfect -  wp2latex.zip is available on wuarchive.wustl.edu
      (128.252.135.4) in the directory ./mirrors/msdos/tex and on
      wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (26.2.0.74) in the directory pd1:<msdos.tex>.
      This is a PC program written in Turbo Pascal by R. C. Houtepen at
      the Eindhoven University in the Netherlands.  It converts
      WordPerfect 5.0 documents to LaTeX.  Pascal source is included.
      Users find it ``helpful'' and ``decent'' in spite of some
      limitations. It gets high marks for handling font changes.
      Limitations include no indices, table of contents, margins or
      graphics.  It also won't handle the new features of WordPerfect
      5.1, in particular the equation formatter. The program is
      copyrighted but free.

      Glenn Geers of the University of Sydney ([e-mail])
      is translating wp2latex into C and adding some WordPerfect 5.1
      features, in particular its equation handling.  This is an ongoing
      project; the most recent version can be retrieved via anonymous ftp
      from suphys.physics.su.oz.au (129.78.129.1) in ./wp2latex. It is
      also available by anonymous ftp from ymir.claremont.edu
      (134.173.4.23) in the directory
      [anonymous.tex.ibm_pc.front_ends.wp2latex]. It was posted to
      alt.sources on 8 August 1990.

    PC-Write - pcwritex.arc is available on wuarchive.wustl.edu
      (128.252.135.4) in directory mirrors/msdos/tex and on
      wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (26.2.0.74) in directory pd1:<msdos.tex>.
      This is a print driver for PC-Write that ``prints'' a PC-Write V2.71
      document to a TeX-compatible disk file.  It was written by Peter
      Flynn at University College, Cork, Ireland.  It is public domain.

    runoff - Peter Vanroose ([e-mail]) has
      written a RUNOFF-to-TeX conversion program in VMS Pascal.  It is
      available from comp.text archives (they do exist, don't they?  The
      program was submitted in December 1987) or from the author
      ([e-mail]) or from Mark James ([e-mail]).

    refer/Tib - There are a few programs for converting bibliographic data
      between BibTeX and refer/Tib formats.  They are available via
      anonymous ftp from ftp.ai.mit.edu (128.52.32.6) in the
      directory ./pub/refer-to-bibtex.  In spite of the directory name,
      it also contains a  shell script to convert BibTeX to REFER as
      well. This collection is maintained by
      Thomas M. Breuel ([e-mail]).

    RTF - A program for converting Microsoft's Rich Text Format to TeX
      is available via anonymous ftp from astro.princeton.edu
      (128.112.128.131) in ./pub/rtf2TeX.tar.Z. It was written and is
      maintained by Robert Lupton ([e-mail]).

    Microsoft Word - A rudimentary program for converting MS-Word
      to LaTeX is wd2latex, for MS-DOS, available via anonymous ftp
      from ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) in
      [.tex.ibm_pc.front_ends]. Probably a better idea, however,
      is to convert the document to RTF format and use the RTF
      converter mentioned above.

    In addition, a group at Ohio State University is working on a common
    document format based on SGML.  In theory any format could be
    translated to or from this one.  Also, Framemaker supposedly has
    ``import filters'' to aid in the translation from alien formats
    (presumably including TeX) to Framemaker; perhaps other desktop
    publishing programs have similar things.

25) How do I get a file into the major style repositories?

    Use anonymous ftp to rusinfo.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (129.69.1.12) and
    transfer the file into the directory ./soft/tex/incoming. Then send
    notification [e-mail]. From there
    it will propagate to other inclusive archives. If you cannot use
    ftp, mail your contribution to [e-mail] and it will be
    passed along. You will make everyone's life easier if you choose a
    descriptive and unique name for your submission, so it's probably
    good idea to browse through some of the style repositories mentioned
    in question 22 to insure your style file's name is not already
    in use.

26) Where can I get font Y?

    A comprehensive list of METAFONT fonts is posted to Comp.fonts
    about once every six weeks by Lee Quin ([e-mail]). It contains
    both commercial fonts and fonts available via anonymous ftp. Most
    of the fonts available via anonymous ftp are available from
    ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23). Also, the file wujastyk.txh
    on ymir.claremont.edu in [anonymous.tex.mf] is a copy of
    Dominik Wujastyk's font article, and contains information on
    METAFONT fonts as well.

27) Where can I get a dvi driver for the HP LaserJet?

    PC - The emtex package mentioned in question 19 contains a driver for
       the LaserJet, dvihplj. The driver is available by itself from
       ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) in [.tex.ibm_pc.drivers.emtex]
       in the files dvidrv[123].zip.

    Version 2.10 of the Beebe drivers support the LaserJet. These drivers
    will compile under Unix, VMS, and on the Atari ST and DEC-20's. They
    are available from science.utah.edu (128.110.198.2) in ./pub/tex/dvi
    and from ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) in
    [.tex.drivers.beebe2_10].

28) TeX and LaTeX are hyphenating words weirdly. What can I do?

    You have a version mismatch problem. The hyphenation algorithm changed
    between version 2.9 and 3.0. If you are using TeX version 3.0 or
    later, make sure you have plain.tex and lplain.tex files with a
    version number of at least 3.0.

    For those of you curious about the change, here's what happened:
    in versions of TeX before 3.0 the hyphenation algorithm would not
    break a word if the part before the break was not at least two
    characters long, and the part after the break at least three
    characters long. Starting with version 3.0 two integer parameters,
    \lefthyphenmin and \righthyphenmin, control the length of these
    fragments. These are set to 2 and 3, respectively, in the new
    plain and lplain formats. They can be set to any value, of course,
    but if \lefthyphenmin + \righthyphenmin is greater than 62, all
    hyphenation is suppressed.