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-
- Alpha version 7.4.1, using AlphaTcl library version 7.4.1
-
-
- Readme version: 7.4.1
- created: 00-08-02 20.48.52
- last update: 01-02-08 19.47.36
-
-
- If you have never used Alpha before and want to know what it can do, peruse
- the "Mode Examples Help" file included with this distribution of Alpha.
- (Note: green, underlined text is a hyperlink that will take you to some
- target if you click on it. To return, type Ctrl-. that is, hold down the
- control key while typing a period.)
-
- International users: select your keyboard in the international preferences
- dialog ("Config -> Preferences -> International") to ensure the menus
- contain key-bindings suitable for your keyboard.
-
- The "Alpha Manual" (<- click to open) has now been updated. There is also a
- shorter "Quick Start" (<-- click on it!) document, and many other help files.
- You can access the help files under the system help menu. If you have
- recently updated Alpha you may wish to read the "Changes - AlphaTcl" file.
-
- Additional documentation and help is available at
-
- <http://magnet.fsu.edu/~hall/docscripting/alpha/>.
-
- This web site also provides a FAQ, the latest news about Alpha, and a few
- tutorials. (The FAQ and news items are updated weekly.)
-
- Much of Alpha's functionality is implemented in 'packages' or 'extensions',
- and many additional packages are available to extend Alpha further. The
- 'Config -> Preferences -> Menus' and 'Config -> Preferences -> Features'
- menu items let you see which items are installed, and lets you turn them on
- and off. The 'Config -> Packages' menu allows you to update modes, menus,
- and extensions quickly and easily by downloading small update files from
- the internet. However, most available package are bundled with Alpha. It
- is recommended that you try to learn the basics of Alpha before starting to
- download new packages. For those used to Emacs, a 'mode' in Alpha is like
- a 'major mode' in Emacs, an 'extension' or 'feature' in Alpha is like a
- 'minor mode' in Emacs.
-
- See the file "Packages" for a list of pre-installed packages in Alpha.
-
- Remember, Alpha has a Home Page at <http://www.alpha.olm.net/> from which
- you can check for new versions of Alpha, as well as the many modes and
- packages which have been written. If you wish to download those things
- directly you can get them from <ftp://alpha.olm.net/pub/packages/>, but
- Alpha contains menu items to allow you to check for and/or download and
- install updated items automatically.
-
- Many packages are also available from: <ftp://ftp.ucsd.edu/pub/alpha/>
- (many thanks to UCSD for their generous donation of this ftp site). If you
- check both locations, Alpha will keep track of which contains the most
- recent one for you. For those from Europe, you may wish to try the mirror:
-
- <ftp://anu.theologie.uni-halle.de/comp/mac/Alpha>
-
- PLEASE use the Alpha-D mailing list to discuss problems, suggestions etc
- with this release. To subscribe, email <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU> and, in
- the text of your message (not the subject line), write:
-
- SUBSCRIBE ALPHA-D
-
- There are a number of known bugs which will hopefully be corrected in a
- future release. PLEASE read the "Bug Reports and Debugging" file for a
- list of known bugs, and for how to give an informative bug report, without
- which it is unlikely any bug you found can be fixed. Alpha has a
- sophisticated bug reporting and tracking system. Please use it, since it
- will help us (and you) to keep track of bugs, potential workarounds, and
- when they are finally fixed. To use the system, go to
-
- <http://www.maths.mq.edu.au/~steffen/bugzilla/> .
-
-