ArabTeX Version 3

Last changes: Version 3.11k, May 24, 2004

There is a new version of the User Manual (PS), (PDF).
This version is reasonably current, but still being updated.

Should you be an Orientalist, you might want to look at a small list of applications.

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. Several other common encodings are also supported.

new The package is available in packed form as arab311.zip for PC users, and arab311.tgz or arab311.tar.Z for *N*X users.
Note: we had to change the file names to avoid some server problems.

new The files tex311.zip and tex311.tgz contain just the ArabTeX macros. For upgrading to the minor version (3.11), downloading these is sufficient if the fonts are already installed.

Depending on the server there may be also the unpacked files, or only these.

In case of doubt, check for the latest version of " apatch.sty".
This file contains last minute corrections that possibly are not yet contained in the packed files.

The following ASCII files give more detailed information:

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.

new The contents of a subdirectory "REPORT", if still present, are OBSOLETE. Refer to the (draft of the) user manual instead.

There was a prototype, ArabTeX Version 1, which is now OBSOLETE.
Version 2 was the first complete release accompanied by a manual, but is no more being maintained.
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, ISO 8859-6, and UTF-8 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.

ArabTeX is copyrighted by the author. If you use the system for scientific work please give appropriate credit to the software and the author (e.g. in the colophon of a monograph.) We also appreciate a complimentary copy of any scientific work produced with ArabTeX.

new ArabTeX may be redistributed and/or modified under the terms of the LaTeX Project Public License distributed from CTAN archives in the directory macros/latex/base/lppl.txt; either version 1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

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, suitability for whatever purpose, or correct documentation. If you have any complaints or suggestions, please forward them to 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.
We know that the CTAN servers "ftp.tex.ac.uk", "ftp.dante.de", "ctan.tug.org" mirror this site and update on a regular schedule.

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

Prof. Klaus Lagally
Institut fuer Formale Konzepte der Informatik
Universitaet Stuttgart
Universitaetsstrasse 20-22
D-70569 Stuttgart
GERMANY
lagally@informatik.uni-stuttgart.de

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).