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3.1 Introduction

This part is a guide to the TeX installation as implemented in 4TeX version 4.71. It does not describe the TeX language, for that information, you can turn to various books listed in the bibliography, or look at the detailed documentation that can be found on the second CD-rom (4allTeX Distribution sets + Documentation). This document should rather be considered a guide that gives you an overview of the 4TeX system and directions how to use it. We don't aspire to completeness; full details can often be found in on-line documents.

Our chosen TeX implementation is emTeX, which is public domain and state-of-the-art. It is named after its author, Eberhard Mattes.¹ 4TeX's power lies in the integration of extended graphics support, automatic format generation, automatic font generation, support for many different output devices, BibTeX, Metafont, MakeIndex, amSpell and many other utilities.

A TeX system consists of a host of separate programs: you must prepare your TeX input file with an ascii editor; the actual TeX `compiler' converts this input file into a .dvi file (from DeVice Independent); separate programs generate printed output from the .dvi file and allow you to preview the typeset page on your screen.

All of the programs included in 4TeX, especially the various versions of the compiler and the print and preview programs, require lots of parameters and/or environment variables. The menu system 4TeX is designed to shield you from managing these parameters and variables.

However, the standard installation may not fit your personal requirements, or you may be unhappy about the changes 4TeX forces on their system setup. Therefore, we also include the basic information needed to set up one's own system, or to adapt 4TeX to one's individual needs.

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