MiKTeX News

This is the MiKTeX 2.0 News file.

1. MiKTeX 2.0 (January 2001)

New Applications

• MiKTeX Options: A graphical front-end to the MiKTeX configuration utility (initexmf).
• Remove MiKTeX! Wizard: Assists in removing MiKTeX from the computer.
• pdfeTeX 0.14f/2.1: A pdfTeX/e-TeX merger.

Updated Applications

• Dvipdfm 0.13.2
• LaTeX 2000/06/01
• Omega 1.11
• pdfTeX 0.14f

Setup Wizard Changes

• You can specify the order by which the TEXMF root directories are searched.
• The MiKTeX bin directory is added to the PATH environment variable.

File Searching Changes

• It is now possible to place the local root directory (usually `C:\Local TeXMF') in the front of the search path.
• On-the-fly generated files (e.g. PK fonts) are automatically added to the file name database.

TeX Compiler Changes

New Options

• `--include-directory=dir' prepends dir to the search path.
• `--output-directory=dir' sets the destination directory for all output files.
• `--enable-write18' enables the \write18 primitive (see below).
• \write18 primitive: starts a command interpreter to carry out the specified command

New Features

• TeX automatically renews the format file, if it is unacceptable. This should eliminate the `(Fatal format file error; I'm stymied)' problem.

Texify Changes

• New option `--max-iterations=n' limits the number of iterations. This prevents endless processing. The default for n is 5.

Yap Changes

• New button `Double-Page' to turn on double-page view (view two pages side-by-side).
• Yap supports EEPIC drawing primitives (also known as tpic specials).
• Presentation (full-screen) mode.

2. MiKTeX 1.20e (December 1999)

Updated Packages

• Dvipdfm 0.12.6e; now includes the utility dvipdft (imbed thumbnail images).
• Texinfo 4.0
• LaTeX <1999/06/01>, Babel v3.6z, Hyperref v6.67e
• AMS-LaTeX v2
• pdfTeX 0.14d
• FreeType 1.3 utilities: getafm, ttf2pfb, ttf2pk, ttf2tfm

New Features

• TeX: the TeX compiler accepts fully qualified file names with spaces, i.e. it's now possible to say something like: `latex "C:\My Thesis\Thesis.tex"'.
• TeX: new option `--interaction=mode': sets TeX's interaction mode (one of: batchmode, nonstopmode, scrollmode, errorstopmode).
• TeX: new option `--quiet': suppresses output unless there are errors (implies `--c-style-errors').
• Yap: two new toolbar buttons to control color interpolation of text.
• Yap: emTeX line specials are now supported.
• TeXify: new option `--run-viewer': invokes a viewer on the resulting `.pdf'/`.dvi' file. This option (and some Registry wizardry) makes it possible to associate `.tex' files with a viewer, i.e. double-clicking a `.tex' file opens the resulting `.pdf'/`.dvi' file.
• TeXify: new option `--viewer-option=option': can be used to pass option to the viewer.
• TeXify: new option `--mkidx-option=option': can be used to pass option to the index generator. Useful if one wants to specify MakeIndex style files.
• TeXify: new option `--tex-option=option': can be used to pass option to the (La)TeX compiler.
• METAFONT: new option `--screen': enables METAFONT's online display (thanks to Wolfgang Kleinschmit who supplied the patches).

Anti Features

• TtH has been removed from the MiKTeX distribution due to license problems (TtH is not free software).

3. MiKTeX 1.20d (August 1999)

Updated Packages

• Dvips 5.86 (now includes a Windows help file)
• Texinfo 3.12p (now includes the texi2dvi utility)

New: texify

texify is a new command-line utility that simplifies the production of DVI (PDF) documents. texify automatically runs LaTeX (pdfLaTeX), Makeindex and BibTeX as many times as necessary to produce a DVI (PDF) file with sorted indices and all cross-references resolved.

texify imitates the shell script texi2dvi (written by Noah Friedman), which is a part of the GNU Texinfo distribution.

New: hbf2gf

hbf2gf (by Werner Lemberg) is intended to convert Hanzi Bitmap Fonts (HBF) into TeX generic font files (GF files). MakePK has been updated to make use of hbf2gf.

Resolved Problems

General

• MiKTeX doesn't search the local TEXMF tree, when it is a sub-folder of the installation TEXMF tree.

Setup Wizard

• The path to the installation folder must not contain spaces.

4. MiKTeX 1.20c (July 1999)

Updated Packages

• The TEXMF tree is a subset of the teTeX 1.0 TEXMF tree
• TtH 2.25
• Yap 0.96

New Features

• Yap now supports color (a la Dvips) with the exception of background colors for whole pages. Say `yap colordemo' to view a demo.

Resolved Problems

IniTeXMF

• Using options --mkpsres and --update-fndb simultaneously doesn't work (`texmf0.fndb: Permission denied').

Yap

• Yap shows blank pages if the the document is recompiled in the background.
• Displaying a GIF (PCX/PNG/TIFF) image causes Yap to hang on Windows 9x. [ Inclusion of these image types should work now. Say yap tifdemo to view a demo. ]

5. MiKTeX 1.20b (May 1999)

Updated Packages

• The MiKTeX TEXMF tree is a subset of the teTeX TEXMF tree as per 05/10/99.

New Features

• It is now possible to run the Setup Wizard in unattended mode (command-line option --unattended). Setup options can be specified on the command-line or in a text file. See the Local Guide for more information.
• Yap checks to see whether it is the default DVI viewer.

Resolved Problems

• Some apps didn't run under Windows 2000.
• initexmf --dump=elatex didn't run in extended mode.

6. MiKTeX 1.20a (April 1999)

The source archives (source*.zip) were removed from the normal distribution. They are now in the CTAN directory systems/win32/miktex/source.

Updated Apps

• pdfTeX 0.13d
• Dvipdfm 0.10.5
• Babel 3.6m

New Apps

• URW PostScript fonts; these are free replacements for the standard Adobe fonts.

Resolved Problems

• Hyphenation bug

7. MiKTeX 1.20 (April 1999)

New Installation Method

MiKTeX is now (again) distributed as set of Zip files. The new Setup Wizard replaces the InstallSHIELD(R) setup program.

Updated Apps

• MetaPost 0.641
• Dvipdfm 0.10.4
• pdfTeX 0.13c
• Omega 1.8
• LaTeX2e 1998/12/01

New Apps

• e-TeX 2.1
• LH fonts 3.20

New Features

• Yap
  • now supports basic HyperTeX specials; see `doc\miktex\hyperdemo.dvi' for an example.
  • Yap now uses a search path to locate DVI input files.
  • new option --goto-hyper-label=name causes Yap to go to a hyper label.
• TeX & friends:
  • memory settings are now format dependend, i.e. it's possible to reserve extra memory for (say) context
  • filenames are now logged in their absolute form
  • new option --job-name can be used to redefine the name of the job; in the end, this option will set the name of the output file to the name specified
  • new option --job-time can be used to redefine the time of the job; in the end, this option will set the timestamp of all output files to the specified time
  • new option --tcx causes TeX to read the input encoding from a .tcx file
  • the first input line is now checked for a dump/tcx specification; i.e. TeX loads the dump file foo.fmt and processes the TCX bar.tcx, if the first input line is %&foo -translate-file=bar
  • new option --undump causes TeX to load a specific dump file
  • the exe name now determines the default dump file that is to be loaded by TeX; for example, you can copy tex.exe to texinfo.exe; TeX will then load texinfo.fmt, if no other dump was specified
• trace output can be redirected to a file

8. MiKTeX 1.11 (August 1998, February 1999)

Highlights

• New setup utility (InstallShield)
• Several distribution types
• Uninstall support
• Support for a local TEXMF tree
• Previewer improvements:
  • Support for BMP/EPS graphics inclusions
  • Magnifying glass (variable magnification)
  • Support for Dvips (PostScript) specials
  • Support for virtual fonts
  • Support for Type 1 outline fonts (via ps2pk)
  • Omega-generated DVI can be processed
  • Dvips/GhostScript interface for printing purposes
  • Some command keys accept a numerical prefix argument (for example, 9g opens TeX page 9)

• Omega 1.5
• pdfTeX 0.12r

Distributions

MiKTeX is now distributed in the form of four independent self-extracting setup utilities:

`bare.exe'

The bare distribution includes executables only. It is suited for sites that already have a comprehensive TEXMF tree (e.g. a TeXLive3 CDROM).

`basic.exe'

The basic distribution includes fundamental applications and macro packages.

`advanced.exe'

The advanced distribution includes the basic distribution plus the following components:

• pdfTeX 0.12l
• Computer Modern PostScript Fonts
• AMS-Fonts PostScript Fonts

`complete.exe'

The complete distribution includes the advanced distribution plus the following components:

• Omega 1.5
• MetaPost 0.632
• Texinfo macros and Makeinfo
• Web System (Tangle, Weave, Tie)

Resolved Problems

• initexmf --dump: specifying an unknown program causes a GPF.
• Yap displays smeared characters under certain conditions.
• Yap doesn't print rules under certain conditions.
• TeX: Danish hyphenation patterns don't work together with LaTeX2e.
• TeX: `--c-style-errors' sometimes produces funny error messages.
• TeX: The error menu option `E' (start editor) does not work if the erroneous source file is not located in the current directory.
• TeX says `TeX capacity exceeded, sorry [buffer size=20000]' while processing a document that comes from a MacOS system.

YAP 0.94v

• Support for graphics inclusions has been added. GhostScript is required for the display/printing of EPS figures.

• YAP now understands basic dvips (PostScript) specials.

• YAP can process virtual fonts: it's now possible to use PostScript Type 1 fonts (via ps2pk, see below).

• Dvips/GhostScript interface (for printing purposes).

• Customizable magnifying glasses.

• Some command keys accept a numerical prefix argument.

• Yap records events in a logbook (`View|Logbook...').

• A double-click now initiates inverse DVI search:
  1. The TeX source file will be opened with an editor (e.g. Emacs, WinEdt).
  2. Inside the editor window, the caret is positioned at the corresponding text location.

  The DVI file must contain source file information, which can be inserted with the new TeX option `--src-specials'.

Hyphenation Patterns

Plain TeX only loads the the standard hyphenation patterns (hyphen.tex), i.e. it does not consult language.dat.

initexmf (fka configure)

• The MiKTeX configuration utility moved to the bin directory. Besides that, the executable was renamed in initexmf.exe (formerly configure.exe).
• New options:

  --find-lambda-input

  --find-latex-input

  --find-metafont-input

  --find-metapost-input

  --find-omega-input

  --find-pdflatex-input

  --find-pdftex-input

  --find-tex-input

  Find various input files. These options were introduced to test the find-file machinery.

  --mkpsres

  Update the PS Resource Database (psres.dpr).

  --local-root

  Define the location of the local TEXMF tree.

  --report

  Show a configuration report.

makepk (aka MakeTeXPK)

• makepk now invokes ps2pk when a Type 1 outline font is available.
• makepk now invokes ttf2pk when a TrueType font is available.

TeX (and also pdfTeX)

• New option `--src-specials' causes TeX to insert source file information (a.k.a. source specials) into the DVI file. Source file information improves Editor/Previewer interaction.
• TeX can read compressed input files, i.e. it's now possible to say `\input foo.tex.gz'.
• New option `--try-gz' causes TeX to try `file.tex.gz' if `file.tex' cannot be found.
• New option `--term=oem' causes TeX to use the DOS code page for console output.

Dvips

• Compressed EPS figures are searched by means of the find-file-machinery.

New Applications

• dvipdfm 0.9.5, a DVI-to-PDF converter developed by Mark A. Wicks.
• ps2pk converts Type 1 outline fonts into PK files. This utility is used by makepk.
• gif2png converts GIF files into PNG files.
• ttf2pk, ttf2tfm: these programs make TrueType fonts usable with TeX. Developed by Frederic Loyer and Werner Lemberg.

Updated

• dvips 5.83
• Omega 1.5; now with some documentation in `c:\texmf\doc\omega'.
• pdfTeX 0.12r; now with some documentation in `c:\texmf\doc\pdftex'.

9. MiKTeX 1.10b (March 1998)

Resolved Problems

• `YAP --single-instance' causes a GPF.

10. MiKTeX 1.10a (February 1998)

Resolved Problems

• On some Win95 boxes: YAP displays text lines upside down.
• YAP reports `MF mode / printer resolution mismatch' if printer resoultion is different from 600 dpi.
• YAP forgets the paper size info (i.e. always starts with A4).
• YAP consumes too much GDI resources during the run.

11. MiKTeX 1.10 (February 1998)

Hightlights

• YAP improvements (see below)
• TeX memory parameters can be changed at run-time
• Omega 1.47

Resolved Problems

• If you use virtual fonts (which is necessary for languages like Czech), pdfTeX says `"checksum missmatch in font xxx.vf was ignored"' on every font and `"character width missmatch in font xxx.vf was ignored"' on every character in the font.
• makempx fails to create an mpx file, if the corresponding source file resides in the TEXMF tree (and not in the current directory).
• makempx ignores environment variable `TEX'.

New Applications

• makebase, makemem: Make METAFONT (MetaPost) base (mem) files.
• Omega 1.47 (experimental version). See http://www.ens.fr/omega for more information.

YAP

• The METAFONT mode selection has been simplified.
• Gray-scaled character bitmaps make it easier to read shrinked text.
• YAP now supports so called source specials, which is a prerequisite for forward/inverse DVI search.
• New command lines switch `-1' forces YAP to use a single application window.
• Sticky Cursor (a.k.a. "the hand tool") allows you to scroll pages by moving the mouse cursor.
• Context-sensitive help.
• New toolbar icons for easier navigation.

dvips

• Updated (5.76)

configure

• The master configuration file has a new name: `miktex.ini' (was `miktex.environment').
• Configuration parameters are no longer stored in the Windows Registry.
• New option `--dump' causes configure to create new format files, base files, etc.

INITEX, INIPDFTEX ...

• INITEX and VIRTEX have been merged into one program (`tex.exe'). You invoke INITEX by specifying `--ini' as the first option on the command line. The same applies to INIPDFTEX, INIMF and INIMP.

TeX, pdfTeX, Omega

• TeX now pays attention to the environment variable `TEXINPUTS'.
• Many memory-related parameters (such as mem_max, buf_size, ...) can be changed at run-time. See `miktex.ini' for details.

• Improved error handling:
  • --c-style: This option causes TeX to show C-style error messages (e.g. `"foo.tex:9: undefined control sequence"'); implies \scrollmode.
  • You can cause TeX to start a text editor by typing e in the error menu. See `miktex.ini' for details.

Makeinfo

• A special version of GNU Makeinfo converts Texinfo documents into HTML and RTF (Windows Help). For more information, see http://www.snafu.de/~cschenk/makeinfo.

makepk (a.k.a. MakTeXPK)

• Improved argument checking.

12. MiKTeX 1.09 (October 1997)

Resolved Problems

• Bibtex8 announces a duplicate bibstyle line when the first and only one is encountered.

• YAP miscalculates the left and top margins of the printable area.

• When you use a `btex ...some tex stuff... etex' construction to create a label, MiKTeX complains that it can't create an .mpx file.

New Applications

• PostScript versions of Computer Moden Fonts / AMSFonts
• pdfTeX

13. MiKTeX 1.08 (August 1997)

New Features

• MiKTeX supports multiple TEXMF directory trees. This feature allows you to make use of an existing comprehensive TEXMF tree (such as a shared teTeX installation).
• Support of UNC file names. It should now be possible to do without a drive letter when you setup a shared MiKTeX installation.
• Certain internal TeX parameters have been increased.
• MakeTeX{PK,TFM} now determines the standard destination directory. (In the past, all generated fonts ended up in a temporary directory tree.) Please note that the new method is not compatible with DviWin, which cannot search recursively for PK files. You can restore the old method by changing back the value `PK Temp Dir'.
• MakeIndex searches recursively for style files.
• It is possible to define per-user configuration settings (via `configure --personal CFGFILE'). See the Local Guide, for more information.

New Applications

• Modified version of GNU Makeinfo which converts Texinfo docs into RTF. You can use this utility to make WinHelp files from Texinfo docs.
• 8-bit enhanced version of BibTeX with extra large processing capacity. Executable is named `bibtex8.exe'. Documentation is in `doc\bibtex8'.
• MakeTeXFMT makes a new format file and moves it into the format folder.

Upated

• dvips 5.74
• MetaPost 0.632
• LaTeX June'97

Resolved Problems

• TeX capacity exceeded.
• On-the-fly generation of fonts fails, if the font sources are placed in the current directory.

14. MiKTeX 1.07 (February 1997)

Resolved Problems

• dvips: cannot download .pfb files.
• dvips: complains that `The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.' before doing its job.
• dvicopy: sometimes causes a general protection fault.
• MakeTeXPK/METAFONT/ec-fonts: .600gf files are created even if a non-600dpi mode was specified

Anti-Features

• Removed DC-fonts from the distribution.

15. MiKTeX 1.06 (January 1997)

New Features

• MetaPost
• Standard LaTeX packages: AMS-LaTeX, psnfss, ...
• psutils: psbook, psselect, pstops, epsffit, psnup, psresize
• AMS-Fonts
• DVIcopy
• EC-Fonts 1.0
• DVIPS: supports emTeX specias

Anti-Features

• The distribution comes without printer PK files.

Improvements

• TeX runs much faster now.
• MiKTeX uses a filename database for fast file access.

Updated

• LaTeX Dec'96
• dvips 5.66
• DC-Fonts 1.3

Resolved Problems

• BibTeX: causes a GPF if the main LaTeX file \include's someting.
• BibTeX: says `Sorry--you've exceeded BibTeX's buffer size 1000' if the last input line is not terminated by a newline character
• dvips: DVIPS fails to find the EPS file if the full path is given in the LaTeX \epsfile command argument.
• LaTeX: `\' is not accepted as a directory delimiter (on the command line).

16. MiKTeX 1.05 (May 1996)

New Features

• Installation Utility
• BibTeX
• YAP (Yet Another Previewer)
• Local guide

Updated

• LaTeX Nov'95
• DC Fonts 1.2

Resolved Problems

• TeX: `\' is not accepted as a directory delimiter (on the command line).
• (La)TeX: `foo.bar.tex' is converted into `foo.dvi' (instead of `foo.bar.dvi').
• dvips: hangs when the font source file for a missing PK font does not exist.
• dvips: dynamic creation of PostScript graphic files is not possible.

Table of Contents

1. MiKTeX 2.0 (January 2001)
2. MiKTeX 1.20e (December 1999)
3. MiKTeX 1.20d (August 1999)
4. MiKTeX 1.20c (July 1999)
5. MiKTeX 1.20b (May 1999)
6. MiKTeX 1.20a (April 1999)
7. MiKTeX 1.20 (April 1999)
8. MiKTeX 1.11 (August 1998, February 1999)
9. MiKTeX 1.10b (March 1998)
10. MiKTeX 1.10a (February 1998)
11. MiKTeX 1.10 (February 1998)
12. MiKTeX 1.09 (October 1997)
13. MiKTeX 1.08 (August 1997)
14. MiKTeX 1.07 (February 1997)
15. MiKTeX 1.06 (January 1997)
16. MiKTeX 1.05 (May 1996)

Short Table of Contents

1. MiKTeX 2.0 (January 2001)
2. MiKTeX 1.20e (December 1999)
3. MiKTeX 1.20d (August 1999)
4. MiKTeX 1.20c (July 1999)
5. MiKTeX 1.20b (May 1999)
6. MiKTeX 1.20a (April 1999)
7. MiKTeX 1.20 (April 1999)
8. MiKTeX 1.11 (August 1998, February 1999)
9. MiKTeX 1.10b (March 1998)
10. MiKTeX 1.10a (February 1998)
11. MiKTeX 1.10 (February 1998)
12. MiKTeX 1.09 (October 1997)
13. MiKTeX 1.08 (August 1997)
14. MiKTeX 1.07 (February 1997)
15. MiKTeX 1.06 (January 1997)
16. MiKTeX 1.05 (May 1996)

About this document

• 1. Section One
• 1.1 Subsection One-One
• ...
• 1.2 Subsection One-Two
• 1.2.1 Subsubsection One-Two-One
• 1.2.2 Subsubsection One-Two-Two
• 1.2.3 Subsubsection One-Two-Three     <== Current Position
• 1.2.4 Subsubsection One-Two-Four
• 1.3 Subsection One-Three
• ...
• 1.4 Subsection One-Four