# ArabTeX Version 3

Last changes: Version 3.09, 17.07.1999

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.

The package is available in packed form as "arabtex.zip" for PC users and "arabtex.tar.Z" for *N*X users. Depending on the server there may be also the unpacked files, or only these.

Check for the latest version of "apatch.sty". This file contains last minute corrections that possibly are not yet contained in the packed files. Users of the Hebrew mode should also look into "hepatch.sty".

The following ASCII files give more detailed information:

arabtex.doc | a short introduction ( rather out of date)
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.

The subdirectory "REPORT" contains the LaTeX/ArabTeX sources of the user manual as a collection of text files "arabdoc*.*". If they will not compile, check your installation procedure and your TeX/LaTeX versions; you need TeX >= 3.0 and LaTeX >= 2.09 of 1990 or later, or LaTeX 2e. If any troubles remain, complain fiercely.

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 and ISO 8859-6 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 and the ASCII file "readme.305".

ArabTeX is copyrighted. However, you may use it freely for any scientific, experimental and strictly personal, non-commercial purposes if you give proper credit to the author. We appreciate a complimentary copy of any scientific work produced with ArabTeX. If you consider other uses, apply for a license agreement.

You may re-distribute ArabTeX on the same terms IF AND ONLY IF

- you will leave any copyright notices intact, AND
- you will inform the author, AND
- you will distribute the complete package including THIS file and any updates you know about, AND
- you will forward any comments and suggestions to the author, AND
- you will not charge more than a reasonable fee for data media and handling.

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 to 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 Informatik
> Universitaet Stuttgart
> Breitwiesenstrasse 20-22
> D-70565 Stuttgart
> GERMANY
> lagally@informatik.uni-stuttgart.de

Copyright (c) 1990 - 1999, Klaus Lagally