What is VTeX/2 ?

VTeX/2 is a TeX program for OS/2, which generates PDF or PostScript output immediately from the TeX source file.

In contrast to traditional TeX systems, no intermediate DVI files are generated, no "DVI driver programs" are required, and there is no need to take care of their sometimes fussy setup. The common PostScript and PDF viewers Ghostscript and Acrobat Reader are to be used for (pre)viewing and printing. Output from VTeX is immediately suitable for public distribution, e.g., over the www, since PDF and PostScript are standardized document formats. PDF files generated by VTeX version 7.30 and above do not conflict with Acrobat Reader 5.

VTeX/2 comes with a complete LaTeX system and many additional macro packages as well as the BibTeX and MakeIndex programs. A basic plain TeX system is provided, too.

VTeX has a built-in Postcript interpreter (GeX) and supports

    * inclusion of PostScript images (EPS),
    * inclusion of bitmap images (PNG, JPG, TIFF and others),
    * inline PostScript programming, 

with both PDF and PostScript output. Packages such as PStricks, PSfrag and draftcopy can be used with VTeX. (and are also part of the distribution). The "hyperref" features are supported in both PDF and PostScript mode. PDF encryption is also supported.

Beside the standard Computer Modern fonts, VTeX/2 includes lots of other free Type 1 fonts and the macro packages to use them:

    * European Computer Modern (EC/TC fonts)
    * the 35 PostScript base fonts
    * the Pazo math fonts
    * the AMS math fonts (Symbols, Euler, Fraktur and others)
    * various special math alphabets: RSFS, WASY, St-Mary-Road, Doublestroke
    * the Ibycus 4 system and its Greek typefaces
    * the ArabTeX system with Arab and Hebrew typefaces
    * TIPA (phonetic) typefaces
    * BrushScriptX-Italic
    * various symbol fonts: MarVoSym, Cheq, Context navigation symbols, MF  logo 

Actually, VTeX/2 is a partial port of the VTeX/Win TeX compiler by MicroPress Inc. It does, however, not include the shell and/or visual tools and does not support HTML generation.

The good news is that VTeX/2 comes for free.

VTeX/2 requires Warp 3 or better, and at least 16Mb of physical memory.

What is new ?

    * Version 8.11 of the VTeX compiler
    * URW's PostScript base fonts are included now
    * all bitmap image formats are now supported on OS/2, too
    * very much improved documentation
    * complies with TDS 1.0
    * ... and more, see the file NEWS. 

Downloading and installing

VTeX/2 can either be installed as a standalone TeX system for OS/2 or on top of an existing emTeX/TDS, version 0.56. 

http://www.micropress-inc.com/os2/