

            l2x -- conversion from LaTeX to other formats
                             Version 1.4

                         Henning Schulzrinne
                              GMD Fokus
                           Berlin, Germany
                           hgs@fokus.gmd.de

1.  Description

     l2x
 is a general-purpose LaTeX converter. It consists of a parser written
in C, which then calls Tcl functions for each LaTeX function.  The Tcl
functions return the translated value.

2.  Installation

     The newest version of this package is available by anon. ftp. It
is a gzip'ed tar file. You must have the Tcl libraries installed, for
example obtained by anonymous ftp. Edit the Makefile for the correct
location of the Tcl library and include files and type

make

3.  Usage

     To translate the LaTeX file input.tex
 using the translator foo.tcl :

  l2x foo.tcl < paper.tex

The application lf
 is a filter that removes blank lines and, with the -b
 flag specified, initial blank space on lines. It is intended for
nroff conversion. The application pgstrip
 removes extra blank lines from the beginning of a page and is due to
Jon Postel.
 The script fix.sh
 processes an RFC or Internet Draft, including the necessary stripping
of backspaces and the conversion of FORMFEED to real formfeeds
(control-L).  Currently, the following example translators are pro-
vided:

     l2html.tcl
           Convert input to a single HTML file.

     ms.tcl
           Convert to nroff/troff -ms macros.  Currently converts to a
          format suitable for FAQs and READMEs (no page breaks or page
          numbers), but that is readily changed.

4.  Limitations

     Currently, only a subset of LaTeX commands is supported. Many are
easy to add, but the following might require more work, albeit mostly
limited to writing new Tcl functions:

     o  For conversion to HTML, math mode is supported by calling
       LaTeX and including the GIF image.

     o  The \newenvironment
        command is not supported.

     o  Table of contents, etc. are not supported in nroff.

5.  Examples

     To convert nroff output to plain ASCII, without underscores, use

  l2x ms.tcl < foo.tex | nroff -ms | ul -tdumb > foo.txt

6.  Copyright

     Copyright (c) 1994 Henning Schulzrinne
All rights reserved.  Redistribution and use in source and binary
forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the
following conditions are met:

     1.   Redistribution for direct commercial gain requires prior
          permission.

     2.   Redistributions of source code must retain the above copy-
          right notice, this list of conditions and the following dis-
          claimer.

     3.   Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
          copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
          disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials pro-
          vided with the distribution.

     4.   All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this
          software must display the following acknowledgement:  This
          product includes software developed by Henning Schulzrinne.

     This software is provided by the author(s) "as is" and any
express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall the contributors be liable
for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or conse-
quential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of sub-
stitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business
interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether
in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or other-
wise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if
advised of the possibility of such damage.

