                       LaTeX Distribution Guide
                      
                            2003/12/01


WELCOME TO LaTeX!

This file contains a brief distribution guide for the latest standard
version of the LaTeX document preparation system.

This system is maintained by The LaTeX3 Project Team.

      ********************************************************
      * Please read this file carefully because it gives     *
      * important information about other documentation      *
      * provided with the LaTeX system that will help you    * 
      * in installing and using it.                          *
      ********************************************************

      ********************************************************
      * The files ltnews*.tex (and ltnews*.dvi, .ps, .pdf)   * 
      * contain the LaTeX newsletters, the highest number    *
      * being the most recent.                               *
      *                                                      *
      * Please print this latest edition and distribute it   *
      * to all users ... and to anyone else who may be       *
      * interested.                                          *
      *                                                      *
      * It normally fits onto a single sheet, so it can be   *
      * displayed as a poster.                               *
      ********************************************************


The LaTeX system is described in:

 * LaTeX: A Document Preparation System; Leslie Lamport, Addison-Wesley

 * The LaTeX Companion, 2ed; Mittelbach and Goossens with Braams,
       Carlisle and Rowley, Addison-Wesley

 * Guide to LaTeX 4ed; Kopka and Daly, Addison-Wesley


This distribution is described in the files ending with .txt.  You
should read install.txt before starting to install LaTeX.

Here is a brief description of some of these files:

 * 00readme.txt is this file.

 * manifest.txt lists all the files in the LaTeX distribution
   with one line information about their contents.

 * install.txt describes how to install LaTeX.

 * tex2.txt contains important information for users of extremely
   old versions of TeX (pre 1990).

 * autoload.txt describes a variant of LaTeX that is no longer supported.

 * unpacked.txt lists all the files in the unpacked LaTeX distribution.

 * legal.txt and lppl.txt describe the LaTeX copyright, warranty and
   copying restrictions.

 * patches.txt describes the update policy and how important changes
   will be distributed between release dates.
 
 * texpert.txt contains information about the installation that is
   useful for TeX experts.
 
 * bugs.txt describes how to submit a bug report for LaTeX.


Other documentation files include files with names of the form:

   <xxx>guide.tex

You will probably need to update your system before you can typeset
these files.  Each file needs three LaTeX runs.


The following files also contain useful information:

 * ltx3info.tex gives you some information about the LaTeX3 project.

 * the other files ltnews*.* are the news files from previous releases:
   these contain useful information but be warned that some of it may
   be out-of-date as these files are never changed.

 * manual.err lists errata in:
   LaTeX: A Document Preparation System; Leslie Lamport, Addison-Wesley

 * compan.err lists errata in:
   The LaTeX Companion; Goossens, Mittelbach and Samarin, Addison-Wesley

 * begleit.err lists errata in:
   Der LaTeX-Begleiter; Goossens, Mittelbach and Samarin, Addison-Wesley

 * grphcomp.err lists errata in:
   The LaTeX Graphics Companion; Goossens, Rahtz, and Mittelbach,
   Addison-Wesley

 * handbuch.err lists errata in:
   Das LaTeX-Handbuch; Leslie Lamport, Addison-Wesley

 * webcomp.err lists errata in:
   The LaTeX Web Companion; Goossens and Rahtz, Addison-Wesley


In general you are not allowed to change the files in this
distribution unless you rename them, *except* for certain
files such as the configuration files, ending with .cfg.
Please see the licence (in lppl.txt) for further details.


Please do not request updates from us.  Distribution is done only
through the CTAN archives.


--- Copyright 2003 the LaTeX3 project.  All rights reserved ---
