Subject: 10.1 The PostScript FAQ: What is it? The PostScript FAQ is a set of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) that have appeared on the Usenet newsgroup comp.lang.postscript. It is broken into many useful sections. The Usenet Guide to PostScript is a larger set of help and answers to PostScript questions, plus a tutorial for new users. It is still in the process of being created. There is one file ``Exactly What Does a Transformation Matrix Do?'', that is definitely not part of the FAQ. Please send more! I need help writing and revising answers for common questions relating to PostScript. Almost all of the information in the documents has been written by kind volunteers. The answers will be published in either or both documents. A very long answer in the Usenet Guide may be summarized, referred to briefly, or not mentioned at all in the FAQ. Subject: 10.2 How to get the FAQ files The FAQ is available by anonymous ftp to wilma.cs.brown.edu:pub/comp.lang.postscript/ You can get it formatted in plain text ASCII, LaTeX, or PostScript. I would be happy to email a copy of the FAQ in any format to you if you do not have FTP. Subject: 10.3 How to write a FAQ answer I greatly appreciate your time and effort to help improve the quality of the FAQ. Thank you for being willing to contribute! * Please check to see if the topic is already in an FAQ. Perhaps you really mean to submit a revision to an existing section. * Start with a clear statement about what problem you are solving. * Write for novice users, in ``tutorial format'', even if the answer is meant for experienced programmers. * Be specific when you make references. * Be complete, and take the time to look over your draft and revise. * Answers should not be too wordy, unless you intend to write a long answer for the Usenet Guide and have a shorter summary or a pointer to the description placed in the FAQ. If you want to write the summary yourself, thanks! * Obviously, I cannot accept copyrighted material without permission. Don't write the FAQ by paraphrasing from a copyrighted book! Subject: 10.4 The FAQ can contain LaTeX and PostScript inserts The FAQ is actually written with LaTeX, so feel free to submit with that text formatting language. There is a PostScript version of the FAQ also, so feel free to send along PostScript pictures to include. Subject: 10.5 Revising the FAQ Suggestions and comments are welcomed. My favorite way of receiving a change suggestion is if you make a copy of the FAQ, edit the copy, and mail me the modification, or a context diff (include the version number). Subject: 10.6 How to submit new information If you know something that you think is worthwhile to be put in a FAQ, definitely send it to me! Don't hold back if your information is very specific. If there's too much information to post I will archive it at an ftp site and place a pointer to it in the FAQ. Subject: 10.7 How to add a program description to the FAQ index If the program is original, please send it to me, or tell me where I can get it. Please put your name and email address at the top of each file. Your program will be doubly useful if you clean up the program so that other people can use it as an example to learn. If the program was written by someone else, please send me just the title, description, and where to get it. I may already have it. For programs the FAQ needs to know: * What is the name of the program? * What does it claim to do, and does it do it well? Is it worth using? * Where is it available? What ftp sites can I get it from? * How much does it cost? Is it free? * What kinds of computers does it run on? * Who is the author and does the author give an email address? * Does it handle PostScript 2? * What packages does it rely on? If the program is a PostScript interpreter, then the FAQ also needs to know: * Does it let you go backwards one page? * Does it display the number of pages in the document? * Does it let you print PostScript to a non-PostScript printer? * What formats can it convert to? Subject: 10.8 How to add a book description to the FAQ For books the FAQ needs to know: * What is the name of the book or document? * What does it claim to do, and does it do it well? Is it worth using? * Can I get it on-line? * Who wrote it? Does the author give an email address? * Who is the publisher, and what is the copyright date? * Does the publisher list an address and phone number or fax number? * What is the ISBN number of the book? * What is the library call number of the book? * How much does the book cost? * Does it cover PostScript 2? * Are coding examples from the book available by email or anonymous ftp? * Do the authors sell the coding examples on a diskette? Subject: 10.9 Questions that need answers 1. Where are ftp sites that have PostScript freeware? 2. What vendors sell fonts for PostScript printers? Where are the free ftp sites for them? 3. What are TrueType fonts? 4. Are there any free encapsulated PostScript converters? 5. What is the charter for comp.lang.postscript? 6. What questions should the FAQ have? 7. What book information is wrong or missing in the FAQ? 8. What program information is wrong or missing in the FAQ? 9. What ftp site have good examples of PostScript code?