AMSTeX and the Preprint Style amsppt.sty

There are (at least) three ways to tex an AMSTeX file, myfile.tex

1. tex &amstex myfile
2. amstex myfile    [on some systems]
3. tex myfile            [if myfile.tex contains the command  \input amstex]

All three methods work if the command  \input amstex is included in  myfile.tex. This command will appear in all the sample files here.

The AMS preprint style,  amsppt.sty,  may be included in the AMSTeX format file  (depending on how your system was setup). Otherwise it may be included by using the command  \documentstyle{amsppt}   in  myfile.tex. Since this command does no harm even when amsppt.sty is included in the format file, it will be included in all of the sample files here.

When the preprint style is used, it sets the text body size to 5.00 inches by   8.12 inches. The resulting page if printed on 8.5 by 11 inch paper will have a top and left margin of 1.00 inch, a right margin of  2.00 inches and a bottom margin of   1.88 inches. If the page is satisfactory in other respects one can simply use \voffset  and  \hoffset   to reposition the text body. Otherwise, to obtain longer lines on can use \textwidth. To put more lines on the page, use  \textheight.

Some people find the preprint style font sizes too small. One can alter the fonts used or, more simply,  use \magnification.If, as is likely, \magnification  is used in conjunction with   \textwidth  and  \textheight   then the keyword "true" must be used in the dimensions specifications. Otherwise the results will not be as expected! For an explanation and demos see Magnification in TeX and AMS-TeX and Page Size.

Here are a couple of sample pages, ready to use. Modify them to suit your needs.

Last updated Thursday, April 10, 2003 23:28
Bent E. Petersen
petersen@math.oregonstate.edu

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