Response from Berthold Horn, Re: Configuring Y & Y for Windows XP

[Blenda Horn]

I sent all the communication on the Forum to Berthold, I thought it would only be fair, if he had a chance to respond to questions about the software he developed.

Here is the email I received from Berthold yesterday.   Any replies should just be sent to techsupport.  He is not a subscriber, and did not want to be listed (I asked him, but I have not received a reply yesterday) and I will forward all email to Berthold.

Regards,
Blenda.

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Berthold K.P. Horn" Date:  Tue, 27 Jan 2004 11:53:43 -0500

At 2004-01-27  08:55, you wrote:

>.There appear to be two types of problems. First, configuring a new
>Y & Y system under XP.

Windows XP is in fact the preferred windows system to use.
The vast majority of users install in XP without any problems.
The few problems we have seen come from not paying attention
to the instructions that indicate *not* to install ATM 4.0 in XP.
Installing a version of ATM intended for Windows NT in XP
messes up font handling in a serious way and is hard to undo.
This is why there are several places where the user is warned
against this.

>Second, using Y & Y fonts with other TeX systems.

This is a problem with the inability of other TeX systems to deal
properly with fonts, *not* a problem with Y&Y fonts.  For example,
no other TeX system has the ability to properly reencode fonts in
Windows. Y&Y pioneered this in earlier versions of windows,
where it was extremely difficult, simple because it is so important.
If special hacks and kludges are needed to get fonts to work with
other TeX system, then that is an issue to be addressed by the
maker of that system.

>How about preparing an installation sheet to handle the first
>problem, summarizing what has been said on this list?

The system installs using the standard installation program.
Instructions pop up when one inserts the CD. There should be
no need for details beyond those, and perhaps what is in the
  "readme" file, and in the manual.

>Similarly, how about preparing a guide to installing fonts for
>each other system that has been successfully handled on this list?

It is not practical to explore, and continuously update, what tricks might
needed with a variety of different systems under a variety of different
operating systems. The fonts are standard fonts in standard Adobe
Type 1 format.  They work with any software that properly supports
Type 1 fonts.  The very small sales volume of fonts for various applications
does not make it feasible to invest the considerable effort that would
be needed to figure out what is wrong with them, and whether there
is a way to work around the problems.

>Distribute the guide when you deliver the fonts.
>
>Herb
>
>
>Herbert Gintis
>External Faculty, Santa Fe Institute
>Adjunct Professor, Barnard College, Columbia
>University
>Emeritus Professor, University of Massachusetts

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