Dear LLNCS user,

Finally I mangaged to set up the long awaited beta test files for the
new LaTeX2e document class for Lecture Notes in Coputer Science
of Springer-Verlag. Again I apologize for the delay and thank you
for your persevering patience.

You can fetch yourself the files of the beta test from our ftp server
trick.ntp.springer.de (IP#: 192.129.24.12)
Make an anonymous ftp connection and CD to the directory
/pub/tex/latex/llncs/beta

You will find the following files:

  llncs.cls          the LaTeX2e document class
  llncs.dem          the sample input file
  llncs.toc          the TOC file of the demo
  llncs.ind          an external (faked) author index file
  subjidx.ind        subject index demo from the Springer book package
  llncs.log          the TeX .log file
  llncs.aux          the auxiliary file
  llncs.dvi          the resultig DVI file

  olddoc.dvi         DVI file of the LaTeX 2.09 package

(remember to transfer the DVI files in binary mode)

The new class loads the standard article class as one of its first
actions and modifies it to the needs of LNCS. You should refrain from
using a size option such as 11pt or 12pt as this will collide with some
internal settings that are not varying.

The documentation unfortunately is not yet complete. But syntax is not
that different to the elder LaTeX 2.09 LLNCS package. For exact usage
please refer to the demo file llncs.dem.

One major difference is the way you use the builtin and define your own
new theorem like environments. The old LLNCS style had a major bug in
this engine (thanks to Gernot Salzer for pointing this out).

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\section{Defining your Own Lemma-like Environments}
We have changed the syntax of the commands \verb|\newtheorem|
and \verb|\newtheorem*| used to define additional environments.

\verb|\newtheorem| can be used in two ways.
\subsection{Method 1}
\begin{verbatim}
\newtheorem{<env_nam>}{<caption>}[<within>]
{<cap_font>}{<body_font>}
\end{verbatim}

\noindent
This defines a new environment \verb|<env_nam>| which prints the caption
\verb|<caption>| in the font \verb|<cap_font>| and the text itself in
the font \verb|<body_font>|. The environment is numbered beginning anew
with every new section unless you specify something else with the
optional parameter \verb|<within>|.

\medskip\noindent
\paragraph{Example} \leavevmode

\medskip
\verb|\newtheorem{joke}{Joke}[subsection]{\bf}{\rm}|

\medskip
\noindent defines a new environment called \verb|joke| which prints the
caption {\bf Joke} in boldface and the text in roman. The jokes are
numbered starting from 1 at the beginning of every subsection with the
number of the subsection preceding the number of the joke e.g. 7.2.1 for
the first joke in subsection 7.2.

\subsection{Method 2}
Sometimes you will want to create an environment that shares its counter
with another environment, say {\it main theorem\/} to be numbered like a
{\it theorem\/}. In this case, use the syntax
\begin{verbatim}
\newtheorem{<env_nam>}[<num_like>]{<caption>}
{<cap_font>}{<body_font>}
\end{verbatim}

\noindent
Here the environment with which the new environment should share its
counter is specified with the optional argument \verb|[<num_like>]|.

\paragraph{Sample Input}
\begin{verbatim}
\newtheorem{mainth}[theorem]{Main Theorem}{\bf}{\it}
\begin{theorem} The early bird gets the worm. \end{theorem}
\begin{mainth} The early worm gets eaten. \end{mainth}
\end{verbatim}
\medskip\noindent
{\em Sample Output}

\smallskip
\noindent
{\bf Theorem 1.3.3.}\enspace {\em The early bird gets the worm.}

\medskip\noindent
{\bf Main Theorem 1.3.4.} The early worm gets eaten.

\subsection{Unnumbered Environments}
If you wish to have an unnumbered environment, please
use the syntax

\smallskip
\verb|\newtheorem*{<env_nam>}{<caption>}{<cap_font>}{<body_font>}|
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Please feel free to send in suggestions and comments about the class
to my e-mail address - see signature below.

Hopefully the new class will help you in writing interesting articles
for the series.

Frank Holzwarth
                 e-mail    Internet: HOLZWARTH@ALPHA.NTP.SPRINGER.DE
Springer-Verlag
Dept. New Technologies/Product Development
Tiergartenstrasse 17
D-69121 Heidelberg
FRG