\centerline{\bf Decus}\hyphenation{grey-scale}
\medskip
\noindent
VAX users will probably be aware of
the {\sc dec} Users' Group, {\sc decus}.
One of its advantages is that it has an index of
software which can be provided through the
User Group. Many of the \TeX\ related items
are paralleled by similar offerings in the
Aston archive, but for some people, {\sc decus}
may be an easier routeway. I went through the
catalogue recently, and the relevant material
includes:
\medskip
\noindent
VAX-135: DVItoVDU: a \TeX\ Page Previewer (July 1985).
This is an oldish version of Andy Trevorrow's
previewer. You would also require some
{\sc modula}-2 library routines (not included).
\medskip
\noindent
VAX-155: {\sc deproc} --- a \TeX\ header for formatting
{\sc decus} Proceedings articles. Self explanatory.
\medskip
\noindent
VAX-171: \LaTeX\ templates and help files for {\sc lse}
(Language Sensitive Editor). Essentially this is
a smart editor for \LaTeX, which helps cut down
the hardship of inputting a range of \LaTeX\ document
styles.
\medskip
\noindent
VAX-179: {\sc deproc} --- \LaTeX\  for the
{\sc decus} Proceedings. Self explanatory.
{\it cf.}\ \LaTeX\ style file |deproc.sty|.
\medskip
\noindent
V-SP-58: \LaTeX\ version 2.09; \TeX\ version 2.0 (July 1987).
This distribution also contains fonts for the LN03
laser printer (and the printer driver). Complete
sources are not included. This is a rather old version
of \TeX. The current `version' number is at least 2.9.
\medskip
\noindent
VAX-261: Idx\TeX\ \& Glo\TeX, version 2.0. Glo\TeX\
automates glossary generation in \LaTeX, while
Idx\TeX\ automates index generation from a \LaTeX\
document. Written in C.
\medskip
\noindent
VAX-283: Halftone greyscale font for the LN03.
``{\sc\lowercase {GREYSC.FNT}} is a downline loadable halftone
greyscale font in `{\sc dec} font file format' for the
LN03 laserprinter'' and is based on the
font described by Don Knuth in TUGboat 8(2). 
\medskip\noindent
If you want to obtain any of these, the first step is
to talk to your local friendly system manager (all
VAX system managers are friendly, that's the first
thing they teach us on the course), and find out if 
your site is a {\sc decus} member. I don't know what to
do if you aren't. If you are, it is possible
the tapes are already festering in some cupboard
and all you have to do is persuade someone to unearth
them, otherwise you should contact:
{\obeylines
DECUS
PO Box 53
Reading
Berks, RG2 0TW
tel: 0734 853728
}

\rightline{\sl Malcolm W. Clark}
