
Alpha version 7.5, using AlphaTcl library version 7.5fc


										Readme version: 7.5
											   created: 00-08-02 20.48.52
										   last update: 12/05/2001 {09:20:33 AM}


If you have never used Alpha before and want to know what it can do, peruse
the "Examples Help" file included with this distribution of Alpha.  (Note:
green, underlined text is a hyperlink that will take you to some target if
you click on it.  To return, type Ctrl-.  that is, hold down the control key
while typing a period.)

International users: select your keyboard in the international preferences
dialog ("Config -> Preferences -> International") to ensure the menus
contain key-bindings suitable for your keyboard.

The "Alpha Manual" (<- click to open) has now been updated. There is also a
shorter "Quick Start" (<-- click on it!) document, and many other help files.
You can access the help files under the system help menu. If you have
recently updated Alpha you may wish to read the "Changes - AlphaTcl" file.

Additional documentation and help is available at "The Alpha Wiki"

	<http://alphatcl.sf.net/>

or at Donavan Hall's "Alphaville" website

	<http://donavanhall.net/alphaville/>.  

Alphaville provides a FAQ and a few tutorials.

Much of Alpha's functionality is implemented in 'packages' or 'extensions',
and many additional packages are available to extend Alpha further.  The
'Config -> Preferences -> Menus' and 'Config -> Preferences -> Features'
menu items let you see which items are installed, and lets you turn them on
and off.  The 'Config -> Packages' menu allows you to update modes, menus,
and extensions quickly and easily by downloading small update files from
the internet.  However, most available package are bundled with Alpha.  It
is recommended that you try to learn the basics of Alpha before starting to
download new packages.  For those used to Emacs, a 'mode' in Alpha is like
a 'major mode' in Emacs, an 'extension' or 'feature' in Alpha is like a
'minor mode' in Emacs.

See the file "Packages" for a list of pre-installed packages in Alpha.

For the most recent, up-to-date, information about Alpha, you should
consult The Alpha Wiki <http://alphatcl.sf.net/>.  Links to the latest
stable version of Alpha and the latest developement versions are provided.

Alpha has an "official" Home Page at <http://www.alpha.olm.net/> from which
you can check for new versions of Alpha, as well as the many modes and
packages which have been written.  However, this site is not updated as 
often as The Alpha Wiki.

If you wish to download packages directly, you can get them from
<ftp://alpha.olm.net/pub/packages/>; or alternately, Alpha contains menu
items that allow you to check for and/or download and install updated items
automatically.

Many packages are also available from: <ftp://ftp.ucsd.edu/pub/alpha/>
(many thanks to UCSD for their generous donation of this ftp site).  If you
check both locations, Alpha will keep track of which contains the most
recent one for you.  For those from Europe, you may wish to try the mirror:

	<ftp://anu.theologie.uni-halle.de/comp/mac/Alpha>

If you want to ask questions about how to use Alpha, you should join the
AlphaTcl-users list.  This list is oriented towards users of AlphaTcl, but
AlphaTcl developers are also reading it and will answer questions.

To subscribe, unsubscribe or manage your subscription options, go to the
list Information page: 

	<http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/alphatcl-users>

PLEASE use the alphatcl-developers mailing lists to discuss problems,
suggestions etc with this release.  See the subscription options available
at

	<http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/alphatcl-developers>

There are a number of known bugs which will hopefully be corrected in a
future release.  PLEASE read the "Bug Reports and Debugging" file for a
list of known bugs, and for how to give an informative bug report, without
which it is unlikely any bug you found can be fixed.  Alpha has a
sophisticated bug reporting and tracking system.  Please use it, since it
will help us (and you) to keep track of bugs, potential workarounds, and
when they are finally fixed.  To use the system, go to

	<http://www.maths.mq.edu.au/~steffen/bugzilla/> .
