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Conference Proceedings LATEX2E Ssubmission FAQ

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS LATEX2E SUBMISSION FAQ

Table of Contents

1. Where can I get the templates and example files?

2. LaTeX complains about missing style files

3. I'm having problems with DVI

4. Why are the References ragged right?

5. I'm having problems with the top margin

6. I want to 'see' the example file without having to compile it

7. Am I running an older version of LaTeX?

8. I'm confused about the LaTeX 'versioning'

9. We don't (in particular) like the Headings -- actually, now that we think of it, we don't like the style at all! What should we do if we have issues concerning the style(s) in use and/or questions about policies and procedures in general.

10. Problem downloading via browser

11. Problems rendering math

12. Can I make (local) changes to the class file?

13. Problems with \label

14. How do I get Type 1 (scalable) fonts in my PS/PDF files?

15. Problem with white space

16. I'm having problems with \cite

17. Shared Affiliations-- We have authored a paper together and don't want to see the same affilation repeated over and over again. Can we just center this 'common' affiliation below the author name block?

18. More than THREE contributing authors on the 'opening page'

19. Widows and Orphans.

20. Lowercase (letters) needed inside section headings (which are uppercased by default).

21. NO 'Permission Block' and/or copyright data for e.g. SIG magazine/record articles.

22. Problems using MIKTEX
(No longer applicable with release of Version 1.9 (November 30th. 2006) of class files)

23. FOREIGN GOVERNMENT HOLDING COPYRIGHT

24. (STRIP 4) - FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AFFILIATES COPYRIGHT

25. (STRIP 5) - CANADIAN GOVERNMENT COPYRIGHT

26. COPYRIGHT HELD BY CORPORATION

27. Accents in the 'Author Block' area
(No longer applicable with release of Version 2.3 (JUNE 7th. 2007) of class files)

28. Accents in the affiliation of the 'Author Block' area
(No longer applicable with release of Version 2.3 (JUNE 7th. 2007) of class files)

29. When I use the package 'subfig' (and 'caption.sty') the string 'Figure' disappears from my figure captions!

1. Where can I get the templates and example files?

Answer:

You can get the templates and example files at http://www.acm.org/sigs/publications/proceedings-templates

2. LaTeX complains about missing style files

Question:

When I used the class file in preparing a paper for SAC2000, I got the following errors:
! LaTeX Error: File `amssymb.sty' not found.
! LaTeX Error: File `amsfonts.sty' not found.

Answer:

These come, by default, with vanilla LaTeX / TeX installations. You really should have these. Perhaps they're in a directory where the program is not looking? If you can't find them then I believe the CTAN archive is the place to go to get them. That's where the TEX/LaTeX community is 'supported'.
Check out: http://www.ams.org/tex/ and download AMS LaTeX v.2 to get the amsmath package. Go to http://www.ctan.org/ to get amssymb and amstext .sty, .dtx, etc. files.

3. I'm having problems with DVI

Question:

However, for whatever reason, my .dvi viewer still doesn't show some of the author, title, and (sub)section info. Once I make it into a .ps file it's there, however. The same thing has always happened with .eps files, and "weird" things like rotated headings in tables. Any idea why this occurs?

Answer:

No, but I'd guess that your dvi previewer is at fault.

4. Why are the References ragged right?

Answer:

A lot of authors are citing URL's and justification is causing havoc when l-o-n-g URLs are present.

5. I'm having problems with the top margin

Question:

I have been using the ACM LaTeX2e style file to prepare my accepted paper. Unfortunately, the output it produces has insufficient space in the top margin. The first line of each page is cut off. Am I doing something wrong, or is this a bug in the template?

Answer:

The culprit is likely to be that some of the excellent LaTeX installations (in Europe) come with dvips set to A4 as the default paper size (notably MiKTeX). We suggest you change your config.ps file so that the default is for US letter size, and just (temporarily) comment out the stipulation for A4, viz

@ A4size 210mm 297mm
@+ %%PaperSize: letter
@ letterSize 8.5in 11in

Should be changed to

@ letterSize 8.5in 11in
@+ %%PaperSize: letter
%@ A4size 210mm 297mm

Such paper size 'flip-flopping' invariably seems to occur during LaTeX upgrades.

Yet another alternative is to change the size by tweaking the config.ps file (e.g. /foo/bar/baz/dvips/config/config.ps) and examining repeated printings of testpage.dvi.
You should see:
% The printer offsets the output by this much.
O 0pt,0pt

You should change the vertical offset to something, say, in the range of 50-54pt; i.e.
O 0pt,50pt

OR

as a further alternative, you may need to reconfigure dvips using testpage.tex.

OR

We have also found that dvips has a

-t papertype

option. By specifying

-t letter

one can set the paper type to US Letter.

6. I want to 'see' the example file without having to compile it

It would be nice if a LaTeX generated ps or pdf file were available so I don't have to run LaTeX to see what it does.

Answer:

Sure. Point your browser at: http://www.acm.org/sigs/publications/sigproc-sp.pdf

7. Am I running an older version of LaTeX?

Question:

I downloaded the new LaTeX style files and assorted demos from http://www.acm.org/sigs/publications/proceedings-templates and can't LaTeX the sample file. Can you tell me what I might be missing? I've attached a transcript.

% latex sigproc-sp This is TeX, Version 3.14159 (C version 6.1)
(sigproc-sp.tex LaTeX2e <1995/06/01> patch level 3
Hyphenation patterns for english, german, loaded.
(acm_proc_article-sp.cls (/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/epsfig.sty
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/graphicx.sty
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/keyval.sty)
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/graphics.sty
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/trig.sty)
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/config/graphics.cfg)
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/dvips.def))))
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amsfonts/amssymb.sty
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amsfonts/amsfonts.sty))
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsmath.sty
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amstext.sty
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsgen.sty))
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsbsy.sty)
(/soft/teTeX/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsopn.sty))
Document Class 'acm_proc_article-sp' <2nd. Feb. '00>.
Modified by G.K.M. Tobin Based in part upon document Style `acmconf' <22 May 89>. Hacked 4/91 by shivers@cs.cmu.edu, 4/93 by theobald@cs.mcgill.ca
Excerpts were taken from (Journal Style) 'esub2acm.cls'.
****** Bugs/comments/suggestions to Gerry Murray -- murray@hq.acm.org ******
kpathsea: Running MakeTeXTFM ptmb.tfm MakeTeXTFM: Running mf \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1; scrollmode; input ptmb This is METAFONT, Version 2.718 (C version 6.1) (/home/grad00/rybski/research/papers/ag2k/ptmb.mf)
* ! Emergency stop. <*> \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1; scrollmode; input ptmb Transcript written on ptmb.log.
MakeTeXTFM: 'mf \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1; scrollmode; input ptmb' failed to make ptmb.tfm. kpathsea:
Appending font creation commands to missfont.log.
! Font \secfnt=ptmb at 12.0pt not loadable:
Metric (TFM) file not found. <to be read again> \relax l.292 \newfont{\secfnt}{ptmb at 12pt} ?

Answer:

Yes. You need to upgrade (talk to your system administrator).

We recommend you download (and install) some additional font files from

http://www.ctan.org (or a mirror site)

specifically (lw35nfss.zip) at:

http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/required/psnfss/

8. I'm confused about the LaTeX 'versioning'

Question:

I am using LaTeX (version 3.1415). I noticed that you are using LaTeX2e, is this a different (or upgraded) version?

Answer:

LaTeX2e is an quantum upgrade from old vanilla LaTeX2.09 but there are, also, now different versions within LaTeX2e itself. Always try to compile your files under the latest version of LaTeX2e.
LaTeX2e was designed so that it will compile V2.09 files, in 'compatibility mode', but the reverse is not true i.e. LaTeX2e files will abend if you try and compile them under a 2.09-only system.

9. We don't (in particular) like the Headings -- actually, now that we think of it, we don't like the style at all! What should we do if we have issues concerning the style(s) in use and/or questions about policies and procedures in general.

Question:

An aesthetic point that we have a problem with is whether or not the section headings need periods after them. For instance, here is a sample heading:
1. Introduction
1.1 The 3 Laws of Robotics
2. Bla Bla
In the section headings, each of the numbers are followed by periods, but the subsection headings are not. We would like to see:
1 Introduction
1.1 The 3 Laws of Robotics
2 Bla Bla What do you think?

Answer:

It is supposed to be like that. That is what the style specifications stipulate.
See http://www.acm.org/sig_volunteer_info/conference_manual/6-5PROC.HTM
Also, if you glance thru' other articles, even those in the ACM journals, there's a period after the first level head.

Questions / feedback regarding the choice of style(s) and/or queries with respect to policies and procedures should be directed to: Julie Goetz

10. Problem downloading via browser

Question:

I wish to submit a paper to ACM Multimedia 2000. The LaTeX template on the url however seems to give me some problem while I try to download. Can you point me to some other url from where I can get this template?

Answer:

Without knowing what type of browser (or download method) you're using ...it's hard. Perhaps your browser is set up to attempt to 'interpret' or 'render to the screen' files that end in tex or cls?
What you actually want is a BINARY (i.e. 'leave it alone') file transfer, not a render-it-to-my-screen-so-I-can-then "save-as" type of download.
For instance, using Netscape, you can 'force' a 'straight' download by hitting "Shift - click - left - mouse - button".

11. Problems rendering math

Question:

In preparation for my final submission to the Sigmetrics2000 Proceedings, I'm using the acm_proc_article-sp.cls class. I have encountered difficulty with the math environment: the math equations are not rendered as they should. Whether I use $$ or \begin{equation}, when I have \sum_{j=1}^{K}, I do not get the summation symbol. Instead a large X is printed above the display line. How can I fix this?

Answer:

If you check out page 2 of our example file you'll see several examples of in-line and display math ....including summation signs. (No other authors are reporting problems rendering math or math symbols.)
We've run several tests here both using \begin{equation} ......\end{equation} and \[ ........ \] and math (incl. summation signs and other operators) comes out fine.
Suggest you touch base with your system administrator.
(Your system most likely contains old or corrupted fonts).

12. Can I make local changes to the class file?

Question:

Concerning the ACM SIG Proceedings Templates:

  • Is it (easily) possible to produce page numbers when working with
    \documentclass{acm_proc_article-sp} or
    \documentclass[preprint]{acm_proc_article-sp}?

I found no (obvious) way of doing that (looking a bit into the style file). For final versions having no page numbers is reasonable. However, for submissions (in ACM conference format) it might be helpful to be able to switch on page numbering (for instance, for the referees)!

Also an analogous question for the prescribed 9 pt font:

  • Is it (easily) possible to produce e.g. 11 pt font (for ACM conference submission versions)?

Answer:

The templates were created so as to, at a minimum, produce a uniform Proceedings. We are not in a position to alter the templates for other purposes, such as refereeing nor do we endorse any changes.

Please see the author guidelines, Section 1.3, viz:

A word to the expert: If you have routinely used LaTEX or TeX for a long time, you may be tempted to write your own improvements to the structural definitions in the acm_proc_article-sp.cls file, or to use other commands to streamline typesetting. Please refrain from doing this! Remember your final submission file will be recompiled at ACM (to insert page numbers etc.) using known .tex, .sty and .cls files. ACM's reference files will, therefore, not contain any author tweaks or local enhancements. Problems will arise if your source file expects them to. Also, please be very careful when using \def in your source file as you may, inadvertantly, redefine a reserved LaTEX or TeX keyword.

13. Problem with \label

Question:

I have a problem with section labels. This doesn't work:

Section~\ref{sec:intro}
\section{\label{sec:intro}Introduction}

Answer:

This seems to be a problem synonymous with some LaTeX installations but not all and we do not believe it stems from the ACM class file.

We suggest you use the following syntax instead:

Section~\ref{sec:intro}
\section{Introduction}\label{sec:intro}

Another alternative (if you STILL chose to use the original syntax) is to switch to uppercase refs (and not lowercase), viz:

Section~\ref{SEC:INTRO}
\section{\label{sec:intro}Introduction

14. How do I get Type 1 (scalable) fonts in my PS/PDF files?

Answer:

PDFs generated from LaTeX files generally do not display well on screen because the fonts that are generated from LaTeX for the PDFs are bitmap images.

We suggest you try the following (typical) syntax when creating your PS/PDF file:

dvips -P cmz -t letter -o <file>.ps <file>.dvi

"cmz" is the <printer_definition_filename> that is supplied, by default, with up to date versions of LaTeX and TeX (e.g. teTeX). As you can see the above syntax follows the standard way of creating a Type 1 based file via:

dvips -P <printer_definition_filename> -t letter -o <file>.ps <file>.dvi

Again, the `-P <printer_definition_filename>' argument tells `dvips' to use Type 1 fonts (if your system is so configured, is up to date and no-one has 'renamed' cmz to something else etc.)

Other authors have had success using the basic syntax:

dvips -t letter -o <file>.ps <file>.dvi
however there's no guarantee, here, that Type 1 fonts will be substituted.

Your particular installation / set-up may require a different syntax

Note: Your system administrator can also configure DVIPS to automatically use Type 1 fonts globally for all users by placing the font map entries in a DVIPS system-wide psfonts.map file.

Note: If you do not already have (or have no knowledge about) a '<printer_definition_filename>' or do not know if your system is set-up to perform font (type 1 for type 3) substitutions then we suggest you talk to your system administrator.

Sometimes the problem with embedded fonts is caused by a few out of the 35 standard fonts (present in every PostScript editor) NOT being embedded, into the pdf, by certain LaTeX distributions.

The solution (which we recommend you try!) is to include this dvips option -Pdownload35, viz. 

dvips -t letter -Pdownload35 -o <file>.ps <file>.dvi
This option 'forces' the embedding of all the fonts. (Note: This option is not available in all dvips versions.)

The following documents (and links) may provide some insight, see:

Electronic Publishing - Postscript
and
Embedding Fonts with TeXShop

In addition, the American Mathematical Society (AMS) has made a Type 1 version of the Computer Modern outline font freely available for download at its Web site.
See: http://www.ams.org/tex/type1-fonts.html.

And this document may also provide additional insight: LaTeX to PDF


PDF TO LATEX -- EUROPEAN (A4) TO AMERICAN (LETTER)

Some European authors (or those whose LaTeX system has 'defaulted' to a European setup) have had success using the following to 'output' their article in American 'letter' size, (although we have found that in many systems it produces ERRORS - (so 'YMMV')):

Add

\pdfpagewidth=8.5in
\pdfpageheight=11in

to the document preamble.

This, should, effectively, set the output for pdflatex to American (letter) format.

15. Problem with white space

Question:

I am preparing a document for an ACM conference proceedings and I'm trying to use the LaTeX2e style file provided. However, this style file leaves lots of whitespace between paragraphs, lists, enumerations, figures, etc. I've tried tinkering with the style file without much luck. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer:

According to the SIGS specs, that is the way it's supposed to be. Actually we did receive complaints from chairs and authors saying that there wasn't enough white space, so as to e.g. differentiate between successive paragraphs.
(Please see Q. 12 A word to the expert)

16. I'm having problems with \cite

Question:

I am currently preparing the final version of a conference paper using the new ACM format [acm_proc_article-sp.cls]. The submission version was typeset using the old [acmconf.cls], without any trouble. In the new version, there seems to be a conflict between the ACM style and the standard \cite command. Every occurrence of \cite in the text yields an error. Here is a transcript:

  $ latex main
  This is TeX, Version 3.14159 (Web2C 7.3.1)
  (main.tex
  LaTeX2e <1998/12/01> patch level 1
  Babel  and hyphenation patterns for american, french, german, ngerman, i
  talian, nohyphenation, loaded.
  (acm_proc_article-sp.cls (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/epsfig.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/graphicx.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/keyval.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/graphics.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/trig.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/config/graphics.cfg)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/graphics/dvips.def))))
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amsfonts/amssymb.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amsfonts/amsfonts.sty))
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsmath.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amstext.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsgen.sty))
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsbsy.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amslatex/amsopn.sty))
  Document Class 'acm_proc_article-sp' <24th. Feb. '00>. Modified by G.K.M. Tobin

  Based in part upon document Style `acmconf' <22 May 89>. Hacked 4/91 by
  shivers@cs.cmu.edu, 4/93 by theobald@cs.mcgill.ca
  Excerpts were taken from (Journal Style) 'esub2acm.cls'.
  ****** Bugs/comments/suggestions to Gerry Murray -- murray@hq.acm.org ******
  Document Class: acm_proc_article-sp 2000/02/24 - V2.01SP - based on esub2acm.st
  y <23 April 96>
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/latexsym.sty)
  Using 'Abbrev' bibliography style
  ) (/usr/share/texmf/tex/generic/babel/babel.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/generic/babel/english.ldf
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/generic/babel/babel.def)))
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/fontenc.sty
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/t1enc.def)) (fp-frame.sty)
  (fp-inferencesystem.sty) (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/ifthen.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/inputenc.sty beta test version
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/latin1.def)) (ntheorem.sty
  Style `ntheorem', Version 1.03 <1997/07/15>
  ) (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/misc/ocamlweb.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/misc/stmaryrd.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/misc/url.sty)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/tools/verbatim.sty) (macros.tex)
  No file main.aux.
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amsfonts/umsa.fd)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/amsfonts/umsb.fd)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/ulasy.fd)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/misc/ustmry.fd)
  (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/base/t1cmtt.fd) (intro.tex
  ! Use of \@citex doesn't match its definition.
  \reserved@c ->\@tempswafalse \@citex ,
					[]
  l.36 ...rotection was identified very early~\cite{
						    lampson-73}. Following mil...

  ?
I am using a recent TeX installation (tetex-1.0.6-7 coming with RedHat Linux 6.1). Do you have any idea where the conflict might come from?

Answer:

The conflict is probably between [acm_proc_article-sp.cls] and Babel.

Suggest you remove the directive

  \usepackage[english]{babel}

17. Shared Affiliations-- We have authored a paper together and don't want to see the same affilation repeated over and over again. Can we just center this 'common' affiliation below the author name block?

Answer:

Yes, and we suggest you do the following...

Insert this piece of coding just before the

\begin{document}
like so... 
%
\def\sharedaffiliation{%
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}{c}}
%
\begin{document}
and then adjust your particular 'author block' like so (example shown for 3 authors)... 
\title{Alternate {\ttlit ACM} SIG Proceedings Paper in LaTeX
Format\titlenote{(Produces...}}

\numberofauthors{3}
% Three authors sharing the same affiliation.
    \author{
      \alignauthor Ben King\\      
      \email{king@cs.berkeley.edu}
%
      \alignauthor Georgia Tobin\\     
      \email{tobin@cs.berkeley.edu}
%
      \alignauthor Gerald Murray\\    
      \email{murrray@cs.berkeley.edu}
%
      \sharedaffiliation
      \affaddr{Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science }  \\
      \affaddr{University of California, Berkeley }   \\
      \affaddr{Berkeley, CA 94720-1776 }
          }
%
\maketitle

When compiled/previewed/rendered, this is the effect:


18. More than THREE contributing authors on the 'opening page'

Answer:

The sample .tex files, themselves, (e.g. sig-alternate sample .tex file) show how to use the LaTeX '\and' command to place as many authors as you like beneath the title. For aesthetic reasons we have found that six authors works best, viz: sig-alternate PDF file

Here is the relevant code - excerpted from the sample .tex file - showing how six authors can appear on the first page:

\numberofauthors{8} %  in this sample file, there are a *total*
% of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
% reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
%
\author{
% You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
% e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
% and a second row of one, two or three). 
%
% The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
% precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
% e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
% affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
% e-mail address with \email.
%
% 1st. author
\alignauthor
Ben Trovato\titlenote{Dr.~Trovato insisted his name be first.}\\
       \affaddr{Institute for Clarity in Documentation}\\
       \affaddr{1932 Wallamaloo Lane}\\
       \affaddr{Wallamaloo, New Zealand}\\
       \email{trovato@corporation.com}
% 2nd. author
\alignauthor
G.K.M. Tobin\titlenote{The secretary disavows
any knowledge of this author's actions.}\\
       \affaddr{Institute for Clarity in Documentation}\\
       \affaddr{P.O. Box 1212}\\
       \affaddr{Dublin, Ohio 43017-6221}\\
       \email{webmaster@marysville-ohio.com}
% 3rd. author
\alignauthor Lars Th{\Large{\sf{\o}}}rv{$\ddot{\mbox{a}}$}ld\titlenote{This author is the
one who did all the really hard work.}\\
       \affaddr{The Th{\large{\sf{\o}}}rv{$\ddot{\mbox{a}}$}ld Group}\\
       \affaddr{1 Th{\large{\sf{\o}}}rv{$\ddot{\mbox{a}}$}ld Circle}\\
       \affaddr{Hekla, Iceland}\\
       \email{larst@affiliation.org}
\and  % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
% 4th. author
\alignauthor Lawrence P. Leipuner\\
       \affaddr{Brookhaven Laboratories}\\
       \affaddr{Brookhaven National Lab}\\
       \affaddr{P.O. Box 5000}\\
       \email{lleipuner@researchlabs.org}
% 5th. author
\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
       \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
       \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
       \affaddr{California 94035}\\
       \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
% 6th. author
\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
       \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
       \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
       \affaddr{San Antonio, Texas 78229}\\
       \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
}

19. Widows and Orphans

Question:

I'm seeing a lot of widows and orphans in my compiled/formatted article. How can I get rid of these or, at least, minimize their occurrence?

Answer:

First, an orphan is the first line of a paragraph on the last line of a page. The last line of the paragraph on a new page is a widow.

How an article is formatted depends on many factors; whether the style is single column or multi-column (such as the Proceedings style), the amount of math (both inline and display), the number and position (float or inline) of tables and artwork, the version of LaTeX you are running, your own personal formatting tweaks within the file, etc. etc.

A word of advice: Widow lines come and go ...any sort of detailed playing is a waste of time until you prepare the absolutely final and last version of your document.

If you are seeing an inordinate number of widows and/or orphans in your formatted article then we recommend you FIRST try to re-set some paragraphs i.e. rewrite for better typesetting. Another method is to find a reasonably long paragraph with only a few words on the final line, and at the top of that paragraph insert \looseness -1. The compiler will now try to make your paragraph one line shorter, so hopefully the widow line several paragraphs ahead won't happen. (By the way, you can get a similar effect with the linepenalty parameter, for less computation.)

The sledgehammer method is to insert

\clubpenalty=10000
\widowpenalty = 10000

immediately after the \documentclass statement and then completely recompile.
Caveat! This is not the best way, it will affect only the page breaking, and you may get very uneven bottoms to the pages (or very badly stretched columns).
(READ: your mileage may vary!)

20. Lowercase (letters) needed inside section headings (which are uppercased by default).

Question:

Section titles are uppercased by default, but I need a math variable, within a section title, to remain lowercase otherwise the meaning/intent is completely lost.

Answer:

Yes, section heads are uppercased by default so if you had e.g. "$k$" within a section heading then it would format as an UPPERcased math variable, i.e. K and not k.

The workaround is twofold:

  • Download and incorporate this patch lcsect.sty into your source .tex file
  • Comment out or change the section within your file e.g.
    \section{This is my section with the math variable letter $k$}
    to
    \lcsection{THIS IS MY SECTION WITH THE MATH VARIABLE LETTER $k$}
and recompile, viz.
\documentclass{sig-alternate}
\usepackage{lcsect}
.
.
.
%\section{This is my section with the math variable letter $k$}
\lcsection{THIS IS MY SECTION WITH THE MATH VARIABLE LETTER $k$}
.
.
The result is that the section text will be uppercased and will correctly match the format of all the other section heads, but the math variable, k, will remain lowercase and the meaning/intent will be retained.

21. NO 'Permission Block' and/or copyright data for e.g. SIG magazine/record articles.

Question:

I'm preparing a paper for a SIG magazine and I am using the 'sig-alternate' style. I do NOT want the 'Permission Block' and/or any copyright data output on the first page (bottom left). How do I achieve this?

Answer:

Just insert

\makeatletter
\let\@copyrightspace\relax
\makeatother

before the

\begin{document}

22. Problem with WinEdit, MIKTEX
(No longer applicable with release of Version 1.9 (November 30th. 2006) of class files)

Question:

! Font \secfnt=ptmb at 12.0pt not loadable: Metric (TFM) file not found.
I get this error along with about 20 others indicating that the fonts are missing.
They are not part of the full download from MiTeX's latest version.
I have spent quite of bit of time trying to solve this problem.
What are your suggestions?

Answer:

There is a known bug in MIKTEX on the 'installation' side of the program.

There are currently TWO fixes:

  • Fix #1: Download this cabinet file adobestd.cab
    --- (Use 'right-click-save-as' and then 'expand' it in the directory area where MikTeX normally keeps similar font folders.)
  • Fix #2: Download this executable file small-miktex-2.4.1705.exe
    --- (Use 'right-click-save-as' and then run/execute it.)

If you have already installed MikTeX using the 'full' installation option, then the first ('cabinet fix') may be a more appropriate solution.

23. FOREIGN GOVERNMENT HOLDING COPYRIGHT

Question:

I am preparing an article which 'requires' the 'Foreign Government Holding Copyright' statement. Do you have an example showing me how to implement this?

Answer:

Yes, here are the files that you will need:

  1. The SIG-FGOV-HOLD.PDF file available here: sig-fgov-hold.pdf. This PDF is the result of compiling the example/sample file.
    The 'bottom left-hand corner', of page 1, is the result of using the coding as seen in the sample/example file. A 'close-up' of the 'bottm left hand corner' can be seen here sig-fgov-hold (jpeg image).
  2. The SIG-FGOV-HOLD.TEX sample/example file available here: sig-fgov-hold.tex --- (use 'right-click-save-as')
  3. The SIG-FGOV-HOLD.CLS (V1.4 JUNE 2007) 'style/class' file sig-fgov-hold.cls --- (use 'right-click-save-as')

The MAIN features, of the sig-fgov-hold.cls file are:

  • The copyright YEAR is user-definiable via: \CopyrightYear{...}
  • The agency name is user-definable via: \TheAgency{...}
  • The country is user-definable via: \TheCountry{...}

Thus, the ONE .cls file allows you, the author, to control the various elements that comprise this particular type of 'permission statement'.

24. (STRIP 4) FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AFFILIATES COPYRIGHT

Question:

I am preparing an article which 'requires' the 'Foreign Government-affiliated authors Copyright' statement. Do you have an example showing me how to implement this?

Answer:

This is used when at least one author is employed by NRC (and others are not).
Here are the files that you will need:

  1. The SIG-FGOV-AFF.PDF file available here: sig-fgov-aff.pdf. This PDF is the result of compiling the example/sample file.
    The 'bottom left-hand corner', of page 1, is the result of using the coding as seen in the sample/example file. A 'close-up' of the 'bottm left hand corner' can be seen here sig-fgov-aff (jpeg image).
  2. The SIG-FGOV-AFF.TEX sample/example file available here: sig-fgov-aff.tex --- (use 'right-click-save-as')
  3. The SIG-FGOV-AFF.CLS (V1.5 APRIL 2008) 'style/class' file sig-fgov-aff.cls --- (use 'right-click-save-as')

25. STRIP 5 - CANADIAN GOVERNMENT COPYRIGHT

Question:

I am preparing an article which 'requires' the 'Canadian Government Copyright' statement -- which is sometimes referred to as 'Strip 5'. Do you have an example showing me how to implement this?

Answer:

This particular copyright strip (number '5') is required when ALL authors are NRC employees.
Here are the files that you will need:

  1. The SIG-CANGOV5.PDF file available here: sig-cangov5.pdf. This PDF is the result of compiling the example/sample file.
    The 'bottom left-hand corner', of page 1, is the result of using the coding as seen in the sample/example file. A 'close-up' of the 'bottm left hand corner' can be seen here sig-cangov5 (jpeg image).
  2. The SIG-CANGOV5.TEX sample/example file available here: sig-cangov5.tex --- (use 'right-click-save-as')
  3. The SIG-CANGOV5.CLS (V1.4 JUNE 2007) 'style/class' file sig-cangov5.cls --- (use 'right-click-save-as')

26. COPYRIGHT HELD BY CORPORATION

Question:

I am preparing an article which 'requires' that the coprporation -- to which I belong / am an employee of -- be displayed. Do you have an example showing me how to implement this?

Answer:

Here are the files that you will need:

  1. The CORPORATE-SIG-ALTERNATE-EXAMPLE.PDF file available here: corporate-sig-alternate-example.pdf.
    This PDF is the result of compiling the example/sample file.
    The 'bottom left-hand corner', of page 1, is the result of using the coding as seen in the sample/example file.
  2. The CORPORATE-SIG-ALTERNATE-EXAMPLE.TEX sample/example file available here: corporate-sig-alternate-example.tex --- (use 'right-click-save-as')
  3. The CORP-SIG-ALTERNATE.CLS (V1.4 JUNE 2007) 'style/class' file corp-sig-alternate.cls --- (use 'right-click-save-as')

27. Accents in the 'Author Block' area
(No longer applicable with release of Version 2.3 (JUNE 7th. 2007) of class files)

Question:

I am preparing an article and several of the author names contain accents. When I implement a typical accent command e.g. {\'a} (for acute a), I either get no accent or some 'glyph' superimposes itself on top of the letter a. How do we solve this? We REALLY want proper accents for our names on the first page!

Answer:

When converting a .dvi file to a Type-1 Postscript or PDF file - whether via dvips or pdflatex - often a Type-1 equivalent font or character-accent doesn't exist.

A sledgehammer (and unapproved) method would be to insert:

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc} % all characters are made available but causes Type 3 font problems (in body text)
\usepackage{textcomp}

in the preamble, however, as the % comment (above) clearly states, although you will definitely get an accent in the author block, 99% of the time this causes the body text to come out as bitmapped Type 3 - which is highly undesirable. (The production department will 'refuse' your PS/PDF file if it contains Type-3 (bitmapped) fonts.)

A much better/safer method - which will allow you to obtain the accent desired - yet will NOT cause Type 3 bitmap-font problems elsewhere - is to insert a small single-line-patch just before the \begin{document} command, like this:


\DeclareFixedFont{\auacc}{OT1}{phv}{m}{n}{12}   % Patch by Gerry 3/21/07

\begin{document}
Then in your source file, use the \auacc command to achieve the desired accent in the author name(s) like this: 
Accent						Code
------						----
acute					{\auacc\'e} or {\auacc\'E}
C cedilla				{\auacc\c{c}}
umlaut/diaresis				{\auacc\"o}
umlaut/diaresis over dotless i		{\auacc\"\i}

Example: Andr{\auacc\'e} Th{\auacc\"o}rv{\auacc\"a}ld which produces this:

Just make sure that you surround everything with a pair of curly braces!

28. Accents in the affiliation of the 'Author Block' area
(No longer applicable with release of Version 2.3 (JUNE 7th. 2007) of class files)

Question:

I am preparing an article and some addresses, in the author block area, contain accents. When I implement a typical accent command e.g. {\"o} (for umlaut o), I either get no accent or some 'glyph' superimposes itself on top of the letter o. How do we solve this? We REALLY want proper accents for our addresses on the first page!

Answer:

Insert a small single-line-patch just before the \begin{document} command, like this:


\DeclareFixedFont{\afacc}{OT1}{phv}{m}{n}{10}   % Needed for "Author Block" accents in the address line - Patch by Gerry 3/21/07

\begin{document}
Then in your source file, use the \afacc command to achieve the desired accent in the address line like this: 
Accent						Code
------						----
acute					{\afacc\'e} or {\afacc\'E}
C cedilla				{\afacc\c{c}}
umlaut/diaresis				{\afacc\"o}
umlaut/diaresis over dotless i		{\afacc\"\i}

Example:

\alignauthor Lars Th{\auacc\o}rv{\auacc\"a}ld\titlenote{This author is the one who did all the really hard work.}\\
       \affaddr{The Th{\afacc\o}rv{\afacc\"a}ld Group}\\
       \affaddr{1 Th{\afacc\o}rv{\afacc\"a}ld Circle}\\
       \affaddr{Hekla, Iceland}\\
       \email{larst@affiliation.org}
which produces this:

Again, just make sure that you surround everything with a pair of curly braces!

29. When I use the package 'subfig' (and 'caption.sty') the string 'Figure' disappears from my figure captions!

Question:

I changed from the (deprecated) 'subfigure' package to the more modern 'subfig'. Everything seemed to be going well until I looked very closely at the figure captions! The string 'Figure' is now completely gone from all my captions! HELP!

Answer:

The 'subfig' package works with many .cls files, including ACM's. This particular problem is due to the fact that the 'subfig' package 'takes over' the default formatting of captions in an unnecessary way. The problem also seems to be specific to certain versions of 'subfig'. Through our own tests and experiments, we ourselves have found that these files (and in particular their versions) alleviates this particular 'disappearing Figure' problem.

Please download the following files:


Now 'pre-load' 'caption' and 'subfig' thus:

\documentclass{...}
\usepackage{caption}
\usepackage{subfig}

Compile your .tex source file and check your .ps/pdf output. (You should now find that the string 'Figure' re-appears.)

If you find the problem STILL occurs (and some users of teTeX V3.0 have reported as such) then use this line instead:

\usepackage[caption=false]{subfig}

and recompile. (teTeX users should now find that the string 'Figure' re-appears.)

END OF FAQ

Comments on the Proceedings style, questions about SIGS policies and procedures, etc. should be directed to:
Adrienne Griscti griscti@acm.org.
Technical questions only to Gerry Murray at murray@acm.org.

This FAQ is maintained by: Gerry Murray.
Last update: APRIL 16th. 2008
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