I have just deleted some text, as you asked. You can now delete more, or insert, or whatever. Sorry, I don't know how to help in this situation. Maybe you should try asking a human? Sorry, I already gave what help I could... Maybe you should try asking a human? An error might have occurred before I noticed any problems. ``If all else fails, read the instructions.'' If you really absolutely need more capacity, you can ask a wizard to enlarge me. I'm broken. Please show this to someone who can fix can fix One of your faux pas seems to have wounded me deeply... in fact, I'm barely conscious. Please fix it and try again. You rang? Try to insert some instructions for me (e.g., `I\showlists), unless you just want to quit by typing `X'. I'm afraid I won't be able to make use of this font, because my memory for character-size data is too small. If you're really stuck, ask a wizard to enlarge me. Or maybe try `I\font='. I wasn't able to read the size data for this font, so I will ignore the font specification. [Wizards can fix TFM files using TFtoPL/PLtoTF.] You might try inserting a different font spec; e.g., type `I\font='. To increase the number of font parameters, you must use \fontdimen immediately after the \font is loaded. I was looking for a control sequence whose current meaning has been defined by \font. I suspect you have forgotten a `}', causing me to read past where you wanted me to stop. I'll try to recover; but if the error is serious, you'd better type `E' or `X' now and fix your file. A funny symbol that I can't read has just been input. Continue, and I'll forget that it ever happened. A forbidden control sequence occurred in skipped text. This kind of error happens when you say `\if...' and forget the matching `\fi'. I've inserted a `\fi'; this might work. `{...\dump}' is a no-no. On this page there's a \write with fewer real {'s than }'s. I can't handle that very well; good luck. Displays can use special alignments (like \eqalignno) only if nothing but the alignment itself is between $$'s. So I've deleted the formulas that preceded this alignment. There should be exactly one # between &'s, when an \halign or \valign is being set up. In this case you had none, so I've put one in; maybe that will work. There should be exactly one # between &'s, when an \halign or \valign is being set up. In this case you had more than one, so I'm ignoring all but the first. You have given more \span or & marks than there were in the preamble to the \halign or \valign now in progress. So I'll assume that you meant to type \cr instead. The `$' that I just saw supposedly matches a previous `$$'. So I shall assume that you typed `$$' both times. I'm changing \accent to \mathaccent here; wish me luck. (Accents are not the same in formulas as they are in text.) Sorry, but I can't typeset math unless \textfont 2 and \scriptfont 2 and \scriptscriptfont 2 have all the \fontdimen values needed in math symbol fonts. Sorry, but I can't typeset math unless \textfont 3 and \scriptfont 3 and \scriptscriptfont 3 have all the \fontdimen values needed in math extension fonts. I'm ignoring this misplaced \limits or \nolimits command. I was expecting to see something like `(' or `\{' or `\}' here. If you typed, e.g., `{' instead of `\{', you should probably delete the `{' by typing `1' now, so that braces don't get unbalanced. Otherwise just proceed. Acceptable delimiters are characters whose \delcode is nonnegative, or you can use `\delimiter '. I'm ignoring this fraction specification, since I don't know whether a construction like `x \over y \over z' means `{x \over y} \over z' or `x \over {y \over z}'. I'm ignoring a \right that had no matching \left. The `$' that I just saw supposedly matches a previous `$$'. So I shall assume that you typed `$$' both times. I treat `x_1_2' essentially like `x_1{}_2'. I treat `x^1^2' essentially like `x^1{}^2'. Please don't say `\def cs{...}', say `\def\cs{...}'. I've inserted an inaccessible control sequence so that your definition will be completed without mixing me up too badly. You can recover graciously from this error, if you're careful; see excercise 27.2 in the TeXbook. I'll pretend that you didn't say \long or \outer or \global. I'll pretend that you didn't say \long or \outer here. You should have said `\read to \cs'. I'm going to look for the \cs now. I'm going to use 0 instead of that illegal code value. I'm forgetting what you said and not changing anything. I allow only values in the range 1..32767 here. I allow only nonnegative values here. I can't carry out that multiplication or division, since the result is out of range. I can only handle fonts at positive sizes that are less than 2048pt, so I've changed what you said to 10pt. The magnification ratio must be between 1 and 32768. I can handle only one magnification ratio per job. So I've reverted to the magnification you used earlier on this run. The magnification ratio must be between 1 and 32768. (That was another \errmessage.) This error message was generated by an \errmessage command, so I can't give any explicit help. Pretend that you're Hercule Poirot: examine all clues, and deduce the truth by order and method. This isn't an error message; I'm just \showing something. Type `I\show...' to show more (e.g., \show\cs, \showthe\count10, \showbox255, \showlists). This isn't an error message; I'm just \showing something. Type `I\show...' to show more (e.g., \show\cs, \showthe\count10, \showbox255, \showlists). And type `I\tracingonline=1\show...' to show boxes and lists on your terminal as well as in the transcript file. I've inserted a begin-math/end-math symbol since I think you left one out. Proceed with fingers crossed. Sorry, but I'm not programmed to handle this case; I'll just pretend that you didn't ask for it. If you're in the wrong mode, you might be able to return to the right one by typing `I}' or `I\par'. To put a horizontal rule in an hbox or an alignment, you should use \leaders or \hrulefill (see The TeXbook). You've closed more groups than you opened. Such booboos are generally harmless, so keep going. Your sneaky output routine has fewer real {'s than }'s. I can't handle that very well; good luck. Your \output commands should empty \box255, e.g., by saying `\shipout\box255'. Proceed; I'll discard its present contents. I've deleted a group-closing symbol because it seems to be spurious, as in `$x}$'. But perhaps the } is legitimate and you forgot something else, as in `\hbox{$x}'. In such cases the way to recover is to insert both the forgotten and the deleted material, e.g., by typing `I$}'. You should say `\leaders '. I found the , but there's no suitable , so I'm ignoring these leaders. Sorry; this \lastbox will be void. Sorry...I usually can't take things from the current page. This \lastbox will therefore be void. I'm working on `\vsplit to '; will look for the next. I was expecting to see \hbox or \vbox or \copy or \box or something like that. So you might find something missing in your output. But keep trying; you can fix this later. I'm changing to \insert0; box 255 is special. I allow only values in the range 1..65536 here. Sorry...I usually can't take things from the current page. Try `I\vskip-\lastskip' instead. Sorry, Pandora. (You sneaky devil.) I refuse to unbox an \hbox in vertical mode or vice versa. And I can't open any boxes in math mode. Sorry: The third part of a discretionary break must be empty, in math formulas. I had to delete your third part. Discretionary lists must contain only boxes and kerns. Wow---I never thought anybody would tweak me here. You can't seriously need such a huge discretionary list? Please dont say \count or \dimen or \skip in the midst of a paragraph or formula. I'm going to assume that you meant to say `\the\count' or `\the\dimen' or `\the\skip', I can't figure out why you would want to use a tab mark here. If you want an ampersand, the remedy is simple: Just type `I\&' now. But if some right brace up above has ended a previous alignment prematurely, you're probably due for more error messages, and you might try typing `S' now just to see what is salvageable. I can't figure out why you would want to use a tab mark or \cr or \span just now. If something like a right brace up above has ended a previous alignment prematurely, you're probably due for more error messages, and you might try typing `S' now just to see what is salvageable. I'm guessing that you meant to end an alignment here. I've put in what seems to be necessary to fix the current column of the current alignment. Try to go on, since this might almost work. I expect to see \noalign only after the \cr of an alignment. Proceed, and I'll ignore this case. I expect to see \omit only after tab marks or the \cr of an alignment. Proceed, and I'll ignore this case. I'm ignoring this, since I wasn't doing a \csname. Tut tut: You're trying to \insert into a \box register that now contains an \hbox. Proceed, and I'll discard its present contents. The box you are trying to split is an \hbox. I can't split such boxes, so I'll leave it alone. The correction glue for page breaking with insertions must have finite shrinkability. But you may proceed, since the offensive shrinkability has been made finite. The box you are \vsplitting contains some infinitely shrinkable glue, e.g., `\vss' or `\vskip 0pt minus 1fil'. Such glue doesn't belong there; but you can safely proceed, since the offensive shrinkability has been made finite. The page about to be output contains some infinitely shrinkable glue, e.g., `\vss' or `\vskip 0pt minus 1fil'. Such glue doesn't belong there; but you can safely proceed, since the offensive shrinkability has been made finite. You shouldn't use \box255 except in \output routines. Proceed, and I'll discard its present contents. I've concluded that your \output is awry; it never does a \shipout, so I'm shipping \box255 out myself. Next time increase \maxdeadcycles if you want me to be more patient! The paragraph just ended includes some glue that has infinite shrinkability, e.g., `\hskip 0pt minus 1fil'. Such glue doesn't belong there---it allows a paragraph of any length to fit on one line. But it's safe to proceed, since the offensive shrinkability has been made finite. Letters in \hyphenation words must have \lccode > 0 Proceed; I'll ignore the character I just read. Hyphenation exceptions must contain only letters and hyphens. But continue; I'll forgive and forget. (See Appendix H.) (See Appendix H.) (See Appendix H.) Somewhere in the math formula just ended, you used the stated character from an undefined font family. For example, plain TeX doesn't allow \it or \sl in subscripts. Proceed, and I'll try to forget that I needed that character. The page just created is more than 18 feet tall or more than 18 feet wide, so I suspect something went wrong. I'm ignoring this; it doesn't match any \if. I was expecting to see `<', `=', or `>'. Didn't. A numeric math code must be between 0 and 32767. I changed this one to zero. Since I expected to read a number between 0 and 15, I changed this one to zero. The numeric code for a character must be between 0 and 127. I changed this one to zero. A character number must be between 0 and 255. I changed this one to zero. A one-character control sequence belongs after a ` mark. So I'm essentially inserting \0 here. I can only go up to 2147483647 = 017777777777 = 0x7FFFFFFF. so I'm using that number instead of yours. A number should have been here; I inserted `0'. (If you can't figure out why I needed to see a number, look up `weird error' in the index to The TeXbook.) I dddon't go any higher than filll. The unit of measurement in math glue must be mu. To recover gracefully from this error, it's best to delete the erroneous units; e.g., type `2' to delete two letters. (See Chapter 27 of The TeXbook.) I'm going to assume that 1mu=1pt when they're mixed. Dimensions can be in units of em, ex, in, pt, pc, cm, mm, dd, cc, bp, or sp; but yours is a new one! I'll assume that you meant to say pt, for printers' points. To recover gracefully from this error, it's best to delete the erroneous units; e.g. type `2' to delete two letters. (See Chapter 27 of The TeXbook.) I can't work with sizes bigger than about 19 feet. Continue and I'll use the largest value I can. I'm forgetting what you said and using zero instead. A left brace was mandatory here, so I've put one in. You might want to delete and/or insert some corrections so that I will find a matching right brace soon. If you're confused by all this, try typing `I}' now. You can refer to \spacefactor only in horizontal mode; you can refer to \prevdepth only in vertical mode; and neither of these is meaningful inside \write. So I'm forgetting what you said and using zero instead. A numeric delimiter code must be between 0 and 2^{27}-1. I changed this one to zero. A register number must be between 0 and 255. I changed this one to zero. I've inserted the digit you should have used after the #. Type `1' to delete what you did use. I'm going to ignore the # sign you just used. Where was the left brace? You said something like `\def\a}', which I'm going to interpret as `\def\a{}'. You meant to type ## instead of #, right? Or maybe a } was forgotten somewhere earlier, and things are all screwed up? I'm going to assume you meant ##. This \read has unbalanced braces. Things are pretty mixed up, but I think the worst is over. I've inserted something that you may have forgotten. (see the above.) With luck, this will get me unwedged. But if you really didn't forget anything, try typing `2' now; then my insertion and my current dilemma will both disappear. I suspect you've forgotten a `}', causing me to apply this control sequence to too much text. How can we recover? My plan is to forget the whole thing and hope for the best. If you say, e.g., `\def\a1{...}', then you must always put `1' after `\a', since control sequence names are made up of letters only. The macro here has not been followed by the required stuff, so I'm ignoring it. I've run across a `}' that doesn't seem to match anything. For example, `\def\a#1{...}' and `\a}' would produce this error. If you simply proceed now, the `\par' that I've just inserted will cause me to report a runaway argument that might be the root of the problem. But if your `}' was spurious, just type `2' and it will go away. The control sequence at the end of the top line of your error message was never \def'ed. If you have misspelled it (e.g., `\hobx'), type `I' and the correct spelling (e.g., `I\hbox'). Otherwise just continue, and I'll forget about whatever was undefined. The control sequence marked should not appear between \csname and \endcsname. I'm ignoring this; it doesn't match any \if.