The preprint server: A guide

The RAAG Preprint Server helps to inform the mathematical public about recent research results in the area of Real Algebraic and Analytic Geometry. Authors can post their latest preprints on the server, which gives them an opportunity to announce their results informally and as early as possible, even if they are in preliminary form. Entries are not reviewed and can be updated as often as the authors wish. AUTHORS ARE EXPLICITLY ENCOURAGED TO SEND REVISIONS whenever this becomes necessary or seems desirable.
The preprint server accepts papers from all authors, whether they are Network researchers or not. Since the importance and usefulness of this service increases with the number of papers posted, it is hoped that at least every Network researcher sends his or her preprints to the server.
It is explained below both how authors can post their papers on the server and how everyone interested in real geometry can make sure to be informed about new papers by subscribing to a mailing list. Of course, it is also possible just to pay a visit to the server, either directly at http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_I/RAAG/ or through the Network's website (http://www.ihp-raag.org/).
The server accepts papers about

• Complexity theory and real computation,
• Nash functions,
• semi-algebraic geometry,
• o-minimal structures and its variants,
• ordered algebraic structures,
• quadratic form theory related to RAAG,
• real algebra,
• real algebraic geometry,
• real analytic and subanalytic geometry,
• topology of real algebraic varieties.

The MAILING LIST
(http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_I/RAAG/html/mailinglist.html)
To inform the RAAG community about new preprints, the server provides a mailing list that notifies subscribers by email about new preprints and revised versions of items already on the server.
NOTE: The mailing list is NOT a forum for discussion, subscribers will not be swamped by a lot of messages. Experience shows that about two messages are sent every month, of course depending on the number of submissions.

HOW TO PUT YOURSELF ON THE MAILING LIST:
Everybody can subscribe to the mailing list by sending an email to: maiser@listserv.ngate.uni-regensburg.de with arbitrary subject and exactly the following line in the body:

subscribe raag.preprint

Alternatively you can send a notice to
marcus.tressl@mathematik.uni-regensburg.de

HOW TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE MAILING LIST:
If a subscriber does not wish to receive mail from the mailing list anymore then he or she can unsubscribe by sending an email to maiser@listserv.ngate.uni-regensburg.de with arbitrary subject and exactly the following line in the body:

unsubscribe raag.preprint

Alternatively a note can be sent to
marcus.tressl@mathematik.uni-regensburg.de

HOW TO SUBMIT PAPERS
To post a paper on the server it is only necessary to send the files of the preprint via e-mail to marcus.tressl@mathematik.uni-regensburg.de It is suggested that additional information (title, author(s), the e-mail of the author(s), abstract, Mathematical Subject Classification, keywords and phrases) is included in the mail. Normally this additional information is contained in the tex-file(s) of the preprint. Therefore the easiest way is to send the tex-file. Every dialect is welcome: plain tex, Latex (all versions), Amstex (all versions), ...
The preprint server will NOT display the tex-file(s) themselves, rather it posts the dvi, postscript and pdf versions of the preprint, depending on what the author sends.
There is also a page on the server to explain the procedure:
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_I/RAAG/html/authors.html

HOW TO SUBMIT REVISIONS OF PAPERS
Authors are strongly encouraged to send revisions of their work whenever it seems appropriate. This is an intended feature of the server.
In order to submit a new version of a preprint one can use the same procedure as with the initial submission. If the additional information (author, title, e-mail, abstract, MSC, keywords) has changed, this should be mentioned.
The procedure is also explained on the webpage:
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_I/RAAG/html/update.html

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A PAPER HAS BEEN SUBMITTED OR UPDATED?

1. Usually the paper is displayed/updated on the preprint server within two days after submission. As explained above, the preprint server displays the dvi, postscript and pdf versions of the preprint, depending on what the author sends. If a tex-file was sent, then this tex-file itself will NOT be shown on the server.
2. All authors of the paper will be informed that their work is available on the server or has been updated.
3. The subscribers of the mailing list are informed about the new preprint or the revised version.

HOW TO WITHDRAW A PAPER
If they wish, authors can remove papers from the server. The papers can be replaced by a reference to a publication, or they can be withdrawn entirely. To withdraw, send an e-mail to marcus.tressl@mathematik.uni-regensburg.de.
An explanation of the procedure can be found
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_I/RAAG/html/authors.html

HOW TO USE THE SERVER FOR A PARTICULAR PAPER
Each paper is displayed on the server with an ordinal number that is determined by the order of INITIAL submissions. This number NEVER changes, even if a paper is revised or withdrawn. The link of a preprint can be sent to other people, and it will always give them the most up to date information about the paper. For example, the link
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_I/RAAG/preprints/0015.html
always points to the preprint that was submitted as no 15. If the author should withdraw the paper entirely then the link will lead to a message that the paper has been withdrawn. If the author wishes, this message does not give any information about the identity of the paper.
The web address of a particular paper can be found out by clicking on its abstract. Then the address is shown in the address bar of the web browser.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS
All users of the preprint server are urged to help improve this service by sending suggestions and comments to marcus.tressl@mathematik.uni-regensburg.de