dvipost, pptex, pplatex - post processing of dvi files

SYNOPSIS

       dvipost [-debug] [-version] [-help] in out

       pplatex [-debug] [-version] [-help] [LaTeX-Arguments]

       pptex [-debug] [-version] [-help] [TeX-Arguments]

DESCRIPTION

       The command dvipost is a post procesor for dvi files, cre-
       ated by latex or tex. It is used for special modes,  which
       normally needs the support of dvi drivers (such as dvips).
       With dvipost, this features could be implemented  indepen-
       dent  of the prefered driver.  Currently, the post proces-
       sor supports layout raster,  change  bars  and  overstrike
       mode.

       This  version of dvipost does not seek the dvi file, so it
       could be used as a filter. If - is given as file name, the
       command uses standard input or standard output respective.
       The command does not substitute a missing  .dvi  extension
       to the filename.

       Because  the  command works with a temporary file and cre-
       ates the ouput file only after successfull processing  the
       input  file, it is possible to use the same name for input
       and output.

       If the command is renamed or linked to  pplatex/pptex,  it
       runs  latex/tex and post processes the createt output.  If
       the name of the dvi file could not be  determined  by  the
       arguments  to  latex/tex (e.g. on an interactive run), the
       command processes all dvi files in the  current  directory
       with  a modification time later than the run of latex/tex.


   Basics
       If the filter is used in context of LaTeX, the style  file
       dvipost.sty should be included in the LaTeX source.

       The filter interpretes dvi extensions in the form of
              dvipost: name [arg]
       where arg depends on the command name and may be separated
       from name by =  or space.  All other  extensions  are  not
       interpreted by dvipost and remain in the dvi file.

       Such a dvipost command could be placed with the TeX primi-
       tive
              \special{dvipost: cmd}

       in the dvi file.

       Depending on the type of dvipost commands,  the  following
       kinds of arguments may be used:
       length is a floating point number followed by a unit spec-
              ification.  The following units  are  supportet  by
              divipost:  pt,  in,  cm  and mm.  If no argument is
              given or the unit  specification  is  missing,  the
              corresponding length is set to 0.
       string is an arbitrary string argument.
       flag   is  an  integer  argument,  where a value different
              from 0 (usually 1) means true and a  missing  value
              or 0 means false.
       depth  is  an  integer  argument,  where a value different
              from 0 (usually 1) increments a depth counter and a
              missing value or 0 decrements it.


   Change bars
       All  text  printed with change mode level higher than 0 is
       marked with a change bar.

       The following LaTeX macros modifies the change mode level:

       \changestart
              increments the change mode level.
       \changeend
              decrements the change mode level.
       \textchanged{text}
              increments the change mode level for text only.

       The  following  dvipost  commands  are  used in context of
       change bars:
       cbmode depth
              increments/decrements the change mode level.   This
              command is used by the LaTeX macros.
       cbrule length
              determines  the  thickness  of  the change bar. The
              default value is 2pt.
       cbsep length
              sets the distance beetween page margin  and  change
              bar.  The default value is 2pt.
       cbexp length
              sets the additional height and depth of a character
              in  calculating  the  change  bar  positions.   The
              default value is 6pt.
       cbstart string
              places  the  dvi  extension  string before printing
              characters in change mode.
       cbend string
              places the  dvi  extension  string  after  printing
              characters in change mode.

       attributes to  the  marked  text,  depending  on  the  dvi
       driver.

       If  dvips  is  used  as dvi driver and the preamble of the
       LaTeX source contains
              \usepackage[dvips,usenames]{color}
              \usepackage{dvipost}
              \dvipost{cbstart color push Blue}
              \dvipost{cbend color pop}
       the marked text is colored blue.


   Overstrike mode
       All text printed with overstrike level higher  than  0  is
       overstriked with a horizontal line.

       The  overstrike  line  is positioned at the mean height of
       every block of text not broken by vertical  movements  and
       font changes.

       The following LaTeX macros modifies the overstrike level:

       \overstrikeon
              increments the overstrike level.
       \overstrikeoff
              decrements the overstrike level.
       \overstrike{text}
              increments the overstrike level for text only.

       The  following  dvipost  commands  are  used in context of
       overstrike mode:
       osmode depth
              increments/decrements the overstrike  level.   This
              command is used by the LaTeX macros.
       osrule length
              sets  the  thickness  of  the  overstrike  line  to
              length.  The default value is \fboxrule.
       osstart string
              places the dvi extension string  before  change  of
              overstrike mode.
       osend string
              places  the  dvi  extension  string after change of
              overstrike mode.

       The use of osstart and osend is  similar  to  cbstart  and
       cbend.


   Layout parameters
       Layout  parameters are transfered to the dvi file on load-
       ing the style file. If any  changes  are  made  to  layout
       parameters, like \evensidemargin, the macro \dvipostlayout

       The  following layout parameters are transfered to the dvi
       file: \hoffset, \voffset, \textwidth,  \textheight,  \odd-
       sidemargin,   \evensidemargin,   \topmargin,  \headheight,
       \headsep, \footskip,  \marginparsep  and  \marginparwidth.
       Additional the flag twoside is set to 0 or 1, depending on
       the document style option twoside.

       Instead of  calling  \dvipostlayout,  partciucular  values
       could be set.  The command
              \dvipost{evensidemargin=\the\evensidemargin}
       transfers the actual setting of \evensidemargin to the dvi
       file.

       The dvipost command allows  the  printing  of  the  layout
       raster  by  setting layout to a length different to 0. The
       value of layout is used as the  thickness  of  the  raster
       lines.

       For example: The command
              \dvipost{layout=\the\fboxrule}
       activates  the layout raster and uses the same line thick-
       nes as frame boxes.

NOTES

       The filter is primarly written for  LaTeX.   It  could  be
       used  for  plain TeX, but currently there is no assistance
       style file included in  the  distribution.   Maybe  somone
       would write one, I am not a plain TeX user.

       The  current  state of change bar mode and overstrike mode
       must be committed do environments,  which  are  placed  on
       different locations than the current text. This is done in
       dvipost.sty   by    redefining    \color@begingroup    and
       \color@endgroup.  This may conflict with other packages.

       If  the  macro \footnoterule is redefined, it should start
       with the command \dvipost{footnote} for a correct handling
       of overstrike mode and change bars.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C) 2002 Erich Fruehstueck