andrewt@seismo.CSS.GOV@augean.OZ.AU (02/20/87)
In response to a number of recent net requests for TeX previewers and PostScript drivers, here is a brief description of some public-domain software developed at the University of Adelaide. DVItoVDU is an interactive previewer with the following features: * Drives a variety of commonly available VDUs: VT100 (or any ANSI-standard terminal), VT220, VT240 (and other terminals that use ReGIS graphics), VISUAL 500/550, AED 512/483, VT640 (a VT100 with Retro-Graphics). * Font information is read from PXL or PK files. * Relative or absolute page selection (using either DVI or TeX page numbers). * Pan and zoom (view any region of a page at any desired scale). * Three display modes provide a compromise between speed and accuracy. The display mode can be changed while the page is being drawn. * Detection of errors such as a page off the paper or a non-existent font. * TeX sources for the User Guide and System Guide are supplied. * Written in Modula-2 (from the University of Hamburg) under VAX/VMS 4.4. Source/object/executable files are all supplied. DVItoVDU has also been ported to VAX/UNIX (ULTRIX or 4.2bsd) using Modula-2 from DEC's Western Research Labs. Based on DVItoVDU 1.5, it is slightly out-of-date (in particular, it can only read PXL files). PSPRINT is a VAX/VMS PostScript driver for the Apple LaserWriter: * It can handle ordinary text files, raw PostScript programs, or DVI files. * Although it looks and behaves like a VAX/VMS print symbiont, it is actually a mixture of Modula-2, DCL and PostScript. Substantial changes can be made by simply editing a command file or PostScript program. * Source files for all programs and documentation are supplied. * The DVI-to-PostScript program called by PSPRINT is written in Modula-2 and uses a lot of code borrowed from DVItoVDU. Some features: - Translates pages in either direction. - A subrange of pages can be selected (using either DVI or TeX page numbers). - Reads font information from PXL or PK files. - Similar error detection as in DVItoVDU. - Allows the use of \special to include a PostScript program. See TUGboat vol.7 no.1 for a detailed description of DVItoVDU version 1.5. The first TUGboat for this year should contain an article listing the changes in DVItoVDU 1.7, as well as a complete description of PSPRINT 1.1. Okay, so where can you get all this stuff? I recently sent tapes with DVItoVDU 1.7 and PSPRINT 1.1 to both Stanford and Kellerman & Smith for inclusion on their VAX/VMS distribution tapes. The UNIX version of DVItoVDU was also sent to Pierre Mackay for inclusion on the University of Washington's distribution tape. See any recent issue of TUGboat for addresses and/or ordering information. People in Europe can get the VAX/VMS software from Maria Tuck at the Polytechnic of Central London, Computer Services, 115 New Cavendish St., London W1M 8JS. Please note that I am no longer at Adelaide University and cannot handle requests for software. I am available for short-term contract work. Andrew Trevorrow ACSnet: akt@uacomsci.ua.oz or andrewt@augean.oz phone: (08) 267 1060