psdit(1)                                                 psdit(1)



NAME
     psdit - converts troff  intermediate  format  to  POSTSCRIPT
     format

SYNOPSIS
     psdit [-F fontdir] [-o list] [-p prologue] [file]

ARGUMENTS
     -F fontdir
          Takes font information from fontdir instead of the
          default.

     file Specifies the file to be translated.  If this argument
          is not specified, the standard input is used.

     -o list
          Prints pages whose numbers are given in the comma-
          separated list.  The list contains single numbers n and
          ranges n1-n2.  A missing n1 means the lowest-numbered
          page; a missing n2 means the highest.

     -p prologue
          Uses the contents of prologue instead of the default
          POSTSCRIPT prologue.

DESCRIPTION
     psdit translates a file created by device-independent
     troff(1) to POSTSCRIPT format for printing on a POSTSCRIPT
     printer.  The POSTSCRIPT file is sent to the standard
     output.

        Note:  The input for psdit should be prepared with the
        corresponding -Tpsc option of troff, pic, grap, and so
        forth.  The eqn program should be run with the flags
        -r576 and -m2 to produce suitable output.  The pic
        program should be run with the -D option and the -T576
        option to set the correct resolution.


     psdit enables troff to include arbitrary POSTSCRIPT code in
     the generated POSTSCRIPT file.  psdit recognizes the
     heretofore undefined % command in the troff intermediate
     file format to signal the start of raw POSTSCRIPT to be
     placed ``as is'' in the output file.  Everthing between (but
     not including) the percent sign and a line containing a
     single period (.) will be placed in the generated POSTSCRIPT
     output.  This POSTSCRIPT is not insulated from the troff
     coordinate system or from the state of the generated
     POSTSCRIPT.  However, two functions are defined in the
     prologue so that users may insulate themselves, if they so
     desire.  The PB function (for ``picture begin'') will
     perform a POSTSCRIPT save operation, translate the



January 1992                                                    1

psdit(1)                                                 psdit(1)



     POSTSCRIPT coordinate system to troff's idea of the current
     position on the page, and change the scale and orientation
     of the coordinate system axes to the standard POSTSCRIPT 72
     units per inch.  The PE macro (for ``picture end'') will end
     this protected environment.

     Several methods may be employed to incorporate included
     POSTSCRIPT into the troff intermediate file.  The .cf .sy
     and \! troff commands may be useful.  For example, the
     following sequence may appear anywhere in troff input

        \!%PB
        .cf mypic.ps
        \!PE
        \!.

     to include mypic.ps as an illustration.  This facility is
     both powerful and useful, but indiscriminate inclusion of
     poorly behaved POSTSCRIPT code may be dangerous to your
     document's health.

Environment variables
     PSLIBDIR
          Pathname of a directory to use instead of /usr/lib/ps
          for psdit prologue.

EXAMPLES
     The following command line will format the file ch.1 using
     the troff text formatting program, translate troff's output
     into POSTSCRIPT, and then send the POSTSCRIPT output to the
     appropriate printer.

        troff -Tpsc -mm ch.1 | psdit | lp -dPigs


LIMITATIONS
     The B-splines generated by troff are drawn with an
     approximation.  The functions D~ and D~~ in the prologue
     need a little work.

FILES
     /usr/bin/psdit
          Executable file
     /usr/lib/font/devpsc/*
          troff default description files for POSTSCRIPT virtual
          device
     /usr/lib/ps/psdit.pro
          default POSTSCRIPT prologue file

SEE ALSO
     lp(1), lpr(1), psroff(1), troff(1)




2                                                    January 1992