Running Documents Features

8.3: Dvips

The dvips command is used for translating a DVI (DeVice-Independent) file, produced by TeX or some other processor (such as GFtoDVI), to PostScript. PostScript is a language intended for driving laserprinters. With PostScript, one has much greater flexibility for customizing printed documents---PostScript provides commands that allow for overlays, the insertion of figures, printing multiple logical pages on one physical page, rotating the pages, etc. (See man dvips.)

To convert a DVI file to PostScript, type dvips filename. This converts the entire file to PostScript (not allowing for redirection or piping of input or output) and pipes it to the printer. The f option must be used to redirect the output. PostScript also handles overlays via header files, done with the option h. For example,

        [lyman|16] dvips -h draft.pro -f sample.dvi > sample.ps

would print `DRAFT' across each page and the f option combined with a redirection and filename would put the contents into a separate file---the convention is to change the extension to `.ps'. A similar program copy.pro prints `COPY' across each page. Once the file is in PostScript form, only lpr is needed to print. In an analog to xdvi, PostScript files can be previewed with the command ghostview.

Once the file is in PostScript form, many options are available. One of the most useful is multips, which can output multiple logical PostScript pages on one physical page and print the pages in two orientations (landscape and portrait). Output must either be piped to a line printer or redirected into a file. See man multips and man pr for more information on printing formats.

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