NAME

       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, created 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 independent of the prefered driver.  Currently, the post processor 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  creates  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 primitive
              \special{dvipost: cmd}
       or the LaTeX macro (provided by dvipost.sty)
              \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 specification.  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.

       The use of cbstart and cbend allows to set additional 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{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 loading the style file. If any changes are made to
       layout parameters, like \evensidemargin, the macro \dvipostlayout must  be  called  to  get  the  correct
       placement of change bars. Additional calls to \dvipostlayout are harmeless.

       The  following  layout  parameters  are  transfered  to  the  dvi  file:  \hoffset, \voffset, \textwidth,
       \textheight, \oddsidemargin, \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 thicknes 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

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