Plan 9 from Bell Labs’s /usr/web/sources/contrib/steve/root/sys/src/cmd/tex/web2c/doc/web2c.info-2

Copyright © 2021 Plan 9 Foundation.
Distributed under the MIT License.
Download the Plan 9 distribution.


This is Info file web2c.info, produced by Makeinfo version 1.68 from
the input file web2c.texi.

INFO-DIR-SECTION TeX
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* Web2c: (web2c).                    TeX, Metafont, and companion programs.
* bibtex: (web2c)bibtex invocation.             Maintaining bibliographies.
* dmp: (web2c)dmp invocation.                   Troff->MPX (MetaPost pictures).
* dvicopy: (web2c)dvicopy invocation.           Virtual font expansion
* dvitomp: (web2c)dvitomp invocation.           DVI to MPX (MetaPost pictures).
* dvitype: (web2c)dvitype invocation.           DVI to human-readable text.
* gftodvi: (web2c)gftodvi invocation.           Generic font proofsheets.
* gftopk: (web2c)gftopk invocation.             Generic to packed fonts.
* gftype: (web2c)gftype invocation.             GF to human-readable text.
* inimf: (web2c)inimf invocation.               Initial Metafont.
* inimpost: (web2c)inimpost invocation.         Initial MetaPost.
* initex: (web2c)initex invocation.             Initial TeX.
* makempx: (web2c)makempx invocation.           MetaPost label typesetting.
* mf: (web2c)mf invocation.                     Creating typeface families.
* mft: (web2c)mft invocation.                   Prettyprinting Metafont source.
* mltex: (web2c)MLTeX.                          Multi-lingual TeX.
* mpost: (web2c)mpost invocation.               Creating technical diagrams.
* mpto: (web2c)mpto invocation.                 MetaPost label extraction.
* newer: (web2c)newer invocation.               Compare modification times.
* patgen: (web2c)patgen invocation.             Creating hyphenation patterns.
* pktogf: (web2c)pktogf invocation.             Packed to generic fonts.
* pktype: (web2c)pktype invocation.             PK to human-readable text.
* pltotf: (web2c)pltotf invocation.             Property list to TFM.
* pooltype: (web2c)pooltype invocation.         Display WEB pool files.
* tangle: (web2c)tangle invocation.             WEB to Pascal.
* tex: (web2c)tex invocation.                   Typesetting.
* tftopl: (web2c)tftopl invocation.             TFM -> property list.
* vftovp: (web2c)vftovp invocation.             Virtual font -> virtual pl.
* virmf: (web2c)virmf invocation.               Virgin Metafont.
* virmpost: (web2c)virmpost invocation.         Virgin MetaPost.
* virtex: (web2c)virtex invocation.             Virgin TeX.
* vptovf: (web2c)vptovf invocation.             Virtual pl -> virtual font.
* weave: (web2c)weave invocation.               WEB to TeX.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY

  This file documents the installation and use of the programs in Web2c,
an implementation of Donald Knuth's TeX system.

  Copyright (C) 1996, 97 K. Berry & O. Weber.

  Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
preserved on all copies.

  Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the
entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
permission notice identical to this one.

  Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this
manual into another language, under the above conditions for modified
versions, except that this permission notice may be stated in a
translation


File: web2c.info,  Node: TeX extensions,  Prev: IPC and TeX,  Up: TeX

TeX extensions
==============

  The base TeX program has been extended in many ways.  Here's a
partial list.  Please send information on extensions not listed here to
the address in *Note Reporting bugs: (kpathsea)Reporting bugs.

e-TeX
     Adds many new primitives, including right-to-left typesetting.
     Available from `http://www.vms.rhbnc.ac.uk/e-TeX/' and
     `CTAN:/systems/e-tex'.

Omega
     Adds Unicode support, right-to-left typesetting, and more.
     Available from `http://www.ens.fr/omega' and `CTAN:/systems/omega'.

PDFTeX
     A variant of TeX that produces PDF instead of DVI files.  It also
     includes primitives for hypertext.  Available from
     `CTAN:/systems/pdftex'.

`TeX--XeT'
     Adds primitives and DVI opcodes for right-to-left typesetting (as
     used in Arabic, for example).  An old version for TeX 3.1415 is
     available from `CTAN:/systems/knuth/tex--xet'.  A newer version is
     included in e-TeX.

File-handling TeX
     Adds primitives for creating multiple DVI files in a single run;
     and appending to output files as well as overwriting.  Web2c
     implementation available in the distribution file
     `web2c/contrib/file-handling-tex'.


File: web2c.info,  Node: Metafont,  Next: MetaPost,  Prev: TeX,  Up: Top

Metafont: Creating typeface families
************************************

  Metafont is a system for producing shapes; it was designed for
producing complete typeface families, but it can also produce geometric
designs, dingbats, etc.  And it has considerable mathematical and
equation-solving capabilities which can be useful entirely on their own.

  Metafont is a batch language, like C or Pascal: you compile a Metafont
program into a corresponding font, rather than interactively drawing
lines or curves.  This approach has both considerable disadvantages
(people unfamiliar with conventional programming languages will be
unlikely to find it usable) and considerable advantages (you can make
your design intentions specific and parameterizable).  For a complete
description of the Metafont language, see `The METAFONTbook' (*note
References::.).

* Menu:

* mf invocation::               Invoking Metafont.
* inimf invocation::            Initial Metafont.
* virmf invocation::            Virgin Metafont.
* Modes::                       Device definitions for Metafont.
* Online Metafont graphics::    Seeing MF output online.
* gftodvi invocation::          Making proofsheets for fonts.
* mft invocation::              Prettyprinting Metafont sources.


File: web2c.info,  Node: mf invocation,  Next: inimf invocation,  Up: Metafont

`mf' invocation
===============

  Metafont (usually invoked as `mf') reads character definitions
specified in the Metafont programming language, and outputs the
corresponding font.  This section merely describes the options available
in the Web2c implementation.  For a complete description of the Metafont
language, see `The Metafontbook' (*note References::.).

  Metafont processes its command line and determines its memory dump
(base) file in a way exactly analogous to MetaPost and TeX (*note tex
invocation::., and *note Memory dumps::.).  Synopses:

     mf [OPTION]... [MFNAME[.mf]] [MF-COMMANDS]
     mf [OPTION]... \FIRST-LINE
     mf [OPTION]... &BASE ARGS

  Most commonly, a Metafont invocation looks like this:
     mf '\mode:=MODE; mag:=MAGNIFICATION; input MFNAME'

(The single quotes avoid unwanted interpretation by the shell.)

  Metafont searches the usual places for the main input file MFNAME
(*note Supported file formats: (kpathsea)Supported file formats.),
extending MFNAME with `.mf' if necessary.  To see all the relevant
paths, set the environment variable `KPATHSEA_DEBUG' to `-1' before
running the program.  By default, Metafont runs an external program
named `mktexmf' to create any nonexistent Metafont source files you
input.  You can disable this at configure-time or runtime (*note mktex
configuration: (kpathsea)mktex configuration.).  This is mostly for the
sake of the EC fonts, which can be generated at any size.

  Metafont writes the main GF output to the file `BASEMFNAME.NNNgf',
where NNN is the font resolution in pixels per inch, and BASEMFNAME is
the basename of MFNAME, or `mfput' if no input file was specified.  A
GF file contains bitmaps of the actual character shapes.  Usually GF
files are converted immediately to PK files with GFtoPK (*note gftopk
invocation::.), since PK files contain equivalent information, but are
more compact.  (Metafont output in GF format rather than PK for only
historical reasons.)

  Metafont also usually writes a metric file in TFM format to
`BASEMFNAME.tfm'.  A TFM file contains character dimensions, kerns, and
ligatures, and spacing parameters.  TeX reads only this .tfm file, not
the GF file.

  The MODE in the example command above is a name referring to a device
definition (*note Modes::.); for example, `localfont' or `ljfour'.
These device definitions must generally be precompiled into the base
file.  If you leave this out, the default is `proof' mode, as stated in
`The Metafontbook', in which Metafont outputs at a resolution of
2602dpi; this is usually not what you want.  The remedy is simply to
assign a different mode--`localfont', for example.

  The MAGNIFICATION assignment in the example command above is a
magnification factor; for example, if the device is 600dpi and you
specify `mag:=2', Metafont will produce output at 1200dpi.  Very often,
the MAGNIFICATION is an expression such as `magstep(.5)', corresponding
to a TeX "magstep", which are factors of 1.2 * sqrt(2).

  After running Metafont, you can use the font in a TeX document as
usual.  For example:
     \font\myfont = newfont
     \myfont Now I am typesetting in my new font (minimum hamburgers).

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-kpathsea-debug=NUMBER'
`-ini'
`-base=BASENAME'
`-progname=STRING'
     These options are common to TeX, Metafont, and MetaPost.  *Note
     Common options::.

`-mktex=FILETYPE'
`-no-mktex=FILETYPE'
     Turn on or off the `mktex' script associated with FILETYPE.  The
     only value that makes sense for FILETYPE is `mf'.


File: web2c.info,  Node: inimf invocation,  Next: virmf invocation,  Prev: mf invocation,  Up: Metafont

`inimf' invocation
==================

  `inimf' is the "initial" form of Metafont, which does lengthy
initializations avoided by the "virgin" (`vir') form, so as to be
capable of dumping `.base' files (*note Memory dumps::.).  For a
detailed comparison of virgin and initial forms, see *Note Initial and
virgin::.

  For a list of options and other information, see *Note mf
invocation::.

  The only memory dump file commonly used with Metafont is the default
`plain.base', also known as `mf.base' (again, *note Memory dumps::.).
It is created by default during installation, but you can also do so by
hand if necessary (e.g., if a Metafont update is issued):
     inimf '\input plain; input modes; dump'

(The quotes prevent interpretation of the backslashes from the shell.)
Then install the resulting `plain.base' in `$(basedir)'
(`/usr/local/share/texmf/web2c' by default), and link `mf.base' to it.

  For an explanation of the additional `modes.mf' file, see *Note
Modes::.  This file has no counterpart in TeX or MetaPost.

  In the past, it was sometimes useful to create a base file
`cmmf.base' (a.k.a. `cm.base'), with the Computer Modern macros also
included in the base file.  Nowadays, however, the additional time
required to read `cmbase.mf' is exceedingly small, usually not enough
to be worth the administrative hassle of updating the `cmmf.base' file
when you install a new version of `modes.mf'.  People actually working
on a typeface may still find it worthwhile to create their own base
file, of course.


File: web2c.info,  Node: virmf invocation,  Next: Modes,  Prev: inimf invocation,  Up: Metafont

`virmf' invocation
==================

  `virmf' is the "virgin" form of Metafont, which avoids the lengthy
initializations done by the "initial" (`ini') form, and is thus what is
generally used for production work.  Usually it is invoked under the
name `mf'.  For a detailed comparison of virgin and initial forms, see
*Note Initial and virgin::.

  For a list of options and other information, see *Note mf
invocation::.


File: web2c.info,  Node: Modes,  Next: Online Metafont graphics,  Prev: virmf invocation,  Up: Metafont

Modes: Device definitions for Metafont
======================================

  Running Metafont and creating Metafont base files requires information
that TeX and MetaPost do not: "mode" definitions which specify device
characteristics, so Metafont can properly rasterize the shapes.

  When making a base file, a file containing modes for locally-available
devices should be input after `plain.mf'.  One commonly used file is
`ftp://ftp.tug.org/tex/modes.mf'; it includes all known definitions.

  If, however, for some reason you have decreased the memory available
in your Metafont, you may need to copy `modes.mf' and remove the
definitions irrelevant to you (probably most of them) instead of using
it directly.  (Or, if you're a Metafont hacker, maybe you can suggest a
way to redefine `mode_def' and/or `mode_setup'; right now, the amount
of memory used is approximately four times the total length of the
`mode_def' names, and that's a lot.)

  If you have a device not included in `modes.mf', please see comments
in that file for how to create the new definition, and please send the
definition to <tex-fonts@mail.tug.org> to get it included in the next
release of `modes.mf'.

  Usually, when you run Metafont you must supply the name of a mode that
was dumped in the base file.  But you can also define the mode
characteristics dynamically, by invoking Metafont with an assignment to
`smode' instead of `mode', like this:
     mf '\smode:="newmode.mf"; mag:=MAGNIFICATION; input MFNAME'

This is most useful when you are working on the definition of a new
mode.

  The MAGNIFICATION and MFNAME arguments are explained in *Note mf
invocation::.  In the file `newmode.mf', you should have the following
(with no `mode_def' or `enddef'), if you are using `modes.mf'
conventions:
     mode_param (pixels_per_inch, DPI);
     mode_param (blacker, B);
     mode_param (fillin, F);
     mode_param (o_correction, O);
     mode_common_setup_;

(Of course, you should use real numbers for DPI, B, F, and O.)

  For more information on the use of `smode', or if you are not using
`modes.mf', see page 269 of `The Metafontbook'.


File: web2c.info,  Node: Online Metafont graphics,  Next: gftodvi invocation,  Prev: Modes,  Up: Metafont

Online Metafont graphics
========================

  The Web2c implementation of Metafont can do online graphics with a
number of devices. (See the Metafont manual for more information about
how to draw on your screen.)  By default, no graphics support is
enabled.

  Metafont examines the `MFTERM' environment variable or config file
value at runtime, or the `TERM' environment variable if `MFTERM' is not
set, to determine the device support to use.  Naturally, only the
devices for which support has been compiled in can be selected.

  Here is a table of the possibilities, showing the `MFTERM' value and
the corresponding `configure' option(s) in parentheses.

`epsf'
     (`--with-epsfwin') Encapsulated PostScript pseudo-window server
     (see `web2c/window/epsf.c'). This device produces an EPS file
     containing the graphics which would be displayed online on other
     devices. The name of the EPS file defaults to metafont.eps but can
     be changed by setting the MFEPSF environment variable to the new
     filename.  Contributed by Mathias Herberts.

`hp2627'
     (`--with-hp2627win') HP2627a color graphics terminals.

`mftalk'
     (`--with-mftalkwin') Generic window server (see
     `web2c/window/mftalk.c').

`next'
     (`--with-next') NeXT window system. This requires a separate
     program, called `DrawingServant', available separately. See the
     `web2c/window/next.c'.

`regis'
     (`--with-regiswin') Regis terminals.

`sun'
     (`--with-suntoolswin') The old Suntools (not any flavor of X)
     window system. (You can get the even older SunWindows `gfx' system
     by using `sun-gfx.c'.)

`tek'
     (`--with-tektronixwin') Tektronix terminals.

`uniterm'
     (`--with-unitermwin') Uniterm, Simon Poole's emulator of a smart
     Tektronix 4014 terminal.  This may work with regular Tektronix
     terminals as well; it's faster than the driver `--with-tek'
     selects.

`xterm'
     (`--with-x11win', `--with-x', `--with-x11') The X window system
     (version 11).

     There are two variants of the X11 support, one that works with the
     Xt toolkit, and another that works directly with Xlib. The Xt
     support is more efficient and has more functionality, so it is the
     default. If you must use the Xlib support, use `configure --with-x
     --with-x-toolkit=no'.

     You cannot specify any of the usual X options (e.g., `-geometry')
     on the Metafont command line, but you can specify X resources in
     your `~/.Xdefaults' or `~/.Xresources' file. The class name is
     `Metafont'. If you're using the Xt support, all the usual X toolkit
     resources are supported.  If you're using the Xlib support, only
     the `geometry' resource is supported.

     You specify the X display to which Metafont connects in the
     `DISPLAY' environment variable, as usual.

  Writing support for a new device is straightforward. Aside from
defining the basic drawing routines that Metafont uses (see `mf.web'),
you only have to add another entry to the tables on the last page of
`web2c/lib/texmfmp.c'.  Or you can write an independent program and use
MFtalk (see `web2c/window/mftalk.c').


File: web2c.info,  Node: gftodvi invocation,  Next: mft invocation,  Prev: Online Metafont graphics,  Up: Metafont

GFtoDVI: Character proofs of fonts
==================================

  GFtoDVI makes "proof sheets" from a GF bitmap file as output by, for
example, Metafont (*note Metafont::.).  This is an indispensable aid for
font designers or Metafont hackers.  Synopsis:

     gftodvi [OPTION]... GFNAME[gf]

  The font GFNAME is searched for in the usual places (*note Glyph
lookup: (kpathsea)Glyph lookup.).  To see all the relevant paths, set
the environment variable `KPATHSEA_DEBUG' to `-1' before running the
program.

  The suffix `gf' is supplied if not already present.  This suffix is
not an extension; no `.' precedes it: for instance `cmr10.600gf'.

  The output filename is the basename of GFNAME extended with `.dvi',
e.g., `gftodvi /wherever/foo.600gf' creates `./foo.dvi'.

  The characters from GFNAME appear one per page in the DVI output,
with labels, titles, and annotations, as specified in Appendix H
(Hardcopy Proofs) of `The Metafontbook'.

  GFtoDVI uses several fonts besides GFNAME itself:

   * "gray font" (default `gray'): for the pixels that actually make up
     the character.  Simply using black is not right, since then labels,
     key points, and other information could not be shown.

   * "title font" (default `cmr8'): for the header information at the
     top of each output page.

   * "label font" (default `cmtt10'): for the labels on key points of
     the figure.

   * "slant font" (no default): for diagonal lines, which are otherwise
     simulated using horizontal and vertical rules.

  To change the default fonts, you must use `special' commands in your
Metafont source file.

  The program accepts the following option, as well as the standard
`-verbose', `-help', and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-overflow-label-offset=POINTS'
     Typeset the so-called overflow labels, if any, POINTS TeX points
     from the right edge of the character bounding box.  The default is
     a little over two inches (ten million scaled points, to be
     precise).  Overflow equations are used to locate coordinates when
     their actual position is too crowded with other information.


File: web2c.info,  Node: mft invocation,  Prev: gftodvi invocation,  Up: Metafont

MFT: Prettyprinting Metafont source
===================================

  MFT translates a Metafont program into a TeX document suitable for
typesetting, with the aid of TeX macros defined in the file
`mftmac.tex'.  Synopsis:

     mft [OPTION]... MFNAME[.mf]

  MFT searches the usual places for MFNAME (*note Supported file
formats: (kpathsea)Supported file formats.).  To see all the relevant
paths, set the environment variable `KPATHSEA_DEBUG' to `-1' before
running the program.  The output goes to the basename of MFNAME extended
with `.tex', e.g., `mft /wherever/foo.mf' creates `./foo.tex'.

  Line breaks in the input are carried over into the output; moreover,
blank spaces at the beginning of a line are converted to quads of
indentation in the output. Thus, you have full control over the
indentation and line breaks. Each line of input is translated
independently of the others.

  Further control is allowed via Metafont comments:
   * Metafont comments following a single `%' should be valid TeX
     input.  But Metafont material can be included within vertical bars
     in a comment; this will be translated by MFT as if it were regular
     Metafont code.  For example, a comment like `% |x2r| is the tip of
     the bowl' will be translated into the TeX `% $x_{2r}$ is the ...',
     i.e., the `x2r' is treated as an identifier.

   * `%%' indicates that the remainder of an input line should be copied
     verbatim to the output.  This is typically used to introduce
     additional TeX material at the beginning or an MFT job, e.g. code
     to modify the standard layout or the formatting macros defined in
     `mftmac.tex', or to add a line saying `%%\bye' at the end of the
     job.  (MFT doesn't add this automatically in order to allow
     processing several files produces by MFT in the same TeX job.)

   * `%%% TOKEN1 OTHER-TOKENS' introduces a change in MFT's formatting
     rules; all the OTHER-TOKENS will henceforth be translated
     according to the current conventions for TOKEN1. The tokens must
     be symbolic (i.e., not numeric or string tokens). For example, the
     input line
          %%% addto fill draw filldraw

     says to format the `fill', `draw', and `filldraw' operations of
     plain Metafont just like the primitive token `addto', i.e., in
     boldface type.  Without such reformatting commands, MFT would
     treat `fill' like an ordinary tag or variable name.  In fact, you
     need a `%%%' command even to get parentheses to act like
     delimiters.

   * `%%%%' introduces an MFT comment, i.e., MFT ignores the remainder
     of such a line.

   * Five or more `%' signs should not be used.

  (The above description was edited from `mft.web', written by
D.E. Knuth.)

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-change=CHFILE[.ch]'
     Apply the change file CHFILE as with Tangle and Weave (*note
     WEB::.).

`-style=MFTFILE[.mft]'
     Read MFTFILE before anything else; a MFT style file typically
     contains only MFT directives as described above.  The default
     style file is named `plain.mft', which defines this properly for
     programs using plain Metafont.  The MFT files is searched along the
     `MFTINPUTS' path; see *Note Supported file formats:
     (kpathsea)Supported file formats.

     Other examples of MFT style files are `cmbase.mft', which defines
     formatting rules for the macros defined in `cm.base', and `e.mft',
     which was used in the production of Knuth's Volume E, `Computer
     Modern Typefaces'.

     Using an appropriate MFT style file, it is also possible to
     configure MFT for typesetting MetaPost sources.  However, MFT does
     not search the usual places for MetaPost input files.

  If you use eight-bit characters in the input file, they are passed on
verbatim to the TeX output file; it is up to you to configure TeX to
print these properly.


File: web2c.info,  Node: MetaPost,  Next: BibTeX,  Prev: Metafont,  Up: Top

MetaPost: Creating technical illustrations
******************************************

  MetaPost is a picture-drawing language similar to Metafont (*note
Metafont::.), but instead of outputting bitmaps in a "font", it outputs
PostScript commands.  It's primarily intended for creating technical
illustrations.

  MetaPost also provides for arbitrary integration of text and graphics
in a natural way, using any typesetter (TeX and Troff are both
supported) and a number of other subsidiary programs, described below.

* Menu:

* mpost invocation::            Invoking MetaPost.
* inimpost invocation::         Initial MetaPost.
* virmpost invocation::         Virgin MetaPost.
* makempx invocation::          Create MPX files for labels.
* dvitomp invocation::          DVI-to-MPX translation.
* dmp invocation::              Ditroff-to-MPX translation.
* mpto invocation::             Extracting labels from MetaPost programs.
* newer invocation::            Is one file newer than another?


File: web2c.info,  Node: mpost invocation,  Next: inimpost invocation,  Up: MetaPost

`mpost' invocation
==================

  MetaPost (installed as `mpost') reads a series of pictures specified
in the MetaPost programming language, and outputs corresponding
PostScript code.  This section merely describes the options available
in the Web2c implementation.  For a complete description of the
MetaPost language, see AT&T technical report CSTR-162, generally
available as the file `TEXMF/doc/metapost/mpman.ps', where TEXMF is the
root of TeX directory structure.  See also
`http://cm.bell-labs.com/who/hobby/MetaPost.html'.

  Also, a standard MetaPost package for drawing graphs is documented in
AT&T technical report CSTR-164, available as the file `mpgraph.ps',
generally stored alongside `mpman.ps'.

  MetaPost processes its command line and determines its memory dump
(mem) file in a way exactly analogous to Metafont and TeX (*note `tex'
invocation: tex invocation., and *note Memory dumps::.).  Synopses:

     mpost [OPTION]... [MPNAME[.mp]] [MP-COMMANDS]
     mpost [OPTION]... \FIRST-LINE
     mpost [OPTION]... &MEM ARGS

  MetaPost searches the usual places for the main input file MPNAME
(*note Supported file formats: (kpathsea)Supported file formats.),
extending MPNAME with `.mp' if necessary.  To see all the relevant
paths, set the environment variable `KPATHSEA_DEBUG' to `-1' before
running the program.

  MetaPost writes its PostScript output to a series of files
`BASEMPNAME.NNN' (or perhaps `BASEMPNAME.ps', very occasionally
`BASEMPNAME.tfm'), where NNN are the figure numbers specified in the
input, typically to the `beginfig' macro, and BASEMPNAME is the
basename of MPNAME, or `mpout' if no input file was specified.
MetaPost uses the `.ps' extension when the figure number is out of
range, e.g., if you say `beginfig(-1)'.

  You can use the output files as figures in a TeX document just as
with any other PostScript figures. For example, with this TeX command:
     \special{psfile="FILENAME"}

or by using `epsf.tex' (*note EPSF macros: (dvips)EPSF macros.).

  The MetaPost construct
     btex ... TEX-INPUT ... etex

calls MakeMPX to generate a MPX file containing a MetaPost picture
expression corresponding to TEX-INPUT (*note makempx invocation::.).

  The construct
     verbatimtex ... TEX-INPUT ... etex

simply passes the TEX-INPUT through to MakeMPX and thus to TeX. For
example, if you are using LaTeX, your MetaPost input file must start
with a `verbatimtex' block that gives the necessary `\documentclass'
(or `\documentstyle') `\begin{document}' command.  You will also need
to set the enviroment variable `TEX' to `latex' (*note makempx
invocation::.).

  TEX-INPUT need not be specifically TeX input; it could also be Troff.
In that case, you will need the `-m pictures' Troff macro package
(unfortunately absent from many Troff implementations), or an
equivalent such as the `-m pspic' macros from GNU groff described in
grops(1).

  Other typesetters can be supported with no change to MetaPost itself;
only MakeMPX needs to be updated.

  Naturally, you must use fonts that are supported by the typesetter;
specifically, you'll probably want to use standard PostScript fonts with
Troff.  And only the TeX system understands Computer Modern or other
Metafont fonts; you can also use PostScript fonts with TeX, of course.

  MetaPost-generated PostScript figures which do use Computer Modern
fonts for labels cannot be directly previewed or printed.  Instead, you
must include them in a TeX document and run the resulting DVI file
through Dvips to arrange for the downloading of the required fonts
(*note Fonts in figures: (dvips)Fonts in figures.).  To help with this,
the MetaPost distribution provides a small TeX file `mproof.tex' which
is typically called as:
     tex mproof MP-OUTPUT-FILES... ; dvips mproof -o

The resulting file `mproof.ps' can then be printed or previewed.

  To generate EPSF files, set the internal MetaPost variable
`prologues' positive.  To make the output files self-contained, use
only standard PostScript fonts.  MetaPost reads the same `psfonts.map'
file as Dvips, to determine PostScript fonts that need to be downloaded
(*note psfonts.map: (dvips)psfonts.map.).

  MetaPost can write output files, via the `write' primitive; this
opens a security hole.  *Note tex invocation::.

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-kpathsea-debug=NUMBER'
`-ini'
`-mem=MEMNAME'
`-progname=STRING'
     These options are common to TeX, Metafont, and MetaPost.  *Note
     Common options::.

`-T'
`-troff'
     Set the `prologues' internal variable to `1', and use `makempx
     -troff' to generate MPX files.


File: web2c.info,  Node: inimpost invocation,  Next: virmpost invocation,  Prev: mpost invocation,  Up: MetaPost

`inimpost' invocation
=====================

  `inimpost' is the "initial" form of MetaPost, which does lengthy
initializations avoided by the "virgin" (`vir') form, so as to be
capable of dumping `.mem' files (*note Memory dumps::.).  For a
detailed comparison of virgin and initial forms, see *Note Initial and
virgin::.

  For a list of options and other information, see *Note mpost
invocation::.

  The only memory dump file commonly used with MetaPost is the default,
`plain.mem', also known as `mpost.mem' (again, *note Memory dumps::.).
It is created by default during installation, but you can also do so by
hand if necessary (e.g., if a MetaPost update is issued):
     inimpost '\input plain dump'

(The quotes prevent interpretation of the backslashes from the shell.)
Then install the resulting `plain.mem' in `$(memdir)'
(`/usr/local/share/texmf/web2c' by default), and link `mpost.mem' to it.

  MetaPost also provides a mem file with all the features of plain
Metafont, called `mfplain.mem'.  You can create that in the same way;
just replace `plain' in the above command with `mfplain'.
`mfplain.mem' file lets you directly process Metafont source files with
MetaPost, producing character proofs (one file for each character)
similar to those produced with Metafont in proof mode and GFtoDVI
(*note gftodvi invocation::.).


File: web2c.info,  Node: virmpost invocation,  Next: makempx invocation,  Prev: inimpost invocation,  Up: MetaPost

`virmpost' invocation
=====================

  `virmpost' is the "virgin" form of MetaPost, which avoids the lengthy
initializations done by the "initial" (`ini') form, and is thus what is
generally used for production work.  For a detailed comparison of
virgin and initial forms, see *Note Initial and virgin::.

  For a list of options and other information, see *Note mpost
invocation::.


File: web2c.info,  Node: makempx invocation,  Next: dvitomp invocation,  Prev: virmpost invocation,  Up: MetaPost

MakeMPX: Support MetaPost labels
================================

  In MetaPost, labels can be typeset using any document processor; the
Web2c implementation supports TeX and Troff.  MakeMPX translates the
labels from the typesetting language back into low-level MetaPost
commands in a so-called "mpx file", so text can be manipulated like
other graphic objects.  It is invoked automatically by MetaPost.
Synopsis:

     makempx [-troff] MPFILE MPXFILE

The input comes from MPFILE (no path searching is done), and the output
goes to MPXFILE.  However, if the file MPXFILE already exists, and is
newer than MPFILE, then nothing is done (presumably the file is
up-to-date).

  Otherwise:
  1. MPto is run to extract the label text from the MetaPost source
     file MPFILE (*note mpto invocation::.).

  2. The typesetting program itself is run, either TeX or Troff (see
     below).  If TeX, and the file named by the `MPTEXPRE' environment
     variable exists (`mptexpre.tex' by default), that file is
     prepended to the input from the MetaPost file.

  3. The typesetter output (a DVI file in the case of TeX, Ditroff
     output for Troff) is translated back to MetaPost, by DVItoMP
     (*note dvitomp invocation::.) or DMP (*note dmp invocation::.)
     respectively.

  If any of the above steps fail, for example if there was a typesetting
mistake in the original MPFILE, output may be left in files named
`mpxerr.{log,tex,dvi}' (TeX) or `mpxerr{,.t}' (Troff), so you can
diagnose the problem.

  The `-troff' option to MPto selects the Troff commands, rather than
TeX.  MetaPost supplies this automatically if the `-T' or `-troff'
option was specified to MetaPost.

  The MPX file created by MakeMPX is a sequence of MetaPost picture
expressions, one for every label in the original MetaPost input file.

  The names of the commands run by MakeMPX, and the directory added to
the shell search `PATH' for the commands' location, are overridden by
environment variables.  Here is a list:

`MAKEMPX_BINDIR'
     The directory added to the `PATH'.  Default is the `$(bindir)'
     Make directory, which in turn is set from the configure-time
     `--bindir', `--exec-prefix' and `--prefix' options; if nothing
     else is specified, the default is file `/usr/local'.

`NEWER'
     The command run to determine if MPXFILE is out of date with respect
     to MPFILE; default is `newer'.

`MPTOTEX'
     The command run to extract MetaPost labels in TeX format; default
     is `mpto -tex'.

`MPTOTR'
     Likewise, for Troff; default is `mpto -troff'.

`DVITOMP'
     The command run to convert TeX output back to MetaPost; default is
     `dvitomp'.

`DMP'
     Likewise, for Troff; default is `dmp'.

`TEX'
     The command run to typeset the labels in TeX; default is `tex'.
     If you use LaTeX, set this to `latex', and supply an appropriate
     `verbatimtex' header in the MP source (*note mpost invocation::.).

`TROFF'
     Likewise, for Troff; default is `'eqn -d\$\$ | troff -Tpost''.  You
     may need to replace `-Tpost' by `-TTERM', where TERM is the
     PostScript device name for your Troff implementation, e.g., `ps'
     or `psc'; see troff(1).

     If you change this, you will also need to set the `TRFONTS'
     environment variable or configuration value to point to the
     appropriate font directory, traditionally `/usr/lib/font/devTERM'.


File: web2c.info,  Node: dvitomp invocation,  Next: dmp invocation,  Prev: makempx invocation,  Up: MetaPost

DVItoMP: DVI to MPX conversion
==============================

  DVItoMP converts DVI files into low-level MetaPost commands in a
so-called MPX file.  This program is generally invoked only by MakeMPX
(*note makempx invocation::.).  Synopsis:

     dvitomp DVIFILE[.dvi] [MPXFILE[.mpx]]

If MPXFILE is not specified, the output goes to the basename of DVIFILE
extended with `.mpx', e.g., `dvitomp /wherever/foo.dvi' creates
`./foo.mpx'.

  The only options are `-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.).


File: web2c.info,  Node: dmp invocation,  Next: mpto invocation,  Prev: dvitomp invocation,  Up: MetaPost

DMP: Ditroff to MPX conversion
==============================

  DMP converts device-independent Troff (ditroff) output files into
low-level MetaPost commands in a so-called MPX file.  This program is
generally invoked by MakeMPX (*note makempx invocation::.).  Synopsis:

     dmp [DITROFF-FILE [MPXFILE]]

If DITROFF-FILE is not specified, input comes from standard input; and
if MPXFILE is not specified, output goes to standard output.

  DMP was written to process the output of a Troff pipeline fed the
output of `mpto -troff' (*note mpto invocation::.).  DMP understands all
the `DC' graphics functions that `dpost' does, but it ignores `x X'
device control functions such as `x X SetColor:...', `x X BeginPath:',
and `x X DrawPath:...'.

  The available font names are defined in the support file
`trfonts.map', which DMP looks for along the `MPSUPPORT' path.

  Another support file `trchars.adj', also looked for along the
`MPSUPPORT' path, contains a character adjustment table which should
reflect the shift amounts found in the standard PostScript prologue for
Troff and dpost found in the `TRFONTS' directory.  Such an adjustment
table is unnecessary for some Troff implementations, in which case
`trchars.adj' should be replaced by an empty file--but it must still
exist.

  DMP was written for one particular Troff implementation, and it
unfortunately has many built-in assumptions about the output and fonts
file formats used by Troff, which may not be satisfied in other
environments.  In particular, GNU groff uses some extensions in its file
formats described in groff_font(5) and groff_out(5) which make its
output completely unusable for DMP.  On the other hand, the Troff
version found in Sun Solaris 2.x, and perhaps other systems derived from
System V R4, works fine with the default settings.

  If you run into trouble and want to adapt DMP to other systems, you
might have to try the following (this is primarily for hackers):

   * If DMP complains about a missing font table (e.g., `Cannot find
     TR'), your Troff may not support the device `post'.

     Check troff(1) for the devices supported by your Troff and set the
     `TROFF' environment variable appropriately (see above).  Also,
     locate the appropriate font directory and set the `TRFONTS'
     variable as needed.

   * If DMP complains about a missing font description file (e.g., `Font
     TR was not in map file'), your version of Troff may be using
     internal font names different from those in the distributed
     `trfonts.map'; e.g., TR and TI instead of R and I for Times-Roman
     and Times-Italic.

     In this case, you may have to adapt `trfonts.map' and perhaps also
     `trchars.adj' in the MetaPost support directory
     (`texmf/metapost/support' by default).

   * If DMP still complains that it cannot parse the font description
     files or the Troff output (e.g., `TR has a bad line in its
     description file', you are probably out of luck and have to hack
     the DMP program (in `web2c/mpware/dmp.c').

     Such problems may be caused by subtle differences in the file
     formats, such as use of tabs vs. spaces as field separators or
     decimal vs. octal vs. hex format for font metric data.

     A reasonably good description of the expected Troff file formats
     can be found in AT&T technical report CSTR-54 (`Troff User's
     Manual', Revised 1992).  Documentation on the subtle differences
     in other Troff implementation is harder to find except for GNU
     groff, where it's all documented in the above-mentioned
     groff_font(5) and groff_out(5).

     Any contributions to improve the portability of DMP or to make it
     work with GNU groff are welcome, of course.

  (Some of the above description was edited from the `dmp.c' source
file, written by John Hobby.)

  The only options are `--help' and `--version' (*note Common
options::.).


File: web2c.info,  Node: mpto invocation,  Next: newer invocation,  Prev: dmp invocation,  Up: MetaPost

MPto: Extract labels from MetaPost input
========================================

  MPto extracts the labels from a MetaPost input file; this is the
contents of any `btex...etex' and `verbatimtex...etex' sections.  This
program is generally invoked by MakeMPX (*note makempx invocation::.).
Synopsis:

     mpto [OPTION]... MPFILE

The input comes from MPFILE; no path searching is done.  The output
goes to standard output.  Leading and trailing spaces and tabs are
removed, and various predefined typesetter commands are included at the
beginning of and end of the file and of each section.

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-troff'
     Surround the MetaPost sections with Troff commands.

`-tex'
     Surround the MetaPost sections with TeX commands. This is the
     default.


File: web2c.info,  Node: newer invocation,  Prev: mpto invocation,  Up: MetaPost

Newer: Compare file modification times
======================================

  Newer compares file modification times.  Synopsis:

     newer SRC DEPENDENT

Newer exits successfully if the file SRC exists and is older as
DEPENDENT, i.e., the modification time (mtime) of SRC is greater than
that of DEPENDENT.  *Note Attribute Meanings: (libc)Attribute Meanings.

  Although this could be written as a Perl script (*note File
Operations: (perl)File Operations.) or using the `--full-time' option
supported by `ls' (*note ls invocation: (fileutils)ls invocation.), it
seems undesirable to depend on such independent, and sadly
non-universal, programs.

  This is used by MakeMPX (*note makempx invocation::.).


File: web2c.info,  Node: BibTeX,  Next: WEB,  Prev: MetaPost,  Up: Top

BibTeX: Bibliographies
**********************

  BibTeX automates much of the job of typesetting bibliographies, and
makes bibliography entries reusable in many different contexts.

* Menu:

* bibtex invocation::
* Basic BibTeX style files::    The standard and semi-standard styles.


File: web2c.info,  Node: bibtex invocation,  Next: Basic BibTeX style files,  Up: BibTeX

BibTeX invocation
=================

  BibTeX creates a printable bibliography (`.bbl') file from references
in a `.aux' file, generally written by TeX or LaTeX.  The `.bbl' file
is then incorporated on a subsequent run.  The basic bibliographic
information comes from `.bib' files, and a BibTeX style (`.bst') file
controls the precise contents of the `.bbl' file.  Synopsis:

     bibtex [OPTION]... AUXFILE[.aux]

The output goes to the basename of AUXFILE extended with `.bbl'; for
example, `bibtex /wherever/foo.aux' creates `./foo.bbl'.  BibTeX also
writes a log file to the basename of AUXFILE extended with `.blg'.

  The names of the `.bib' and `.bst' files are specified in the `.aux'
file as well, via the `\bibliography' and `\bibliographystyle' (La)TeX
macros.  BibTeX searches for `.bib' files using the `BIBINPUTS' and
`TEXBIB' paths, and for `.bst' files using `BSTINPUTS' (*note Supported
file formats: (kpathsea)Supported file formats.).  It does no path
searching for `.aux' files.

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-terse'
     Suppress the program banner and progress reports normally output.

`-min-crossrefs=N'
     If at least N (2 by default) bibliography entries refer to another
     entry E via their `crossref' field, include E in the .bbl file,
     even if it was not explicitly referenced in the .aux file. For
     example, E might be a conference proceedings as a whole, with the
     cross-referencing entries being individual articles published in
     the proceedings.  In some circumstances, you may want to avoid
     these automatic inclusions altogether; to do this, make N a
     sufficiently large number.

  See also:
`btxdoc.tex'
     Basic LaTeXable documentation for general BibTeX users.

`btxhak.tex'
     LaTeXable documentation for style designers.

`btxdoc.bib'
     BibTeX database file for the two above documents.

`xampl.bib'
     Example database file with all the standard entry types.

``ftp://ftp.math.utah.edu/pub/tex/bib/''
     A very large `.bib' and `.bst' collection, including references
     for all the standard TeX books and a complete bibliography for
     TUGboat.


File: web2c.info,  Node: Basic BibTeX style files,  Prev: bibtex invocation,  Up: BibTeX

Basic BibTeX style files
========================

  Here are descriptions of the four standard and four semi-standard
basic BibTeX styles.  `CTAN:/biblio/bibtex' contains these and many
more (for CTAN info, *note unixtex.ftp: (kpathsea)unixtex.ftp.).

`plain'
     Sorts entries alphabetically, with numeric labels.  Generally
     formatted according to van Leunen's `A Handbook for Scholars'.
     The other style files listed here are based on `plain'.

`abbrv'
     First names, month names, and journal names are abbreviated.

`acm'
     Names are printed in small caps.

`alpha'
     Alphanumeric labels, e.g., `Knu66'.

`apalike'
     No labels at all; instead, the year appears in parentheses after
     the author.  Should be used in conjunction with `apalike.tex'
     (plain TeX) or `apalike.sty' (LaTeX), which also changes the
     citations in the text to be `(AUTHOR, YEAR)'.

`ieeetr'
     Numeric labels, entries in citation order, IEEE abbreviations,
     article titles in quotes.

`siam'
     Numeric labels, alphabetic order, `Math. Reviews' abbreviations,
     names in small caps.

`unsrt'
     Lists entries in citation order, i.e., unsorted.

`btxbst.doc'
     The template file and documentation for the standard styles.


File: web2c.info,  Node: WEB,  Next: DVI utilities,  Prev: BibTeX,  Up: Top

WEB: Literate programming
*************************

  "WEB" languages allow you to write a single source file that can
produce both a compilable program and a well-formatted document
describing the program in as much detail as you wish to prepare.
Writing in this kind of dual-purpose language is called "literate
programming".  (The Usenet newsgroup `comp.programming.literate' and
the mailing list <litprog@shsu.edu> are devoted to this subject; they
are gatewayed to each other.)

  WEB-like languages have been implemented with many pairs of base
languages: Cweb provides C and Troff (*note References::.); CWEB
provides C and TeX (`CTAN:/web/c_cpp/cweb'); Spiderweb provides C, C++,
Awk, Ada, many others, and TeX (`CTAN:/web/spiderweb'); and, of course,
the original WEB provides Pascal and TeX, the implementation languages
for the original TeX, Metafont, MetaPost, and related programs to come
from the TeX project at Stanford.

  The original WEB language is documented in the file `webman.tex',
which is included in the `ftp://ftp.tug.org/tex/lib.tar.gz' archive
(and available in many other places, of course).

* Menu:

* tangle invocation::
* weave invocation::
* pooltype invocation::


File: web2c.info,  Node: tangle invocation,  Next: weave invocation,  Up: WEB

Tangle: Translate WEB to Pascal
===============================

  Tangle creates a compilable Pascal program from a WEB source file
(*note WEB::.).  Synopsis:

     tangle [OPTION]... WEBFILE[.web] [CHANGEFILE[.ch]]

The Pascal output is written to the basename of WEBFILE extended with
`.p'; for example, `tangle /wherever/foo.web' creates `./foo.p'.
Tangle applies CHANGEFILE to WEBFILE before writing the output; by
default, there is no change file.

  If the program makes use of the WEB string facility, Tangle writes the
string pool to the basename of WEBFILE extended with `.pool'.

  The Pascal output is packed into lines of 72 characters or less, with
the only concession to readability being the termination of lines at
semicolons when this can be done conveniently.

  The only options are `--help' and `--version' (*note Common
options::.).


File: web2c.info,  Node: weave invocation,  Next: pooltype invocation,  Prev: tangle invocation,  Up: WEB

Weave: Translate WEB to TeX
===========================

  Weave creates a TeX document from a WEB source file (*note WEB::.),
assuming various macros defined in `webmac.tex'.   It takes care of
typographic details such as page layout, indentation, and italicizing
identifiers.  It also automatically gathers and outputs extensive
cross-reference information.  Synopsis:

     weave [OPTION]... WEBFILE[.web] [CHANGEFILE[.ch]]

The output is to the basename of WEBFILE extended with `.tex'; for
example, `weave /wherever/foo.web' creates `./foo.tex'.  Weave applies
CHANGEFILE to WEBFILE before writing the output; by default, there is
no change file.

  The program accepts the following option, as well as the standard
`-verbose', `-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-x'
     Omit the cross-reference information: the index, the list of WEB
     module names, and the table of contents (an empty `CONTENTS.tex'
     file will still be written when the Weave output file is processed
     by TeX using the default `webmac.tex', though).

  Conventionally, WEB programmers should define the TeX `\title' macro
at the beginning of the source file.  Also, to get output of only
changed modules, one can say `\let\maybe=\iffalse' (usually as the
first change in the change file).


File: web2c.info,  Node: pooltype invocation,  Prev: weave invocation,  Up: WEB

Pooltype: Display WEB pool files
================================

  Pooltype shows the so-called "string number" of each string in a WEB
pool file (*note WEB::.), as output by Tangle (*note tangle
invocation::.), including the first 256 strings corresponding to the
possible input characters.  Pooltype primarily serves as an example of
WEB conventions to implementors of the TeX system.  Synopsis:

     pooltype [OPTION]... POOLFILE[.pool]

No path searching is done for POOLFILE.  Output is to standard output.

  The only options are `--help' and `--version' (*note Common
options::.).

  As an example of the output, here is the (edited) output for
`tex.pool':
     0: "^^@"
     1: "^^A"
     ...
     255: "^^ff"
     256: "pool size"
     ...
     1314: "Using character substitution: "
     (23617 characters in all.)

  In Metafont and MetaPost, the first 256 characters are actually
represented as single bytes (i.e., themselves), not in the `^^'
notation.  Consider Pooltype as showing the results after conversion for
output.


File: web2c.info,  Node: DVI utilities,  Next: Font utilities,  Prev: WEB,  Up: Top

DVI utilities
*************

  TeX outputs a file in "DVI" (DeVice Independent) format as a compact
representation of the original document.  DVI files can be translated
to meet the requirements of a real physical device, such as PostScript
printers (*note Introduction: (dvips)Top.), PCL printers (see
dvilj(1)), and X displays (see xdvi(1)).  In fact, DVI translators are
available for virtually all common devices: see `CTAN:/dviware' (for
CTAN info, *note unixtex.ftp: (kpathsea)unixtex.ftp.).

  For the precise definition of the DVI file format, see (for example)
the source file `web2c/dvitype.web'.

  The DVI-processing programs in the Web2c distribution are not device
drivers; they perform generic utility functions.

* Menu:

* dvicopy invocation::          Expand virtual fonts.
* dvitype invocation::          DVI to human-readable text.


File: web2c.info,  Node: dvicopy invocation,  Next: dvitype invocation,  Up: DVI utilities

DVIcopy: Canonicalize virtual font references
=============================================

  DVIcopy reads a DVI file, expands any references to virtual fonts
(*note Virtual fonts: (dvips)Virtual fonts.) to base fonts, and writes
the resulting DVI file.  Thus you can use virtual fonts even if your DVI
processor does not support them, by passing the documents through
DVIcopy first.  Synopsis:

     dvicopy [OPTION]... [INDVI[.dvi] [OUTDVI[.dvi]]]

  DVIcopy reads standard input if INDVI is not specified, and writes
standard output if OUTDVI is not specified.

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (*note Common options::.):
`-magnification=INTEGER'
     Override existing magnification in INDVI with INTEGER; 1000
     specifies no magnification.  This is equivalent to setting TeX's
     `\mag' parameter.

`-max-pages=N'
     Process N pages; default is one million.

`-page-start=PAGE-SPEC'
     Start at the first page matching PAGE-SPEC, which is one or more
     (signed) integers separated by periods, corresponding to TeX's
     `\count0...9' parameters at `\shipout' time; `*' matches anything.
     Examples: `3', `1.*.-4'.


Bell Labs OSI certified Powered by Plan 9

(Return to Plan 9 Home Page)

Copyright © 2021 Plan 9 Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
Comments to webmaster@9p.io.