Amiga Version of GhostScript 1.2 Changes to this version were preformed by Stephen Vermeulen, complete source code for this version is available by writing Stephen Vermeulen Apt. 6 - 2312 - 22 St. N.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2M 3W4. And including either a check for $10.00 or a $5.00 check and 2 disks. Source code may be further redistributed under the terms of the GNU License. Memory Requirements: This version of GhostScript requires around 1Meg to run, and may need even more depending on the complexity of the page and the printer resolution being used. If you are using a 24 pin printer you may need as much as 1.3Megs more to run it in the higher density modes. It is recommended that you first try using GhostScript in the screen preview (-s) mode (this needs the least memory) and then try using it with Preferences set to the LOWEST density setting (1) in the Graphics 2 screen of preferences. you might also need to use a 10,000 byte stack. This is what I normally use so I don't know if you can get away with less. Use: To use the files in this zoo file, put all the files in the same directory and then assign T: to a directory where GhostScript can write a small temporary file. On the Amiga you run GhostScript with a command simliar to GS which will just print the source code source message, or GS -s which will start GhostScript and send output to a custom screen and will await PostScript commands from the user. Or, GS input.ps -s **** **** Note: it is normal to get a cannot find GS.MAP error, ignore it. **** Where "input.ps" is the name of a file containing a PostScript language document to be printed or displayed. You may have a number of files on the command line separated by spaces. The "-s" switch on the end of the line specifies the output device and is mandetory. The following output devices are supported: -s A custom screen that is interlaced and sized to the max display dimensions. To see the actual dimensions employed take a look at the t:ghost_init.ps file that is created after the program has run. Since this is a preview mode the quality will be VERY poor. Also the output will pause at the end of each page until you click the mouse somewhere in the preview screen. This mode is most useful when learning how to program in PostScript since it gives you nearly immediate, paperless, feedback. Remember to issue the "stroke" command to get your work actually painted on the display... -p Use the Amiga's printer device for printing the result. GhostScript will read the current preferences graphics settings and determine the correct bitmap size to use. GhostScript will then render to that bitmap and every time a "showpage" command is found will dump the bitmap to the printer. You can control the page size by changing the "Density" (1/2/3/4/5/6/7) settings and the "Limits" (Ignore/Bounded/Absolute/Pixels) settings in the "Graphics 2" screen of Preferences. Avoid settings where the pixel aspect ratio is extreme (probably over 2), as is the case with EpsonX and Density 3, these will cause GhostScript to toss its cookies... (luckily it does not seem to GURU in these cases) The following switches apply to anyone who has a LazerXpress printer from CLtd, or who has a copy of Express Paint 3.0. For these to work you need to have the VirtualPage.Library installed in your LIBS: drawer. In this case there is an extended syntax, for example: GS file.ps [-xNNNN] [-yMMMM] -vn The -x and -y switches are optional, they must each be immediately followed by a number, and if present they must PRECEED the mode selection switch (-vn, -vp, -wn, or -wp) and follow any file names or regular GhostScript switches. Only one mode selection switch is allowed, and it must be the LAST item on the command line. If a mode selection switch does not appear an error message will result. -xNNNN specifies the width of the virtual page in pixels. If it is not present then a default of 2448 will be used (ie. -x2448). This number should be a multiple of 16 (hardware reasons) and GhostScript will make it so by masking off the lower 4 bits (this rounds down the number). -yMMMM specifies the height of the virtual page in pixels If it is not present the default value of 3204 will be used. The following mode selection switches are used for virtual page printing control: -vn Render the output to a virtual page, but do NOT print it or erase the page when a "showpage" command is issued. This is useful for using GhostScript as a front end to Express Paint (or another virtual page supporting program). In this mode you can fire up GhostScript, print a page and then edit that page further in Express Paint 3.0 by starting Express Paint after GhostScript has started and selecting GhostScript's virtual page from Express Paint's startup window. To print the virtual page you can use Express Paint's printer tool, and you can save the result as an IFF picture file if you wish. -vp This renders the output and prints it using the virtual page library's printer support function. When a "showpage" command is reached this mode will print the page (this will take about 10 seconds for a LazerXpress system) and it will then erase the page and start rendering the next page. Note: the current LazerXpress will probably print a white on BLACK (negative) image with this switch. -wn Render the output to a virtual page and then invert it (flip all the bits) but do not print it. This is the companion to -vn, except it will flip the bits resulting in a negative of what -vn produces, depending on your normal editing colours this negative may actually be a positive... -wp Render the output, invert it (make a negative) and then print it using the virtual page library's printer function. This is the companion to -vp but on a LazerXpress system is the correct mode to use since it will produce black on white pages. Examples: This zoo distribution contains two example files, both of which were derived from my thesis: mesh2.ps is a single page PostScript file containing text and graphics. mesh.ps is a six page PostScript file containing text and graphics, mesh2.ps is the second page of this file both files were created with AmigaTeX on the Amiga and the graphics were imported from FrameMaker on the SUN. As such they give GhostScript a pretty good workout and show some of its flaws. Exiting: When GhostScript is done you will be looking at a "GS>" prompt, at this point you can issue PostScript commands or can return to the CLI by typing quit You might also try typing the following at the prompt: 100 100 moveto 600 600 lineto stroke showpage and see what happens... Have fun... Stephen Vermeulen May 1989.