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                            Overview of Ghostscript

   This document is a roadmap to the Ghostscript documentation. After

   looking through it, if you want to install Ghostscript and not only

   use it, we recommend you read how to install Ghostscript, and how to

   compile Ghostscript from source code (which is necessary before

   installing it on Unix and VMS systems).

     _________________________________________________________________

Table of contents

     * Document roadmap by theme

          + What should I read if I'm a new user?

          + AFPL Ghostscript and GPL Ghostscript

          + Before building Ghostscript

          + What should I read if I'm not a new user?

          + What if I'm a developer?

          + What if I'm writing documentation?

     * Presence on the World Wide Web

          + Ghostscript's home pages

          + Adobe PostScript, Encapsulated PostScript, and PDF reference

            documentation

          + Other material on the WWW

     * Which document contains what?

          + Primarily for users:

   Bug-form.htm

   Bug-info.htm

   Deprecated.htm

   Devices.htm

       Helpers.htm

   Humor.htm

   Ps2epsi.htm

       Ps2pdf.htm

   Ps2ps2.htm

   Readme.htm

   Unix-lpr.htm

   Use.htm

          + For both users and developers:

   Changes.htm

   Commprod.htm

   Copying.htm

   Fonts.htm

   Hershey.htm

       History*.htm

   Install.htm

   Language.htm

   Make.htm

       News.htm

   Psfiles.htm

   Public.htm

          + Primarily for developers:

   API.htm

   C-style.htm

   DLL.htm

   Develop.htm

   Drivers.htm

       Htmstyle.htm

   Issues.htm

   Lib.htm

   Maintain.htm

   Projects.htm

       Ps-style.htm

   Release.htm

   Source.htm

   Testing.htm

   Xfonts.htm

     _________________________________________________________________

Document roadmap by theme

  What should I read if I'm a new user?

     * how to use Ghostscript. This includes both a quickstart

       introduction to the commandline version and more extensive

       reference material.

     * detailed information about specific devices that Ghostscript can

       use for output

     * information about reporting problems--but remember that

       Ghostscript comes with NO WARRANTY and NO SUPPORT

     * more detailed information about how to use Ghostscript under Unix

       with lpr as a filter for printing

  AFPL Ghostscript and GPL Ghostscript

   AFPL Ghostscript and GPL Ghostscript are different releases. If you

   have AFPL Ghostscript, not the GPL Ghostscript releases, you should

   read (or at least skim through):

     * additional information about AFPL Ghostscript releases that is not

       relevant to GPL Ghostscript releases.

   If you run into any questions, or if you are going to be using

   Ghostscript extensively, you should at least skim, and probably

   eventually read:

     * about the fonts distributed with Ghostscript, including how to add

       or replace fonts

     * a description of the Ghostscript language, and its differences

       from the documented PostScript language

     * about the postscript files distributed with Ghostscript (other

       than fonts)

  Before building Ghostscript

   If you are going to compile Ghostscript from source, rather than just

   use an executable you got from somewhere, you may want to read:

     * how to build Ghostscript and install it

     _________________________________________________________________

What should I read if I'm not a new user?

   If you have already used Ghostscript, when you receive a new release

   you should begin by reading this file, then

     * News.htm, for incompatible changes and new features in the current

       release;

     * if you wish, Changes.htm, for a detailed list of changes in the

       current release;

     * if you wish, History#.htm (currently History8.htm), for changes in

       other releases.

     _________________________________________________________________

What if I'm a developer?

   If you are going to do any development on or with Ghostscript at all,

   you should at least look at

     * the roadmap documentation for Ghostscript's source files and

       architecture

   If you are going to write a new driver for Ghostscript, you should

   read

     * the guide to the Ghostscript source code

     * the interface between Ghostscript and device drivers

     * about the external font interface between Ghostscript and

       platform-supplied fonts

   If you are considering distributing Ghostscript (either AFPL or GPL

   versions) in conjunction with a commercial product, you should read

   the license carefully, and you should also read

     * additional clarification of the circumstances under which

       Ghostscript can be distributed with a commercial product

   If you intend to use Ghostscript in the form of a dynamic link library

   (DLL) under OS/2 or Microsoft Windows or in the form of shared object

   under Linux, read

     * documentation on Ghostscript Interpreter API

   If you want to use Ghostscript as part of another program--as a

   callable PostScript language interpreter--and not as a DLL or as a

   self-contained executable application, you should begin by reading

     * the source file imain.h, the documented API for Ghostscript not as

       a DLL

   or if you are going to use only the Ghostscript graphics library,

     * about the structure of the Ghostscript library and its interfaces

     _________________________________________________________________

What if I'm writing documentation?

   If you are editing or adding to Ghostscript's existing documentation

   in HTML format, or writing a new document, you should read

     * the coding and style guidelines for Ghostscript's HTML-based

       documentation.

     _________________________________________________________________

Presence on the World Wide Web

  Ghostscript's home page

   Ghostscript has a home page on the World Wide Web with helpful

   information such as the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and a list of

   known problems and workarounds for the current AFPL Ghostscript

   release (in the "Obtaining" file for that release):

     http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/

   More material about Ghostscript can be found at

     http://www.ghostscript.com/

  Adobe PostScript, Encapsulated PostScript, and PDF reference documentation

   Adobe makes a wealth of technical documentation available over the

   Web, including the PostScript Language Reference Manual (Third

   Edition); the Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) Format Specification

   version 3, including Encapsulated PostScript Interchange (EPSI)

   format; the PDF Reference manuals. The Acrobat SDK contains pdfmark

   and Acrobat Distiller parameters documentation. Some of these

   documents are also available at Adobe's ftp site, but not necessarily

   under the same filenames.

  Other material on the WWW

   Much other material about Ghostscript is available on the World Wide

   Web, both as web pages and as archived Usenet and mailing list

   discussions. Use the well-known search engines to find such material.

   There is a translation of the Ghostscript 'man' pages into Czech at:

     http://www.volny.cz/rebus/ghostscript/

     _________________________________________________________________

Which document contains what?

   Here is the list in alphabetic order of Ghostscript documentation,

   with explanations of the contents.

   API.htm

          On MS-Windows and OS/2, Ghostscript is compiled as a dynamic

          link library (DLL). On Linux, Ghostscript can be compiled as a

          shared object. This describes how to use it. For developers.

   Bug-form.htm

          A form to fill out and email to report a problem with AFPL

          Ghostscript--but remember that Ghostscript comes with NO

          WARRANTY and NO SUPPORT. Please read the instructions before

          reporting a bug.

   Bug-info.htm

          Information about how to report problems with AFPL

          Ghostscript--but remember that Ghostscript comes with NO

          WARRANTY and NO SUPPORT. Please read this before reporting a

          problem.

   C-style.htm

          Guidelines and style for C coding, which you should follow if,

          for example, you write a new driver or add or change something

          in Ghostscript. For developers.

   Changes.htm

          A detailed list of all code changes in the current release or

          pre-release, generated mechanically from the CVS logs. For

          developers.

   Commprod.htm

          The conditions under which Ghostscript may be distributed in a

          commercial context. See also the Aladdin Free Public License.

   Copying.htm

          A reminder that AFPL Ghostscript is governed NOT by the Free

          Software Foundation's GNU General Public License but by the

          Aladdin Free Public License.

   DLL.htm

          On OS/2, MS Windows-16 and MS Windows-32 platforms, Ghostscript

          is compiled as a dynamic link library (DLL). This describes how

          to use it. For developers. This DLL interface is obsolete. Use

          API.htm instead.

   Develop.htm

          Code orientation for developers. Contains a detailed breakdown

          of the source files by functional group, and overviews of the

          major architectural features and services.

   Deprecated.htm

          Documention for deprecated devices and features. Features

          described here will be removed in future versions of

          Ghostscript.

   Devices.htm

          Detailed information about some specific devices for which

          Ghostscript can produce output. Run "gs -h" to see which

          devices a particular version of Ghostscript is built to use.

   Drivers.htm

          Describes the interface between Ghostscript and device drivers.

          If you do this, you should also read and use the C style and

          coding guidelines. Necessary to develop a new driver. For

          developers.

   Fonts.htm

          All about fonts freely available for Ghostscript, and how to

          add and use new fonts. Also describes how to use Ghostscript

          fonts as X Windows fonts. For both users and developers.

   Helpers.htm

          A note of thanks to people who have helped in the development

          of Ghostscript.

   Hershey.htm

          Part 1 of the five-part original Usenet distribution of the

          free Hershey fonts, giving the terms of use and describing

          their encoding.

   History*.htm

          The history of changes in all Ghostscript releases:

     History8.htm for Ghostscript versions 8.n

     History7.htm for Ghostscript versions 7.n

     History6.htm for Ghostscript versions 6.n

     History5.htm for Ghostscript versions 5.n

     History4.htm for Ghostscript versions 4.n

     History3.htm for Ghostscript versions 3.n

     History2.htm for Ghostscript versions 2.n

     History1.htm for Ghostscript versions 1.n

   Htmstyle.htm

          The guidelines and style for HTML coding of Ghostscript's

          documentation, which you should follow if, for example, you

          change existing HTML documentation or write new documents. For

          writers and editors.

   Humor.htm

          Another Ghostscript interpreter.

   Install.htm

          How to install Ghostscript. See also how to build it.

   Issues.htm

          A list of outstanding open issues in Ghostscript. These include

          known limitations, minor bugs, performance issues, differences

          from Adobe implementations, and others.

   Language.htm

          The relationship between the Ghostscript interpreter and the

          PostScript language as defined by Adobe.

   Lib.htm

          A description of the Ghostscript library, a set of procedures

          to implement the graphics and filtering capabilities that are

          primitive operations in the PostScript language and in Adobe

          Portable Document Format (PDF). For developers.

   Maintain.htm

          Assorted Ghostscript maintenance procedures. For developers.

   Make.htm

          How to build Ghostscript executables from the source code. See

          also how to install it. It's not necessary to be a highly

          experienced developer to build or install Ghostscript, but some

          experience is needed.

   News.htm

          A brief description of the latest release or pre-release of

          Ghostscript, and a list of any incompatible changes in it.

          Changes in older releases are described in the history files

          "History*.htm", which are usually installed in the

          documentation directory. Run "gs -h" to see where that is.

   Projects.htm

          A list of Ghostscript development projects with which we would

          like help.

   Ps-style.htm

          The guidelines and style for postscript coding in Ghostscript.

          Some of Ghostscript is implemented in the postscript language

          itself, and various utilities and examples are distributed with

          it. You should follow these guidelines if you're extending or

          modifying those files. For developers.

   Ps2epsi.htm

          Detailed information on how to use Ghostscript through ps2epsi

          to convert PostScript to Adobe Encapsulated PostScript

          Interchange (EPSI) format.

   Ps2pdf.htm

          Detailed information on how to use Ghostscript through ps2pdf

          to convert PostScript to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

   Ps2ps2.htm

          Detailed information on how to use Ghostscript through ps2ps2

          to convert Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) or Adobe

          Postscript Level 3 into Adobe Postscript Level 2.

   Psfiles.htm

          A description of the PostScript files (other than font files)

          distributed with Ghostscript, including initialization

          routines, utility programs, and sample printable files.

   Public.htm

          The Aladdin Free Public License, which states the conditions

          for using and redistributing AFPL Ghostscript.

   Readme.htm

          This document.

   Release.htm

          A description of how to prepare and test a Ghostscript release.

          Of interest only to developers who want to create new

          Ghostscript versions for distribution.

   Source.htm

          A guide to the Ghostscript source code, for development and

          debugging.

   Testing.htm

          Documentation for using the test scripts located in the

          toolbin/tests directory, and conventions for writing new

          testing scripts.

   Unix-lpr.htm

          How to set up Ghostscript as a Unix lpr filter.

   Use.htm

          Detailed instructions on how to use Ghostscript, including such

          matters as designating an output device; choosing a default

          paper size; how Ghostscript finds files, including font files;

          how it uses environment variables; notes on specific platforms,

          including the X Window System; and command-line options.

   Xfonts.htm

          Ghostscript's external font interface to a host platform's

          font-rendering mechanism, for developers.

     _________________________________________________________________

   Copyright © 1996-2002 artofcode LLC. All rights reserved.

   This software is provided AS-IS with no warranty, either express or

   implied. This software is distributed under license and may not be

   copied, modified or distributed except as expressly authorized under

   the terms of the license contained in the file LICENSE in this

   distribution. For more information about licensing, please refer to

   http://www.ghostscript.com/licensing/. For information on commercial

   licensing, go to http://www.artifex.com/licensing/ or contact Artifex

   Software, Inc., 101 Lucas Valley Road #110, San Rafael, CA 94903,

   U.S.A., +1(415)492-9861.

   Ghostscript version 8.53, 20 October 2005