<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"><html><head><title>Overview of Ghostscript</title><!-- $Id: Readme.htm,v 1.71 2005/10/20 19:46:23 ray Exp $ --><!-- Originally: README --><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="gs.css" title="Ghostscript Style"></head> <body><!-- [1.0 begin visible header] ============================================ --> <!-- [1.1 begin headline] ================================================== --> <h1>Overview of Ghostscript</h1> <!-- [1.1 end headline] ==================================================== --> <!-- [1.3 begin hint] ====================================================== --> <p>This document is a roadmap to the Ghostscript documentation.After looking through it, if you want to install Ghostscript and not onlyuse it, we recommend you read <a href="Install.htm">how to installGhostscript</a>, and <a href="Make.htm">how to compile Ghostscript</a> fromsource code (which is necessary before installing it on Unix and VMSsystems). <!-- [1.3 end hint] ======================================================== --> <hr> <!-- [1.2 begin table of contents] ========================================= --> <h2>Table of contents</h2> <blockquote><ul><li><a href="#Theme_roadmap">Document roadmap by theme</a><ul><li><a href="#New_users">What should I read if I'm a new user?</a><li><a href="#Two_Ghostscripts">AFPL Ghostscript and GPL Ghostscript</a><li><a href="#Before_building">Before building Ghostscript</a><li><a href="#Not_a_new_user">What should I read if I'm not a new user?</a><li><a href="#Developer">What if I'm a developer?</a><li><a href="#Writer">What if I'm writing documentation?</a></ul><li><a href="#Web_presence">Presence on the World Wide Web</a><ul><li><a href="#Web_home_page">Ghostscript's home pages</a><li><a href="#Adobe_documentation">Adobe PostScript, EncapsulatedPostScript, and PDF reference documentation</a><li><a href="#Web_other">Other material on the WWW</a></ul><li><a href="#Ordered_roadmap">Which document contains what?</a><ul><li>Primarily for users:<blockquote><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td valign=top><a href="#Bug-form">Bug-form.htm</a><br><a href="#Bug-info">Bug-info.htm</a><br><a href="#Deprecated">Deprecated.htm</a><br><a href="#Devices">Devices.htm</a><br><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<td valign=top><a href="#Helpers">Helpers.htm</a><br><a href="#Humor">Humor.htm</a><br><a href="#Ps2epsi">Ps2epsi.htm</a><br><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<td valign=top><a href="#Ps2pdf">Ps2pdf.htm</a><br><a href="#Ps2ps2">Ps2ps2.htm</a><br><a href="#Readme">Readme.htm</a><br><a href="#Unix-lpr">Unix-lpr.htm</a><br><a href="#Use">Use.htm</a><br><tr><td valign=top></table></blockquote><li>For both users and developers:<blockquote><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td valign=top><a href="#Changes">Changes.htm</a><br><a href="#Commprod">Commprod.htm</a><br><a href="#Copying">Copying.htm</a><br><a href="#Fonts">Fonts.htm</a><br><a href="#Hershey">Hershey.htm</a><br><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<td valign=top><a href="#History">History*.htm</a><br><a href="#Install">Install.htm</a><br><a href="#Language">Language.htm</a><br><a href="#Make">Make.htm</a><br><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<td valign=top><a href="#News">News.htm</a><br><a href="#Psfiles">Psfiles.htm</a><br><a href="#Public">Public.htm</a><br></table></blockquote><li>Primarily for developers:<blockquote><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td valign=top><a href="#API">API.htm</a><br><a href="#C-style">C-style.htm</a><br><a href="#DLL">DLL.htm</a><br><a href="#Develop">Develop.htm</a><br><a href="#Drivers">Drivers.htm</a><br><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<td valign=top><a href="#Htmstyle">Htmstyle.htm</a><br><a href="#Issues">Issues.htm</a><br><a href="#Lib">Lib.htm</a><br><a href="#Maintain">Maintain.htm</a><br><a href="#Projects">Projects.htm</a><br><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<td valign=top><a href="#Ps-style">Ps-style.htm</a><br><a href="#Release">Release.htm</a><br><a href="#Source">Source.htm</a><br><a href="#Testing">Testing.htm</a><br><a href="#Xfonts">Xfonts.htm</a><br></table></blockquote></ul></ul></blockquote> <!-- [1.2 end table of contents] =========================================== --> <hr> <!-- [1.0 end visible header] ============================================== --> <!-- [2.0 begin contents] ================================================== --> <h2><a name="Theme_roadmap"></a>Document roadmap by theme</h2> <h3><a name="New_users"></a>What should I read if I'm a new user?</h3> <ul> <li>how to <a href="Use.htm">use Ghostscript</a>. This includes botha quickstart introduction to the commandline version and more extensivereference material. <li>detailed information about <a href="Devices.htm">specificdevices</a> that Ghostscript can use for output <li>information about <a href="Bug-info.htm">reporting problems</a>--butremember that Ghostscript comes with <strong>NO WARRANTY</strong> and <strong>NOSUPPORT</strong> <li>more detailed information about how to use Ghostscript underUnix with <tt>lpr</tt> <a href="Unix-lpr.htm">as a filter</a>for printing </ul> <h3><a name="Two_Ghostscripts"></a>AFPL Ghostscript and GPL Ghostscript</h3> <p>AFPL Ghostscript and GPL Ghostscript are <a href="Commprod.htm">different releases</a>.If you have AFPL Ghostscript, not the GPL Ghostscript releases, you shouldread (or at least skim through): <ul><li>additional information about <a href="Public.htm">AFPL Ghostscriptreleases</a> that is not relevant to GPL Ghostscript releases.</ul> <p>If you run into any questions, or if you are going to be using Ghostscriptextensively, you should at least skim, and probably eventually read: <ul><li> about the <a href="Fonts.htm">fonts distributed withGhostscript</a>, including how to add or replace fonts <li> a description of <a href="Language.htm">the Ghostscript language</a>,and its differences from the documented PostScript language <li> about the <a href="Psfiles.htm">postscript files distributed withGhostscript</a> (other than fonts)</ul> <h3><a name="Before_building"></a>Before building Ghostscript</h3> <p>If you are going to compile Ghostscript from source, rather than just use an executableyou got from somewhere, you may want to read: <ul><li> <a href="Make.htm">how to build Ghostscript</a> and<a href="Install.htm">install it</a></ul> <hr> <h2><a name="Not_a_new_user"></a>What should I read if I'm not a new user?</h2> <p>If you have already used Ghostscript, when you receive a new release youshould begin by reading this file, then <ul><li> <a href="News.htm">News.htm</a>, for incompatible changes and newfeatures in the current release; <li> if you wish, <a href="Changes.htm">Changes.htm</a>, for a detailed listof changes in the current release; <li> if you wish, History#.htm (currently <ahref="History8.htm">History8.htm</a>), for changes in other releases.</ul> <hr> <h2><a name="Developer"></a>What if I'm a developer?</h2> <p>If you are going to do any development on or with Ghostscript at all, youshould at least look at <ul><li>the <a href="Develop.htm">roadmap documentation</a> for Ghostscript'ssource files and architecture</ul> <p>If you are going to write a new driver for Ghostscript, you should read <ul><li> the <a href="Source.htm">guide to the Ghostscript source code</a> <li> the interface between Ghostscript and <a href="Drivers.htm">devicedrivers</a> <li> about the <a href="Xfonts.htm">external font interface</a> betweenGhostscript and platform-supplied fonts</ul> <p>If you are considering distributing Ghostscript (either AFPL or GPLversions) in conjunction with a commercial product, you should read the<a href="Public.htm">license</a> carefully, and you should also read <ul><li> additional clarification of the circumstances under which Ghostscriptcan be distributed <a href="Commprod.htm">with a commercial product</a></ul> <p>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 objectunder Linux, read <ul><li> documentation on <a href="API.htm">Ghostscript Interpreter API</a></ul> <p>If you want to use Ghostscript as part of another program--as a callablePostScript language interpreter--and not as a DLL or as a self-containedexecutable application, you should begin by reading <ul><li> the source file <b><tt>imain.h</tt></b>, the documentedAPI for Ghostscript <em>not</em> as a DLL</ul> <p>or if you are going to use only the Ghostscript graphics library, <ul><li> about the structure of the <a href="Lib.htm">Ghostscript library</a>and its interfaces</ul> <hr> <h2><a name="Writer"></a>What if I'm writing documentation?</h2> <p>If you are editing or adding to Ghostscript's existing documentation inHTML format, or writing a new document, you should read <ul><li> the <a href="Htmstyle.htm">coding and style guidelines</a> forGhostscript's HTML-based documentation.</ul> <hr> <h2><a name="Web_presence"></a>Presence on the World Wide Web</h2> <h3><a name="Web_home_page"></a>Ghostscript's home page</h3> <p>Ghostscript has a home page on the World Wide Web with helpful informationsuch as the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and a list of known problemsand workarounds for the current AFPL Ghostscript release (in the"Obtaining" file for that release): <blockquote><a href="http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/" class="offsite">http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/</a></blockquote> <p>More material about Ghostscript can be found at <blockquote><a href="http://www.ghostscript.com/" class="offsite">http://www.ghostscript.com/</a></blockquote> <h3><a name="Adobe_documentation"></a>Adobe PostScript, EncapsulatedPostScript, and PDF reference documentation</h3> <p>Adobe makes a wealth of technical documentation available over the Web, including the<a href="http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/PLRM.pdf"class="offsite">PostScript Language Reference Manual (Third Edition)</a>; the<a href="http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/5002.EPSF_Spec.pdf" class="offsite">Encapsulated PostScript</a> (EPS) Format Specification version 3, including<a href="#Ps2epsi">Encapsulated PostScript Interchange (EPSI)</a> format; the<a href="http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/pdf/index_reference.html"class="offsite">PDF Reference manuals</a>.The <a href="http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/acrobat/sdk/index.html" class="offsite">Acrobat SDK</a> contains<a href="http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/acrobat/sdk/index_doc.html" class="offset">pdfmark and Acrobat Distiller parameters</a> documentation.  Some of these documentsare also available at <a href="ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/"class="offsite">Adobe's ftpsite</a>, but not necessarily under the same filenames. <h3><a name="Web_other"></a>Other material on the WWW</h3> <p>Much other material about Ghostscript is available on the World Wide Web,both as web pages and as archived Usenet and mailing list discussions.  Usethe well-known search engines to find such material. <p>There is a translation of the Ghostscript 'man' pages into Czech at: <blockquote><a href="http://www.volny.cz/rebus/ghostscript/" class="offsite">http://www.volny.cz/rebus/ghostscript/</a></blockquote> <hr> <h2><a name="Ordered_roadmap"></a>Which document contains what?</h2> <p> Here is the list in alphabetic order of Ghostscript documentation,with explanations of the contents. <dl><dt><a name="API"></a><a href="API.htm"><b>API.htm</b></a><dd> On MS-Windows and OS/2, Ghostscript is compiled as a dynamic link library (DLL).  On Linux, Ghostscript can be compiled asa shared object.  This describes how to use it.For developers.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Bug-form"></a><a href="Bug-form.htm"><b>Bug-form.htm</b></a><dd> A form to fill out and email to report a problem with AFPLGhostscript--but remember that Ghostscript comes with NO WARRANTYand NO SUPPORT. Please read the <ahref="Bug-info.htm">instructions</a> before reporting a bug.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Bug-info"></a><a href="Bug-info.htm"><b>Bug-info.htm</b></a><dd> Information about how to report problems with AFPL Ghostscript--butremember that Ghostscript comes with <b>NO WARRANTY</b> and <b>NOSUPPORT</b>.  Please read this before reporting a problem.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="C-style"></a><a href="C-style.htm"><b>C-style.htm</b></a><dd> Guidelines and style for C coding, which you should followif, for example, you <a href="#Drivers">write a new driver</a> or add orchange something in Ghostscript. For developers.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Changes"></a><a href="Changes.htm"><b>Changes.htm</b></a><dd> A detailed list of all code changes in the current release orpre-release, generated mechanically from the CVS logs. For developers.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Commprod"></a><a href="Commprod.htm"><b>Commprod.htm</b></a><dd> The conditions under which Ghostscript may be distributed in acommercial context.  See also the <a href="#Public">Aladdin Free PublicLicense</a>.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Copying"></a><a href="Copying.htm"><b>Copying.htm</b></a><dd> A reminder that AFPL Ghostscript is governed <b>NOT</b> bythe <a href="http://www.gnu.org/">Free Software Foundation's</a> GNU<a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html">General Public License</a>but by the <a href="#Public">Aladdin Free Public License</a>.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="DLL"></a><a href="DLL.htm"><b>DLL.htm</b></a><dd> On OS/2, MS Windows-16 and MS Windows-32 platforms, Ghostscript iscompiled as a dynamic link library (DLL).  This describes how to use it.For developers. <b>This DLL interface is obsolete.</b>  Use <a href="#API"><b>API.htm</b></a> instead.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Develop"></a><a href="Develop.htm"><b>Develop.htm</b></a><dd> Code orientation for developers. Contains a detailed breakdown ofthe source files by functional group, and overviews of the majorarchitectural features and services.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Deprecated"></a><a href="Deprecated.htm"><b>Deprecated.htm</b></a></dt><dd> Documention for deprecated devices and features. Features described herewill be removed in future versions of Ghostscript.</dd></dl> <dl><dt><a name="Devices"></a><a href="Devices.htm"><b>Devices.htm</b></a><dd> Detailed information about some specific devices for which Ghostscriptcan produce output. Run "<b><tt>gs&nbsp;-h</tt></b>" to see whichdevices a particular version of Ghostscript is built to use.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Drivers"></a><a href="Drivers.htm"><b>Drivers.htm</b></a><dd> Describes the interface between Ghostscript and device drivers.  Ifyou do this, you should also read and use the <a href="#C-style">C styleand coding guidelines</a>. Necessary to develop a new driver. Fordevelopers.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Fonts"></a><a href="Fonts.htm"><b>Fonts.htm</b></a> <dd> Allabout fonts freely available for Ghostscript, and how to add and use newfonts.  Also describes how to use Ghostscript fonts as X Windows fonts. Forboth users and developers.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Helpers"></a><a href="Helpers.htm"><b>Helpers.htm</b></a><dd> A note of thanks to people who have helped in the development ofGhostscript.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Hershey"></a><a href="Hershey.htm"><b>Hershey.htm</b></a><dd> Part 1 of the five-part original Usenet distribution of the freeHershey fonts, giving the terms of use and describing their encoding.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="History"></a><b>History*.htm</b><dd> The history of changes in all Ghostscript releases:<blockquote><a href="History8.htm">History8.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 8.n<br><a href="History7.htm">History7.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 7.n<br><a href="History6.htm">History6.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 6.n<br><a href="History5.htm">History5.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 5.n<br><a href="History4.htm">History4.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 4.n<br><a href="History3.htm">History3.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 3.n<br><a href="History2.htm">History2.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 2.n<br><a href="History1.htm">History1.htm</a> for Ghostscript versions 1.n</blockquote></dl> <dl><dt><a name="Htmstyle"></a><a href="Htmstyle.htm"><b>Htmstyle.htm</b></a><dd> The guidelines and style for HTML coding of Ghostscript'sdocumentation, which you should follow if, for example, you change existingHTML documentation or write new documents. For writers and editors.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Humor"></a><a href="Humor.htm"><b>Humor.htm</b></a><dd> Another Ghostscript interpreter.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Install"></a><a href="Install.htm"><b>Install.htm</b></a><dd> How to install Ghostscript.  See also <a href="#Make">how to buildit</a>.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Issues"></a><a href="Issues.htm"><b>Issues.htm</b></a><dd> A list of outstanding open issues in Ghostscript. These includeknown limitations, minor bugs, performance issues, differences fromAdobe implementations, and others.</dl> <dl><dt><a name="Language"></a><a href="Language.htm"><b>Language.htm</b></a><dd> The relationship between the Ghostscript interpreter and thePostScript language as defined by Adobe.

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