Java Glossary : GhostScript
Last updated 2004-06-28 by Roedy
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Glossary : G words : GhostScript.
- GhostScript
- A free software PostScript rendering engine that lets you run PostScript
programs and see the results on your screen or on a non-PostScript printer. It
can also generate PDF files. There are two variants: Aladdin (most recent) and
GNU (older but redistributable). There are front end GUIs too: GV (UNIX) and
GSView (Windows).
The program is slightly more difficult to install than most, mainly because of
vague documentation and the lack of an installer. Here are some hints for
installing under Windows 9x or NT:
-
There are four separate pieces you need to download:
Aladdin GhostScript (ghostscript-5.50pc.tar.gz)
GhostScript fonts part1 and part2 (gs550fn1.zip and
gs550fn2.zip)
GSview (gsv26w32.zip)
-
You don't need to download the fonts from the http://www.urwpp.de/ German
language website mentioned. They are included.
-
The instruction are vague about where to put the various files and fonts.
Aladdin itself belongs in gs\gs5.50. GSView belongs in gs\gsview.
Keep your wits about you when unzipping since the files include only partial
embedded folder names. I think they intended the fonts to go in gs\gs5.50\fonts.
I put mine in gs\fonts. Ghostview could not find them
until I configured the Ghostview path (a more general use of the term
than is customary), using GSView Ghostview configure, to include gs\fonts.
-
You don't have to fiddle with the fontmap file. It is all set up and
ready to go.
-
If you have a PostScript printer, don't try to find it in that list of pig Latin
device names. Just tick off the PostScript printer box.
-
I don't like dots in directory names e.g. gs5.50.
There are too many programs that trip over them. You can rename, so long as you
change the GSView configure to note the new name.
