
                            Overview of Ghostscript

   If this is your first contact with Ghostscript, before continuing here
   you should read the documentation for new users, where you'll find
     * what  Ghostscript does (PostScript and PDF previewing, conversion,
       and printing);
     * its licensing terms (free for ordinary use);
     * what  platforms  it  runs  on  (every platform you're likely to be
       interested in);
     * where  to find some useful programs that enhance Ghostscript (like
       user-friendly  previewers  for  Unix,  VMS,  MS  Windows, DOS, and
       Macintosh); and
     * what to do if you need help.

   The   rest   of   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 GNU 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
     Devices.htm
     Helpers.htm
                     Humor.htm
                     New-user.htm
                     Ps2epsi.htm
                     Ps2pdf.htm
                                     Readme.htm
                                     Unix-lpr.htm
                                     Use.htm

          + For both users and developers:

     Changes.htm
     Commprod.htm
     Copying.htm
     Current.htm
     Fonts.htm
                     Hershey.htm
                     History*.htm
                     Install.htm
                     Language.htm
                     Make.htm
                                     News.htm
                                     Psfiles.htm
                                     Public.htm
                                     Tester.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
                                    Xfonts.htm
     _________________________________________________________________

Document roadmap by theme

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

   A  new  user  of  Ghostscript  should  begin  by  reading the material
   specifically  for  new  users, then as many of these documents as seem
   useful:
     * how to install Ghostscript
     * how  to use Ghostscript; some of this information information also
       found in gs.1, the Unix "man" page for Ghostscript.
     * the  catalogs  at the beginning of devs.mak and contrib.mak, which
       list  all  the  devices  for  which Ghostscript is able to produce
       output  (although  if  you got Ghostscript in binary form, it will
       only include some of these devices)
     * detailed  information about some specific devices that Ghostscript
       knows about
     * more  detailed information about how to use Ghostscript under Unix
       with lpr as a filter for non-PostScript printers
     * information    about   reporting   problems--but   remember   that
       Ghostscript comes with NO WARRANTY and NO SUPPORT

  AFPL Ghostscript and GNU Ghostscript

   AFPL  Ghostscript  and  GNU Ghostscript are different releases. If you
   have AFPL Ghostscript, not the GNU Ghostscript releases distributed by
   the  Free  Software  Foundation,  you  should  read  (or at least skim
   through):
     * additional information about AFPL Ghostscript releases that is not
       relevant to GNU 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, rather than just use an
   executable you got from somewhere, you should 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;
     * Current.htm, for known problems 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 History7.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 (but read about drivers in general first)

   If  you  are  considering distributing Ghostscript (either AFPL or GNU
   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 1.3 specification; and the pdfmark, transparency 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  good  manual  for  Ghostscript available in PDF form, in
   English and German (and soon in Japanese), at:

     http://www.pdflib.com/gsmanual

   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.

   Current.htm
          Information   specifically   about   the   current  release  of
          Ghostscript. See also the latest news of changes.

   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.

   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:

     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.

   New-user.htm
          Essential information for new users of Ghostscript.

   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).

   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.

   Tester.htm
          A  short  questionnaire  to  fill  out  if you would like to be
          notified of new tester / beta releases.

   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, 2000 Aladdin Enterprises. All rights reserved.

   This  file  is  part  of AFPL Ghostscript. See the Aladdin Free Public
   License  (the  "License")  for  full  details  of  the terms of using,
   copying, modifying, and redistributing AFPL Ghostscript.

   Ghostscript version 7.03, 20 October 2001
