Pstex - sizing and including PS figures in LaTeX documents

[Neil Hunt]

I have developed some software to simplify incorporating PostScript
figures into LaTeX documents.  The problem I addressed is that of using
the design size of an illustration from the PostScript, and causing LaTeX
to leave the correct amount of space on the page.

The LaTeX document includes figures using a `\psbox{figure}' macro, which
generates a `box' which is just like a large letter, and can be included
in centered environments, picture environments, tables, or simple text,
for example.

The program `pstex' is a BiBTeX-like system which scans the .aux file
after the first pass of LaTeX, to determine the names of PS files to be
included.  The PS files are then scanned by pstex, to obtain the
`%%BoundingBox:' meta comment, from which the design size of the
illustration is found.  (A fix for FrameMaker users is also incorporated
in which the bounding box is taken to be the extent of a `frame' in which
the illustration should be drawn.)  The design size is then potentially
modified by arguments to the \psbox macro, which can scale the size be a
specified amount, or override it while maintaining the design aspect
ratio, or override it altogether.  The sizes are listed in a new file with
extension `.psz', which is read for subsequent passes of LaTeX, in which
the figures are incorporated using the \special mechanism at the
appropriate size.

Use of `pstex' requires a modified version of `dvips', which understands
the \special forms used by the \psbox macros.  This dvips program is based
upon the MIT 1988 dvips program, with the font reading code adapted from
that in dvipage 3.0, reading either PXL or GF fonts.  It would be easy to
incorporate the \special handling code into an alternative dvips program
if required.

If there is enough interest, I will find an appropriate forum for public
distribution.  Otherwise, I will email copies to those who wish.

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