[9fans] converting to .ps/.pdf

[9fans] converting to .ps/.pdf

[William Staniewicz]

After composing a document in ACME or SAM,
is this a good way to convert to a .ps file format?

	lp -dstdout -pppost file.txt > file.ps

Taking that one step further, how can I convert
to a .pdf file within Plan9?

		-Bill

Re: [9fans] converting to .ps/.pdf

[Scott Schwartz]

| Taking that one step further, how can I convert
| to a .pdf file within Plan9?

Use ghostscript.

[9fans] macro files with troff

[William Staniewicz]

I would like to begin using troff to prepare some
document files. So far, I have looked over
/sys/doc/troff.ps which includes the manual and
tutorial. It appears the easiest way to start is to
invoke troff with a standard macro/package like
-ms or -mm. The definitions for these I presume are in
/sys/lib/tmac.

When I begin writing the document with acme, how do I
identify all the 'requests' set in the packages? For example, Would I need
to look in /sys/lib/tmac/tmac.s for info on the -ms
package or is there a table set up for them somewhere?
Any other hints on how to begin using this would be
appreciated.

		-Bill

Re: [9fans] macro files with troff

[Scott Schwartz]

The Research Unix 10th Edition documentation is a good source for troff
related material.

[9fans] Acme definition

[William Staniewicz]

A friend asked me about the origin of the word "Acme".  My first
impulse was to consult the "OED", but not having one handy, I resorted
to some online sources.  Most neglected to include a reference to one
of my favorite contexts: The Roadrunner cartoon (btw, while living in
Texas, I actually saw one run across the street in front of my car, it
actually looked like the one in the Warner Bros' series and moved like
it too!).

Acme n.

[from Greek `akme', highest point of perfection or achievement] The
canonical supplier of bizarre, elaborate, and non-functional gadgetry
- where Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson (two cartoonists who
specialized in elaborate contraptions) shop.  The name has been
humorously expanded as A (or American) Company Making Everything.  (In
fact, Acme was a real brand sold from Sears Roebuck catalogs in the
early 1900s.)  Describing some X as an "Acme X" either means "This is
insanely great", or, more likely, "This looks insanely great on paper,
but in practice it's really easy to shoot yourself in the foot with
it."  Compare pistol.

This term, specially cherished by American hackers and explained here
for the benefit of our overseas brethren, comes from the Warner
Brothers' series of "Roadrunner" cartoons.  In these cartoons, the
famished Wile E. Coyote was forever attempting to catch up with, trap,
and eat the Roadrunner.  His attempts usually involved one or more
high-technology Rube Goldberg devices - rocket jetpacks, catapults,
magnetic traps, high-powered slingshots, etc.  These were usually
delivered in large cardboard boxes, labeled prominently with the Acme
name.  These devices invariably malfunctioned in improbable and
violent ways.

		-Bill

Re: [9fans] Acme definition

[George Michaelson]

The Epitome seems to embody almost all concepts Acme tried to reach for,
without the downside connotations. Plus, as an added benefit, it has only
one correct pronounciation but at least two plausible ones, permitting the
cogniscenti to discern those of a less 'au courant' comprehension.

Wiley should have learned from his mistakes. Nowadays, I suspect a smart
lawyer could injunct either Acme, or the new mexico roads department, possibly
both.

-George
--
George Michaelson         |  DSTC Pty Ltd
Email: ggm@dstc.edu.au    |  University of Qld 4072
Phone: +61 7 3365 4310    |  Australia
  Fax: +61 7 3365 4311    |  http://www.dstc.edu.au

Re: [9fans] converting to .ps/.pdf

[Russ Cox]

To convert PS to PDF via Ghostscript:

	gs -s'DEVICE=pdfwrite' -s'OutputFile=file.pdf' -r600 -dBATCH -dQUIET -dNOPAUSE file.ps

Russ