> Isn't there --nobackends (or something similar) which will then not
> run any dvips (or dvipdfm)?

It's --nobackend

Here's the revised (ruby) texexec man page (as PDF) -- see p.3.  It's
in the Debian packages and will go into the 2006 TeXLive.

-Sanjoy

`Not all those who wander are lost.' (J.R.R. Tolkien)