Introduction¶

This document describes how to FIXME. You can always obtain the latest version of this document from: http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/comp/FIXME/

You may encounter PostScript (PS) and Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) files. GIS such as ArcView and ArcInfo can be made to output maps and figures as EPS. This document describes how to view, print and edit PS and EPS files. PostScript is defined here. The FAQ is here.

• Viewing PS/EPS files
• Printing PS/EPS files
• Editing PS/EPS files
• Rasterising PS/EPS files (for display in PowerPoint presentations)

Viewing PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript files

You can view PostScript and Encasulated PostScript files using Ghostview. Click on the Windows Start button:

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Choose PWF Programs and Information:

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Choose Utilities:

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Choose Ghostview:

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Once Ghostview has started go the File menu and choose Open...:

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Find the file you want to open and click the Open button. The file will display in Ghostview.

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You can move forwards or backwards through the document (if it consists of more than one page) by clicking the plus and minus buttons. You can move forwards or backwards five pages at a time by using the +5 and -5 buttons:

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You can zoom in and out using the zoom tools:

[screenshot] Printing PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript files

To print a PS or EPS file, open it in Ghostview as above, go to the File menu and choose Print...

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A dialogue box will appear. In the Device field choose mswinpr2. Choose the appropriate Queue (i.e. the printer you want to use) and finally put a tick in the box marked Postscript Printer. Then click OK:

[screenshot] Editing PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript files

Because PostScript is a page description language you don’t really want to end up trying to edit it by hand. If a program (e.g. ArcView) is creating figures as EPS, try and get the original figure correct in that program. However, if you do need to edit a PS or EPS file you can do so using CorelDRAW. Start CorelDRAW and from the File menu choose Import...

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In the dialogue box that appears set Files of Type: to PS,PRN,EPS - PostScript Interpreted: this is important if you actually want to edit the file. Choose the file you want to import and click OK:

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A dialogue box will appear. Accept the default settings and click OK. The PostScript file will be interpreted and eventually displayed as a group of objects in your CorelDRAW file. If the import procedure fails, try again but increase the value of VM Size in the Import PostScript dialogue box. If some or all text fails to appear or is odd, re-import the file and set Import text as to Curves.

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If you don’t need to edit the file but just want it to appear in a CorelDRAW document, choose Import again but choose one of the non-interpreted PS or EPS filters:

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This will include the EPS/PS file in your CorelDRAW drawing but will not display the contents: it will appear as a placeable box but should print on PWF printers OK:

[screenshot] Rasterising PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript for use in PowerPoint Presentations

Start Corel PhotoPaint and choose File | Open...

Set Files of Type: to `PS, PRN, EPS - PostScript Interpreted’

You will be prompted to choose the size and resolution of the resulting image: Remember that your presentation is unlikely to be projected at a resolution higher than 1024 x 768 pixels.

Save the resulting image as something that PowerPoint can read: I like PNG (don’t select the Interlaced option) which seems to work nicely with PowerPoint 97 and above.