NAME
dvidvi - selects and/or re-arranges pages in a TeX dvi file
SYNOPSIS
dvidvi [param] infile outfile
DESCRIPTION
Copyright
dvidvi 1.0, Copyright (C) 1988-91, Radical Eye Software
Introduction
The dvidvi program converts a dvi file into another dvi file, with
perhaps certain changes.
Parameters
-f n page n is first page selected
-l n page n is last page selected
-n n select at most n pages. Notice that n is the number of pages
selected, independently of the number of pages actually
contained in a sheet
-i { n1..n2 | n1 }[,...]
include pages (ranges allowed). When this option is used,
ONLY the specified pages are selected. However, we can
exclude from these pages with the option -x
-x { n1..n2 | n1 }[,...]
exclude pages (ranges allowed)
-q work in quiet mode, that is do not print in the screen
messages of how the work is being done.
-r reverse the order of the pages.
The page numbers for the above options -f -l -i and -x can be specified
in different ways.
1) If a number n is given, it is interpreted as the n’th page from the
begining of the .dvi file. Of course, this number is independent of
the page number assigned by TeX.
2) TeX page numbers are those who are actually written in the page;
these page numbers can be modified, for example, by using the TeX
commands \pagenumbering, \setcounter{page}{n}, and
\addtocounter{page}{n}. A TeX page number can be specified by
preceding the number n with the character @. Thus, if you specify
-f @25 -l @30 you select the pages between 25 and 30, these numbers
being those assigned by TeX.
3) However, several pages can have the same TeX page number in a .dvi
file. For example, the introductory pages in a book are numbered
i, ii, and so on until the first chapter begins and then, the pages
are numbered 1, 2, etc. In this case, the pages numbered i and 1
in the .dvi file have the same TeX page number. If you want to
select for example the second occurrence of the page numbered 1,
you can specify a page number as (@2)1. Thus @1 is equivalent to
(@1)1. For example, if you specify -f (@2)1 -l(@2)10 you select the
pages between 1 and 10 of the first chapter, not the introductory
pages between i and x.
There is another parameter that tells dvidvi how you want to change
page layout and specifications. This is the -m parameter.
* The number preceding the colon is the modulo value. Everything
will be done in chunks of pages this big. If there is no colon,
than the default value is assumed to be one. The last chunk of
pages is padded with as many blank pages as necessary.
* Following the colon is a comma-separated list of page numbers.
These page numbers are with respect to the current chunk of pages,
and must lie in the range zero to the modulo value less one. If a
negative sign precedes the number, then the page is taken from the
mirror chunk; if there are m chunks, then the mirror chunk of chunk
n is the chunk numbered m-n-1. Put simply, it is the chunk
numbered the same, only from the end. This can be used to reverse
pages. If no number is given, the page number defaults to 1.
* Following each page number is an optional offset value in
parenthesis, which consists of a pair of comma-separated
dimensions. Each dimension is a decimal number with an optional
unit of measure. The default unit of measure is inches, or the
last unit of measure used. All units are in true dimensions.
Allowable units of measure are the same that TeX allows: in, mm,
cm, pt, pc, dd, and cc.
EXAMPLES
-m - Reverses the order of the pages. This time, both the modulo
and the page number are defaulted.
-m 2:0 Selects the first, third, fifth, etc. pages from the file.
Print this one after printing the next, taking the paper out
of the feed tray and reinserting it into the paper feed.
-m 2:-1 Selects the second, fourth, etc. pages, and writes them in
reverse order.
-m 4:-1,2(4.25in,0in)
-m 4:-3,0(4.25in,0in)
Useful for printing a little booklet, four pages to a sheet,
double-sided, for stapling in the middle. Print the first
one, put the stack back into the printer upside down, and
print the second. The ‘in’ specifications are superfluous.
-m ,(1pt,1)
Scare your system administrator! Actually, things are so
blurry with this option, you may want to send enemies letters
printed like this. *Long* letters.
-m 4:0(5.5in,4.25),3(0,4.25)
-m 4:1(0in,4.25),2(5.5,4.25)
Print a four-page card on one sheet. Print the first, rotate
the paper 180 degrees and feed it again. (PostScript people
can do funny tricks with PostScript so this isn’t necessary.)
March 1994