This document is a roadmap to the Ghostscript documentation.
After looking through it, if you want to install Ghostscript and not only
use it, we recommend you read how to install
Ghostscript, and how to compile Ghostscript from
source code (which is necessary before installing it on Unix and VMS
systems).
how to use Ghostscript. This includes both
a quickstart introduction to the commandline version and more extensive
reference material.
detailed information about specific
devices that Ghostscript can use for output
information about reporting problems--but
remember that Ghostscript comes with NO WARRANTY and NO
SUPPORT
more detailed information about how to use Ghostscript under
Unix with lpras a filter
for printing
AFPL Ghostscript and GNU Ghostscript
AFPL Ghostscript and GNU Ghostscript are
different releases. If you
have AFPL Ghostscript, not the GNU Ghostscript releases distributed by
the Free Software Foundation, you should
read (or at least skim through):
additional information about AFPL Ghostscript
releases that is not relevant to GNU Ghostscript releases.
If you run into any questions, or if you are going to be using Ghostscript
extensively, you should at least skim, and probably eventually read:
If you are considering distributing Ghostscript (either AFPL or GNU
versions) in conjunction with a commercial product, you should read the
license carefully, and you should also read
additional clarification of the circumstances under which Ghostscript
can be distributed with a commercial product
If you intend to use Ghostscript in the form of a dynamic link library
(DLL) under OS/2 or Microsoft Windows or in the form of shared object
under Linux, read
If you want to use Ghostscript as part of another program--as a callable
PostScript language interpreter--and not as a DLL or as a self-contained
executable application, you should begin by reading
the source file imain.h, the documented
API for Ghostscript not as a DLL
or if you are going to use only the Ghostscript graphics library,
Ghostscript has a home page on the World Wide Web with helpful information
such as the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and a list of known problems
and workarounds for the current AFPL Ghostscript release (in the
"Obtaining" file for that release):
Much other material about Ghostscript is available on the World Wide Web,
both as web pages and as archived Usenet and mailing list discussions. Use
the well-known search engines to find such material.
There is a good manual for Ghostscript available in PDF form,
in English and German (and soon in Japanese), at:
On MS-Windows and OS/2, Ghostscript is compiled as a dynamic
link library (DLL). On Linux, Ghostscript can be compiled as
a shared object. This describes how to use it.
For developers.
A form to fill out and email to report a problem with AFPL
Ghostscript--but remember that Ghostscript comes with NO WARRANTY
and NO SUPPORT. Please read the instructions before reporting a bug.
Information about how to report problems with AFPL Ghostscript--but
remember that Ghostscript comes with NO WARRANTY and NO
SUPPORT. Please read this before reporting a problem.
Guidelines and style for C coding, which you should follow
if, for example, you write a new driver or add or
change something in Ghostscript. For developers.
On OS/2, MS Windows-16 and MS Windows-32 platforms, Ghostscript is
compiled as a dynamic link library (DLL). This describes how to use it.
For developers. This DLL interface is obsolete.
Use API.htm instead.
Code orientation for developers. Contains a detailed breakdown of
the source files by functional group, and overviews of the major
architectural features and services.
Detailed information about some specific devices for which Ghostscript
can produce output. Run "gs -h" to see which
devices a particular version of Ghostscript is built to use.
Describes the interface between Ghostscript and device drivers. If
you do this, you should also read and use the C style
and coding guidelines. Necessary to develop a new driver. For
developers.
All
about fonts freely available for Ghostscript, and how to add and use new
fonts. Also describes how to use Ghostscript fonts as X Windows fonts. For
both users and developers.
The guidelines and style for HTML coding of Ghostscript's
documentation, which you should follow if, for example, you change existing
HTML documentation or write new documents. For writers and editors.
A list of outstanding open issues in Ghostscript. These include
known limitations, minor bugs, performance issues, differences from
Adobe implementations, and others.
A description of the Ghostscript library, a set of procedures to
implement the graphics and filtering capabilities that are primitive
operations in the PostScript language and in Adobe Portable Document Format
(PDF). For developers.
How to build Ghostscript executables from the source code. See also
how to install it. It's not necessary to be a highly
experienced developer to build or install Ghostscript, but some experience
is needed.
A brief description of the latest release or pre-release of
Ghostscript, and a list of any incompatible changes in it. Changes in older
releases are described in the history files "History*.htm",
which are usually installed in the documentation directory. Run
"gs -h" to see where that is.
The guidelines and style for postscript coding in Ghostscript. Some
of Ghostscript is implemented in the postscript language itself, and
various utilities and examples are distributed with it. You should
follow these guidelines if you're extending or modifying those files.
For developers.
A description of the PostScript files (other than font files)
distributed with Ghostscript, including initialization routines, utility
programs, and sample printable files.
A description of how to prepare and test a Ghostscript release. Of
interest only to developers who want to create new Ghostscript versions for
distribution.
Detailed instructions on how to use Ghostscript, including such
matters as designating an output device; choosing a default paper size;
how Ghostscript finds files, including font files; how it uses environment
variables; notes on specific platforms, including the X Window System; and
command-line options.
This software is provided AS-IS with no warranty, either express or
implied.
This software is distributed under license and may not be copied,
modified or distributed except as expressly authorized under the terms
of the license contained in the file LICENSE in this distribution.
For more information about licensing, please refer to
http://www.ghostscript.com/licensing/. For information on
commercial licensing, go to http://www.artifex.com/licensing/ or
contact Artifex Software, Inc., 101 Lucas Valley Road #110,
San Rafael, CA 94903, U.S.A., +1(415)492-9861.