From: Akim Demaille <demaille@inf.enst.fr>
Subject: a2ps 4.9.10 -- Any to PostScript filter
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 13:58:17 GMT

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Hi!

We're happy to announce the version 4.9.10 of a2ps.  Though it is not
labeled as a major release, it should considered as such.  Previous
release, 4.8.4, is no longer maintained, and should no longer be
distributed.  Upload it everywhere you feel like.

a2ps is an any to PostScript filter.  Historically it started by text
to PostScript, but nowadays, thanks to powerful delegations it is able
to let you use it for any kind of files.  Just a short example:

gargantua demo $ a2ps ogonkify.1 glibc.dvi.gz a2ps.texi -o demo.ps
[ogonkify.1 (roff, delegated to Groff): 3 pages on 2 sheets]
[glibc.dvi.gz (compressed, delegated to Gzip-a2ps): 601 pages on 301 sheets]
[a2ps.texi (texinfo, delegated to texi2dvi): 81 pages on 41 sheets]
[Total: 684 pages on 342 sheets] saved into the file `demo.ps'

Among the other most noticeable features of a2ps are:
- - various encodings (all the Latins and others),
- - various fonts (automatic font down loading),
- - various medias,
- - various printer interfaces,
- - various output styles,
- - various programming languages,
- - various helping applications,
- - and various spoken languages.

Here's the top of the NEWS file:

Version 4.9.10  Mar 6 1998
	* PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files partially supported:
	   - Configuration of printers takes an optional PPD key
	   - Automatic down loading of unknown fonts
	   - Since only the known fonts are used currently, two fake
	     PPD files (level[12].ppd) are provided.
	   - New configuration item: DefaultPPD: key
	* Predefined delegations: acroread for PDF.
	* Updated Ogonkify.
	* Czech translation, thanks to Jiri Pavlovsky
	* Contributions:
	   - card prints reference cards of programs based on their --help
	     outputs.
	   - psfix tries its best to fix ps files.  Uses heavily the psutils.
	   - psmandup simulates Duplex printing on single sided printers.
	* Man pages (based on --help and --version outputs).
	* Meta Sequences:
	   - New: #?d.
	   - ${} and #{} are now prefered to $() and #().
	   - They admit the sh-like ${var:+word} and ${var:-word}
	* Sheets: 
	   - Enforced the rule "Last defined is winning".
	   - Regex can be spread on several lines (a` la ANSI C strings).
	   - card.ssh, symbols.ssh.
	   - idl.ssh thanks to Robert S. Mallozzi.
	   - pre.ssh is re-designed to be more canonic for a2ps.
	   - pretex.ssh, like pre.ssh but with LaTeX like syntax
	   - texscript.ssh, combination of pre.ssh and pretex.ssh
	     (corresponds to the old version of PreScript).
	* Prologues:
	   - They can use variables (through meta sequences).
	   - matrix.pro (3 grey lines, 3 white etc.).
	   - bold.pro (as bw.pro, but using bold fonts).
	* Options:
           --copyright.
	   --list=TOPIC replaces all the --list-topic.
	     (e.g., --list-options is --list=options etc.).
	   --list=prologues, gives a short description of the prologues.
	   --style-sheet=path.ssh, which help to debug a particular
	     style sheet file.
	   --verbose accepts token-based arguments.
	   --font-size supports a unit (-f12cm, -f72points etc.).
	   --macro-meta-sequence=key:value defines a macro MSeq.
	   --ppd[=KEY] specifies the PPD to use.
	   --list=ppd lists the known ppd files.
	   --pages: its arg is optional, so that we can reset it.

a2ps has its home page where you'll find everything you need:

	http://www.inf.enst.fr/~demaille/a2ps/

We hope you'll like it.

We are looking for help on the translation of a2ps.  If you feel like
helping (one does not have to be a programmer at all), check out the
internationalization page:

	http://www.inf.enst.fr/~demaille/a2ps/po/

Best regards,
	Akim & Miguel

- -- 
Akim.Demaille@inf.enst.fr	Miguel.Santana@st.com



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