Re: [Texmacs-dev] conversion to pdf

[Henri Lesourd]

hadar raz wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Searching this list, I found a few posts about pdf conversion, and even
> one attempt at creating a new converter that dates back to 2002, but I
> don't think anything came out of it.
As far as I can remember, there have been problems with fonts,
and also with inserting images connected to the PS/PDF exports,
but at least part of these problems have been solved. In
order to be able to give a more detailed answer about the
past attempts / current state of TeXmacs, I would need you
to provide more precise references about this attempt of
creating a new converter (or other things), because I can't
find it on the mailing list archives.


> Looking at the internal ps converter, I realized that it is a printer
> device, and as such can convert directly to pdf as well, since the pdf
> file structure contains the same drawing and text routines. Ofcoarse the
> file header and some other pdf specific data will have to change as
> well, but it is of no importance at the moment.
> The two biggest problems as I see them are:
>
> 1. pdf file contains a 'catalog' which is located at the end of the
> file, and points to all the different pieces of information in the file.
> It will have to be implimented.
>
> 2. The pdf format is at it's best when it contains hyperlinks, just like
> the TeXmacs files themselves. The internal ps printer device ignores
> them at the moment.
>
>  
What you want is not clearly described. Given that you discuss
the (lack of :-( ) implementation of the PDF catalog together
with the lack of implementation of the PDF hyperlinks, I would
guess that your problem is to write a TeXmacs document with links,
and have it automatically converted to a PDF file with the same
links (i.e. : *working* links :-).

Am I right, or do you have in fact a more detailed, a little
bit different, or a more specific, etc. idea in your mind ?


> There is a workaround for the first problem. The gs converter ps-->pdf
> we currently use can handle a subset of commands called "pdfmark". These
> commands can be embedded in the ps file TeXmacs outputs, and when
> converted to pdf they will show as hyperlinks, bookmarks, etc'.
>
> The second problem remains. How can we (I) embed these commands in the
> ps device? There must be a way to let the device know when it proccesses
> a certain block, that this block is a <label> or a <ref>, for example.
> Does anyone know how can this be done?
>
>  
Supposing that what you want is the correct native TeXmacs
translation of hyperlinks from .tm files to PDF files, the
answer is that to do this, you need to patch a dozen of C++
files, not only the PsDevice. ==> You need to discuss this
with Joris, when he will be back in some weeks (he's the
one that deals with patches in this part of TeXmacs).


Best, Henri