Previewing Documents

The usual cycle that an average user goes through to produce their (eventually!) stunning final document involves viewing the output one or more times, where `more' is often a much larger number than initially anticipated. If the method of viewing the document through its various steps towards completion is restricted to simply printing it out on the laserprinter, a large amount of paper is wasted on printing material to be read approximately once. Also, the time taken between sending the document to the laserprinter and the document appearing can sometimes be longer than is desirable for efficient document production. The time delay may be due to a large queue of multi-page documents being ahead of your one-page `first try', or even the fact that someone has forgotten to refill the laserprinter paper tray.

Therefore, in an attempt to save the user valuable time and effort (and also to avoid the needless destruction of acres of scarce forestry), various means are provided by which the user can view a document without the aid of a laserprinter. The main machines within the department offer at least one form of previewing documents.

• Using xdvi
• xdvi options
  • Options selected when xdvi is invoked
  • Commands used within xdvi
• Ghostview