xdvi is a DVI file post-processor which generates its output in an X window. All that is necessary to start it up is the command
xdvi <filename>.dviIn this case the .dvi filename extension may be omitted, as xdvi assumes that the extension is present. In keeping with other X applications, after a few seconds a flickering outline of the previewer window will appear. Positioning of this window is done in the usual manner. The first page of the document appears in this window. By positioning the mouse pointer at a required point within the window and holding down either the left mouse button, the right mouse button, or both mouse buttons simultaneously, gives varying degrees of magnification of that section of the document. This allows the close inspection of parts of a document as well as being able to see its full-page appearance. To exit from the xdvi previewer, simply type q to the window.
More extensive information is available from the xdvi manual pages and the next section provides a summary of the main options available. In particular, and in common with the majority of X applications, xdvi accepts a large range of X default settings, described in the manual page, with which the user may tailor the program's behaviour. The behaviour seen by the casual user is just the `default default' configuration, so to speak.