a2ps-4.13b

Introduction to a2ps

Download location (HTTP):       http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/a2ps/a2ps-4.13b.tar.gz
Download location (FTP):        ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/a2ps/a2ps-4.13b.tar.gz
Version used:                   4.13b
Package size:                   1.8 MB
Estimated Disk space required:  19 MB
Estimated build time:           0.60 SBU
Additional Downloads:
International fonts

a2ps is a utility used mostly in the background to convert almost every input format into postscript output, hence the name "a2ps" which means "all to Postscript".

Installation of a2ps

a2ps is an almost typical autoconf based package, but tries to install to unusual directories.

Install a2ps by running the following commands:

cd contrib &&
cp Makefile.in Makefile.in.orig &&
sed -e "s:emacs::" Makefile.in.orig > Makefile.in &&
cd .. &&
./configure --prefix=/usr \
    --sysconfdir=/etc/a2ps --localstatedir=/var \
    --with-medium=letter &&
make &&
make install

Installation command explanations

cd contrib &&
cp Makefile.in Makefile.in.orig &&
sed -e "s:emacs::" Makefile.in.orig > Makefile.in &&
cd .. &&
These commands eliminate the compiling and installing of the emacs script files. If you have substituted emacs for vi as your primary editor, you would want to skip these instructions.

--sysconfdir=/etc/a2ps : Configuration data goes to /etc/a2ps instead of /usr/etc.

--with-medium=letter : This switch changes the default paper format of A4 to letter. Locations that utilize A4 would eliminate this switch.

Configuring a2ps

Config files

/etc/a2ps/a2ps.cfg, /etc/a2ps/a2ps-site.cfg

Configuration Information

Information about configuring a2ps can be found in the comments contained in the above files, and also by running info a2ps.

Contents

a2ps is a filter program. The package consists of the program a2ps and a lot of filter data to convert nearly everything to Postscript.