Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!husc6!sri-unix!ctnews!pyramid!csg From: csg@pyramid.UUCP (Carl S. Gutekunst) Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions Subject: Re: troff previewer for AT&T 5620 Message-ID: <3179@pyramid.UUCP> Date: Sun, 21-Jun-87 04:15:49 EDT Article-I.D.: pyramid.3179 Posted: Sun Jun 21 04:15:49 1987 Date-Received: Mon, 22-Jun-87 06:19:04 EDT References: <7863@brl-adm.ARPA> <5991@brl-smoke.ARPA> Reply-To: csg@pyramid.UUCP (Carl S. Gutekunst) Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA Lines: 36 >>Does anyone know if troff output can be previewed on an AT&T 5620? > >Yes, there is a software package called "5620 DMD Text & Graphics" that >includes the "proof" troff postprocessor, for viewing troff output, and >"cip", an interactive pic-file editor. Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, be aware of the following: - You'll need DWB 2.0. - proof(1) does *not* understand the line drawing functions; hence it cannot display pic(1) data or cip(1) output. - cip(1) is a reasonably useful visual frontend for pic(1), however its output needs a fair amount of massaging before running through troff(1). And if you try to cip(1) a pic file that you've already cleaned up, cip(1) will destroy all your cleanup. Also, cip(1) only understands a subset of the pic(1) con- structs, so it generally cannot edit pic files that it did not create. I settled on generating my initial drawings with cip(1), and then using vi for subsequent changes. - As provided by AT&T in version 2.0, one critical font file is broken, and proof(1) regularly crashes the DMD and hoses the serial line. (On the 3B it meant running to the console to manually kill stranded processes; at least on the Pyramid it died gracefully.) We have been unable to squeeze a fixed font out of AT&T, and fixing the bugs would be a fairly significant job for which no one around here has had time. (The fact that AT&T is replacing the 5620 with a vastly better terminal has contributed to the ho-hum factor.) All in all, proof(1) and cip(1) were so irritating to use that our Tech Pubs people preferred to waste paper on the laser printer. On the other hand, we have customers who think proof(1) and cip(1) are the neatest thing since sliced bread. So, if you get a chance to try before you buy, please do. We didn't like it; maybe you will. BTW, price is $2000 for source, $200 for bin.