MPICTURES(5)

NAME
mpictures - picture inclusion macros

SYNOPSIS
troff -mpictures [ options []] [ files []]

DESCRIPTION
mpictures is a macro package used to include PostScript pictures in troff documents. The package is compatible with many existing troff macro packages and includes the following three macros:

Places the picture
    file in the space set aside by height, width, position, and offset, which together define and position the picture frame. The macro arguments are:
    Pathname of a PostScript picture file. Appending to file selects page number n from a multiple-page picture file. By default the first page in file is selected. Vertical extent of the frame. The default is 3i(.) Horizontal extent of the frame. The default is the current length of a line of text. One of l(,) c(,) or used to align the left, center, or right of the frame with the corresponding position on the current line of text. The default is l(.) Moves the frame right (positive) or left (negative) from the selected position. The default is 0i(.) A string built from one or more of the following:

    Rotate the picture clockwise d degrees. If d is omitted, 90 degrees is added to the current angle, which starts at zero. Outline the picture with a box. Freely scale both picture dimensions. White out (erase) the area to be occupied by the picture. Attach the picture to the left side of the frame. Attach the picture to the right side of the frame. Attach the picture to the top of the frame. Attach the picture to the bottom of the frame.
    Place label 1.5 vertical lines below the frame.

    If there is room fills text around the frame. Everything destined for either side of the frame first goes into a diversion and only reappears when the accumulated text sweeps past the trap set by or when the diversion is explicitly closed by the macro (see below).

    Null arguments, represented by ""(,) are replaced by the defaults as noted above.

A low level macro used by
    .BP(.) It can help if you are trying to do things that will not allow or does not do well. The two arguments not already described are:
    Moves the frame right (positive) or left (negative) from the left margin. The default is 0i(.) Moves the frame down (positive) or up (negative) from the current baseline. The default is 0i(.)

    The second argument is a comma separated list of four numbers, and although defaults are available, supplying values for all four numbers is recommended.

Ends a picture started by
    An explicit call is not often required. Instead is usually called by at the bottom of each frame.

Much of what is done depends on file structuring comments commonly found in PostScript files. If the comments needed to isolate a particular page are missing the entire file is included. If a comment is missing the picture is assumed to fill an 8.5×11-inch page. A picture file that cannot be read when the troff postprocessor runs is replaced by white space. Nothing done in or guarantees the picture has not been placed off the page. All dimensions should be explicitly given in inches.

BUGS
A picture and associated text can silently disappear if the diversion trap set by is not reached. Including a call to at the end of the paper should recover whatever appears to be missing.

Macros in other packages occasionally break the adjustments made to the line length and indent when text is being placed around a picture.

A missing or improper comment often explains why a picture does not properly fill the space that has been set aside.

FILES

SEE ALSO
troff(1), dpost(1), picpack(1), mps(5)

REFERENCE
R. L. Drechsler and A. R. Wilks, PostScript Pictures in Troff Documents