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(web2c.info)mpost invocation

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`mpost' invocation
==================

  MetaPost (installed as `mpost') reads a series of pictures specified
in the MetaPost programming language, and outputs corresponding
PostScript code.  This section merely describes the options available
in the Web2c implementation.  For a complete description of the
MetaPost language, see AT&T technical report CSTR-162, generally
available as the file `TEXMF/doc/metapost/mpman.ps', where TEXMF is the
root of TeX directory structure.  See also
<http://cm.bell-labs.com/who/hobby/MetaPost.html>.

  Also, a standard MetaPost package for drawing graphs is documented in
AT&T technical report CSTR-164, available as the file `mpgraph.ps',
generally stored alongside `mpman.ps'.

  MetaPost processes its command line and determines its memory dump
(mem) file in a way exactly analogous to Metafont and TeX (Note: `tex'
invocation., and Note: Memory dumps).  Synopses:

     mpost [OPTION]... [MPNAME[.mp]] [MP-COMMANDS]
     mpost [OPTION]... \FIRST-LINE
     mpost [OPTION]... &MEM ARGS

  MetaPost searches the usual places for the main input file MPNAME
(Note: Supported file formats.),
extending MPNAME with `.mp' if necessary.  To see all the relevant
paths, set the environment variable `KPATHSEA_DEBUG' to `-1' before
running the program.

  MetaPost writes its PostScript output to a series of files
`BASEMPNAME.NNN' (or perhaps `BASEMPNAME.ps', very occasionally
`BASEMPNAME.tfm'), where NNN are the figure numbers specified in the
input, typically to the `beginfig' macro, and BASEMPNAME is the
basename of MPNAME, or `mpout' if no input file was specified.
MetaPost uses the `.ps' extension when the figure number is out of
range, e.g., if you say `beginfig(-1)'.

  You can use the output files as figures in a TeX document just as
with any other PostScript figures. For example, with this TeX command:
     \special{psfile="FILENAME"}

or by using `epsf.tex' (Note: EPSF macros.).

  The MetaPost construct
     btex ... TEX-INPUT ... etex

calls MakeMPX to generate a MPX file containing a MetaPost picture
expression corresponding to TEX-INPUT (Note: makempx invocation).

  The construct
     verbatimtex ... TEX-INPUT ... etex

simply passes the TEX-INPUT through to MakeMPX and thus to TeX. For
example, if you are using LaTeX, your MetaPost input file must start
with a `verbatimtex' block that gives the necessary `\documentclass'
(or `\documentstyle') `\begin{document}' command.  You will also need
to set the enviroment variable `TEX' to `latex' (Note: makempx
invocation).

  TEX-INPUT need not be specifically TeX input; it could also be Troff.
In that case, you will need the `-m pictures' Troff macro package
(unfortunately absent from many Troff implementations), or an
equivalent such as the `-m pspic' macros from GNU groff described in
grops(1).

  Other typesetters can be supported with no change to MetaPost itself;
only MakeMPX needs to be updated.

  Naturally, you must use fonts that are supported by the typesetter;
specifically, you'll probably want to use standard PostScript fonts with
Troff.  And only the TeX system understands Computer Modern or other
Metafont fonts; you can also use PostScript fonts with TeX, of course.

  MetaPost-generated PostScript figures which do use Computer Modern
fonts for labels cannot be directly previewed or printed.  Instead, you
must include them in a TeX document and run the resulting DVI file
through Dvips to arrange for the downloading of the required fonts
(Note: Fonts in figures.).  To help with this,
the MetaPost distribution provides a small TeX file `mproof.tex' which
is typically called as:
     tex mproof MP-OUTPUT-FILES... ; dvips mproof -o

The resulting file `mproof.ps' can then be printed or previewed.

  To generate EPSF files, set the internal MetaPost variable
`prologues' positive.  To make the output files self-contained, use
only standard PostScript fonts.  MetaPost reads the same `psfonts.map'
file as Dvips, to determine PostScript fonts that need to be downloaded
(Note: psfonts.map.map.).

  MetaPost can write output files, via the `write' primitive; this
opens a security hole.  Note: tex invocation.

  The program accepts the following options, as well as the standard
`-help' and `-version' (Note: Common options):
`-kpathsea-debug=NUMBER'
`-ini'
`-mem=MEMNAME'
`-progname=STRING'
`-translate-file=TCXFILE'
     These options are common to TeX, Metafont, and MetaPost.  Note:
     Common options.

`-T'
`-troff'
     Set the `prologues' internal variable to `1', and use `makempx
     -troff' to generate MPX files.

`-tex=TEXPROGRAM'
     When this option is given, the program TEXPROGRAM is used to
     typeset the labels.