a4 vs letter

[garthoz06]

In order to switch between printing a4 and letter, I alter the config.ps file in the texmf-
cmt:dvips:config directory by un/commenting the lines that define a4; I do the same for the
pdftex.cfg in texmf-cmt:pdftex:config directory; finally, I insert (or remove) [a4paper] as the
option in the documentclass definition.

When I examine the pdfs that are created in each method, however, there is one difference.
Each pdf is, according to Acrobat Reader, 21.59 cm wide and 27.9 cm long, which is US
letter! Horizontally, each line is exactly the same length, wrapping the lines of text at
precisely the same point. The sole difference is that the a4paper includees four lines that the
USletter moves onto the next page. In other words, switching between US letter and a4 size
paper, LaTeX does not adjust the horizontal margins but does adjust the vertical margins.

Is this normal? Even moving to a3 size, the margins don't get wider. Moving to a5 (which is
considerably narrower), the margins do get considerably narrower.

Thanks,
Randy

[Martin Chicoine]

First, how do you create your pdfs?



Second, you don’t have to edit the config.ps file. If you print from YAP,
you will need the following line in your preamble:



\usepackage[dvips]{geometry}



If you convert with dvips and ps2pdf, check for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% in your
ps2pdf parameters and use the format you need (letter, A4, A3).



Third, if you print from Acrobat, beware the resizing parameters in the
print dialog box (you should remove all resizing).



Martin.



_____

De : TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org
[mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org] De la part de garthoz06
Envoyé : 15 novembre, 2006 20:22
À : TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org
Objet : [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter



In order to switch between printing a4 and letter, I alter the config.ps
file in the texmf-
cmt:dvips:config directory by un/commenting the lines that define a4; I do
the same for the
pdftex.cfg in texmf-cmt:pdftex:config directory; finally, I insert (or
remove) [a4paper] as the
option in the documentclass definition.

When I examine the pdfs that are created in each method, however, there is
one difference.
Each pdf is, according to Acrobat Reader, 21.59 cm wide and 27.9 cm long,
which is US
letter! Horizontally, each line is exactly the same length, wrapping the
lines of text at
precisely the same point. The sole difference is that the a4paper includees
four lines that the
USletter moves onto the next page. In other words, switching between US
letter and a4 size
paper, LaTeX does not adjust the horizontal margins but does adjust the
vertical margins.

Is this normal? Even moving to a3 size, the margins don't get wider. Moving
to a5 (which is
considerably narrower), the margins do get considerably narrower.

Thanks,
Randy

[garthoz06]

Hi Martin,

1) I convert tex to dvi to ps to pdf. I use dvips to convert from dvi to postscript, and then
ps2pdf to convert the postscript to PDF.

2) But, I don't see anywhere for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% parameters. From the ps2pdf
"Options" menu, I select "pdf output ..." and see a window titled "ps2pdf parameters". This
window lists only one parameter: -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer -dCompatibilityLevel=1.3

The option "Use Apple's pstopdf program" is not selected.

3) From the dialog after processing a postscript file:

Processing: gs -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDVEICE=pdfwrite dPDFSETTINGS=/
printer -dCompatibilityLevel=1.3 -sOutputFile=
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.pdf" - c save pop -f
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.ps"
Current directory -- HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop

4) I have tried to change the preferences, but cannot enter anything in the dialog from
ps2pdf preferences window; from CMacTeX, I select Options and psutils options ... and
select the radio button for a4 but there is no change.

5) In the Acrobat window for viewing, the lower left corner and the Document Properties
indicate 21.59 by 27.9 cm (US letter) but in the print dialog, the dimensions listed are 21
by 29.7. I do not see any resizing parameters in the print dialog. Of course, the print
dialog though is merely going to fit what is in the viewer to the printer; the problem arises
before that when the PDF has been generated at US letter. This is evidenced by the size
specs in the lower left and also by the reduced number of lines but the same horizontal
width of the viewable page.

6) The problem appears to actually be at the TeX processing stage. Viewing the dvi
output, the lower right point is 8.5 and 11 inches, indicating US letter. This dvi output is
the same as the PDF in that both pages contain the same number of lines and the same
number of characters on each line.

Note as well that printing them, the margins are identical -- 4.6cm on the left, 4.8cm on
the right.

7) From my config.ps file the following lines:

% Paper size information. First definition is the default.
%
% If your default is a4 uncomment the following definition
% and comment out the letterSize definition.
%
@ A4size 210mm 297mm
@+ %%PaperSize: A4

%@ A5size 148.5mm 210mm
%@+ %%PaperSize: A5

%@ letterSize 8.5in 11in

%@ letter 8.5in 11in
%@+ %%BeginPaperSize: Letter
%@+ letter
%@+ %%EndPaperSize

@ legal 8.5in 14in
@+ ! %%DocumentPaperSizes: Legal
@+ %%BeginPaperSize: Legal
@+ legal
@+ %%EndPaperSize

Same result if I change "A4" to "a4" and also if I uncomment the letter definitions.

Thanks,
Randy

Post by Martin Chicoine
First, how do you create your pdfs?
Second, you don't have to edit the config.ps file. If you print from YAP,
\usepackage[dvips]{geometry}
If you convert with dvips and ps2pdf, check for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% in your
ps2pdf parameters and use the format you need (letter, A4, A3).
Third, if you print from Acrobat, beware the resizing parameters in the
print dialog box (you should remove all resizing).
Martin.
_____
Envoyé : 15 novembre, 2006 20:22
Objet : [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter
In order to switch between printing a4 and letter, I alter the config.ps
file in the texmf-
cmt:dvips:config directory by un/commenting the lines that define a4; I do
the same for the
pdftex.cfg in texmf-cmt:pdftex:config directory; finally, I insert (or
remove) [a4paper] as the
option in the documentclass definition.
When I examine the pdfs that are created in each method, however, there is
one difference.
Each pdf is, according to Acrobat Reader, 21.59 cm wide and 27.9 cm long,
which is US
letter! Horizontally, each line is exactly the same length, wrapping the
lines of text at
precisely the same point. The sole difference is that the a4paper includees
four lines that the
USletter moves onto the next page. In other words, switching between US
letter and a4 size
paper, LaTeX does not adjust the horizontal margins but does adjust the
vertical margins.
Is this normal? Even moving to a3 size, the margins don't get wider. Moving
to a5 (which is
considerably narrower), the margins do get considerably narrower.
Thanks,
Randy

[Martin Chicoine]

Are you using TexnicCenter or CMacTex?



Anyway, you should use \usepackage[dvips]{geometry} and add
–sPAPERSIZE=letter (or a4) to the ps2pdf command line. If you use
TexnicCenter, it is in the “Build\Define Output
Profiles\Latex=>ps=>pdf\Postprocessors\ps2pdf\Arguments” menu.



Martin.



_____

De : TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org
[mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org] De la part de garthoz06
Envoyé : 17 novembre, 2006 02:24
À : TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org
Objet : Re: [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter



Hi Martin,

1) I convert tex to dvi to ps to pdf. I use dvips to convert from dvi to
postscript, and then
ps2pdf to convert the postscript to PDF.

2) But, I don't see anywhere for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% parameters. From the
ps2pdf
"Options" menu, I select "pdf output ..." and see a window titled "ps2pdf
parameters". This
window lists only one parameter: -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer
-dCompatibilityLevel=1.3

The option "Use Apple's pstopdf program" is not selected.

3) From the dialog after processing a postscript file:

Processing: gs -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDVEICE=pdfwrite dPDFSETTINGS=/
printer -dCompatibilityLevel=1.3 -sOutputFile=
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.pdf" - c save pop -f
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.ps"
Current directory -- HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop

4) I have tried to change the preferences, but cannot enter anything in the
dialog from
ps2pdf preferences window; from CMacTeX, I select Options and psutils
options ... and
select the radio button for a4 but there is no change.

5) In the Acrobat window for viewing, the lower left corner and the Document
Properties
indicate 21.59 by 27.9 cm (US letter) but in the print dialog, the
dimensions listed are 21
by 29.7. I do not see any resizing parameters in the print dialog. Of
course, the print
dialog though is merely going to fit what is in the viewer to the printer;
the problem arises
before that when the PDF has been generated at US letter. This is evidenced
by the size
specs in the lower left and also by the reduced number of lines but the same
horizontal
width of the viewable page.

6) The problem appears to actually be at the TeX processing stage. Viewing
the dvi
output, the lower right point is 8.5 and 11 inches, indicating US letter.
This dvi output is
the same as the PDF in that both pages contain the same number of lines and
the same
number of characters on each line.

Note as well that printing them, the margins are identical -- 4.6cm on the
left, 4.8cm on
the right.

7) From my config.ps file the following lines:

% Paper size information. First definition is the default.
%
% If your default is a4 uncomment the following definition
% and comment out the letterSize definition.
%
@ A4size 210mm 297mm
@+ %%PaperSize: A4

%@ A5size 148.5mm 210mm
%@+ %%PaperSize: A5

%@ letterSize 8.5in 11in

%@ letter 8.5in 11in
%@+ %%BeginPaperSize: Letter
%@+ letter
%@+ %%EndPaperSize

@ legal 8.5in 14in
@+ ! %%DocumentPaperSizes: Legal
@+ %%BeginPaperSize: Legal
@+ legal
@+ %%EndPaperSize

Same result if I change "A4" to "a4" and also if I uncomment the letter
definitions.

Thanks,
Randy

--- In TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>

Post by Martin Chicoine
First, how do you create your pdfs?
Second, you don't have to edit the config.ps file. If you print from YAP,
\usepackage[dvips]{geometry}
If you convert with dvips and ps2pdf, check for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% in your
ps2pdf parameters and use the format you need (letter, A4, A3).
Third, if you print from Acrobat, beware the resizing parameters in the
print dialog box (you should remove all resizing).
Martin.
_____
De : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Envoyé : 15 novembre, 2006 20:22
À : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Objet : [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter
In order to switch between printing a4 and letter, I alter the config.ps
file in the texmf-
cmt:dvips:config directory by un/commenting the lines that define a4; I do
the same for the
pdftex.cfg in texmf-cmt:pdftex:config directory; finally, I insert (or
remove) [a4paper] as the
option in the documentclass definition.
When I examine the pdfs that are created in each method, however, there is
one difference.
Each pdf is, according to Acrobat Reader, 21.59 cm wide and 27.9 cm long,
which is US
letter! Horizontally, each line is exactly the same length, wrapping the
lines of text at
precisely the same point. The sole difference is that the a4paper includees
four lines that the
USletter moves onto the next page. In other words, switching between US
letter and a4 size
paper, LaTeX does not adjust the horizontal margins but does adjust the
vertical margins.
Is this normal? Even moving to a3 size, the margins don't get wider. Moving
to a5 (which is
considerably narrower), the margins do get considerably narrower.
Thanks,
Randy

[garthoz06]

Martin,

1) I use CMacTeX. How do I add the command below to the ps2pdf command line?

I've seen other documentation suggesting using a4.sty but then I read a document from
early 2005 which stated emphatically NOT to use that package.

2) At the moment, not using geometry package, config.ps file has uncommented the a4
definition so that it should be the default, I've tried three versions and come up with three
different outputs:

• \documentclass[a4paper]{article} produces a document with 4.7cm left margin and
5.2cm right margin on a4 paper, when printed

• \documentclass{article} produces a document with 4.9cm left margin and 4.9cm right
margin on a4 paper, when printed; additionally, it has the same number of words per line
but four fewer lines than with the first version

• \documentclass[letterpaper]{article} produces a document identical to the second
version -- same margins, and same number of lines on the page.

Note that in all three cases, when viewing with Macdvi, the lower right corner's position is
listed at 8.5 and 11 inches, indicating US letter. This is true even though I've specified in
Macdvi that the paper size is a4 (under File:PageSetup).

Thanks,
Randy

Post by Martin Chicoine
Are you using TexnicCenter or CMacTex?
Anyway, you should use \usepackage[dvips]{geometry} and add
–sPAPERSIZE=letter (or a4) to the ps2pdf command line. If you use
TexnicCenter, it is in the "Build\Define Output
Profiles\Latex=>ps=>pdf\Postprocessors\ps2pdf\Arguments" menu.
Martin.
_____
Envoyé : 17 novembre, 2006 02:24
Objet : Re: [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter
Hi Martin,
1) I convert tex to dvi to ps to pdf. I use dvips to convert from dvi to
postscript, and then
ps2pdf to convert the postscript to PDF.
2) But, I don't see anywhere for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% parameters. From the
ps2pdf
"Options" menu, I select "pdf output ..." and see a window titled "ps2pdf
parameters". This
window lists only one parameter: -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer
-dCompatibilityLevel=1.3
The option "Use Apple's pstopdf program" is not selected.
Processing: gs -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDVEICE=pdfwrite dPDFSETTINGS=/
printer -dCompatibilityLevel=1.3 -sOutputFile=
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.pdf" - c save pop -f
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.ps"
Current directory -- HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop
4) I have tried to change the preferences, but cannot enter anything in the
dialog from
ps2pdf preferences window; from CMacTeX, I select Options and psutils
options ... and
select the radio button for a4 but there is no change.
5) In the Acrobat window for viewing, the lower left corner and the Document
Properties
indicate 21.59 by 27.9 cm (US letter) but in the print dialog, the
dimensions listed are 21
by 29.7. I do not see any resizing parameters in the print dialog. Of
course, the print
dialog though is merely going to fit what is in the viewer to the printer;
the problem arises
before that when the PDF has been generated at US letter. This is evidenced
by the size
specs in the lower left and also by the reduced number of lines but the same
horizontal
width of the viewable page.
6) The problem appears to actually be at the TeX processing stage. Viewing
the dvi
output, the lower right point is 8.5 and 11 inches, indicating US letter.
This dvi output is
the same as the PDF in that both pages contain the same number of lines and
the same
number of characters on each line.
Note as well that printing them, the margins are identical -- 4.6cm on the
left, 4.8cm on
the right.
% Paper size information. First definition is the default.
%
% If your default is a4 uncomment the following definition
% and comment out the letterSize definition.
%
@ A4size 210mm 297mm
@+ %%PaperSize: A4
@ legal 8.5in 14in
@+ ! %%DocumentPaperSizes: Legal
@+ %%BeginPaperSize: Legal
@+ legal
@+ %%EndPaperSize
Same result if I change "A4" to "a4" and also if I uncomment the letter
definitions.
Thanks,
Randy
--- In TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>

Post by Martin Chicoine
First, how do you create your pdfs?
Second, you don't have to edit the config.ps file. If you print from YAP,
\usepackage[dvips]{geometry}
If you convert with dvips and ps2pdf, check for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% in

your

Post by Martin Chicoine
ps2pdf parameters and use the format you need (letter, A4, A3).
Third, if you print from Acrobat, beware the resizing parameters in the
print dialog box (you should remove all resizing).
Martin.
_____
De : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Envoyé : 15 novembre, 2006 20:22
À : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Objet : [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter
In order to switch between printing a4 and letter, I alter the config.ps
file in the texmf-
cmt:dvips:config directory by un/commenting the lines that define a4; I do
the same for the
pdftex.cfg in texmf-cmt:pdftex:config directory; finally, I insert (or
remove) [a4paper] as the
option in the documentclass definition.
When I examine the pdfs that are created in each method, however, there is
one difference.
Each pdf is, according to Acrobat Reader, 21.59 cm wide and 27.9 cm long,
which is US
letter! Horizontally, each line is exactly the same length, wrapping the
lines of text at
precisely the same point. The sole difference is that the a4paper

includees

Post by Martin Chicoine
four lines that the
USletter moves onto the next page. In other words, switching between US
letter and a4 size
paper, LaTeX does not adjust the horizontal margins but does adjust the
vertical margins.
Is this normal? Even moving to a3 size, the margins don't get wider.

Moving

Post by Martin Chicoine
to a5 (which is
considerably narrower), the margins do get considerably narrower.
Thanks,
Randy

[Martin Chicoine]

1) This is a TexnicCenter newsgroup. Ask that question on a CMacTex
group or on the Google comp.text.tex group.



2) Solve the ps2pdf problem in your editor (see previous item). And
use the geometry package if you want to control your margins as you wish.



Martin.



_____

De : TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org
[mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org] De la part de garthoz06
Envoyé : 19 novembre, 2006 21:47
À : TeXnicCenter-Users-***@public.gmane.org
Objet : [TXC-Users] Re: a4 vs letter



Martin,

1) I use CMacTeX. How do I add the command below to the ps2pdf command line?

I've seen other documentation suggesting using a4.sty but then I read a
document from
early 2005 which stated emphatically NOT to use that package.

2) At the moment, not using geometry package, config.ps file has uncommented
the a4
definition so that it should be the default, I've tried three versions and
come up with three
different outputs:

• \documentclass[a4paper]{article} produces a document with 4.7cm left
margin and
5.2cm right margin on a4 paper, when printed

• \documentclass{article} produces a document with 4.9cm left margin and
4.9cm right
margin on a4 paper, when printed; additionally, it has the same number of
words per line
but four fewer lines than with the first version

• \documentclass[letterpaper]{article} produces a document identical to the
second
version -- same margins, and same number of lines on the page.

Note that in all three cases, when viewing with Macdvi, the lower right
corner's position is
listed at 8.5 and 11 inches, indicating US letter. This is true even though
I've specified in
Macdvi that the paper size is a4 (under File:PageSetup).

Thanks,
Randy

--- In TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>

Post by Martin Chicoine
Are you using TexnicCenter or CMacTex?
Anyway, you should use \usepackage[dvips]{geometry} and add
–sPAPERSIZE=letter (or a4) to the ps2pdf command line. If you use
TexnicCenter, it is in the "Build\Define Output
Profiles\Latex=>ps=>pdf\Postprocessors\ps2pdf\Arguments" menu.
Martin.
_____
De : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Envoyé : 17 novembre, 2006 02:24
À : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Objet : Re: [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter
Hi Martin,
1) I convert tex to dvi to ps to pdf. I use dvips to convert from dvi to
postscript, and then
ps2pdf to convert the postscript to PDF.
2) But, I don't see anywhere for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% parameters. From the
ps2pdf
"Options" menu, I select "pdf output ..." and see a window titled "ps2pdf
parameters". This
window lists only one parameter: -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer
-dCompatibilityLevel=1.3
The option "Use Apple's pstopdf program" is not selected.
Processing: gs -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDVEICE=pdfwrite dPDFSETTINGS=/
printer -dCompatibilityLevel=1.3 -sOutputFile=
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.pdf" - c save pop -f
"HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop:temp.ps"
Current directory -- HardDrive:Users:username:Desktop
4) I have tried to change the preferences, but cannot enter anything in the
dialog from
ps2pdf preferences window; from CMacTeX, I select Options and psutils
options ... and
select the radio button for a4 but there is no change.
5) In the Acrobat window for viewing, the lower left corner and the Document
Properties
indicate 21.59 by 27.9 cm (US letter) but in the print dialog, the
dimensions listed are 21
by 29.7. I do not see any resizing parameters in the print dialog. Of
course, the print
dialog though is merely going to fit what is in the viewer to the printer;
the problem arises
before that when the PDF has been generated at US letter. This is evidenced
by the size
specs in the lower left and also by the reduced number of lines but the same
horizontal
width of the viewable page.
6) The problem appears to actually be at the TeX processing stage. Viewing
the dvi
output, the lower right point is 8.5 and 11 inches, indicating US letter.
This dvi output is
the same as the PDF in that both pages contain the same number of lines and
the same
number of characters on each line.
Note as well that printing them, the margins are identical -- 4.6cm on the
left, 4.8cm on
the right.
% Paper size information. First definition is the default.
%
% If your default is a4 uncomment the following definition
% and comment out the letterSize definition.
%
@ A4size 210mm 297mm
@+ %%PaperSize: A4
@ legal 8.5in 14in
@+ ! %%DocumentPaperSizes: Legal
@+ %%BeginPaperSize: Legal
@+ legal
@+ %%EndPaperSize
Same result if I change "A4" to "a4" and also if I uncomment the letter
definitions.
Thanks,
Randy
--- In TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>

Post by Martin Chicoine
First, how do you create your pdfs?
Second, you don't have to edit the config.ps file. If you print from YAP,
\usepackage[dvips]{geometry}
If you convert with dvips and ps2pdf, check for the -sPAPERSIZE=%%% in

your

Post by Martin Chicoine
ps2pdf parameters and use the format you need (letter, A4, A3).
Third, if you print from Acrobat, beware the resizing parameters in the
print dialog box (you should remove all resizing).
Martin.
_____
De : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>

garthoz06

Post by Martin Chicoine

Post by Martin Chicoine
Envoyé : 15 novembre, 2006 20:22
À : TeXnicCenter- <mailto:TeXnicCenter-Users%40yahoogroups.com>
Objet : [TXC-Users] a4 vs letter
In order to switch between printing a4 and letter, I alter the config.ps
file in the texmf-
cmt:dvips:config directory by un/commenting the lines that define a4; I do
the same for the
pdftex.cfg in texmf-cmt:pdftex:config directory; finally, I insert (or
remove) [a4paper] as the
option in the documentclass definition.
When I examine the pdfs that are created in each method, however, there is
one difference.
Each pdf is, according to Acrobat Reader, 21.59 cm wide and 27.9 cm long,
which is US
letter! Horizontally, each line is exactly the same length, wrapping the
lines of text at
precisely the same point. The sole difference is that the a4paper

includees

Post by Martin Chicoine
four lines that the
USletter moves onto the next page. In other words, switching between US
letter and a4 size
paper, LaTeX does not adjust the horizontal margins but does adjust the
vertical margins.
Is this normal? Even moving to a3 size, the margins don't get wider.

Moving

Post by Martin Chicoine
to a5 (which is
considerably narrower), the margins do get considerably narrower.
Thanks,
Randy