Linux Pocket Guide

Name

xdvi [options] file — tetex-xdvi

Synopsis

/usr/bin stdin stdout - file -- opt --help --version

The document processing system TeX produces binary output files in a format called DVI, with suffix .dvi. The viewer xdvi displays a DVI file in an X window. If you prefer, convert a DVI file to Postscript via the dvips command and then use GhostView (gv) to display it:

$ dvips -o myfile.ps myfile.dvi
$ gv myfile.ps

While displaying a file, xdvi has a column of buttons down the right-hand side with obvious uses, such as Next to move to the next page. (You can hide the buttons by invoking xdvi with the -expert option.) You can also navigate the file by keystroke.

Keystroke	Meaning
q	Quit.
n, Spacebar, Enter, Pagedown	Jump to next page. Precede it with a number N to jump by N pages..
p, Backspace, Delete, Pageup	Jump to previous page. Precede it with a number N to jump by N pages.
<	Jump to first page.
>	Jump to last page.
^L	Redisplay the page.
R	Reread the DVI file, say, after you’ve modified it.
Press mouse buttons	Magnify a rectangular region under the mouse cursor.

xdvi has dozens of command-line options for tailoring its colors, geometry, zoom, and overall behavior.