bmv - A PostScript viewer for SVGAlib

bmv [options] file

This manual page documents briefly the bmv command. This manual page was written for the Debian GNU/Linux distribution because the original program does not have a manual page.

bmv is a front end for GhostScript intended for viewing PS files. Using BMV you can now preview your PostScript files comfortably. You can also use it for viewing rawPBM image files. It uses SVGAlib and it is intended for Linux users who cannot run X. It is particularly suitable for previewing PS files from dvips. It is small and fast.

While you are viewing picture you can use the following keys (some keybindings only work within the patched Debian version of bmv):

h,j,k,l

To move left/down/up/right. Alternatively the arrow keys can be used.

H,J,K,L

To move to the boundary

f,r

To increase/decrease step size

+,-

To increase/decrease magnification

n,p

To go to the next/previous page (only DSC documents). Alternatively the PgUp and PgDown keys can be used. Numeric prefixes are possible, thus typing '12 <PgDown>' goes down 12 pages.

N,P

To go to the first/last/page (only DSC documents). Alternatively the Pos1 and End keys can be used.

R

To rotate the image 90 degrees clockwise.

g<n>

To go to page number <n>, <n> consists of exactly 3 digits

s<n>

To switch to virtual console <n>, <n> is a digit

q

To quit

A summary of options is included below:

-v<number>

VGA mode number for VGAlib. Examples:

bmv -v4 # 640x480x16 bmv -v11 # 800x600x256 bmv -v12 # 1024x768x256

for a full list of VGA modes, see also /usr/include/vga.h in the libsvga1-dev package.

-m<number>

Initial magnification, can be negative.

-b

Display PBM file instead of PS file.

-g<string>

Full path name of GhostScript executable.

-I<string>

Include directory - same as -I option for GS.

-r<string>

Resolution - same as -r option for GhostScript.

-p<string>

Papersize - same values as GhostScript -sPAPERSIZE=.

-w<number>

Wait timeout limit for GhostScript (in seconds).

-R

Rotates the image 90 degrees clockwise.

-h

Show this summary of options.

-t<number>

Set picture threshold in percents.

gs(1), dvisvga(1).

URL: <http://metalab.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/graphics/viewers/svga/>

Jan Kybic and Peter Samuelson

e-mail: peter@p12n.org

This manual page was written by Dr. Guenter Bechly <gbechly@debian.org>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others). It is distributed under the GPL just like bmv itself.