---
name: "dvispecials"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "tex-guy"
version: "1.3.2-5"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dvispecials"
---

# dvispecials(1)

prints strings for the 'SPECIAL' instruction in a TeX DVI file

## NAME

dvispecials - prints strings for the 'SPECIAL' instruction in a TeX DVI file

## SYNOPSIS

**dvispecials** *FILE*

## DESCRIPTION

*dvispecials* prints strings for the 'SPECIAL' instruction  in a TeX DVI file. For the purpose of extension of TeX typesetting systems, DVI instruction architecture defines a 'SPECIAL' instruction. The instruction contains a string as an option of the instruction. The DVI instruction specification defines that the semantics of the 'SPECIAL' instruction is undefined,  and it is left as a DVI driver specific feature. Currently,  it is used for includegraphics command to include EPS figures (by graphics.sty and graphicx.sty style packages)  and changing text colors (color.sty package) in LaTeX. They uses the 'SPECIAL' instruction to embed a file name of an EPS file and color information.

*dvispecials* uses  *DVIlib* as an intenal DVI bytecode interpreter and *VFlib* as an intenal font module.

## OPTIONS

*dvispecials* accepts the following options. (For more detail, invoke *dvispecials* with --help option.)

- **--help**

  Print a list of command line options.

- **-v VFLIBCAP**

  Set a vflibcap file for font module *VFlib*.

- **-q**

  Do not print anything if no 'SPECIAL' instructions in a DVI file.

- **-p FMT**

  A format string to print each font. A substring %p is replaced by page number  where the 'SPECIAL' instruction is in, %s is replaced by an optional string for the 'SPECIAL' instruction,  \\n is replaced by newline, and \\t is replaced by tab,

## SEE ALSO

**vflib**(1), **dvilib**(1)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright ©  2007 Hirotsugu Kakugawa