Convert Postscript Files to the Adobe PDF Format

In light of changes by NSF this year requiring all research proposals be electronically submitted in PDF format, Physics Computing Services wants to inform our users how this can be done currently, as well as plans to provide more options for doing so in the near future.

1. Conversion of dvi files to ps files by means of dvips and then the use of ps2pdf on the resultant ps files is available on PNCE-Unix/Glue machines (e. g., student.physics.umd.edu) to convert to PDF format. In addition to this installation, ps2pdf is part of GhostScript 5.10 and is therefore approved by NSF for FastLane proposals. The full NSF information on FastLane can be viewed at:
   http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/pdfcreat.htm

   Note: NSF warns of possible problems with other methods and with the use of unusual typefaces in creating PDF files which will be acceptable to FastLane.

   To use ps2pdf: Just ftp your file (myfile.ps) to student.physics.umd.edu (Note: ps files are text, so should be ftp'ed as ASCII not binary), then run the command:

   ps2pdf myfile.ps myfile.pdf

   to generate the PDF file (myfile.pdf). Then ftp myfile.pdf to your PC (as image this time) or submit it from student.physics.umd.edu.

   A web-based version of this process is available at:

   http://www.ps2pdf.com/

   The advantage here is that the ps file resides on the local PC and the converted PDF file is downloaded to the PC..

2. An upgrade of the standard image on faculty PCs is in progress. Part of this will include examining the need to upgrade TeX, with particular interest in new tools for generating PDF output. However, most current PDF tools for use with TeX are still in beta and may not be suitable for use in preparation of documents to be submitted via FastLane (NSF documentation on the matter indicates that some programs output a format they call PDF which is not compatible with the PDF format the NSF FastLane requires).

3. Support for Adobe Distiller, another tool approved by NSF for converting postscript to PDF for use with FastLane is available. This requires a PC installation of Adobe Acrobat at $50/licensed PC.

4. Upgrading GhostScript to a version approved by NSF for postscript to PDF generation is also planned. More information on the Aladdin GhostScript "ps2pdf" command may be obtained at:
   http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/

The need for PDF generation is recognized, but as all faculty have access to PNCE-Unix (through student.physics.umd.edu, if nothing else) and as ps2pdf is available there and is approved by NSF for this purpose, the situation is not considered urgent. The upgrade of TeX in particular is not trivial, and even upgrading GhostScript or Adobe would be significant amount of work. Since the basic faculty image is quite outdated, it is considered a better use of limited resources to create a new faculty image then to propagate newer versions on the present image, as well as build the new image. Besides, since the NSF deadlines are imminent, if not already past, it would be extremely difficult to get something working in time; whereas the method described in Step (1) above will work with both TeX users and non-TeX users and is already in place.

Physics Home | PNCE Info | UNIX Info | PC Info | System Info | POWL Firstaider | E-Mail This page is maintained by the Physics Web Managers: For Content Questions contact the WebEditor. For Technical Questions contact the WebTech.

---