paperconfig

paperconfig [OPTION...]

-h, --help
    Displays a help message and exits.

-V, --version
    Shows version information and exits.

-q, --quiet
    Suppresses output messages.

-s SIZE, --size=SIZE
    Sets the default paper size to SIZE (e.g., a4, letter). Requires root privileges for system-wide changes.

-p, --papernames
    Lists all available paper size names supported by the command.

-l, --list
    Lists all programs currently configured or recognized by paperconfig.

-f, --force
    Forces configuration for a program even if a default configuration is not found.

-c, --check
    Checks the current configuration of the paper size for all recognized programs.

--add PROGRAM
    Adds a specific PROGRAM to the list of programs managed by paperconfig.

--remove PROGRAM
    Removes a specific PROGRAM from the list of programs managed by paperconfig.

--set PROGRAM SIZE
    Sets the paper size for a specific PROGRAM to SIZE. This overrides the global default for that program.

--query PROGRAM
    Queries and displays the currently configured paper size for a specific PROGRAM.

The paperconfig command is a utility designed to manage and set the default paper size for various TeX and TeX Live programs, such as dvips, dvipdfm, and xdvi. It provides a centralized way to ensure that documents generated or viewed by these applications use a consistent paper dimension (e.g., A4, Letter).

Instead of manually configuring each TeX-related tool, paperconfig allows administrators or users to set a system-wide or user-specific default paper size. This is particularly useful in environments where a specific paper standard is predominantly used, streamlining the printing and viewing workflow of TeX-generated documents.

paperconfig primarily affects programs within the TeX/LaTeX ecosystem. Changes made system-wide (without a user-specific configuration) often require root privileges. User-specific paper settings (e.g., via environment variables or personal configuration files) may override system defaults set by paperconfig for certain applications.

Originating from the TeX Live distribution, paperconfig was developed to standardize and simplify paper size configuration across the diverse set of utilities used for processing TeX/LaTeX documents. Its introduction addressed the need for a consistent approach to managing output dimensions, reducing potential errors and inconsistencies when generating print-ready files or viewing documents on different systems. It's an integral part of the TeX infrastructure rather than a general-purpose Linux command.

dvips(1), dvipdfm(1), xdvi(1), tex(1), kpsewhich(1)