fig2lat — Convert XFig → PDF+TeX / EPS+TeX / PGF

For the impatient: See the Examples section below.

Synopsis

fig2lat [-l _driver_[,_key_=_value_...]] [_options_] _file_

Description

Fig2lat converts Fig drawings created in XFig, jFig or WinFIG to vector graphics formats used by LaTeX/pdfLaTeX.

Key features

Curved arrowheads

Fig2lat uses curved arrowheads on spline and arc ends.

All XFig 3.2.5 arrowheads

All arrowheads introduced in Xfig 3.2.5 are supported.

Line styles

Fig2lat uses smaller gaps in dotted, dashed and dash-dotted lines. The minimum of the following two values is used:

• 2 times the line width.
• Average of line width and dash length.

The example images below show a line bundle converted by fig2lat and the same line bundle converted in backward compatibility mode.

Converted by fig2lat

Converted in backward compatibility mode

Line width

Fig2lat allows to specify a base line width (object line widths are multiples of the base line width) differing from 1/80 inch (0.9bp) specified in the Fig file format specification.
Guidelines for illustrating books (/Tsch1960/ and /Ta2007/) recommend to use the line width of vertical lines in characters like "H" or "T" for lines in illustrations — typically 0.4pt.
Fig2lat allows you to configure a base line with, either in bp, pt, in, cm, or mm. Alternatively you can choose "auto" using 0.4pt for a text size of 10pt and scaling for other text sizes.

Fill patterns

Fill patterns use vector graphics operations.

X-splines implemented using Bezier splines

X-splines are drawn as a sequence of Bezier splines, not as polylines like some other programs do.

Interpolated splines

Fig2lat uses the correct formula q=-0.5s for interpolated splines (unlike other programs using q=-s), see /BS1995/.
Here is a spline example as shown in /BS1995/.

For comparison here is the same spline converted in backward compatibility mode:

Text handling

• Non-special text using PS fonts
  You can either use the font as specified in the Fig file (tf=fig) or choose your LaTeX documents font with similar features (tf=similar).
• Non-special text using LaTeX fonts
  The tf settings is ignored, your LaTeX documents font with similar features is used.
• Special text
  Special text is transferred to output "as is" without choosing a font family or font size. We just set the color.

Output drivers

Options

Key=value pairs

The default values for the keys above depend on the driver:

Exit status

0 on success, all other status codes indicate an error.

Files

When producing a full LaTeX file using the tex or tex.pdf driver the following files from the current working directory are used if found:

• f2lfonts.tex
  Packages for font setup. The contents of the file replaces the default font selection instructions.

• f2lother.tex
  Other setup instructions. The contents of the file replaces the other setup section.

Notes

This program uses DK libraries version 3.

Examples

Use Fig file with pdfLaTeX

To convert a Fig file x.fig into a PDF+TeX file pair for inclusion in a LaTeX document:

fig2lat -l pdf.tex x.fig

In the LaTeX document write:

\begin{figure}%
{\centering%
\input{x.tex}\caption{My image}\label{fig:my-image}%
}%
\end{figure}

Use Fig file with LaTeX/dvips

To convert a Fig file x.fig into a EPS+TeX file pair for inclusion in a LaTeX document:

fig2lat -l eps.tex x.fig

In the LaTeX document write:

\begin{figure}%
{\centering%
\input{x.tex}\caption{My image}\label{fig:my-image}%
}%
\end{figure}

Use Fig file wiith both pdfLaTeX and LaTeX/dvips

To convert a Fig file x.fig into a PGF file for inclusion in a LaTeX document:

fig2lat -l pgf x.fig

In the LaTeX document write:

\begin{figure}%
{\centering%
\input{x.pgf}\caption{My image}\label{fig:my-image}%
}%
\end{figure}

Create standalone PDF file

To create a PDF file from a Fig file x.fig:

fig2lat -l tex.pdf x.fig
pdflatex -interaction=nonstopmode x

Create standalone EPS file

To create an EPS file from a Fig file x.fig:

fig2lat -l tex.pdf x.fig
pdflatex -interaction=nonstopmode x
pdftops -eps -paper match x.pdf x.eps

Note: The final command uses the pdftops program from poppler/xpdf, not pdf2ps from Ghostscript.

Create SVG file

To create an SVG file from a Fig file x.fig:

fig2lat -l tex.pdf x.fig
pdflatex -interaction=nonstopmode x
pdf2svg x.pdf x.svg

Find more information about the pdf2svg program used in the final stop on http://www.cityinthesky.co.uk/opensource/pdf2svg. Sources are available in a GIT repository. For windows binaries there is another GIT repository.

Create PNG / JPEG / ICO / XPM

The Wiki of the Graphics conversion hints project shows procedures how to convert Fig files to various file types.

FAQ

What is a bounding box?

A bounding box rectangle is a box (object type 2, subtype 2) which is only used to calculate the bounding box of the image. It is not drawn to output files.
If no source type was specified when starting fig2lat the bounding box rectangle is also used to recognize the source file type.
Depending on your drawing program you should set the following attributes on a bounding box rectangle:

If a background rectangle was found and the source type is not yet known the pen color is used to separate files created by XFig from files created by jFig.
Files created by WinFIG are recognized by the METADATA lines in the file.

Why do interpolated splines in fig2lat output differ from fig2dev output?

Fig2lat uses the correct formula q=-0.5*s from /BS1995/, fig2dev uses q=-s. /BS1995/ requires 0 <= q <= 0.5 to avoid unwanted oscillations.
Near the top of this page there is a Interpolated splines example showing the different outputs for an X-spline example from /BS1995/.
There you can see the difference, especially the stronger curvature between points 4,5 and 6,7 and an unwanted oscillation between points 3 and 4.

If you insist on using fig2dev behaviour, add

-o cosp=true

to the fig2lat command (compatible splines).

How do I set the PS level to 2?

Create or modify a dk3pref.conf file either in the /etc/dk3app-site directory to set the default for all users or in the ${HOME}/.dk3app directory to set the default just for the current user.

Add a text section:

[application=fig2lat]
/print/ps/level=2

or

[application=*]
/print/ps/level=2

What document preamble is written by fig2lat?

\documentclass[12]{article}
% begin font setup
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{mathptmx}
\usepackage[scaled=.92]{helvet}
\usepackage{courier}
% end font setup
% begin other packages
\usepackage{textcomp}
\usepackage[intlimits]{amsmath}
% end other packages
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{color}
\setlength{\paperwidth}{widthbp}
\setlength{\paperheight}{heightbp}
\pagestyle{empty}
\setlength{\voffset}{-1in}
\setlength{\topmargin}{0bp}
\setlength{\headheight}{0bp}
\setlength{\headsep}{0bp}
\setlength{\topskip}{0bp}
\setlength{\hoffset}{-1in}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0bp}
\setlength{\evensidemargin}{0bp}
\setlength{\marginparwidth}{0bp}
\setlength{\marginparsep}{0bp}
\setlength{\textwidth}{\paperwidth}
\setlength{\textheight}{\paperheight}
\setlength{\parskip}{0bp}
\setlength{\parindent}{0bp}
\setlength{\pdfpagewidth}{\paperwidth}
\setlength{\pdfpageheight}{\paperheight}
\begin{document}%
\begin{picture}(0,0)
\includegraphics{image.pdf}
\end{picture}%
\setlength{\unitlength}{1bp}%
\newfont{\FigToLatFontA}{ptmr at 12pt}%
\begin{picture}(163,96)
text output instructions
\end{picture}%
\end{document}

How can I modify the above preamble?

Font size in the \documentclass instruction
Use the dcts option.

Font setup
Modify the f2lfonts.tex file.

Other packages
Modify the f2lother.tex file.

How can I convert to other graphic file formats?

See the [gxhints:wiki:Home] page. Conversion from fig to eps, pdf, svg, png, jpeg, ico, and xpm is shown here.

See also