CPS - The Complete PostScript System


CPS is a utility for encoding supplemental information as part of PostScript illustrations. It is intended to serve as an archival and exchange format for the sciences. The cpsencode utility allow user to add documentation, data sets, computer programs, and other material to the end of a PostScript file by encoding the information using PostScript comments. The augmented PostScript file is referred to as a Complete PostScript (CPS) file. The cpsdecode utility extracts the embedded files from a compliant PostScript file. For a discussion of CPS, see the EOS Electronic Supplement.

cps is developed and maintained by Paul Wessel.


References for CPS

  • Wessel, P., 2003, Complete PostScript: An archival and exchange format for the sciences?, Eos. Trans. AGU, 84(36), 351 [PDF].

    Availability of cps source code:

    Availability of CPS executables:

    I have made a set of precompiled executables for a variety of platforms. Download the ones you need (SHIFT-CLICK), rename it (remove the extension) and make them executable.
    1. For cps functionality using Bourne shell scripts, choose these two links:
    2. For cps executable for Linux/Intel (RH9.0), choose these two links:
    3. For cps executable for Sparc Solaris, choose these two links:
    4. For cps executable for HP-UX, choose these two links:
    5. For cps executable for SGI IRIX, choose these two links:
    6. For cps executable for AIX/RS600, choose these two links:
    7. For cps executable for MacOSX, choose these two links:
    8. For cps executable for Windows, choose these two links:
    The latest files for version 2.0 were created September 17, 2003. Note, as time goes by some of these may no longer work with updated operating systems.

    Last update January 6, 2013 by Paul Wessel