GhostAPI
About
GhostAPI is the C# bridge into the Ghostscript C library.
GhostAPI contains some essential structs & enums as well as a static class for some constants, finally it contains the main GSAPI class which holds the key methods which interface with the C library.
Structs and Enums
gsapi_revision_t
This struct is used to contain information pertinent to the version of Ghostscript.
public struct gsapi_revision_t
{
public IntPtr product;
public IntPtr copyright;
public int revision;
public int revisiondate;
}gs_set_param_type
public enum gs_set_param_type
{
gs_spt_invalid = -1,
gs_spt_null = 0, /* void * is NULL */
gs_spt_bool = 1, /* void * is NULL (false) or non-NULL (true) */
gs_spt_int = 2, /* void * is a pointer to an int */
gs_spt_float = 3, /* void * is a float * */
gs_spt_name = 4, /* void * is a char * */
gs_spt_string = 5, /* void * is a char * */
gs_spt_long = 6, /* void * is a long * */
gs_spt_i64 = 7, /* void * is an int64_t * */
gs_spt_size_t = 8, /* void * is a size_t * */
gs_spt_parsed = 9, /* void * is a pointer to a char * to be parsed */
gs_spt_more_to_come = 1 << 31
};gsEncoding
public enum gsEncoding
{
GS_ARG_ENCODING_LOCAL = 0,
GS_ARG_ENCODING_UTF8 = 1,
GS_ARG_ENCODING_UTF16LE = 2
};Constants
Constants are stored in the static class gsConstants for direct referencing.
gsConstants
static class gsConstants
{
public const int E_QUIT = -101;
public const int GS_READ_BUFFER = 32768;
public const int DISPLAY_UNUSED_LAST = (1 << 7);
public const int DISPLAY_COLORS_RGB = (1 << 2);
public const int DISPLAY_DEPTH_8 = (1 << 11);
public const int DISPLAY_LITTLEENDIAN = (1 << 16);
public const int DISPLAY_BIGENDIAN = (0 << 16);
}GSAPI
Methods contained within are explained below.
gsapi_run_* and gsapi_exit methods return an int code which can be interpreted as follows:
| code | status |
|---|---|
0 |
no error |
gsConstants.E_QUIT |
"quit" has been executed. This is not an error. gsapi_exit must be called next |
<0 |
error |
NOTE
For full detail on these return code please see: https://www.ghostscript.com/doc/current/API.htm#return_codes
NOTE
All GSAPI methods aside from gsapi_revision and gsapi_new_instance should pass an instance of Ghostscript as their first parameter withIntPtr instance
gsapi_revision
This method returns the revision numbers and strings of the Ghostscript interpreter library; you should call it before any other interpreter library functions to make sure that the correct version of the Ghostscript interpreter has been loaded.
public static extern int gsapi_revision(ref gsapi_revision_t vers,
int size);NOTE
The method should write to a reference variable which conforms to the struct gsapi_revision_t.
gsapi_new_instance
Creates a new instance of Ghostscript. This instance is passed to most other GSAPI methods. Unless Ghostscript has been compiled with the GS_THREADSAFE define, only one instance at a time is supported.
public static extern int gsapi_new_instance(out IntPtr pinstance,
IntPtr caller_handle);NOTE
The method returns a pointer which represents your instance of Ghostscript.
gsapi_delete_instance
Destroy an instance of Ghostscript. Before you call this, Ghostscript must have finished. If Ghostscript has been initialised, you must call gsapi_exit beforehand.
public static extern void gsapi_delete_instance(IntPtr instance);GSAPI.gsapi_delete_instance(gsInstance);
gsInstance = IntPtr.Zero;gsapi_set_stdio_with_handle
Set the callback functions for stdio, together with the handle to use in the callback functions. The stdin callback function should return the number of characters read, 0 for EOF, or -1 for error. The stdout and stderr callback functions should return the number of characters written.
NOTE
These callbacks do not affect output device I/O when using "%stdout" as the output file. In that case, device output will still be directed to the process "stdout" file descriptor, not to thestdiocallback.
public static extern int gsapi_set_stdio_with_handle(IntPtr instance,
gs_stdio_handler stdin,
gs_stdio_handler stdout,
gs_stdio_handler stderr,
IntPtr caller_handle);gsapi_set_stdio
Set the callback functions for stdio. The handle used in the callbacks will be taken from the value passed to gsapi_new_instance. Otherwise the behaviour of this function matches gsapi_set_stdio_with_handle.
public static extern int gsapi_set_stdio_with_handle(IntPtr instance,
gs_stdio_handler stdin,
gs_stdio_handler stdout,
gs_stdio_handler stderr);gsapi_set_poll_with_handle
Set the callback function for polling, together with the handle to pass to the callback function. This function will only be called if the Ghostscript interpreter was compiled with CHECK_INTERRUPTS as described in gpcheck.h.
The polling function should return zero if all is well, and return negative if it wants ghostscript to abort. This is often used for checking for a user cancel. This can also be used for handling window events or cooperative multitasking.
The polling function is called very frequently during interpretation and rendering so it must be fast. If the function is slow, then using a counter to return 0 immediately some number of times can be used to reduce the performance impact.
public static extern int gsapi_set_poll_with_handle(IntPtr instance,
gsPollHandler pollfn,
IntPtr caller_handle);gsapi_set_poll
Set the callback function for polling. The handle passed to the callback function will be taken from the handle passed to gsapi_new_instance. Otherwise the behaviour of this function matches gsapi_set_poll_with_handle.
public static extern int gsapi_set_poll(IntPtr instance,
gsPollHandler pollfn);gsapi_set_display_callback
This call is deprecated; please use gsapi_register_callout to register a callout handler for the display device in preference.
public static extern int gsapi_set_display_callback(IntPtr pinstance,
IntPtr caller_handle);gsapi_register_callout
This call registers a callout handler.
public static extern int gsapi_register_callout(IntPtr instance,
gsCallOut callout,
IntPtr callout_handle);gsapi_deregister_callout
This call deregisters a callout handler previously registered with gsapi_register_callout. All three arguments must match exactly for the callout handler to be deregistered.
public static extern int gsapi_deregister_callout(IntPtr instance,
gsCallOut callout,
IntPtr callout_handle);gsapi_set_arg_encoding
Set the encoding used for the interpretation of all subsequent arguments supplied via the GhostAPI interface on this instance. By default we expect args to be in encoding 0 (the 'local' encoding for this OS). On Windows this means "the currently selected codepage". On Linux this typically means utf8. This means that omitting to call this function will leave Ghostscript running exactly as it always has. Please note that use of the 'local' encoding is now deprecated and should be avoided in new code. This must be called after gsapi_new_instance and before gsapi_init_with_args.
public static extern int gsapi_set_arg_encoding(IntPtr instance,
int encoding);gsapi_set_default_device_list
Set the string containing the list of default device names, for example "display x11alpha x11 bbox". Allows the calling application to influence which device(s) Ghostscript will try, in order, in its selection of the default device. This must be called after gsapi_new_instance and before gsapi_init_with_args.
public static extern int gsapi_set_default_device_list(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr list,
ref int listlen);gsapi_get_default_device_list
Returns a pointer to the current default device string. This must be called after gsapi_new_instance and before gsapi_init_with_args.
public static extern int gsapi_get_default_device_list(IntPtr instance,
ref IntPtr list,
ref int listlen);gsapi_init_with_args
To initialise the interpreter, pass your instance of Ghostscript, your argument count, argc, and your argument variables, argv.
public static extern int gsapi_init_with_args(IntPtr instance,
int argc,
IntPtr argv);gsapi_run_*
If these functions return <= -100, either quit or a fatal error has occured. You must call gsapi_exit next. The only exception is gsapi_run_string_continue which will return gs_error_NeedInput if all is well.
There is a 64 KB length limit on any buffer submitted to a gsapi_run_* function for processing. If you have more than 65535 bytes of input then you must split it into smaller pieces and submit each in a separate gsapi_run_string_continue call.
gsapi_run_string_begin
public static extern int gsapi_run_string_begin(IntPtr instance,
int usererr,
ref int exitcode);gsapi_run_string_continue
public static extern int gsapi_run_string_continue(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr command,
int count,
int usererr,
ref int exitcode);gsapi_run_string_with_length
public static extern int gsapi_run_string_with_length(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr command,
uint length,
int usererr,
ref int exitcode);gsapi_run_string
public static extern int gsapi_run_string(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr command,
int usererr,
ref int exitcode);gsapi_run_string_end
public static extern int gsapi_run_string_end(IntPtr instance,
int usererr,
ref int exitcode);gsapi_run_file
public static extern int gsapi_run_file(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr filename,
int usererr,
ref int exitcode);gsapi_exit
Exit the interpreter. This must be called on shutdown if gsapi_init_with_args has been called, and just before gsapi_delete_instance.
public static extern int gsapi_exit(IntPtr instance);gsapi_set_param
Sets a parameter.
Broadly, this is equivalent to setting a parameter using -d, -s or -p on the command line. This call cannot be made during a gsapi_run_string operation.
Parameters in this context are not the same as 'arguments' as processed by gsapi_init_with_args, but often the same thing can be achieved. For example, with gsapi_init_with_args, we can pass "-r200" to change the resolution. Broadly the same thing can be achieved by using gsapi_set_param to set a parsed value of "<</HWResolution [ 200.0 200.0 ]>>".
Internally, when we set a parameter, we perform an initgraphics operation. This means that using gsapi_set_param other than at the start of a page is likely to give unexpected results.
Attempting to set a parameter that the device does not recognise will be silently ignored, and that parameter will not be found in subsequent gsapi_get_param calls.
public static extern int gsapi_set_param(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr param,
IntPtr value,
gs_set_param_type type);NOTE
Thetypeargument, as a gs_set_param_type, dictates the kind of object that thevalueargument points to.
NOTE
For more on the C implementation of parameters see: Ghostscript parameters in C.
gsapi_get_param
Retrieve the current value of a parameter.
If an error occurs, the return value is negative. Otherwise the return value is the number of bytes required for storage of the value. Call once with value NULL to get the number of bytes required, then call again with value pointing to at least the required number of bytes where the value will be copied out. Note that the caller is required to know the type of value in order to get it. For all types other than gs_spt_string, gs_spt_name, and gs_spt_parsed knowing the type means you already know the size required.
This call retrieves parameters/values that have made it to the device. Thus, any values set using gs_spt_more_to_come without a following call omitting that flag will not be retrieved. Similarly, attempting to get a parameter before gsapi_init_with_args has been called will not list any, even if gsapi_set_param has been used.
Attempting to read a parameter that is not set will return gs_error_undefined (-21). Note that calling gsapi_set_param followed by gsapi_get_param may not find the value, if the device did not recognise the key as being one of its configuration keys.
For the C documentation please refer to Ghostscript get_param.
public static extern int gsapi_get_param(IntPtr instance,
IntPtr param,
IntPtr value,
gs_set_param_type type);gsapi_enumerate_params
Enumerate the current parameters. Call repeatedly to list out the current parameters.
The first call should have iter = NULL. Subsequent calls should pass the same pointer in so the iterator can be updated. Negative return codes indicate error, 0 success, and 1 indicates that there are no more keys to read. On success, key will be updated to point to a null terminated string with the key name that is guaranteed to be valid until the next call to gsapi_enumerate_params. If type is non NULL then the pointer type will be updated to have the type of the parameter.
NOTE
Only one enumeration can happen at a time. Starting a second enumeration will reset the first.
The enumeration only returns parameters/values that have made it to the device. Thus, any values set using the gs_spt_more_to_come without a following call omitting that flag will not be retrieved. Similarly, attempting to enumerate parameters before gsapi_init_with_args has been called will not list any, even if gsapi_set_param has been used.
public static extern int gsapi_enumerate_params(IntPtr instance,
out IntPtr iter,
out IntPtr key,
IntPtr type);gsapi_add_control_path
Add a (case sensitive) path to one of the lists of permitted paths for file access.
public static extern int gsapi_add_control_path(IntPtr instance,
int type,
IntPtr path);gsapi_remove_control_path
Remove a (case sensitive) path from one of the lists of permitted paths for file access.
public static extern int gsapi_remove_control_path(IntPtr instance,
int type,
IntPtr path);gsapi_purge_control_paths
Clear all the paths from one of the lists of permitted paths for file access.
public static extern void gsapi_purge_control_paths(IntPtr instance,
int type);gsapi_activate_path_control
Enable/Disable path control (i.e. whether paths are checked against permitted paths before access is granted).
public static extern void gsapi_activate_path_control(IntPtr instance,
int enable);gsapi_is_path_control_active
Query whether path control is activated or not.
public static extern int gsapi_is_path_control_active(IntPtr instance);Callback and Callout prototypes
GSAPI also defines some prototype pointers which are defined as follows.
gs_stdio_handler
/* Callback proto for stdio */
public delegate int gs_stdio_handler(IntPtr caller_handle,
IntPtr buffer,
int len);gsPollHandler
/* Callback proto for poll function */
public delegate int gsPollHandler(IntPtr caller_handle);gsCallOut
/* Callout proto */
public delegate int gsCallOut(IntPtr callout_handle,
IntPtr device_name,
int id,
int size,
IntPtr data);