View source for Latex sample metapost

=A Quick MetaPost Example=
This document gives a quick example of how to use MetaPost for graphics in LaTeX.

==The Files==
First of all, here are the contents of '''file.tex''':
 \documentclass{article}
 \usepackage{graphicx}
 \begin{document}
 Hi there:  \includegraphics{file.1}
 \end{document}

And, here is the MetaPost file '''file.mp'''.  It contains an arrow and
the letter "A" just above the middle of the arrow.
 beginfig(1);
 
 z1=(0,0);
 z2=(10mm,10mm);
 
 drawarrow(z1--z2);
 label.ulft(btex $A$ etex, .5[z1,z2]);
 
 endfig;
 
 bye

==Creating and Viewing ''dvi'' Files==

To create a ''dvi'' file, use the following commands.  You don't need
to run '''mpost''' a second time if you just update the ''tex'' file.
 mpost file
 latex file

To view the ''dvi'' file, use the commands:
 dvips -o file.ps file
 gv file.ps

===Notes:===
* The file '''file.1''' produced by '''mpost''' is not really a PostScript file; therefore you cannot use '''gv''' to view it.
* For the same reason, '''xdvi''' will not show '''file.dvi'''.

==Creating ''pdf'' Files==

If you want to create a ''pdf'' file, modify the ''tex'' file to read as follows:
 \documentclass{article}
 \usepackage{graphicx}
 \usepackage{ifpdf}
 
 \ifpdf
   \DeclareGraphicsRule{*}{mps}{*}{}
 \fi
 
 \begin{document}
 Hi there:  \includegraphics{file.1}
 \end{document}

(You may also use this version of the file to produce a ''dvi'' file.)

Then use the following commands to produce the ''pdf'' file:
 mpost file
 pdflatex file

Again, it is not necessary to run '''mpost''' if it has already been run since
'''file.mp''' was last updated.