Convert DVI to TEXI

Understanding DVI and TEXI file formats

DVI (DeVice Independent) is a file format generated by TeX typesetting software. It contains instructions for how a document should be laid out, but does not include the actual fonts or images. DVI files are primarily used for viewing or printing documents created with TeX or LaTeX.

TEXI (or .texi) files are source files for GNU Texinfo, a documentation system that produces both online and printed manuals. Texinfo files are written in a markup language similar to TeX, but are specifically designed for creating software documentation.

Why convert DVI to TEXI?

Converting a DVI file to a TEXI file is not a common workflow, as DVI is an output format and TEXI is a source format. However, you might need to perform this conversion if you want to recover or repurpose the content of a DVI document for use in Texinfo documentation.

How to convert DVI to TEXI

There is no direct, automated tool that converts DVI files back to TEXI format, since DVI files do not retain the original markup or structure of the source. The process typically involves two steps:

1. Extract text from the DVI file: Use a tool like dvitype or dvi2tty to extract the plain text from the DVI file.
2. Manually reconstruct the TEXI file: Use the extracted text as a base and manually add Texinfo markup to create a valid TEXI file.

This process is mostly manual and may require significant editing, especially for complex documents.

Recommended software for DVI to TEXI conversion

• dvitype: A utility included with most TeX distributions that converts DVI files to a human-readable text format.
• dvi2tty: Converts DVI files to plain ASCII text, which can then be edited and marked up as TEXI.
• GNU Emacs or Vim: Useful text editors for manually editing and adding Texinfo markup to the extracted text.

Step-by-step conversion process

1. Open a terminal and run dvitype yourfile.dvi > output.txt or dvi2tty yourfile.dvi > output.txt.
2. Open output.txt in your preferred text editor.
3. Manually add Texinfo commands and structure to create a valid TEXI file.
4. Save the file with a .texi extension.

Conclusion

While there is no direct, automated way to convert DVI files to TEXI, you can extract the text and manually reconstruct the Texinfo source. dvitype and dvi2tty are the best tools for extracting text from DVI files, and a good text editor will help you add the necessary Texinfo markup.