How to Read Postscript Files on Windows XP

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To read PS files on Windows XP, users need to download and install Ghostscript and GSview. It is essential to first execute the downloaded files, as they are self-extracting. After installation, users must associate the .PS file extension with GSview to enable proper file opening. In this case, a user encountered issues because the PS files from Los Alamos were g-zipped, requiring a different program to open them. Once the correct association was made and the appropriate software was used, the user successfully opened multiple PS files.
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I am trying to read some PS files that I have downloaded. I followed the link to that Wisconsin site that has the software:

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview

Since I am using Windows XP, I downloaded the following:

Ghostscript 8.11 gs811w32.exe
GSview gsv45w32.exe

I saved them both to the Desktop, and tried to open a PS file, but my computer still says that it doesn't know what program created the file. Do I need to save both files in the same folder? Or somewhere other than the Desktop?

What's happening here?
 
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Did you double click on the files you downloaded to install them? Also, try installing ghostscript before ghostview.
 
All I did was download them and save them. Is there something else I need to do? I'm wondering why this isn't working out the same as reading PDF files with Acrobat Reader. All I had to do with that was download and save, and then all PDFs would automatically open.
 
Are you sure the files you downloaded weren't self extracting? When I did it they were. You would need to execute them, first ghostscript, then gsview. In the wizard that comes up there are options, I believe for having your computer treat the gs extension as telling it to use gsview.
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
Are you sure the files you downloaded weren't self extracting? When I did it they were.

OK, I double-clicked on each icon, and they were indeed self-extracting.

You would need to execute them, first ghostscript, then gsview. In the wizard that comes up there are options, I believe for having your computer treat the gs extension as telling it to use gsview.

I didn't see that option. The only option I had was whether to associate GSView with PS, PDF, or both. I tried to open a PS file from LANL, but even after self-extracting my computer still says that it needs to know what program created the file.[?]
 
You need to associate .PS files with GSView.
 
Originally posted by Jimmy
You need to associate .PS files with GSView.

Yes, I did that. Actually, I figured out the problem with the Los Alamos Postscripted files: They are g-zipped, and they need a different program. I just successfully opened 3 .ps files (including the one you sent me, Lonewolf--thanks!).

Thanks everyone,
 
Heh, welcome :smile:
 

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