pdftex.cfg
| Chapter 7. Files |

## Name

pdftex.cfg — configuration Settings for pdfTeX

## Description

pdfTeX configurations settings are read from the file `pdftex.cfg` when a format file is being created by pdfTeX.

| Caution
Do not edit this file directly. Run `initexmf --edit-config-file pdftex.cfg` to edit configuration settings for pdfTeX.

## Instructions

This section is “borrowed” from the pdfTeX manual.

A typical `pdftex.cfg` file looks like this, setting up output for A4 paper size and the standard TeX offset of 1 inch:

    compress_level 9
    decimal_digits 3
    horigin 1 true in
    vorigin 1 true in
    image_resolution 300
    move_chars 1
    output_format 1
    page_width 210 true mm
    page_height 297 true mm
    pdf_minorversion 4
    pk_resolution 600

The configuration file sets default values for these parameters, and they all can be overridden in the TeX source file. Dimensions can be specified as `true`, which makes them immune for magnification (when set).

compress_level

  This integer parameter specifies the level of text and in||line graphics compression. pdfTeX uses Zip compression. A value of 0 means no compression, 1 means fastest, 9 means best, 2..8 means something in between. Just set this value to 9, unless there is a good reason to do otherwise; 0 is great for testing macros that use \pdfliteral.

decimal_digits

  This integer specifies the preciseness of real numbers in PDF page descriptions. It gives the maximal number of decimal digits after the decimal point of real numbers. Valid values are in range 0..5. A higher value means more precise output, but also results in a much larger file size and more time to display or print. In most cases the optimal value is 2. This parameter does not influence the precision of numbers used in raw PDF code, like that used in \pdfliteral and annotation action specifications.

horigin & vorigin

  These dimension parameters can be used to set the offset of the TeX output box from the top left corner of the “paper”.

image_resolution

  When pdfTeX is not able to determine the natural dimensions of an image, it assumes a resolution of type 72 dots per inch. Use this variable to change this default value.

move_chars

  Although PDF output is claimed to be portable, especially when all font information is included in the file, problems with printing and viewing have a persistent nature. Moving the characters in range 0–31 sometimes helps a lot. When set to 1, characters are only moved when a font has less than 128 glyphs, when set to 2 higher slots are used too.

output_format

  This integer parameter specifies whether the output format should be DVI or PDF. A positive value means PDF output, otherwise we get DVI output.

page_width & page_height

  These two dimension parameters specify the output medium dimensions (the paper, screen or whatever the page is put on). If they are not specified, these values are calculated.

pdf_minorversion

  Sets the PDF version of the generated file and the latest allowed PDF version of included PDFs. The value 3 tells pdfTeX to set the PDF version to 1.3 and allows only included PDFs with versions less than 1.3. A suitable default value is 4.

pk_resolution

  One can use this entry to specify the resolution for bitmap fonts. Nowadays most printers are capable to print at least 600 dots per inch, so this is a reasonable default.

Chapter 7. Files |  | updmap.cfg