Frequently asked questions
What happens when displays the message KDVI is currently generating bitmap fonts, and why does the procedure take so long?
Many of the fonts which are typically used in a TeX document must be generated by the MetaFont system. Metafont is a language similar to TeX (included in most TeX distributions) which takes a description of the font outline, and produces a rasterized version (.pk file) of the font which can then be send to a printer or be used in a previewing program like . Metafont goes out of its way to produce the best possible output for your printer. For instance, it knows that a pixel of an inkjet printer is a roundish blot, and that nearby pixels tend to smear into each other. In contrast, a pixel on a laser printer is rectangular, but an isolated pixel is very often not rendered at all.
Generating such highly optimized bitmap fonts is naturally rather time-consuming, in particular since typical TeX documents use a large number of different fonts. We can only ask for your patience. To ease the matter somewhat, most distributions of TeX store the .pk files for a limited time, ⪚ 100 days. Therefore, if you access the same document more than once, the .pk files will be reused.
What is a MetaFont Mode?
In order to produce bitmap fonts which are optimized for your printer (see the answer to the first question), Metafont comes with a database of printing engines — look for a file called modes.mf. A Metafont Mode is just the name of a database entry. For example, the name ljfour refers to the entry in the database that describes a LaserJet 4 printer. A MetaFont Mode is usually followed by a number, the resolution. The LaserJet, for instance, can print in both 300 and 600 dots per inch. Thus, ljfour/600 would be a full description.