extractbb
Extracts and exports image and PDF file dimensions into a TeX-parseable text format for seamless document processing.
Overview
Serves as a critical utility for handling graphics and PDF files in LaTeX workflows, particularly in XeTeX and upTeX environments. While typically operating behind the scenes rather than through direct user interaction, it plays an essential role in document compilation.
- Automatically processes image files to extract their dimensions and bounding box information.
- Creates auxiliary files that LaTeX can easily read and use for proper image placement and scaling.
- Particularly valuable for workflows involving Japanese typesetting (upTeX) and modern Unicode-aware typesetting (XeTeX).
- Implements functionality in Lua for improved portability and maintenance compared to traditional C implementations.
Getting Started
extractbb is a command-line tool for extracting bounding box information from image or PDF files, not a LaTeX package to be loaded with \usepackage.
Usage: extractbb [options] file.pdf or extractbb [options] file.jpg
Example: extractbb image.png
This tool is typically used automatically by XeTeX or upTeX engines and rarely needs to be run manually. The Lua-based implementation provides the same functionality as the original C-based version from dvipdfmx.