This is the Shareware version of Fonter. You may use it for up to 30 days to evaluate its usefulness. After that time, you must register your copy. Registration costs $15. There are three ways to register:
1. Send a check drawn on a US bank for $15 to:
OsoSoft
1472 Sixth Street
Los Osos, CA 93402
2. To register Fonter with a credit card, call the Public (software) library at (800) 242-4775. This service is for registration orders ONLY. Do not call for information. A $4 shipping and handling charge will be added to the $15 registration fee.
3. On CompuServe, after August 1, 1992, you can register online. Give this command: GO SWREG. Search for the Program Name: FONTER. Registration fees will be billed to your CIS account.
Registered users will receive the latest registered version of Fonter on disk, along with information on other OsoSoft products.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Fonter requires a 386SX or better PC, with a minimum of 2 MB of memory. You'll also need a printer with a Windows driver that takes full advantage of that printer's capabilities.
SYSTEM LIMITATIONS
Font Scaling Software
Fonter works with TrueType, Adobe Type Manager, Bitstream Facelift, and SuperPrint 2.0 or later scalable fonts.
Drop to DOS
Do not drop to DOS or run a DOS program while Fonter is minimized!
Defective Fonts
Some TrueType and Adobe PostScript fonts have defects. This can cause Fonter or other Windows software to crash. For more information, see the Troubleshooting section at the end of this manual.
RUNNING FONTER
The first time you run Fonter, it creates a list of your fonts. On subsequent loading, Fonter uses its own font list.
USING FONTER
The Fonter Window
Along with the normal Windows menu, at the top left of the screen, you'll see the Font Sample window, which displays a sample of the currently-selected font.
To the right is a list of all your fonts. Below that are three buttons, with a list of selected fonts below the buttons.
To the left of the Selected Fonts window are a number of option check boxes and other Fonter options.
Viewing a Font Sample
To see a brief alphanumeric sample of any font, just click on the name of the font in the Main Font List window. Use the scroll bars on that window to view more font names.
HINT: Click on a font, then type the first letter of your desired font for faster scrolling.
Selecting a Font
To add a font to the Selected Fonts list, double-click on the font name or click the [Add] button.
To delete a selected font from the list, click on the font name, then click the [Remove] button.
To clear the selected font list, click the [Clear All] button.
Updating Your Font List
If you add or delete fonts from Windows, or change printers, you'll need to update your font list. When you start Fonter, it checks its own list against the list of actual Windows fonts. If it finds any discrepancies, it will let you update the list. You can also update the list with the "Re-list Fonts" command in the "File" menu.
Setting Font Options
You can alter many aspects of Fonter's display by changing an option at the bottom left of the Fonter Window.
Font Size
To change the size of a font sample, click the arrow on the Font Size drop-down list, then click the size you want. You can also type a font size larger than 36 points directly in the Font Size window.
NOTE: Font lists will print in a maximum size of 36 points, regardless of the size you enter.
Bold and Italic
To display Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic samples, click the appropriate check box. These options also function when printing a font list.
Custom Text
To View specific text in the Font Sample window, type it in the sample text box at the bottom left of the main screen. Use the <Home> and <End> keys to scroll the text.
Once you type the text, click the Show Custom Sample box. Your custom text will display in the Font Sample window and print in the Font List printouts.
Text Samples
You can also type directly in the Font Sample window. To do this, click in the window and type away.
Displaying ANSI Codes
You can display ANSI codes for all characters in the Font Sample window. To do this, give the "Display ANSI Codes" command in the "Options" Menu.
Selecting a Text Font
Fonter uses Courier as the descriptive text font in printouts. To change this font, click on the font name in the Main Font List, then give the "Make Current Font the Text Font" command in the "Options" menu.
FULL SCREEN DISPLAY
Fonter offers a full screen display of characters for any font. To view this, click the [Full Screen] button. You'll see a list of the keyboard characters, with ANSI codes.
Extended ANSI Characters
To view codes for foreign language and symbolic characters, click the [Extended Characters] button.
To return to the normal display, click the [Normal Character] button.
Zoom
To view an enlarged character set, click the [Zoom] button on the full-screen display. Character size will double.
To view an even larger sample, highlight a character by dragging the mouse cursor over it while holding down the left mouse button. Then click the [Zoom] button.
To return to the normal full-screen view, click the [Normal Size] button.
To return to the main Fonter Window, click the [Return] button in the full-screen display.
PRINTING WITH FONTER
All Fonter printouts have a 1.25" left margin. If you print on 3-hole binder paper, it's easy to put your font lists and samples into a binder for quick reference.
Printer Information
Fonter always prints to the default Windows printer. Once Fonter is running, you cannot change printers.
NOTE: If you change printers, you'll need to update your font list.
Printing Font Lists
List All Fonts
To print a list of all fonts installed in Windows for your current printer, with samples, give the "Print List (All)" command.
Font lists print in the font size selected in the Font Size drop-down list. Font lists can also use the Bold or Italic attributes.
NOTE: Some internal printer fonts have a fixed size. These fonts will print in their default size.
NOTE: Printing a complete font list can take several minutes. Please be patient while printing takes place.
List Some Fonts
To print a list of just the fonts in your Selected Fonts window, give the "Print List (Selected)" command. This will print a list of only those fonts in your selected font list.
Printing Font Samples
Fonter can create two separate font sample sheets. One is a sheet displaying your selected font in several sizes from 3 to 60 points. The second sheet contains an grid-like chart of every character available in the font. This chart lets you see the ANSI code for any character at a glance.
You can print either sheet, or both. Simply check the appropriate box in the lower left corner of the Fonter Main window.
Single Font Sample
To print samples of the currently-selected font in the Main Font List window, give the "Print Sample (Current)" command in the "File" menu.
Multiple Font Samples
To print samples of more than one font, add the fonts to the Selected Fonts window, then give the "Print Samples (Selected) command.
NOTE: To abort a multiple font sample printing job, click Fonter's [Exit] button with the hourglass cursor. Fonter will stop printing after the current font.
Printing Font Books
Font books contain both font lists and font sample sheets. Fonter first prints a list, as in the Font List commands, then prints samples for each font.
NOTE: Printing a font book for all fonts can take as long as 8 hours! Plan to print your font book at night, or when you don't need your computer or printer.
Aborting Font Book Printing
To abort font book printing, click Fonter's [Exit] button with the hourglass pointer. Printing will stop after the current font.
WARNING: Check your printer's paper capacity. You'll be printing up to two pages for each font.
DOT MATRIX USERS: Printing font samples is a very slow process, so plan accordingly.
Complete Font Book
To print a font book for all fonts installed, give the "Print Book (All Fonts)" command in the "File Menu".
Partial Font Book
To print a font book of just some fonts, add the fonts to the Selected Fonts list, then give the "Print Book (Selected)" command.
GETTING HELP
Help with Fonter
To get Help, give the "Fonter Help" command in the "Help" menu, or press <F1> at any time.
You'll see a new window on the screen. On the left is a Topic Index. On the right is the Help information. To view help on a topic, simply click on that topic in the Topic Index. To view more topics, use the Topic Index scroll bar.
Returning to Fonter
Click the [Exit] button or the "Return to Program" command.
About Fonter
To view information about Fonter and to find the OsoSoft support access numbers, click the "About Fonter" command in the "Help" menu.
OsoSoft Program Information
OsoSoft offers a number of other programs which may be of interest to you. To view information on other OsoSoft products, or to order, give the "OsoSoft Program Info" command in the "Help" menu.
To learn more about any product listed, click the [Info] button next to that product's listing. To order, simple type the number of copies for each product in the box next to that product's name, then click the [Print] button to print the form. To return to Fonter without printing, click the [Cancel] button.
SUPPORT
Full support is ONLY available for registered users!
Unregistered users may contact OsoSoft for very limited support at:
OsoSoft
1472 Sixth Street
Los Osos, CA 93402
BBS: (805) 528-3753
CompuServe ID: 71571,222
When You Need Support
Before you contact OsoSoft for support, please have this information available:
Computer Type
Printer Brand and Model Name
Fonter Version Number (from "About" menu)
Amount of RAM in your computer
Amount of RAM in your printer
If you call the voice number for support, please have Fonter running on the screen when you call.
Support is available ONLY M-F, 7 AM-4 PM Pacific coast time.
The OsoSoft BBS
You'll always find the latest versions of OsoSoft programs on the OsoSoft BBS, along with other helpful programs and other information. To call at speeds from 300-2400 bps, set your communications parameters to 8 bits, No parity, and 1 Stop bit. If you'd like to try any OsoSoft product, you can download the current shareware version of the program from the BBS.
Registered users of Fonter can download upgrades on the OsoSoft BBS. When you call, tell me that you're a registered Fonter user, and I'll give you access to upgrades.
If you don't use BBSes, you may upgrade at any time for a $10 handling fee. I will send postcard notification of major upgrades to the program.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Defective Fonts
Some fonts, particularly public domain and shareware fonts, can cause problems. Fortunately, there's a way to spot these defective fonts in Fonter. Just follow these steps:
1. Start Fonter, then give the "Display ANSI Codes" command in the "Options" menu.
2. Click on each font you have installed, in turn. When you reach a defective font, Windows will generate an error, probably a General Protection Fault (GPF). When that happens, exit Fonter then delete that font, using the Windows Control Panel or your font scaling software's tools.
3. Repeat the process until you see no more problems.
You can also spot defective fonts in a Fonter font list printout. A bad font will not print, and will corrupt the printouts for later fonts. Again, the answer is to delete the offending font. BUT, delete only the first font that doesn't print properly, then print a new list.
OTHER PROBLEMS
PROBLEM: Fonter just won't run at all.
SOLUTION: Check your installation. Make sure VBRUN100.DLL is available in the Windows directory.
PROBLEM: Fonter crashes constantly
SOLUTION 1: Check your Windows setup. Disable any programs running in the background then try again.
SOLUTION 2: If you're using a memory manager like QEMM, you may need to EXCLUDE certain portions of memory. Make a note of any memory block information you see if you get a General Protection Fault Error.
SOLUTION 3: Make sure your Video and Printer drivers are current and the correct ones for your version of Windows.
SOLUTION 4: Try running Windows with no addons at all. This may require a fresh installation.
PROBLEM: Some fonts do not print in the size I expected.
SOLUTION: Fixed-size internal printer fonts can only print in their default size.
PROBLEM: In the ZOOM view, some characters are cut off.
SOLUTION: For some very wide characters, Windows cannot display the entire character correctly. Printing will be correct.
PROBLEM: In font lists, some text goes right off the edge of the page.
SOLUTION: Fonter prints as much of its sample text as it can. Ignore this or choose a smaller font size.
PROBLEM: I pasted a dingbat symbol into my word processor, but I didn't see what I expected to.
SOLUTION: The Windows Clipboard only copies the character code into your other application. You must change fonts manually in that application to get the correct character.
