TypeIndexer catalogs and previews all Postscript™ typefaces in your library. Its unique and outstanding feature is the ability to access an unlimited number of uninstalled fonts as well as installed ones. It provides a printed alphabetical list of all font [printer file] names, with line samples of each.
For more detailed inspection, TypeIndexer samples 1, 2, 4, or 6 fonts on a page. Also, a file location index shows the location of each printer font file. The character chart displays all available characters for any font, with their respective octal codes. Octal codes are included for programs that accept Postscript code. These codes are used to insert special characters not available using the keyboard.
Another outstanding feature is TypeIndexer’s powerful search capability. Select an entire drive, and TypeIndexer will find all of the Postscript fonts on it. Or select a particular folder, and TypeIndexer will search that folder and any sub-folders within. You may also select single font files for random sampling using any of the “Page Templates”.
TypeIndexer occupies only 325K of disk space, yet it can process an unlimited number of font files. Actual capacity depends upon the amount of RAM allocated for it in the Get Info dialog box. Allocating 1250K of program memory will allow processing up to 3000 font files at a time. The more memory allocated, the greater the number of files that can be processed.
Using TypeIndexer
System Requirements:
1) A Macintosh computer running system 6.0.7 or higher.
2) Any Postscript printer.
Installation:
Before installing the program, make a backup copy of the original disk. Insert the TypeIndexer disk, and drag the “TypeIndexer.sea” file to your HD desktop. Double click on the archive icon, and a folder will be created with the program in it. You may now trash the archive from the HD desktop. For now, leave the program disk in the floppy drive in order to process some sample fonts found on the diskette.
The printer selected under the apple “Chooser” will be the working printer. If this printer is on, turn it off. Wait a moment, turn the printer back on and allow it to warm up. If you plan on processing more than 3000 fonts, increase the program memory allocation to 1500 or 2000 in the "Get Info" box. [Note: this demo version will process 35 fonts at a time and is limited to font names starting from 'A' through 'H' Select fonts on your hard disk, system folder or personal font folders. Fonts were not included with the demo to save download time.]
Running TypeIndexer:
Double click on the TypeIndexer™ icon. A "pop-up" menu and four “buttons” operate the program: the “Page Template” pop-up, the “Select...” button, the “Clear List” button, the “Print List” button, and the “Cancel Download” button.
The “Page Template” Pop-Up Menu
provides the various printing formats in which fonts are viewed.
These are:
1) 1, 2, 4, or 6 per page
2) 15-Up TypeIndex page
3) Character Chart
“1 per page” (one sample per page) displays the font in 48 pt. and 72 pt. type sizes. The “2 per page” through “6 per page” layouts allow a corresponding number of samples per page in progressively smaller sizes. At 15 per page, a type index displays an alphabetical list of the printer font files. This template gives a compact overview of a large number of fonts. From its list, you can choose fonts you wish to see more closely using other templates. The purpose of the Character Chart is to show all characters available for any particular font.
Now hold the mouse down on the Page Template pop-up menu, and drag to “2 per page”.
The “Select...” Button
recognizes printer font files, folders or disks. This feature allows fonts themselves, and fonts within any combination of folders and drives, to be put into the scrolling list in the main window. After a search, the list is arranged alphabetically by folder. Subsequent searches are appended to the end of the list in their original order. . System 7 users may use its "drag and drop" feature and drop folders or files directly on the application icon. To sort the list alphabetically, drag down under the Options menu to “Sort”, or use the key combination S. The total number of files in the list shows just below the window.
Now click “Select...”. A standard dialog box comes up asking you to select a disk, folder or file. Click on “Desktop” and you should see the name of your hard disk and the TypeIndexer diskette. At this point, if you clicked on the TypeIndexer disk, and then on “Select TypeIndexer” the disk itself would be searched, and the fonts in both folders would be found. If you chose instead to “Open” the disk and select one of the folders, only that folder (and any sub-folders) would be searched. You may also “Open” folders until the font files themselves are accessible. If you wish to select a number of individual fonts, or less than all folders, do one at a time in any order desired.
For now, open the folder named FreeFonts, then the sub-folder Fonts 1. In the displayed list of fonts, choose one by clicking on it and then on either the “Select (name)” box below the list, or the “Open” button. [Note that the “Select (name)” box changes to correspond with the selection.] The main window reappears, and the file you selected appears in the font list window.
Again click “Select...”. In the Fonts 1 folder, select another font file, and the second name appears in the window. The “Files” box will read 2. More fonts could be added to the list at this point, and TypeIndexer would print all of them in the page format selected. Remember that the list can be sorted alphabetically by typing S.
The “Print List” Button
executes the download. Now click “Print List”. The button changes to “Pause after Page”, which, when clicked, pauses the printing process after the current page has printed. During this pause mode, the font list and layout items may be altered.
There are two progress bars at the top right in the main window. These bars show the progress of each page download and each font download. “Status:” shows the state of your printer, and “Font” shows the file being downloaded. As the list is sent to the printer, the “Files” boxes become active. “This Page” shows progress on each page. “Processed” and “Remaining” show the total corresponding numbers. A page will soon print displaying the two fonts you selected.
Now click “Select...” and navigate to the Fonts 2 folder. Click, but do not open it. Instead, choose “Select Fonts 2”. Choose “4 per page” from the pop-up menu, and click “Print List”. Processing will begin, sampling all fonts found in the folder in a 4-up layout. Printed pages are offset for binder placement.
Now choose “15 per page” from the pop-up menu, click “Select...” and navigate to the TypeIndexer disk if necessary. For this example, “Select” the "Fonts 1" folder. The “Files” count box will read 17.
Click on the “Print List” button, and the process begins of downloading each font that will be sampled. When a page is full, it will print showing 15 fonts in three columns. The first column is a list of the printer font file names, the second is a display of the screen typeface names in 9 pt. sampled type, and the third is a line sample in 14 pt. type. These are the largest possible sizes for sampling 15 fonts on a letter-size sheet of paper. File and screen names can contain up to 31 characters and should have no spaces. [Note: fonts appear to be different sizes even at a fixed, 14 pt. sample size. Actual size, spacing etc. are determined by the font manufacturer.]
The “Clear List” Button
brings up a warning box that makes sure the deletion of all items is intended. Single or multiple items may be deleted also. Select a single item by clicking on it. Select random items by click. Select a range of items by dragging with the pointer, or by holding the Shift key and selecting the first and last. Deselect single items by click. Deselect a range by drag. When any item is selected, “Clear List” changes to “Clear File(s)”, and clicking on it executes the deletion with no warning box.
The “Cancel Download” Button
aborts the entire job if it is clicked any time after it becomes active and before printing begins. Otherwise, it aborts the remaining portion of the job.
Printing Multiple Copies
Enter the desired number in the “Copies” box.
Other Options:
Print File Index
Print the location index after selection and sorting are complete. Drag down under File in the menu bar to “Print File Index...”. The index shows the printer font name and the path to the file. In this case: [font file name] Your HD: TypeIndexer: Fonts 1. The index is alphabetized by file name and is handy for locating fonts you wish to process or install.
Export File Index
Under the File menu also, an identical index may be exported as a tab delimited file. Imported into a database program, the list may be utilized in a variety of ways.
Create Master Index... [This feature is not included on the demo version]
A master index of the selected list will export a nine field, tab delimited file containing the following font information: Screen Name Δ FileName Δ FilePath Δ Family Name Δ FullName Δ File Creator Δ Weight Δ VersionΔ Notice. This is invaluable information for the megafont library. Imported into a database program, this information can be used to organize and search huge libraries or between client and pre-press houses for matching font information.
Personalize... your catalog
Drag down under the Options menu to “Preferences...”. A dialog box allows you to add an information tag, such as a company name, the name of the font library, etc. to the output pages. With the exception of character charts, each page will display the page Message text entry in Helvetica plain beginning at the lower right corner. The entry will be retained until it is changed. Leave the text box empty to have no tag on the printed page. The box will also accept Postscript octal codes. For example, entering \267 between words, inserts a bullet (•).
Custom Text for Samples...
permits customization of the paragraph appearing below the samples on the 1, 2, 4, and 6 per page templates. You can enter one character or up to five lines, and it will be repeated in the output. For the default setting, leave the box empty.
Log File
Checking the box labeled “Save font screen names to log file” produces a running file, called “Type-Indexer Log”, of all downloaded fonts. This 3 field, tab delimited text file appears in the same folder as TypeIndexer and can be used by database programs or any program that reads text. The file shows: Screen Name, File Name and the File Path. The advantage of this file is the tracking of font screen names.
Troubleshooting
•TypeIndexer will print in the background, but it is not recommended. Non-conventional methods are used to set up communications between the printer and computer.
• If you experience a system crash or the "Files" box turns to a -1, try adding more program memory in the "Get Info" box.
•Disable any screen saver before printing, preferably by turning it off as opposed to parking the cursor.
•Never compress fonts. The space saved isn’t worth the problems encountered with all kinds of software!
• If two or more font files are listed with the same name, then you have more that one copy of a particular font stored in multiple folders.
•If a Postscript error is generated by a damaged font file, the process indicator light on the printer may indicate this, and no page will eject. An error message should appear at the bottom of the TypeIndexer screen. Turn the printer off and back on again. Wait for warm up and try again. Click the error flag and it will disappear.
This product contains StoneTable™. All rights to StoneTable reserved. PostScript™ is a trademark of Adobe Systems. TypeIndexer™ is a trademark of Nikrom Technical Products, Inc. and Lupin Software. All Rights Reserved
