Copyright: Copyright © Micrografx, Inc., 1994


Using Help
Using On-line Help

On-line help messages provide detailed information about commands and dialog boxes.

Accessing On-line Help

You can access help one of two ways. The first way involves pressing F1. When you press F1, you receive a help message specific to the command you chose or dialog box that is open.

The second way involves using the Help menu. The Help menu lets you see an index of topics.

Jump Terms

Some help messages contain underlined words and phrases called "jump" terms. A jump term takes you to a related message for that term. Jump terms let you move throughout the help system without returning to the Help menu.

Printing Help

You can print a help message using the Print Topic command in the File menu of the Help window.

To print a help message:

·	Choose the Print Topic command in the File menu.

Closing Help

You can close help one of three ways.

·	Double click the Control menu box in the Help window.

·	Choose the Exit command in the File menu of the Help window.

·	Choose the Close command in the Control menu of the Help window.

Micrografx Help

Designed, written, and produced by Shannon B. Krakosky.


Editing session

An editing session begins when a Micrografx application is started, and ends when the application is closed.


GEM Translator Help Topics

Importing from GEM

Exporting to GEM

GEM Output Filter Setup Dialog Box

Creating a New Profile

New Profile Menu Dialog Box

Compatibility

Limitations of the GEM File Format

Translation Messages


GEM Export Setup Dialog Box
GEM Output Filter Dialog Box

The GEM Output Filter dialog box opens when you choose the GEM - Digital Research GEM option in the Export dialog box, and then click the Setup button.

Profiles

You can choose either the Standard Options profile or one you have created from the Profiles list box, depending on the format you want.

New Button

Click New to create a new profile. The New Profile Menu dialog box opens. Type a name in the Profile Name box, and choose an existing profile on which to base the new profile from the Template Profile list box. Your choices for color translation, line mode, background rectangle, text as curves, and gradients are saved to the new profile. Profiles you create are saved with an asterisk (*) at the beginning of the name.

Delete Button

To delete a profile you have created, choose the profile name in the Profiles list box and click the Delete button. You cannot delete the original profiles.

Color Translation

Choosing Normal exports all colors in the Designer drawing to the nearest available color in the GEM format. If you choose Inverse, black is changed to white, red is changed to green, blue is change to yellow, and so on.

Choose Gray Scale to change each color to a corresponding shade of gray. Choose Inverse Grays Only to change only the gray colors to their inverse color (that is, dark gray to light gray, light gray to dark gray). Choose Inverse Gray Scale to change all colors to their inverse shades of gray.

Line Mode

You can choose either Device or Stroked. When you choose Device, all exported lines are mapped and converted to the closest matching line style in the GEM format. Choosing Stroked exports all lines with an exact simulation of the original line styles and caps.

Background Rectangle

Selecting this option exports the drawing with a background rectangle. Deselecting it exports the drawing with no background rectangle.

Export Text as Curves Option

This option lets you select whether you wish text to be exported as text, or simulated by first converting the text to curves before it is exported. Text that is exported as text will lose special attributes such as line fills, and might map to a different font than the one selected. However, such text can still be edited.

Text that is exported as curves will retain the same appearance, but will not be able to be edited as text in the target application. Only text in a scalable font can be converted to curves.

Export Gradients Option

This option lets you select whether you want gradient fills to be exported using a solid color (if deselected), or simulated by converting the gradient to many solid-filled polygons before it is exported (if selected). Exporting a gradient fill as a solid color saves disk space. Exporting a simulated gradient retains the same appearance, but uses more disk space.

OK Button

The OK button closes the GEM Output Filter Setup dialog box and saves the configuration settings for use with all following translations.

Cancel Button

The Cancel button closes the GEM Output Filter Setup dialog box without saving any changes to the configuration settings.

Related Topics

Procedure information

Compatibility

Limitations of the GEM File Format

Translation Messages


Exporting a GEM File

To export to a GEM file:

1.	Select the symbols you want to export. If no symbols are selected, the entire page is exported.

2.	Open the File menu and choose Export. The Export dialog box opens.

3.	Choose a drive and directory for the exported files destination, if necessary.

4.	Type a name for the file.

5.	Click the down arrow in the List Files of Type list box.

6.	Choose GEM - Digital Research GEM. Designer automatically adds the proper extension to the filename.

7.	Click Setup. The GEM Output Filter Setup dialog box opens.

8.	Choose the GEM profile you want.

9.	Choose the color translation you want.

10.	Choose the line mode you want.

11.	Choose Background Rectangle, if you want.

12.	Choose Export Gradients, if necessary.

13.	Choose Export Text as Curves, if you want.

14.	Click OK.

15.	Click Export. Designer exports the file in GEM format.

Note: If you skip steps 7 through 14, Designer uses the settings previously used when exporting to a GEM file.

Related Topics

Dialog Box information

Compatibility

Limitations of the GEM File Format

Translation Messages


New Profile Menu Dialog Box

The New Profile Menu dialog box lets you name a new profile and select an existing profile on which to base the new one.

Profile Name

You can type a name in the Profile Name box.

Template Profile

You can choose an existing profile name from the Template Profile list box (including ones you have already created) on which to base your new profile.

Related Topics

Creating a New Profile


Creating a New Profile

To create a new profile:

1.	Click the New button in the GEM Output Filter Setup dialog box. The New Profile Menu dialog box opens.

2.	Type a new profile name in the Profile Name box.

3.	Choose a profile from the Template Profile list box to use as a template.

4.	Click OK.

5.	Choose other settings in the GEM Output Filter Setup dialog box and click OK.

Note: All the settings you choose, except for the check box options Export Gradients and Export Text as Curves, are saved to the new profile.

Related Topics

New Profile Menu Dialog Box


Importing a GEM File

To import a GEM file:

1.	Open the File menu and choose Import. The Import dialog box opens.

2.	Click the down arrow in the List Files of Type list box.

3.	Choose GEM - Digital Research GEM.

4.	Change to the drive and directory you want.

5.	Highlight the name of the file you want to import.

6.	Click Import. The dialog box closes and the imported file appears in the drawing area.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Limitations of the GEM File Format

Translation Messages


Translation Messages
GEM Translation Messages

Warning and error messages are collected in the message log file, MGXXLATE.LOG, located in your Windows directory. The message log file is emptied at the beginning of an editing session, and then accumulates messages for all translations that take place during that session. If a drawing fails to translate correctly, read the MGXXLATE.LOG file to find out what caused the problem. Correct the problem and translate again.

Warnings

Most translation problems that occur are minor, and do not require any attention. Warnings provide information about unexpected or unsupported data or commands that were ignored during translation.

Errors

An error is a problem that is severe enough to halt the translation. No further translation will be attempted; however, objects that have already been translated will be retained. A message describing the problem will appear on the screen.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Limitations of the GEM File Format


Limitations of the GEM File Format

Artline

Curved objects are exported to Artline as Béziers. Artline is limited to 255 control points in Bézier curves. If curved objects fail to export properly to Artline, check the message log file.

GEM Draw

Curved objects export to GEM Draw as polylines or polygons. GEM limits these objects to 128 points. Large complex curved objects may be incomplete or missing when they are exported to GEM.

Gradient Simulation

The Export Gradients option in the GEM Export Setup dialog box lets you choose how gradients are translated to the file.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Limitations of the GEM File Format

Translation Messages


Compatibility
GEM Compatibility

Colors

GEM uses only 16 colors. When a drawing is exported to GEM, the colors are matched to the closest color in the GEM palette. All GEM colors can be imported.

File Formats

The GEM translator supports the GEM 3.1 file format. It can export to both GEM Draw and Artline.

To export to GEM Draw or Xerox Ventura Publisher, configure the translator to export to the GEM Draw format. To export to Artline, choose either the GEM Draw format or the Artline format.

Hatches and Bitmap Patterns

Hatches and bitmap patterns are matched to the closest available pattern during import and export.

Text

Text is mapped to the closest available font during import or export. GEM provides limited support for rotation of objects, so slanted text may appear on a 90 degree boundary in GEM.

In order to export fonts that GEM does not support, you may convert text to curves before exporting to GEM. Note that GEM may not handle complex objects such as script that has been converted to curves.

Related Topics

Limitations of the GEM File Format

Translation Messages