<<**>>› Daisy Dot III› A review of the SHAREWARE Program› by JOAN RYAN, ACE ST. LOUIS›› Reprinted from ACE ST. LOUIS › by the OL' HACKERS AUG.› =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=› (Editor, though this is a reprint› it is such a valuable review of› a FANTASTIC UPGRADE of what was› already a great program for the› 8 BIT, that its worth reading or› re-reading even if you read it› before!)››Just when I was getting cozy with›Daisy Dot II, Roy Goldman's NLQ›software print processor, along comes›Daisy Dot III. It has been released›in a shareware version and a›commercial version which costs $25.00.› Share version does lack the ability›to designate font changes from your›document and it will not work with›Sparta X, but it is complete enough to›allow me to do this review.››You are looking at the most impressive›new revision found in DDIII. This›font and others like it are the›closest your 8-Bit 9 pin printer can›get to "Point" type DTP fonts that I›have seen to date. The next good news›is that you no longer have to format›your margins with your word processor›and "Print" your file to disk along›with its embedded commands. DDIII›will take a straight ASCII file, (not›a saved, tokenized file) and neatly›format its own margins. The resulting›printout saves you that frustration›you experienced in DDII when your text›didn't quite center. You can still›use embedded formatting commands›within the body of your text to›center, expand print, block left, etc.› It has new commands which handle›hanging indents and hard and soft›hyphens. DDIII supports Epson and›compatibles, Star, Blue Chip,›Mannesman Spirit, XMM801, and›Prowriter.››There are a few points about DDIII›which I found to be quite frustrating.› The Print Processor does not include›a number of the handy items found in›its predecessor. Among these are the›ability to center and block left or›right directly from the program.››Processor's menu no longer controls›the amount of vertical space between›letters, either. If you are using a›"handwriting" font, which requires 0›spacing, you must include an imbedded›command, or re-customize your defaults›from the basic program. The latter›choice involves quitting DDIII,›rebooting your disk with basic and›running the customizer program .›Sadly, it will no longer include 62›sector pics files, so Chris Wareham's›"Billboard" dump will now go unused.››DDIII includes the most elaborate Font›Editor that I have ever seen. It has›more editing commands than most›drawing programs. Scroll these›commands through a handy window to›refresh your memory or use the docs›provided. You may never need it,›however. Eleven fonts are included on›disk, and if you send for the "fancy"›version you get many many more fonts.›I understand DDIII will accept most›DDII fonts, so don't throw away your›nifty club disk. DDII, however, will›not return the favor.››If the included fonts don't satisfy›your needs you can go to the Font›Utilities section, use "Magnify" and›enlarge any font up to 4 times its›original size. Font Utilities will›also italicize a font OR convert any›standard Atari font to DDIII format.›Note: Magnified fonts may be too large›for the font editor. ››Meanwhile, back at the Print›Processor, we need to examine a few›more things DDIII does. Both the›Print Processor and the Font Editor›must be custom configured from›individual basic files. The Font›customiser is a simple one shot›process that you need not repeat.›With The PP Custom.bas file, you›designate your printer, character›spacing, horizontal line spacing,›margins etc. The difficult way to›change your text is to go back to this›file and RE config every time. Avoid›it if possible. Set your favorite›generic defaults and then use the›relatively simple DDIII embedded›commands from your original text to›change or refine them. The defaults›are in 40ths and 72ths of a inch! You›can regulate spacing to the last pixel›with parameters this exact, provided›you can understand them. Luckily I›got help VIA BBS from a very bright›and patient expert in Columbia. John›McGowan, teacher, math guru, grad›student and absolute genius with›Textpro, DDIII and fonts in general›explained DDDIII so that even I could›understand it. Note: The customizer›prints your choices to Print Processor›and then has the annoying habit of›defaulting back to its original›format, so be sure to write down what›you did to your program. Although not›visible, the commands are still in›there.››Help is on the way for you picture›fans! Disappointed with the current›lack of pics, John got busy and›figured a way to incorporate Print›Shop icons into magnified fonts. Yes,›you can load any number of individual›fonts which have up to 10 or more P.S.›icons hiding in them. He wrote a›conversion program, arc'd it with Shop›Tool P.S. to DOS 2 converter, and›uploaded it to Gateway BBS, along with›instructions and Textpro macros to aid›you. Its real value is to registered›owners of DDIII because it allows you›to change fonts (aka icons) from your›text file. The P.S. icons can be›centered or blocked left or right.›You can also make a decorative row›similar to "Tile" option in Print›Shop. I will write more on this next›month after my commercial version›arrives. This icon perk is best used›by people who re-use particular icons›to identify parts of a newsletter or›flyer. It's not for you "6000 icons›for any occasion" fans.››I cannot overstate the value of DDIII.› You can compose flyers with the›larger fonts and write newsletters›with the smaller ones. Currently I am›earning mucho brownie points by›writing my Mom with this "easy to›read" font. Wait till she gets a look›at the icon-multifont version! Do›experiment with the shareware version.› I'm willing to bet you'll end up›buying DDIII.›› Joan Ryan› <>›