HPAVC/HPAVC CD-ROM.iso/FGFF13.ZIP/FGFF.TXT

Text File | 1994-10-22 | 11KB | 238 lines

                  Fastgraph (tm) Font Factory for Windows
                                Version 1.3


                        By Tim Kilgore (Member STAR)
                    Copyright 1994, All Rights Reserved



Product Description -

  Fastgraph Font Factory is a Microsoft Windows 3.1 application designed to
  all you to export TrueType fonts for use with Ted Gruber Software's
  Fastgraph/Fonts.  If you are not using Fastgraph/Fonts, then this
  application will be of very limited use to you.


Disclaimer -

  BY USING FASTGRAPH FONT FACTORY (FGFF.EXE) AND ALL RELATED TEXT AND DATA
  FILES, YOU AGREE NOT TO HOLD THE AUTHOR (TIM KILGORE) RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY
  DAMAGES, REAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, CAUSED THROUGH THE USE OR MISUSE OF THIS
  PRODUCT.  YOUR USE OF THIS PROGRAM INDICATES YOUR AGREEMENT WITH THESE
  TERMS.


Installation -

  Create a directory and copy all of the distribution files into the new
  sub directory.  From the Windows Program Manager, select a destination
  group (or a create a new group) and press ALT-F.  Select NEW (Item) and
  use the BROWSE function to locate and add FGFF.EXE.  Don't forget to add
  something to the description field; 'Font Factory' is fine.


Differences Between Versions -

  Version 1.1 fixed several annoying display problems that occurred when
  using small font displays (i.e. 800*600 small font).  While FGF was
  tested at all video modes, the author was using an out-dated video driver
  and thus introduced display problems into the program.  Version 1.1
  was made available only to registered users.

  Version 1.2 introduces dynamic resizing of the two view panels.  You
  now are no longer limited to a small text alignment view window.
  Maximize FGFF, and you'll see <g>.

| Version 1.3 improved dynamix resizing so that the preview window now uses
| all available space on the main window.  Text rotation was added in this
| version and the two text rocker controls have been replaced by a single,
| multi-directional text rocker.  A standard Windows help file was also
| added to the program.


Limitations of the SHAREWARE version -

  The shareware version of Fastgraph Font Factory will only allow you to
  load fonts starting with an A, B, or C.  If you want more than the ABC's,
  see REGISTRATION INFORMATION, below.


Program Operation -

  Fastgraph Font Factory (hereafter refered to as FGFF) is easy to use.

  FONT INFO          This window graphically displays the current font,
                     marking the font cell top, the font's baseline, and
                     the length of the longest descender.  Also displayed
                     is the face name and the current pitch being used.
                     This Window is strictly informative.

  OUTPUT PREVIEW     The preview window has two scroll bars and looks like
                     a standard MAKEPCX.PCX file.  This window allows you
                     to examine every cell and make sure that the text is
                     aligned properly.

                     HINT: This preview window has a special scrolling
                     feature.  Move the mouse over the control, press and
                     hold the right mouse button.  Now move the pointer.
                     The pointer should change into a hand and the image
                     will scroll as you move the mouse pointer.  Note that
                     you can move the point off of the control, allowing
                     you to scroll great distances quickly.

                     Why can't FGFF align the text automatically?  Well, it
                     does.  It determines the length of the largest
                     descender and adjusts all of the text upwards by the
                     correct number of pixels.  The problem is that
                     Fastgraph only needs characters with ASCII values
                     ranging from 32 to 127 while FGFF can only get
                     information about ALL characters in a type face.  It
                     is not uncommon for unused characters to have the longest
                     descenders and as a result you may be able to use the
                     TEXT SHIFT controls (see below) to adjust the text
                     downwards by several pixels.

  SELECT FONT        This allows you to select a new font to work with.

  ITALIC             This check box allows you to toggle italics ON and
                     OFF.

  BOLD               Using this check box will toggle bold ON and OFF.

| TEXT ROCKER        Using this button allows you to adjust both the x-axis
|                    and y-axis of text placement by +/- 1 pixel per click.
|                    The control is multi-directional and can shift text on
|                    both the x and y axis by clicking in the corners of
|                    the text rocker.  You can also reset the text shift by
|                    clicking directly in the center of this control. The
|                    text shift value will be reset whenever a new font is
|                    selected.

  SNUG FIT           True Type fonts can actually extend to the left of the
                     placement point.  As a result, FGFF examines each
                     character and adjusts the placement point IF the font
                     extends to the left of the placement point.

                     Other characters start several pixels to the right of
                     the placement point.  By default, FGFF does adjust the
                     placement of these characters.

                     Selecting the SNUG FIT check box will force FGFF to
                     place all character snuggly against the character
                     cell's left edge.  This is useful if you intend to set
                     a kerning value with MAKEFONT, but probably should be
                     avoided otherwise as Windows generally does an
                     excellent job of kerning the characters.

  2X ZOOM            This will zoom the OUTPUT PREVIEW window by a factor
                     of 2.  Keep in mind that is a bitmap zoom, and fonts
                     are displayed as a part of the bitmap and will no
                     longer have as smooth an appearance.  (This will NOT
                     effect the output files.)

  FILE               The file menu (ALT-F) will allow you to save the
                     current typeface to a BMP file by selecting the SAVE
                     AS... option.  Because FGFF currently does not support
                     the PCX format, you'll have to use a 3rd party tool to
                     convert the BMP to a PCX file.

                     You can also copy the current typeface to the
                     clipboard, which is the preferred method if you have
                     PAINT SHOP PRO, HIJAK for Windows, or some other
                     image conversion tool.  When converting, be sure to
                     reduce the number of colors to 16 and to disable
                     dithering.

                     Finally, the EXIT option on the file menu allows you
                     to close FGFF.

  ABOUT              Provides a little information about FGFF.

  SPLITTER-BAR       This is an invisible display control.  If you position
                     the mouse cursor between the two display panels, the
                     mouse cursor will change into a bar.  You can now
                     expand or shrink the size of the display panels.


Using FGFF with Paint Shop Pro -

  Paint Shop Pro, a highly-rated shareware program by JASC, Inc, makes
  image conversion a snap.  If you have Paint Shop Pro, here are the steps
  involved in creating a PCX file usable by MAKEFONT.EXE.

     1.  In FGFF, copy the image to the clipboard (CTRL-C).
     2.  Switch to or start Paint Shop Pro.
     3.  Select EDIT, Paste (SHIFT-INSERT)
     4.  Select COLORS, Decrease Color Depth, 16 colors.
     5.  Set the Palette to OPTIMIZED and set Reduction Method to
         NEAREST COLOR.  Select OK.  Paint Shop Pro will now convert the
         image.
     6.  Save the file as a type 5 PCX file.

  If you keep both FGFF and Paint Shop Pro open, you can toggle back and
  forth between the two applications (ALT-TAB).


Shareware Packing List -

  Fastgraph Font Factory was distributed with the following files -

    FILE_ID  DIZ           312 08-02-94
    ARTIST   VBX        59,920 12-09-93
    CCBUTTON VBX       108,704 09-23-93
    PICSCRLL VBX        35,344 12-08-93
    SS3D3    VBX        32,560 09-22-93
    THREED   VBX        64,544 04-28-93
    CMDIALOG VBX        18,688 04-28-93
    FGFF     EXE       177,151 08-02-94
    ORDER    FRM         1,012 06-28-94
    FGFF     TXT         9,941 08-02-94
    COMMDLG  DLL        89,248 03-23-92
    VSVBX    LIC           411 03-10-94
    VSVBX    VBX        78,864 05-12-94


  NOTE: FGFF requires VBRUN300.DLL, which was not included in this
        archive due to size considerations.  If you do not have this file,
        most BBS systems make it available as VBRUN300.ZIP or VBRUN.ZIP.
        The latter file typically has several different versions (VBRUN100,
        VBRUN200, and VBRUN300) of the VBRUNxxx.DLL file.

        A copy of VBRUN300 is available on The Dust Devil, the TGS support
        BBS.

        VSVBX.LIC, an included text file, is REQUIRED for the proper
        operation of FGFF.  Do NOT delete this file.


Planned Improvements -

| I'd like to add the ability to save directly to PCX format.  Adding this
| feature depends largely upon the amount of interest shown in the product.


Registration Information -

  Fastgraph Font Factory is available for $15 + $2.50 for shipping and
  handling ($5.00 for shipping & handling if you live outside the US or
  Canada).  A registered copy of program will be mailed to you on 3.5
  inch media.  Upgrades to new versions will be available at no cost via
  downloadable update files which will be posted on TGS's DUST DEVIL BBS.

  Please send your check or money order along with return mailing
  information to -

                                TIM KILGORE
                           2601 S. PROVIDENCE #40
                            COLUMBIA, MO  65203

| If possible, please print and use ORDER.FRM or print it directly from the
| HELP file included with FGFF.