DTP Toolbox/DTPToolbox.iso/utilities/propage_pdraw/atap/readmefirst

Text File | 1992-06-14 | 10.3 KB | 224 lines

================================================================

           USING ADOBE TYPE WITH PROFESSIONAL PAGE (etc.)

================================================================

Release 1.9

No thanks to certain companies who publish buggy software, and thanks to the
demands of unimpressed users like yourself, I'm re-releasing my V1.9 screen
font/AFM converter.

First some major notes:

1) ConvertAFM and UnpackFNT are now re-written in C! Thanks to Matt Dillon's
DICE (which I'll register for as soon as I get some donations!) I managed
to write very clean and very FAST (!) versions of these programs. They are
still command-line driven but are much nicer to use.

2) The other two programs come from other packages. ConvertFNT is really
"Convert" from Rico Mariani's old MacFont package (Fred Fish #138). I use
this because I couldn't do actual font conversions yet. Also, UnStuffIt is
actually UnSIT V0.9 (No one ever wrote a good version if I recall) and this
Macintosh un-archiver still has problems with RLE (pre-compressed) archives.
To transfer .SIT archives to the Amiga, make sure when they're created that
they have compression TURNED OFF! The file will be bigger, but it will
unpack properly.

3) Based on scattered reports, Gold Disk's FONT MANAGER has some problems.
I'm not sure what's wrong, but apparently you can convert a Type 1 typeface
to CG Intellifont format (PPage format) and you can find it in CGFonts:,
but it won't show up in PPage's typeface listing. If you have the same
problems then find yourself some Macintosh screen fonts and convert them
with this package. Stick your Type 1s in CGFonts:PS so PPage can download
them upon printing. Also, FONT MANAGER cannot convert Type 1s generated from
Corel's WFNBOSS. Corel's conversion routine skips EEXEC encryption and Font
Manager requires this to work. To use these, stick them in CGFonts:PS as
above, and steal :-) some Mac screen fonts. AFMs from WFNBOSS will work
with ConvertAFM.

Scatterd reports also suggest that Font Manager may have problems with some
versions of .AFM files. If you can convert the Type 1s but cannot create
.metrics with it, try ConvertAFM. You may have to edit the typeface name
itself, but AFMs are just text files anyway.

4) You can obtain Mac screen fonts and Adobe AFMs from your local service
bureau for free, providing you are using their equipment for printing, and
their typeface masters. Call Adobe Systems (1-800-83-FONTS) for details.
You can also purchase Macintosh screen fonts and AFMs from Adobe Systems
without buying the typefaces themselves. Much cheaper.

=============================================================

                    And now to the details.

=============================================================

This package doesn't convert TYPEFACES, IE: Type 1 outlines. It converts
screen fonts and .AFM files. This means you can display a font on the PPage
screen and work with it, but to print in PostScript you need the typeface
master either IN THE PRINTER, or in CGFonts:PS. If you keep to small point
sizes this makes no real difference. At larger sizes you can see the real
ugliness of screen fonts, BUT THE SPACING IS CORRECT because PPage gets
spacing information from the .metric file. Also, if you can live with the
ugliness, screen fonts run FASTER than outlines and when you print to
PostScript it makes no difference anyway.

The fonts and .metric files you create with this package work with most of
Gold Disk's PostScript-related applications. These include Professional Page,
Professional Calc, and PageSetter II. Other applications that conform to
Gold Disk's .metric format will also work, including ProWrite 3.0 and up.
Excellence! 2.0 won't work with these unless you convert the resulting
.metric files with MSS's metric converter. This reverts the PPage .metric to
the older PageSetter/LaserScript format, but renders it useless with
PPage or other compatible applications.

This package contains the following:

1) ConvertAFM: This creates .metric files based on .AFM, or Adobe Font
Metric files. A .metric can contain information for up to four typeface
styles (regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic) so you need to input four
.AFM files or less. Re-written in C with source code included (I'm looking
for criticisms as this is my first real C project.)

2) UnpackFNT: Empties the contents of a Macintosh resource file and
separates any screen fonts from it. Resource files (also called "Suitcases")
are created on the Macintosh using Font/DA Mover V3.8 and transfered to the
Amiga using any way you can... Also in C with source code included.

3) ConvertFNT: Converts single font resources to Amiga screen fonts. To use
this effectively with UnpackFNT, you need Workbench 1.3 or better and the
command "SPAT". It writes directly to FONTS: so you may want to re-assign
FONTS: if you don't have room for them. From Rico's MacFont (FF #138).

4) UnStuffIt: UnSIT V0.9. Used for unpacking Macintosh archives in .SIT
format. When creating archives on the Macintosh, remember to disable
compression to make unpacking easier. I forgot where it came from. Type
"UnStuffIt" by itself to get the copyright info, etc.

5) ISOLatin1: A copy of the USA1 keymap that uses CTRL-ALT and CTRL-SHIFT-ALT
to simulate the Macintosh keymap. Best used with Apple Standard or font
specific encoded typefaces if you know the Macintosh keyboard equivelants.
Created with SetKey 1.0 by CodeWorks. I'm not sure if it works in Workbench
2.0 but it works in 1.3. If you know a good keymap editor that works in
WB 2.0 please tell me!

Stick ConvertAFM, UnpackFNT, ConvertFNT, and UnStuffIt somewhere in your
command path (C:, SYS:System, SYS:Utilities, whatever) to make usage easier.
Put ISOLatin1 in DEVS:Keymaps. I provided an installation script to do this
for you. The script requires IconX in C:.

And that's that. I have better programs on the brainworks, namely a
friendlier ConvertAFM with kerning pair editor, cleaner screen font
converter, and a few other suprises.

I'm not asking for money for this, but I won't mind donations. If you have
problems, please mail me a disk with your problem files and I'll try to
convert them for you. It's not easy to solve problems over the phone but I
will try if you want. Here's the address:

Gordon Fecyk
Adobe Type Access Package
P.O. Box 373
Oakville, Manitoba
R0H 0Y0
Canada

Phone: [phone]

Actually, if you really want to donate anything, I would really appreciate
the Workbench 2.0 developer's kit or a registered version of DICE. These
don't cost too much, but I'm a lonely student with no cash to spare.

There are more instruction files on this package:

1) Converting Screen Fonts: Detailed steps on converting Macintosh
screen fonts to use with Professional Page or any other Amiga program that
uses screen fonts.

2) Creating .metric files: How to use ConvertAFM effectively, and how to
organize .metric files to cover large typeface families.

3) File Transfer Help: Tips on bringing screen fonts and .AFMs to your
Amiga disks, and instructions for UnSIT 0.9.

4) Using ISOLatin1: Using the Macintosh keymap with those unusual
typefaces.

5) TypeTheory: A bit of insight in how Professional Page and company use
.metric files and screen fonts to do their job. Required reading if you have
unusually large typeface families you want to use.

And there are yet other files:

1) AG??____.AFM and SYM_____.AFM: Some sample AFMs courtesy of Adobe Systems.
Use these to test ConvertAFM and to compare other vendors' AFMs in case
they won't work with ConvertAFM. In a directory called "SampleAFMs".

2) #?.c: Source code for UnpackFNT and ConvertAFM. In "SourceCode" directory.

3) TestingFonts.mbin: A Macintosh font suitcase with a handful of screen
fonts. Test UnpackFNT and ConvertFNT with this. Courtesy of Adobe Systems.

================================================================

Copyright notices:

"Apple", "Macintosh", "LaserWriter", and other related names are trademarks
of Apple Computer, inc. Screen font formats are property of Apple Computer,
inc. and details are available in the "Inside Macintosh" series by
Addison-Wesley publications, and are available from Apple Computer, inc.
and authorized dealers. No foolin!

"PostScript", and any typeface names mentioned in these instructions are
trademarks of Adobe Systems. The PostScript interpreter and .AFM format are
property of Adobe Systems. PostScript and Typeface technical information are
published by Addison-Wesley publications and available from Adobe Systems.
Or try your local library; you'd be suprised!

Professional Page is a product of Gold Disk, inc. and is subject to the
copyright laws of your state or country. Piracy is a crime. So is keeping
information from people who want to improve your software. :-) You hear me,
Gold Disk? You're only hurting yourselves. The .metric file format is
property of Gold Disk, inc. but I don't care if anyone else cracks it. :-)
PageSetter/LaserScript and Professional Calc are also products of Gold Disk.

CorelDRAW! and WFNBOSS are MS-DOS / OS/2 applications, and are products
of Corel Systems. By the way, dear Corel Systems: FIX YOUR TYPE 1 CREATOR!

ProWrite is a trademark and product of New Horizons software.

Excellence! is a product of Micro-Systems Software.

CrossDOS is a product of Consultron.

Mac-2-DOS is a product of Central Coast Software.

A-MAX II and File Transfer II are products of ReadySoft.

My source code (ConvertAFM.c, UnpackFNT.c, and all non-standard #include
files) is property of ME (Gordon Fecyk) and CANNOT be used in COMMERCIAL
products, in whole or in part, without my permission.

Distribution of this package is allowed freely if:

1) no charge is made for distribution (other than a nominal copying fee),

2) it is not distributed as part of a commercial package (ASK FIRST!),

3) all document files and installation script are included,

4) it is not distributed by commercial organizations. This means that
user groups and Amiga retailers can distribute it but not companies like
ZIPPERWARE! without my permission! Distribution by Fred Fish is permitted.

All persons or companies who made programs I'm distributing in this package
are free to write and complain if they don't like it. This is directed to
Rico Mariani and Scott Evernden. I'll remove your programs (Convert and UnSIT)
if you want, but I'd really appreciate you allowing me to distribute them.

The Amiga is property of Commodore Business Machines, inc. and
Commodore-Amiga Limited (Don't you wish it belonged to someone else? :-)