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Subject: comp.fonts FAQ: Utilities Newsgroups: comp.fonts,comp.answers,news.answers From: norm@ora.com (Norman Walsh) Date: 9 Nov 1994 07:36:03 -0500 Archive-name: fonts-faq/part12 Version: 2.0.4 Subject: 10. Utilities I have just started collecting information about font utilities. I will gladly add any information that you can pass my way. Please send your submissions to norm. I would appreciate it if you could include a paragraph or so of description and the appropriate site/filename for retrieval. Subject: 10.1. PS2PK PS2PK is a utility for converting Type1 postscript fonts into TeX PK files. The source code is distributed and it has been compiled for both *nix boxes and MS-DOS based machines. Here is the original announcement: Ps2pk-1.2 available ------------------- (June 1992) Version 1.2 of ps2pk is now available on: ftp.urc.tue.nl (address: 131.155.2.79) directory: /pub/tex files: ps2pk12.README ( 1k) This file ps2pk12.tar.Z (391k) Sources ps2pk386.zip (232k) MSDOS executables utopia.tar.Z (342k) Adobe Utopia font family courier.tar.Z (207k) IBM Courier font family For people having difficulties in handling UNIX `.tar.Z' format I have made some UNIX tools (only executables) available in: directories: /pub/unixtools/dos /pub/unixtools/vms See the system specific TARZ file for some help. Ftp.urc.tue.nl can not handle E-mail requests. But sites are free to put the ps2pk12 stuff on any server that can. When do you need ps2pk? ======================= Ps2pk is a tool that converts a PostScript type1 font into a corres- ponding TeX PK font. The tool is especially interesting if you want to use fully hinted type1 fonts in your DVI previewer (instead of the unhinted type1 fonts currently used in GhostScript) or on a printer that has no PostScript interpreter. In order to use the ps2pk generated fonts your driver and previewer need to support virtual fonts. The reason is that PostScript fonts and TeX fonts do have a different font encoding and handle ligatures in a different way. With virtual fonts the PostScript world (encoding + ligatures) can be mapped to the old style TeX world on which the current plain macro packages still are based (despite the fact that TeX3.0 can handle 8bits). It is also possible to use the ps2pk generated PK fonts directly In addition, a modified version of PS2PK exists on ibis.cs.umass.edu. I have added some hacks to better support really large renderings and a primitive "range" facility. Subject: 10.2. TeX Utilities There are many TeX font utilities. For TeX related questions, I direct you to comp.text.tex or the Info-TeX mailing list. I will happily list any utilities here that the comp.fonts public feels should be present. I am listing MetaFont because it is the obvious font-specific component of TeX and PKtoSFP because it allows anyone to use PS2PK to create LaserJet softfonts. Liam R. E. Quin is the original author of the MetaFont section. It has been hacked at a bit by norm to make it fit the tone of the comp.fonts FAQ. Assume that norm is responsible for any errors, not Liam. MetaFont ======== About MetaFont: --------------- Metafont is a programming language for describing fonts. It was written by Donald Knuth and is documented in Computers & Typesetting/C: The METAFONTbook Knuth, Donald E. Addison Wesley, 1986 ISBN 0-201-13445-4, or 0-201-13444-6 (soft cover) Library access: Z250.8.M46K58, or 686.2'24, or 85-28675. A font written in MetaFont is actually a computer program which, when run, will generate a bitmap (`raster') for a given typeface at a given size, for some particular device. What do you need in order to use the fonts: ------------------------------------------- You cannot print the MetaFont fonts directly (unless you want a listing of the program, that is). Instead, you must generate a bitmap font and use that to print something. If you are using TeX, the sequence of steps is something like this: MF to MetaFont to GF Convert a MetaFont program into a bitmapped font. Also produces a TFM file. MF to MetaFont to TFM Covnert a MetaFont program into a TFM file. Also produces a GF bitmapped font. GF to GFtoPK to PK Convert a GF bitmapped font into a compressed PK font. TEX + TFM to TeX to DVI Produce a device independent output file. DVI + PK to dvi driver to output format Produce a device-specific output file (or preview). The above steps are idealized. In reality, you have to make sure that the fonts get installed in the correct places and you may have to adjust description files, etc. The friendly folks on comp.text.tex can probably get it staightened out for you if you can't find a local guru. If you are not using TeX, it's almost impossible to predict. At some point in the above sequence, you'll insert some other conversion program and proceed differently. Here, for example, is how you might use TeX fonts with WordPerfect and a LaserJet printer. PK to PKtoSFP to SFP Convert a TeX PK file into an HP LaserJet softfont. SFP to SFP2Auto to TFM Make HP AutoFont Tagged Font Metric file. SFP + HP AutoFont TFM to PTR to Installed in WP Install the new font in WordPerfect. Use WordPerfect as you normally would. Subject: 10.3. MFPic MFpic is a macro package for including pictures in TeX documents. The idea behind this package is to have Metafont do the actual drawing, and store the pictures in a font that TeX can include in the document. The macros have been designed so that the user should never have to learn Metafont to use these macros--the TeX macros actually write the Metafont file for you. Subject: 10.4. fig2MF Briefly, fig2MF uses the mfpic macros to create formatted, commented MF code from the fig graphics language. This means that programs like xfig can be used as interactive font creation tools. I wrote fig2MF so that I could portably illustrate TeX documents, but I suppose one could use it to design letterforms as well. The package consists of a single C source code file, modified mfpic macros, documentation, and sample fig files. It is available at the shsu archives. Subject: 10.5. GNU Font Utilities Here is a brief description of the programs included: * imageto extracts a bitmap font from an image in PBM or IMG format, or converts the image to Encapsulated PostScript. * xbfe is a hand-editor for bitmap fonts which runs under X11. * charspace adds side bearings to a bitmap font. * limn fits outlines to bitmap characters. * bzrto converts a generic outline font to Metafont or PostScript. * gsrenderfont renders a PostScript outline font at a particular point size and resolution, yielding a bitmap font. * fontconvert can rearrange or delete characters in a bitmap font, filter them, split them into pieces, combine them, etc., etc. * imgrotate rotates or flips an IMG file. We need volunteers to help create fonts for the GNU project. You do not need to be an expert type designer to help, but you do need to know enough about TeX and/or PostScript to be able to install and test new fonts. Example: if you know neither (1) the purpose of TeX utility program `gftopk' nor (2) what the PostScript `scalefont' command does, you probably need more experience before you can help. If you can volunteer, the first step is to compile the font utilities. After that, contact me [ed: Karl Berry] (karl@gnu.ai.mit.edu). I will get you a scanned type specimen image. The manual explains how to use these utilities to turn that into a font you can use in TeX or PostScript. You can get the source by ftp from any GNU archive site. You can also order tapes with GNU software from the Free Software Foundation (thereby supporting the GNU project); send mail to gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu for the latest prices and ordering information, or retrieve the file DISTRIB from a GNU archive. Subject: 10.6. Font Editors * Editors for BDF fonts There is a bdf font editor that comes with HP/Apollo workstations. It's called 'edfont'. It's not the best but it works. Gary reports: The standard X distribution for X11R5 contains "xfed", which allows you to play with BDF fonts. "xfedor" has a more elaborate user interface, and is available on most contrib directories. The last time I tried: "xfedor" couldn't handle BDF files with more than 256 characters. "xfed" aborts if the BDF file contains a COMMENT line with no other text. The workaround is to edit the BDF file, to put text after the word COMMENT. A single blank space is sufficient. For some reason, the standard BDF files included in the X release contain blank spaces on the otherwise empty COMMENT lines. It was probably easier to add the space to the COMMENT lines of every BDF file than it was to fix the lex code for xfed. :-) * Editors for PK fonts The GNU font utilities include an X-based editor called Xbfe which edits bitmapped fonts under X. Eberhard Mattes' emTeX includes PKedit. Subject: 10.7. The T1 Utilities This is a snippet from the README file for I. Lee Hetherington's t1utils package: t1utils is a collection of simple type-1 font manipulation programs. Together, they allow you to convert between PFA (ASCII) and PFB (binary) formats, disassemble PFA or PFB files into human-readable form, reassemble them into PFA or PFB format. Additionally you can extract font resources from a Macintosh font file (ATM/Laserwriter). Subject: 10.8. Where to get bitmap versions of the fonts There are archives containing the bitmaps of many of these fonts at various sizes and resolutions. The fonts must have been generated for the correct print engine: e.g. write-white or write-black. The archives generally hold only the sizes used by TeX. These are `magstep' sizes, and are not exact point sizes. It is probably better to generate them from the Metafont sources yourself if you can. The best place to look for raster fonts was almost certainly: mims-iris.waterloo.edu but it isn't any more, the fonts have all gone. Let me know if you find them elsewhere. Most people seem to have moved to using PostScript fonts or Bitstream ones instead now. Some other sites are: ctrsci.math.utah.edu (128.110.198.1) science.utah.edu (128.110.192.2) ymir.claremont.edu (134.173.4.23) The occasional posting of ftp sites to comp.misc and comp.archives lists these and several other sites. Subject: 10.9. Converting between font formats Conversions to and from pbm and pk format were posted to comp.text.tex and to alt.sources on the 9th of August, 1990 by Angus Duggan. The program is pbmtopk, and there are also at least two patches. Chris Lewis' psroff package includes a program to go from pk both to the HP LaserJet and to PostScript. John McClain <ophelp@tamvenus.bitnet> has some conversion programs for various graphics formats to/and from pk files. A PC program, CAPTURE, turns HPGL files into PK format, US$130 from Micro Programs Inc., 251 Jackson Ave., Syosset, NY 11791 U.S.A. Metaplot can take pen-plotter files and prouce metafont files. Note: Pat Wilcox is no longer at Ohio State. Kinch Computer Company sell .pk fonts derived from PostScript fonts. Kinch Computer Co., 501 S. Meadow St.Ithaca, NY 14850 U.S.A. telephone: +1 607 273 0222; fax: +1 607 273 0484 Subject: 10.10. Getting fonts by FTP and Mail If you are using ftp, you will need either the name of the host or the Internet number. For example, to connect to ymir, listed as ftp: ymir.claremont.edu [134.173.4.23] you will need to type something like ftp ymir.claremont.edu If that doesn't work, try using the number: ftp 134.173.4.23 If that doesn't work, on Unix systems you can use nslookup (it's usually /usr/etc/nslookup) to find the host number - it might have changed. Type the entire host name, and after a few seconds nslookup will give you the address. Of course, if you have nslookup installed, the first form will probably work... Once you have connected, you will need to go to the appropriate directory, lists its contents, and retrieve the files. Most of the machines listed here run Unix, and you use "ls" and "cd" to list files and to change directories. Ymir runs VMS, and you will have to put square brackets around directory names, like [this]. Remember that although Metafont sources are text files, pk fonts are not ASCII, and you will have to use binary mode for them. In general, use text mode for README files and *.mf files, and binary mode for other font files. Files ending in .Z are compressed binary files - you will need to use binary mode, and then uncompress the files when you get them. You can get files from ymir by sending mail messages to mailserv@ymir.claremont.edu For example, send [tex.mf.misc]cmapl10.mf will get the file cmapl10.mf from the directory "tex.mf.misc". You can't get binary files in this way. There is an ftp-by-mail BITNET service, BITFTP, for BITNET users. Before getting large files by mail, please remember to get permission from all intervening sites. Ask your site administrator, who can send mail to Postmaster at each site on the way if necessary. Subject: 10.11. MetaFont to PostScript Conversion There are (I believe) two programs that perform this task. At least one of them is called "mf2ps". If you have any more information about these tools, please let me know. Chang Jin-woong reports that he found the "mf2ps" package with Archie. It is written by Shimon Yanai <yanai@israearn.bitnet> and Daniel M. Berry <dberry@cs.technion.ac.il>. The source programs are written in Pascal. Subject: 10.12. How to use Metafont fonts with Troff If, when you run troff, you get the message `typesetter busy', you have the original Ossanna-troff, also called otroff. Chris Lewis has a package which will let you use TeX fonts with troff - it's called psroff, and comes with documentation. ftp: gatekeeper.dec.com (16.1.0.2) pub/misc/psroff-3.0 ftp: ftp.cs.toronto.edu [128.100.1.105] pub/psroff-3.0/* If, when you run troff, you get something like this: x T 300 x res 300 1 1 you have ditroff. This is sometimes called titroff or psroff. In this case, you will probably need to do the following: 1. convert the font to your printer's format 2. generate a width table for the font 3. add the font to the DESC file for the appropriate device 4. arrange for troff to download the font 5. tell troff about the font by running `makedev DESC' in the right place. If, when you run troff, you get something like this: X hp(SCM)(CM)(AF)(AD) 300 1 1 Y P default letter 2550 3300 0 0 90 90 2460 3210 you have sqtroff: 1. convert the font to your printer's format 2. generate a width table for the font 3. add the font to the DESC file for the appropriate device 4. put the font in the appropriate raster directory 5. tell sqtroff about the font by running `sqmakedev DESC' or `sqinstall'. In each case, you should be able to get help from your vendor. Note that Chris Lewis' psroff package has software to make width tables for troff from pk files. Subject: 10.13. PKtoBDF / MFtoBDF From the SeeTeX distribution, programs to help previewers under X11. They convert TeX PK files into X11 BDF fonts (which can be further converted into one or more server native formats). Subject: 10.14. PKtoPS Included in the psroff distribution, this utility converts PK fonts into PostScript fonts (bitmaps, I presume). If you have any more information about these tools, please let me know. Subject: 10.15. PKtoSFP / SFPtoPK Convert fonts from TeX PK format to HP LaserJet softfont (bitmap) format. Subject: 10.16. PostScript to MetaFont ps2mf started out as a way of creating bitmaps via MF for TeX. Only, when I had just finished it, Piet Tutelaers came with ps2pk. This was a far superior way runtime-wise. He uses the IBM X11-R5 fontutilities library, which is extremely ugly code. But, it works. So, to generate bitmaps, I suggest everyone use ps2pk. To generate a MF outline description, ps2mf is *the* tool. Yannis Haralambous has just started a project where he wants to create meta-ized fonts for MF from Postscript descriptions. ps2mf does the basic conversion. This project wants to revive the use of MF for it is a truly beautiful program with enormous possiblities. The following information comes from the README file for ps2mf: This is pfb2mf. It is a copyleft program. See the file COPYING for more details. I suggest that for the translation of Type-One to readable PostScript you use I. Lee Hetherington's Type-1-Utils. You can find these somewhere on obelix.icce.rug.nl in pub/erikjan. If you find any bugs, please do report. If you have any complaints, please do report. Now for some info about the different stages. This package contains four programs: * pfb2pfa * pfa2chr * chr2ps * ps2mf pfb2pfa ======= pfb2pfa will decompress an IBM (!) Postscript type 1 fontfile into readable and downloadable hexadecimal data. The resulting file still contains two layers of encryption: * eexec encryption * charstring encryption pfa2chr ======= pfa2chr will do an eexec-decryption of a readable hexadecimal font file to a fontfile with encrypted charstrings. chr2ps ====== chr2ps will perform a charstring-decryption of a font file with encrypted charstrings to fontfile with postscript commands for type 1 fonts. With a "-" as filename, these programs will read from <stdin> and write to <stdout>. This way you can pipe the results, as in: pfb2pfa garmnd - | pfa2chr - - | chr2ps - garmnd This will create a garmnd.ps from garmnd.pfb without explicitely creating the intermediate files. These previous stages can be replaced by (when using Lee Hetherington's type-1-utils): t1disasm garmnd.pfb garmnd.ps ps2mf ===== This last stage will convert to a MetaFont program with the use of the corresponding .afm file and a mapping configuration file. It can convert to an ordinary form with Bezier controlpoints. It can also generate a curl specification. For this last option specifify -C. Subject: 10.17. Mac Bitmaps to BDF Format I [ed: who?] have posted a program which I hacked together for extracting all NFNT and FONT resources from a MacBinary form of a standard Mac file and dumping the fonts as Adobe BDF files. It has only been compiled and tested on a Sun system to date. It can be fetched from METIS.COM, /pub/mac2bdf.c. I wrote this tool to be able to use Mac Bitmaps under X Windows and OpenWindows (which take Adobe BDF format files). This is Info file comp.fonts.faq.info, produced by Makeinfo-1.55 from the input file FAQ.texinfo.