@DATABASE "LC10 Font Editor Guide" @AUTHOR "Michael Archer" @FONT topaz.font 8 @WORDWRAP @NODE main "main" LC10 FONT EDITOR ©1997 by Michael Archer ------ LC10-Font editor is a program that allows you to change the appearance of the fonts that your Star LC-10 printer uses. There are 2 versions of the program on the disk, one for editing draft fonts and one for editing N.L.Q. fonts. @{" Legal Notice " LINK Legal} <--- Read this before using the program. @{" Distribution " LINK Distr} @{" Shareware Registration " LINK share} @{" Using the program " LINK instr} @{" Using the fonts " LINK fonts} @{" Installing to a H.D. " LINK hdisk} @{" The Future " LINK future} @{" Send me your fonts!! " LINK sendme} @{" And Finally... " LINK finally} @ENDNODE @NODE hdisk "Installing the font editor on your Hard Disk" For the font editor to work it needs the 'AMOS.LIBRARY', if this is not already on your hard drive you must copy it across from this disk. COPY DF0:LIBS/AMOS.LIBRARY LIBS: Once this is done installing is just a matter of putting the two programs anywhere you wish on your hard drive. When loading and saving fonts the program always looks for the file path 'SYS:LC10-FONTS'. So it would be a good idea to create this directory on your hard drive. If you want to store your fonts in a different location you can, the program does not need the 'SYS:LC10-FONTS' path to work. @ENDNODE @NODE finally "And Finally..." As I like programming for a hobby I am always writing crappy little programs that no one will ever use just for something to do. I would much rather write a program that other people are going to use. So, if you feel there is a program/utility that should be available on the P.D./Shareware market that currently isn't available then write and tell me. If I think it is a good idea too then I will write it. Alternatively if you have a P.D. program that although is a good idea, is really craply written and bug ridden send it me. I may write a newer better version if I feel one is justified. Please don't write with suggestions of demo creators/rippers/copiers or other such stuff, I think the Piracy Scene has produced too many of these programs already. Send ideas to.. Mike Archer 29 Holbeck Avenue Marton Blackpool Lancs FY4 4LS @ENDNODE @NODE sendme "Send me your fonts!!" If you design any fonts using this editor (NLQ or DRAFT) send them to me and I will include them on any future release. You will be fully credited for designing the font, and I will send you the latest version of the font editor free of charge. Send your fonts to.. Mike Archer 29 Holbeck Avenue Marton Blackpool Lancs FY4 4LS @ENDNODE @NODE future "The future of LC10 editor" I would like to update the LC10 font editor in the future with some more features. If I do the registration password will be the same as the current version you are using, so you won't need to register again simply get the new version from a P.D. library or wherever. Whether I actually do release a new version really depends on how many people register. It's pointless me upgrading a program if nobody is using the thing anyway!! Here are some features I may include in future releases, if you have ideas on how these features could be better, or if there is any other features you would like to see then please let me know. » Make the font convert utility resize the font so it fits the font grid perfectly. Possibly could automatically select ascender/descender to get the font as big as possible. » Include a mask character definition, this will appear behind the actual character grid and will contain a basic shape that you are basing your font design on. » Include functions for drawing lines, arcs, boxes and circles. » Convert NLQ fonts down to DRAFT and vice versa. » More preferences aswell as the colour palette editor. » Preview the whole font on screen as it would appear on your printer. » Your suggestions ?... @ENDNODE @NODE legal "Legal Notice" This program is provided for a very low cost, because of this there is absolutely no guarantee provided with this program. Although every care has been taken to ensure that this program functions correctly, if it does go wrong and it causes damage to your computer, printer, disks or whatever then the cost of repairing such damages must be paid for by you. In the unlikely event that this program does go wrong please write to me and let me know the exact details of the fault, then I can correct it. @ENDNODE @NODE Distr "Distribution Rights for this Program" LC10 font editor is copyrighted software, it may not be used or distributed by anybody unless they observe the following conditions... 1) The programs and documentation provided must not be changed in any way. 2) The programs and documentation are distributed together on the same disk, or within the same archive file. 3) The password you are given upon registration must not be disclosed to any other user. As long as these conditions are met, the programs and documentation may be distributed by any means possible. This includes PD Libraries, Bulletin Boards, CD Rom Compilations and Magazine Coverdisks. If you are going to distribute this on a C.D Rom or Magazine please contact me first to make sure you have the latest version of the program. @ENDNODE @NODE Share "Shareware Registration" This program is shareware, this means that if after trying this program you decide you would like to use it regularly then you are morally obliged to send the author payment for using the program. No features have been taken out of this program for unregistered users, so you can try the program fully. (I do hate `save disabled' demo versions of programs!) If you are using this program as an unregistered user then everytime you select a gadget you will have to put up with a Shareware Notice appearing on the screen for 15 seconds. When you register you will be given a password, entering this password at the start of the program will stop the shareware message from appearing and you will be free to use the program with no interruptions. @{" U.K. Registration " LINK ukreg} @{" Non U.K. Registration " LINK nonuk} @ENDNODE @NODE ukreg "Registering as a user" @TOC share To register will cost you £3, you should send this to... Michael Archer 29 Holbeck Avenue Marton Blackpool Lancashire FY4 4LS You can send a cheque, postal order or £3 worth of 1st class stamps. You can send cash if you want, but I can't be held responsible if it goes missing in the post. @ENDNODE @NODE nonuk "Registering as a user if you live outside the U.K." @TOC share I recognise that people who live outside the U.K may have difficulty in getting a cheque/post order to me and getting currencies converted can be costly, so I have the following solution... If you live outside the United Kingdom then instead of sending me £3 simply send me 3 disks containing some of your favourite software, games, or demos. This only applies to people not living inside the United Kingdom, anybody in the U.K. sending me disks will simply have them returned with no password. (Sorry, but I do need the money!) Send your disks to.. Michael Archer 29 Holbeck Avenue Marton Blackpool Lancashire FY4 4LS ENGLAND @ENDNODE @NODE instr "Using the program" | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ +----+ +----------+ | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| |@{" A " LINK viewr}| |@{" " LINK chars}| | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ +----+ |@{"CHARACTER " LINK chars}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| |@{" " LINK chars}| | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ @{"y" LINK ascender} |@{"SELECTION " LINK chars}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| +-+ |@{" " LINK chars}| | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ +-+@{" " LINK scroll}+-+ |@{" GRID " LINK chars}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| |@{"SCROL" LINK scroll}| |@{" " LINK chars}| | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ +-+@{" " LINK scroll}+-+ |@{" " LINK chars}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| +-+ +----------+ | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| +------------------+ | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ |@{" " LINK gadgets}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| |@{" " LINK gadgets}| | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ |@{" MISCELLANEOUS " LINK gadgets}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| |@{" " LINK gadgets}| | | +@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}+ |@{" GADGET BOXES " LINK gadgets}| | | |@{" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | " LINK grid}| |@{" " LINK gadgets}| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |@{" " LINK gadgets}| | | |@{" " LINK gadgets}| | | @{" " LINK message} +------------------+ | @ENDNODE @NODE viewr "Print view box" @TOC instr This box shows a graphical representation on how the current character will be printed when it is downloaded to your printer. @ENDNODE @NODE gadgets @TOC instr @{" COPY " LINK copy} @{" DBLX " LINK dblx} @{" TEST " LINK test} @{" INFO " LINK info} @{" SWAP " LINK swap} @{" DBLY " LINK dbly} @{" HELP " LINK help} @{" FLIP-X " LINK flipx} @{" CONV " LINK conv} @{" FLIP-Y " LINK flipy} @{" LOAD " LINK load} @{" NEG " LINK neg} @{" SAVE " LINK save} @{" CLR " LINK clr} @{" NEW " LINK new} @{" UNDO " LINK undo} @{" COLS " LINK cols} @{" EXIT " LINK exit} @ENDNODE @NODE grid "The character editing grid" @TOC instr This grid is used to define the look of the currently selected character. To change a square to black simply click on it with the left mouse button. To clear a square simply click on it with the right mouse button. While you are defining your character you will notice that some of the dots change from black to grey. Your printer is incapable of printing two dots next to each other, the dots shown as grey will not be printed. The program let's you define the dots still as it makes it easier editing and the NEGATE function would not work if the grey dots were not there. More details of this limitation can be found in your LC10's manual under the section on defining your own fonts. @ENDNODE @NODE scroll "The scroll gadgets" @TOC instr This gadget has four directional arrows on it. Clicking on any of these arrows will scroll the whole of the current character definition in that direction. Any characters that scroll of the edge of the grid will be put back onto the opposite side of the grid. @ENDNODE @NODE message @TOC instr This is the message box, any errors or informative messages will be displayed here. @ENDNODE @NODE chars @TOC instr This grid shows all the characters that are available for editing. The character shown in white is the one that you are currently editing on the main grid. Any characters highlighted in yellow, are ones that have been edited and will be downloaded to your printer. Any Other characters in the grid will be printed using the printers ROM font. Clicking the left mouse button on a character will select that character for editing in the main grid. Clicking the right mouse button on a character will `de-select' that character, in other words, it's definition won't be downloaded to the printer. This effectively wipes that characters definition. However, if you select that character for editing again in the current session the old definition will be restored. @ENDNODE @NODE copy "Copy Character" @TOC gadgets This will copy the current character to any other character in the font. The character you have copied the definition to will be automatically selected for download. @ENDNODE @NODE swap "Swap Characters" @TOC gadgets This will swap the definitions of the currently edited character and any other character in the font." @ENDNODE @NODE flipx "Flip Horizontally" @TOC gadgets This will flip the character definition so it's left side becomes the right and vice versa. @ENDNODE @NODE flipy "Flip Vertically" @TOC gadgets This will flip the character definition so it's top becomes the bottom and vice versa. @ENDNODE @NODE neg "Negate image" @TOC gadgets This will negate all the dots in the character definition. (IE: change them to the opposite of what they were. This may give some strange effects on characters that have been designed with alternate dots missing to allow for the LC10's printing limitations. For example character's designed with Jeff Tullen's Font Editor (CLU #17) This is an unavoidable problem, but it should work okay with fonts designed on this editor. @ENDNODE @NODE clr "Clear Definition" @TOC gadgets This will clear the current font definition. You should only use this function to clear the grid before designing a new font. Using this function to erase a character definition will not work, as the character will then be defined as a blank space when you download the font. Instead you should de-select that character by clicking on it with the right mouse button. @ENDNODE @NODE undo "Undo" @TOC gadgets Undo will restore the character back to how it was when you started editing it. Undo will only remember the definition of the character you are editing from when you started editing it, not from when the character set was loaded. @ENDNODE @NODE conv "Convert Amiga Font" @TOC gadgets The convert function will convert a normal Amiga Disk Font into an LC10 printer font. All characters in the font will be converted, but as the LC10 should only let you download a maximum of 78 characters, you will have to deselect some of the characters first. The font will not be resized, it will be taken pixel by pixel. NOTE: In the manual for the LC10 it states that only 78 characters definitions may be downloaded to the printers RAM. However I have found that my printer allows me to download all the definitions, I do not know if your printer will restrict you to 78 characters or not, you will just have to try more and see what happens. @ENDNODE @NODE load "Load a font" @TOC gadgets This will load a previously saved LC10 font from disk. It will also load fonts saved from Jeff Tullen's LC10 Font Editor (CLU #17). If you know of any other font editors who's font files will not load into my program, write and let me know then I can include that font format in a future update. @ENDNODE @NODE save "Save a font" @TOC gadgets This will save the currently defined fonts out to a file. This file can be downloaded into your printers RAM simply by copying the file to `PAR:' For example:- COPY SciFi.NLQ to PAR: Always copy to the `PAR:' device, never `PRT:'. The `PRT:' device inserts it's own control codes which will corrupt the font definition. @ENDNODE @NODE new @TOC gadgets This command will erase all the definitions for the current font and de-select all the characters. Because this command is so destructive it must be confirmed by clicking the mouse pointer on the message box along the bottom of the screen. @ENDNODE @NODE exit @TOC gadgets This will exit the program. Any changes you have not saved will be lost. You must confirm EXIT by also clicking the mouse pointer on the message box along the bottom of the screen. @ENDNODE @NODE dblx @TOC gadgets This will Double the width of the left hand side of the current character so it fills the whole grid. Any dots on the right half will be lost. A test will be done first to see if dots will be lost and if this is the case, you will be asked to confirm the operation first. @ENDNODE @NODE dbly @TOC gadgets This will Double the height of the top half of the current character so it fills the whole grid. Any dots on the bottom half will be lost. A test will be done first to see if dots will be lost and if this is the case, you will be asked to confirm the operation first. @ENDNODE @NODE test "Test Font" @TOC gadgets This button will download the current font to your printer and then print the character set out for you, followed by a bit of text. When using this make sure your printer is set up properly as if it isn't the program will freeze up. As soon as you set your printer up properly it will unfreeze and carry on printing. This is an unavoidable problem due to the fact I have to use the parallel port directly to download the font, and thus I don't get the printer device's errors back if the printer doesn't respond. @ENDNODE @NODE cols "Edit Colours" @TOC gadgets This function will allow you to edit the screen colours. Once you have set the screen colours to your own preferences you may save them as the default colours. The default colours are shared by both the draft and nlq versions of the font editor, they are stored in the file `S:LC10-ED.COLS'. @ENDNODE @NODE ascender "Ascender/Descender" @TOC instr This button will toggle between two states. It indicates whether the current character is an ascender or a descender. If a character is an ascender then it will be printed normally on the line. If a character is a descender then it will be printed two pixels lower than usual. The main use of this function is for characters such as 'g' or 'y', it gives you those extra dots under the line for their tails, obviously two dots aren't enough, but they're handy if your designing a large font. @ENDNODE @NODE help "Help Mode On/Off" @TOC gadgets This button will toggle help mode on and off. When help mode is on none of the gadgets will have any effect, instead clicking on them will bring up a description of what that gadget does. @ENDNODE @NODE info "Information" @TOC gadgets This button brings up a screen of information about the font editor @ENDNODE @NODE fonts "Using the fonts" @TOC main Once you have defined a font for your printer you will want to use it. The font file the LC10 Font Editor saves out is in a format ready to be downloaded to your printer. All you need to do is simply copy the font file to the PAR: device. (or SER: if you have attached your LC10 to the serial port somehow) EG: COPY SYS:LC10-FONTS/BOLD.NLQ PAR: You should always copy the font files to the PAR: or SER: device. Never send them to the PRT: device. Data sent to the PRT: device will be changed by your printer driver before it is sent on to the PAR: or SER: device. @ENDNODE