++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  +   SilkFont 2.02, a system font manager for Atari computers   +
  +         FREEWARE Copyright (c) 1996 by Mark Slagell          +
  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


 Purpose
 =======

SilkFont allows you to change your Atari's built-in monospaced system
fonts, thus customizing the look of the desktop and all applications,
not just those that use GDOS.  SilkFont itself does not require GDOS.

Users of NVDI and Warp 9 already have the ability to change system
fonts, and so do not need SilkFont.  Those who use Turbo ST, or no
graphics accelerator, may find it useful.

Two font formats are supported by SilkFont:
  1: Degas / Warp 9 font files in 8x8 and 8x16 sizes, and 
  2: GDOS fonts that are monospaced and contain a full character set.


 Installing SilkFont
 ===================

1. Copy SILKFONT.PRG to your AUTO folder.  Order of execution may be
important; see compatibility notes below.

2. If you use Atari's extended control panel (XCONTROL), copy
SILKFONT.CPX to the folder containing the other panel extentions.

  (SILKFONT.APP is included for those who do not use XCONTROL.  It
  runs from the desktop and works just like the CPX, with these
  additional capabilities: it is installable as the default
  application for .FNT files so you can load fonts instantly by
  double-clicking them from the desktop, and it can be renamed
  SILKFONT.ACC and used as an accessory if desired.)

3. Reboot.

4. Using the CPX (or APP/ACC as described above), load the fonts of
your choice, then "Save defaults".


 Compatibility notes
 ===================

SilkFont gets along with nearly everything, so long as some attention
is given to the order of installation.  In general, it should install
late in the AUTO folder, after anything that makes a major system
change.  Two examples of programs that should run before SILKFONT.PRG
are GENEVA.PRG and the mono emulator SEBRA.PRG.

Turbo ST is an exception to the above rule.  Since Turbo ST makes its
own copies of the system fonts it finds upon installation,
SILKFONT.PRG needs to run before TRBOMONO.PRG or TRBOCOLR.PRG.  (This
is not a concern if you use Turbo ST as an accessory, since
accessories load only after all AUTO programs have run.)

Some specialized device drivers render SilkFont ineffective because
their display routines do not use the system fonts at all.  You might
still want to experiment with the order of installation if this
appears to be happening, in case the driver is making and using
copies of system fonts as Turbo ST does.

If you use Turbo ST as an AUTO program, all newly loaded fonts take
effect only after you save defaults and reboot.

If you use Turbo ST as an accessory, disable acceleration temporarily
when loading new fonts.  You will be able to see the effects of all
font changes immediately, and Turbo ST will adopt those fonts when you
re-enable acceleration.


 About Degas / Warp 9 fonts
 ==========================

Since Degas and Warp 9 font files contain raw data with no identifying
header, they are detected by length as follows:  A file with length
4096 or 4098 bytes is loaded as a Warp 9 font; one with length 2048 or
2050 bytes is loaded as a Degas font, overwriting just the bottom half
of the character set.  Any other length causes a file to be tested for
GDOS validity, then loaded or rejected as appropriate.

A Degas or Warp 9 font file can generally be interpreted as containing
8x8 or 8x16 data.  SilkFont ignores the flag at the end of the file,
and decides on the best size by sampling a few uppercase characters
and counting doubled scanlines.

When an empty or missing character is encountered in a Warp 9 font,
SilkFont preserves the character from the previous font.


 A little glitch
 ===============

A font newly loaded from the accessory or CPX may not appear
immediately in the menu bar, or fonts may be superimposed; this
occurs because accessories do not have direct access to the menu bar. 
The situation is always corrected the next time a new menu bar is
displayed, typically during task switching.  But when run from the
desktop, SILKFONT.APP resets the menu bar on exit.


 Parting words
 =============

Thanks to Steve Kaleita for beta testing.

SilkFont version 2.02 is freeware.  Use it at your own risk; I accept
no responsibility for the results of its use or misuse.  Please direct
reports of bugs or incompatibilities, or other comments, to the email
address below.

  Mark Slagell
  m.slagell@genie.com