
                                   README.TXT
                        
AFTER YOU READ THE REST OF THIS FILE ---- PLEASE VIEW/PRINT MANUAL.TXT !!!


I.   I M P O R T A N T    N O T I C E

This README.TXT file is for:	

	*	FormView (Freeware, pre-approved distribution & no bundling)

	*	PCLTool Program ($95 credit towards SDK)

	*	PCLTool SDK ($495)

The Purpose of these programs:

	*	Convert HP PCL print files to view/print to non-PCL printers
	*	Save engineering time analyzing HP PCL print datastreams
	*	Show how HP PCL can be used as a portable document format.
	*	Show how HP PCL can be archived without scanning paper.
	*	Show how developers can capitalize on PCL's many advantages.

Each program is provided in a self-extracting Windows zip file.  During the
execution/unzipping of the .EXE, please direct the "Extract-To Path:" to 
C:\PCLTOOL\SETUP.  After the files are extracted in to the path provided,
please RUN the SETUP.EXE in that directory for installation of the programs.
	
To contact the author:	Page Technology Marketing, Inc. (PageTech)
			12370 Carmel Country Rd. #120
			San Diego, CA 92130
			(619) 794-6884
			info@pcltools.com  or  www.pcltools.com	

An overview of our product line is listed below.  All products come in
either 16-bit or 32-bit versions. 

      PCLTool SDK (PT2) - The superset of all product features in SDK form.
      =================

	PCLTool SDK is our flagship product for software developers.  The 
	PCLTool Program ($95) and FormView Program (freeware) are both
	limited functionality versions of the PCLTool sample program that
	is included in the SDK to show how each the API to each function
	in the .DLL SDK can be used in an application program.

        Includes:  Batch Conversion Utility - PCLCVT (PCLCVT32)
                   Batch Printing Utility - PCLPTR (PCLPTR32)
                   Letter Gothic Fonts
                   Univers Condensed Fonts

     PCLTool Program (PT1) - Limited version of PCLTool SDK sample program
     =====================

	PCLTool program can be used as a developers utility for PCL file
	analysis, low volume conversions and for testing HP PCL
	compatibility and conversions prior to purchasing the PCLTool
	SDK.  The following is a list of limitations compared to the SDK:

                   Batch Conversion Utility (PCLCVT) - not included.
		   Batch Printing Utility (PCLPTR) - not included.
		   Sample VB programs - not included.
    		   Limits viewing to the first 100 pages of PCL files.
     	     	   Limits printing to the first 50 pages of PCL files.
          	   Limits conversions to the first 50 pages of PCL file.
          	   Limits support for index, log and map file management.
          	   Files and Paths or Warnings Preference dialogs not in GUI.
          	   Tax, Ltr Gothic & Univers Cond. fonts (Web Downloaded)

     FormView (PT0) - Limited freeware version of PCLTool Program.
     ==============

	FormView program can be used as a developers utility for PCL file
	analysis and for testing HP PCL compatibility and conversions 
	prior to purchasing the PCLTool Program or PCLTool SDK.  The
	following is a list of limitations compared to PCLTool Program:
	
    	      	   Limits viewing to the first 50 pages of PCL files.
    	      	   Limits printing to the first 10 pages of PCL files.
          	   Limits support for index, log and map file management.
          	   Files and Paths or Warnings Preference dialogs not in GUI.
          	   Does not convert PCL into file formats.
          	   Does not read the font subsititution map file.
          	   Forces the conversion of downloaded 300 dpi bitmap fonts.
		   Includes the Tax "T" Cartridge fonts for Tax Form Viewing 
          	   Ltr Gothic & Univers Cond. fonts (Web Downloaded)

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

II.  G E N E R A L  F A Q 's

Steps for a successful demo:

    Install the program (ALWAYS UNINSTAL previous vers. & EXIT WINDOWS)
                         =============================================

        1 - "Convert" sample PCL to PCX format. (DO NOT "VIEW PCL", yet!)

        2 - "View Image" the sample PCX files converted.
             If you do not get an exact match of the printer output:
                Check your .LOG file for error messages.
                Run PCLCODES to see what the PCL is looking for.
                Make sure all your preferences are set properly.
                Try again.  

        3 - "Convert" sample PCL to PMF vector format. 

        4 - "View Image" the sample PMF vector files converted.
             If you do not get an exact match of the printer output:
                Check your .LOG file for error messages.
                Run PCLCODES to see what the PCL is looking for.
                Make sure all your preferences are set properly.
                Try again.  

        5 - Repeat steps 1-4 with your PCL files.  They must be able to be
            printed using the "copy filename.pcl /b prn" command.  If you
            can't get the desired results, send us the zipped PCL file.

        6 - Before you do a "VIEW PCL", you must go to "SEARCH" and run
            a "Low-Level Index" on the file(s) you are going to 'view'.
            Once indexed, "VIEW PCL" the file in both bitmap and vector
            formats.
           
        If we can ascertain that we can convert your PCL properly, the
        rest of the evaluation is optional depending on what features
        you will require for your application.  

     PLEASE DO NOT WRITE CODE BEFORE YOU ARE SURE THAT THE PCLTOOL
          PROGRAM CAN CORRECTLY CONVERT AND VIEW YOUR PCL FILE.

     All Versions output proprietary .WMF Files with a .PMF extension 
          which can only be opened by the viewer in our program.  Only our
          custom license versions will convert directly to .WMF.

     The Univers Condensed and Letter Gothic fonts are not included.  You 
          must download them from the website, if you find that you need 
          them to process your PCL files.

     ALWAYS LOW-LEVEL INDEX A FILE BEFORE YOU "PCL VIEW" IT!

  Read the icon-launchable APPLICATION Notes covering the following topics:

      *   How to set-up an View PCL, generate an Index by Location and port
              to a CDROM for archiving the PCL with a pre-generated index.

      *   How to use PCLTool with the ACORD Insurance Industry Forms.

      *   How to set-up PCLTool for PCL using "T" Cart. Tax Fonts.

      *   How to set-up PCLTool for PCL forms from Bankers Systems, Inc.
 
      *   How to set-up PCLTool for PCL forms from VMP.

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

III.   R E L E A S E  N O T E  V4.53 (4/19/98)

PCLTools is the type of utility that will be in a constant state of 
development.  Almost every licensee has a unique problem to solve that
often requires adding new features or additional emulation support.  So
as, to let you know the direction that we have planned for the product,
a list of planned enhancements is provided.


What's New From PCLTool SDK V4.5 to PCLTool SDK V4.53 
-----------------------------------------------------

If you purchased V4.5 you are entitled to a FREE UPGRADE, if you have a 
signed license agreement on file!

Changes made that affect ALL VERSIONS (FormView, PCLTool and PCLTool SDK) -

Date	16/32bit	Description of Change
===========================================================================
12/20	16/32	Added logic to check for "Auto Low-Level Indexing
 		Prior to PCL View" when executed from the C-L
12/30	16/32	WINFMOVE - Removed a bug that replaced "#" demo code.
02/01	16/32	Added code to not GPF on PCL5e for download .TTF's
02/01	16/32	Fixed error when "Too Many Fonts" were found. (CPI)
02/01	16/32	Fixed error when an unusual sequence of RLE raster data
 		escapes was found.(GROUPE BULL)
03/03	32	Fixed problem with generation of .hix/.pix files (WTS)
03/03	16/32	Added pclEditDefault export function to convert .dll
03/03	16/32	Fix to handle small HMI movements in tax forms (HALL)
04/16	16/32	Added REGEDIT entries to associate with .PCL extension
04/16	16/32	Fixed FastPrint to send "all" pgs. directly to printer
		without indexing & extracting each page 
04/16	16/32	Added executions of "delete \fonts\temp*.sfp" upon 
		program entry/exit to clean-up temporary fonts (TV). 
04/16	32	Improved use of .TMP files in indexing routines.
04/16	16/32	Updated CPRINTER.DAT file with A3 paper size support.
14/16	16/32	Added TermsDisplayed parameter to PCLTool/PCLT32.INI 

PCLTool SDK (PT2)
===========================================================================
1/11	32	Fixed bug in .PIX generation logic (HALL)
1/11	16/32	source code update (all copies of .H files updated)
02/25	32	Added code to detect if fax driver was the default	
03/03	16/32	Added WMF format output for Wincore fonts only
03/01	32	Added PCLTWRAP.DLL with source for VBDEMO.EXE
03/03	32	Added VB sample pgm.(VBDEMO.EXE) to use PCLTWRAP.DLL
03/03	32	Added C code to test for whether Fax Driver is default.
03/14	32	Added VBDEMO2.EXE with source for PCL2TIFF sample code.
03/22	32	Updated VBDEMO
03/25	16/32	Added missing ONEINCH.H and Calib. Value Formula
04/17	16/32	Update Programmer's Guide (PTPG.DOC)

PCLTool Program (PT1)
===========================================================================
03/03	16/32	Added WMF format output for Wincore fonts only
	 
FormView (PT0)
===========================================================================
Only those changes that affect all versions.

PCLPTR/32
===========================================================================
Several changes in PTCNVRT.DLL(PTC32.DLL) enhance this program.
04/16	16/32	Re-compiled

PCLTWRAP.DLL
===========================================================================
03/20	32		Bug fix

VBDEMO.EXE, VBDEMO2.EXE, PCLTOOL.PAS and PPDEMO.EXE
===========================================================================
Added to SDK

IN THE WORKS:
-------------

PCL2TX/32 (Formerly known as SHOWPIX)
===========================================================================
Adding modifications for custom data extraction applications

SFT2FF1.DLL
===========================================================================
In Beta - On-the-fly download PCLETTO (.SFT) to FastFont (.FF1) converter 
for TrueType typefaces downloaded "as outlines".


A special thanks to the following clients that have contributed directly or
indirectly to portions of the V4.53 release:

Brad Stowers, Key Communications	-	Several bug fixes
John Glover, Rock Creek Tech.		-	Several bug fixes
Andy Ross, Pipeline Solutions		- 	Clipper sample program
John Hamm, Tempus Software		-	Delphi (32-bit) sample code
Ken Levin, Amplexus Software		-	VB (32-bit) sample program
_______________________________________________________________________
End of README.TXT
