BackLoader 2 - Automatic Font Handler Copyright 1990 David Batterson Since more and more people use laser printers, they soon find themselves downloading fonts to their HP LaserJet/DeskJet (and compatibles). This can be a tedious task, and many users don't like doing it at all. There are some public domain and shareware programs which help out. Now there's a sophisticated commercial program to do the job for you. It's called BackLoader 2. This is an update to BackLoader 1, released back in October '88. BackLoader 2 has also been updated, since its original release in June '89. BackLoader 2 is a memory-resident program which manages hundreds of fonts and downloads them to your printer as needed. It does away with manual downloading, and thus speeds up your document printing. The download speed is a zippy 25,000 to 50,000 bps. By the way, the software publisher is no slouch when it comes to word processing and font handling. The company is called ROXXOLID [pronounced "rock solid"], and was founded by the principal author of WordStar 4 and 5. BackLoader 2 is designed both for PC novices and experts. That is, it'll work just fine after doing the General configuration. As newcomers gain more experience, they'll want to run the Advanced configuration. The program works with WordPerfect, WordStar, Microsoft Word, MultiMate, Ventura Publisher, Aldus PageMaker, Borland Sprint, PFS:First Publisher, XyWrite, Q&A Write, and most other word processing and DTP software. It works with most soft fonts, including Bitstream, Conographic, HP, SoftCraft, MicroLogic, and many others. You may also use it with "laser-dumb" applications like Lotus 1-2-3 or dBASE, by inserting two-character Control Tags. These are converted to printer instructions by BackLoader 2, letting you use any fonts you want. BackLoader 2 also has the ability to observe your software application's printing, and recall what fonts have already been downloaded to your printer. So if there's a font change, it won't be downloaded again if it's already resident. After running BKL.COM (or the small-memory version, SBKL.COM), the opening screen displays useful information, such as printer type, port, hot key, memory usage, number of soft fonts on your hard disk, and so forth. Pressing B displays the pop-up screen, where you'll see all your fonts described, as well as total fonts and printer memory. There are also markers in the left border. These markers indicate the status, such as "currently loaded in the printer," or "font that's downloading now." The small-memory version of BackLoader saves memory, but should also be used with graphics-based applications like Ventura and PageMaker. That's because BackLoader 2 cannot display the pop-up screen with these. BackLoader 2 requires 384K RAM minimum, with 32K used while it is resident, a hard disk, and DOS 2.0 or higher. Just remember to change your AUTOEXEC.BAT file if it contains any commands for downloading. You must also indicate in your word processing/DTP software that you DON'T want fonts downloaded. For instance, in PFS:First Publisher, when it asks if you want to download fonts, you answer "N" since it's now being handled transparently by BackLoader 2. NOTE: BackLoader 2 is not effective with programs such as Publish It! or Finesse. ROXXOLID's tech support person indicated that these two GEM-based applications don't download fonts, but instead create proprietary bit-mapped fonts (which are in graphics mode). The suggested list price is $89. You may buy it from a dealer or direct from ROXXOLID Corporation, 3345 Vincent Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4318; 800-336-7699, 415-256-0105, FAX: 415-256-9053. # David Batterson does lots of writing and laser printing. Contact him via MCI Mail: 273-7218.