Express Publisher Version 2.0 Copyright 1991 David Batterson I've been recommending Publish It! to people for some time as a fine intermediate-level DTP program. It's very handy for producing newsletters, brochures, fliers and so forth. After looking at Express Publisher 2.0, I now recommend it instead, and I'm awarding it 5 stars too (Publish It! earned 4). Let's see why. Express Publisher 2.0 has taken all the basic DTP commands and tools, and refined them greatly. For instance, you draw a text frame and then start entering text immediately. You don't have to select the text frame with the pointer first, as with some programs. Slick! There are useful display options. You may turn off the display of actual fonts and/or bitmap images. This speeds up the program, and uses less memory. You may opt to display images in high resolution, rather than the default low resolution used by Express Publisher 2.0. Other programs duplicate objects, but here you'll find the Duplicate Many command. This lets you make multiple copies automatically, in rows, columns, page "fill" or customized. Two special tools let you align objects, or make two objects equal size. The programmers have added TextEffects too. This lets you put text in a curve or along an angled line. You can increase/decrease in size from one text character to the next. Text can be filled with a pattern or made transparent (so that a graphic can show through). You can select multiple objects (not just one) by holding down the key. Then cut, copy, move or paste all objects. When you use the page Zoom In/Out commands, you retain all editing features in any page size. The program uses Agfa Compugraphic Intellifont Scalable Typefaces. These fonts are scalable from 6 to 144 points. Since they are created "on the fly," documents print much faster than using bitmap fonts (as in Publish It!). The fonts include Times, Triumvirate, Univers, Bodoni Bold, Cooper Black, Futura Bold II, Garamond Antiqua and Microstyle Bold Extended. Express Publisher 2.0 supports your printer's resident fonts too. These don't display; the program instead substitutes equal-size screen fonts. If you wish, you can use Bitstream, HP and MicroLogic More soft fonts with the included SOFTFONT utility. This will add such fonts to Express Publisher's laser printer drivers. There are over 70 extended characters (boxes, copyright symbol, etc.), but you don't select these with and numeric keypad. Instead, you press , followed by a key listed in a chart. Express Publisher 2.0 is not a Windows application but it will run under Windows. You have to install the EP.PIF file, and add the Program Item to the Windows Program Manager. Express Publisher 2.0 can import graphics files of many types: .PCX, .TIF (b&w only), .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), .MAC, .IMG, .NAM (Print Shop), .GIF (CompuServe Graphics Interchange Format), and .ART (PFS:First Publisher). Using the included conversion utility (CGM2TIF), you can convert .CGM (Harvard Graphics, etc.) files to .TIF. Numbering pages has a smart feature. When you add/remove a page, the page numbers are corrected instantly. Besides numbers, you can use uppercase Roman, lowercase Roman, uppercase/lowercase letters, or English (one, two, etc.). I want to add a word about the well-written user manual. It contains plenty of helpful screen shots and illustrations, and is clear and concise. Express Publisher 2.0 requires 640K, graphics adapter, mouse, DOS 3.0 or higher, and a hard disk with at least 3MB of free space. You'll need about 2MB more to install all the clip art. The program uses extended or expanded (LIM EMS 4.0) memory automatically. The suggested retail price is $159.95, but I've seen it advertised by one mail order firm for $95. Registered users may upgrade to Ver. 2.0 for $34.95. For more information, contact Power Up Software Corp., 2929 Campus Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403; (415) 345-5900; 800-851-2917 (orders). # David Batterson is a business editor and tech writer. Send your comments via MCI Mail: 273-7218.