================================================================ USING ADOBE TYPE WITH PROFESSIONAL PAGE (etc.) ================================================================ Release 1.9 No thanks to certain companies who publish buggy software, and thanks to the demands of unimpressed users like yourself, I'm re-releasing my V1.9 screen font/AFM converter. First some major notes: 1) ConvertAFM and UnpackFNT are now re-written in C! Thanks to Matt Dillon's DICE (which I'll register for as soon as I get some donations!) I managed to write very clean and very FAST (!) versions of these programs. They are still command-line driven but are much nicer to use. 2) The other two programs come from other packages. ConvertFNT is really "Convert" from Rico Mariani's old MacFont package (Fred Fish #138). I use this because I couldn't do actual font conversions yet. Also, UnStuffIt is actually UnSIT V0.9 (No one ever wrote a good version if I recall) and this Macintosh un-archiver still has problems with RLE (pre-compressed) archives. To transfer .SIT archives to the Amiga, make sure when they're created that they have compression TURNED OFF! The file will be bigger, but it will unpack properly. 3) Based on scattered reports, Gold Disk's FONT MANAGER has some problems. I'm not sure what's wrong, but apparently you can convert a Type 1 typeface to CG Intellifont format (PPage format) and you can find it in CGFonts:, but it won't show up in PPage's typeface listing. If you have the same problems then find yourself some Macintosh screen fonts and convert them with this package. Stick your Type 1s in CGFonts:PS so PPage can download them upon printing. Also, FONT MANAGER cannot convert Type 1s generated from Corel's WFNBOSS. Corel's conversion routine skips EEXEC encryption and Font Manager requires this to work. To use these, stick them in CGFonts:PS as above, and steal :-) some Mac screen fonts. AFMs from WFNBOSS will work with ConvertAFM. Scatterd reports also suggest that Font Manager may have problems with some versions of .AFM files. If you can convert the Type 1s but cannot create .metrics with it, try ConvertAFM. You may have to edit the typeface name itself, but AFMs are just text files anyway. 4) You can obtain Mac screen fonts and Adobe AFMs from your local service bureau for free, providing you are using their equipment for printing, and their typeface masters. Call Adobe Systems (1-800-83-FONTS) for details. You can also purchase Macintosh screen fonts and AFMs from Adobe Systems without buying the typefaces themselves. Much cheaper. ============================================================= And now to the details. ============================================================= This package doesn't convert TYPEFACES, IE: Type 1 outlines. It converts screen fonts and .AFM files. This means you can display a font on the PPage screen and work with it, but to print in PostScript you need the typeface master either IN THE PRINTER, or in CGFonts:PS. If you keep to small point sizes this makes no real difference. At larger sizes you can see the real ugliness of screen fonts, BUT THE SPACING IS CORRECT because PPage gets spacing information from the .metric file. Also, if you can live with the ugliness, screen fonts run FASTER than outlines and when you print to PostScript it makes no difference anyway. The fonts and .metric files you create with this package work with most of Gold Disk's PostScript-related applications. These include Professional Page, Professional Calc, and PageSetter II. Other applications that conform to Gold Disk's .metric format will also work, including ProWrite 3.0 and up. Excellence! 2.0 won't work with these unless you convert the resulting .metric files with MSS's metric converter. This reverts the PPage .metric to the older PageSetter/LaserScript format, but renders it useless with PPage or other compatible applications. This package contains the following: 1) ConvertAFM: This creates .metric files based on .AFM, or Adobe Font Metric files. A .metric can contain information for up to four typeface styles (regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic) so you need to input four .AFM files or less. Re-written in C with source code included (I'm looking for criticisms as this is my first real C project.) 2) UnpackFNT: Empties the contents of a Macintosh resource file and separates any screen fonts from it. Resource files (also called "Suitcases") are created on the Macintosh using Font/DA Mover V3.8 and transfered to the Amiga using any way you can... Also in C with source code included. 3) ConvertFNT: Converts single font resources to Amiga screen fonts. To use this effectively with UnpackFNT, you need Workbench 1.3 or better and the command "SPAT". It writes directly to FONTS: so you may want to re-assign FONTS: if you don't have room for them. From Rico's MacFont (FF #138). 4) UnStuffIt: UnSIT V0.9. Used for unpacking Macintosh archives in .SIT format. When creating archives on the Macintosh, remember to disable compression to make unpacking easier. I forgot where it came from. Type "UnStuffIt" by itself to get the copyright info, etc. 5) ISOLatin1: A copy of the USA1 keymap that uses CTRL-ALT and CTRL-SHIFT-ALT to simulate the Macintosh keymap. Best used with Apple Standard or font specific encoded typefaces if you know the Macintosh keyboard equivelants. Created with SetKey 1.0 by CodeWorks. I'm not sure if it works in Workbench 2.0 but it works in 1.3. If you know a good keymap editor that works in WB 2.0 please tell me! Stick ConvertAFM, UnpackFNT, ConvertFNT, and UnStuffIt somewhere in your command path (C:, SYS:System, SYS:Utilities, whatever) to make usage easier. Put ISOLatin1 in DEVS:Keymaps. I provided an installation script to do this for you. The script requires IconX in C:. And that's that. I have better programs on the brainworks, namely a friendlier ConvertAFM with kerning pair editor, cleaner screen font converter, and a few other suprises. I'm not asking for money for this, but I won't mind donations. If you have problems, please mail me a disk with your problem files and I'll try to convert them for you. It's not easy to solve problems over the phone but I will try if you want. Here's the address: Gordon Fecyk Adobe Type Access Package P.O. Box 373 Oakville, Manitoba R0H 0Y0 Canada Phone: (204) 267-2617 Actually, if you really want to donate anything, I would really appreciate the Workbench 2.0 developer's kit or a registered version of DICE. These don't cost too much, but I'm a lonely student with no cash to spare. There are more instruction files on this package: 1) Converting Screen Fonts: Detailed steps on converting Macintosh screen fonts to use with Professional Page or any other Amiga program that uses screen fonts. 2) Creating .metric files: How to use ConvertAFM effectively, and how to organize .metric files to cover large typeface families. 3) File Transfer Help: Tips on bringing screen fonts and .AFMs to your Amiga disks, and instructions for UnSIT 0.9. 4) Using ISOLatin1: Using the Macintosh keymap with those unusual typefaces. 5) TypeTheory: A bit of insight in how Professional Page and company use .metric files and screen fonts to do their job. Required reading if you have unusually large typeface families you want to use. And there are yet other files: 1) AG??____.AFM and SYM_____.AFM: Some sample AFMs courtesy of Adobe Systems. Use these to test ConvertAFM and to compare other vendors' AFMs in case they won't work with ConvertAFM. In a directory called "SampleAFMs". 2) #?.c: Source code for UnpackFNT and ConvertAFM. In "SourceCode" directory. 3) TestingFonts.mbin: A Macintosh font suitcase with a handful of screen fonts. Test UnpackFNT and ConvertFNT with this. Courtesy of Adobe Systems. ================================================================ Copyright notices: "Apple", "Macintosh", "LaserWriter", and other related names are trademarks of Apple Computer, inc. Screen font formats are property of Apple Computer, inc. and details are available in the "Inside Macintosh" series by Addison-Wesley publications, and are available from Apple Computer, inc. and authorized dealers. No foolin! "PostScript", and any typeface names mentioned in these instructions are trademarks of Adobe Systems. The PostScript interpreter and .AFM format are property of Adobe Systems. PostScript and Typeface technical information are published by Addison-Wesley publications and available from Adobe Systems. Or try your local library; you'd be suprised! Professional Page is a product of Gold Disk, inc. and is subject to the copyright laws of your state or country. Piracy is a crime. So is keeping information from people who want to improve your software. :-) You hear me, Gold Disk? You're only hurting yourselves. The .metric file format is property of Gold Disk, inc. but I don't care if anyone else cracks it. :-) PageSetter/LaserScript and Professional Calc are also products of Gold Disk. CorelDRAW! and WFNBOSS are MS-DOS / OS/2 applications, and are products of Corel Systems. By the way, dear Corel Systems: FIX YOUR TYPE 1 CREATOR! ProWrite is a trademark and product of New Horizons software. Excellence! is a product of Micro-Systems Software. CrossDOS is a product of Consultron. Mac-2-DOS is a product of Central Coast Software. A-MAX II and File Transfer II are products of ReadySoft. My source code (ConvertAFM.c, UnpackFNT.c, and all non-standard #include files) is property of ME (Gordon Fecyk) and CANNOT be used in COMMERCIAL products, in whole or in part, without my permission. Distribution of this package is allowed freely if: 1) no charge is made for distribution (other than a nominal copying fee), 2) it is not distributed as part of a commercial package (ASK FIRST!), 3) all document files and installation script are included, 4) it is not distributed by commercial organizations. This means that user groups and Amiga retailers can distribute it but not companies like ZIPPERWARE! without my permission! Distribution by Fred Fish is permitted. All persons or companies who made programs I'm distributing in this package are free to write and complain if they don't like it. This is directed to Rico Mariani and Scott Evernden. I'll remove your programs (Convert and UnSIT) if you want, but I'd really appreciate you allowing me to distribute them. The Amiga is property of Commodore Business Machines, inc. and Commodore-Amiga Limited (Don't you wish it belonged to someone else? :-)