


                            softJET II - version 2.3

                 Copyright (c) 1990,91,92,93 by Wesley Steiner.

                                 Wesley Steiner
                                     Box 180
                                 Peachland, B.C.
                                 CANADA  V0H 1X0

                                 (604) 767-2846
                                 CIS:[71652,275]

        INTRODUCTION
        ============

        softJET II is a software simulator of the popular Hewlett Packard
        LaserJet printer that will display any LaserJet compatible PCL
        (Printer Command Language) output file on your screen for
        previewing.

        Some of the features of softJET II include:

            o Fast screen preview of any (portrait format) HP compatible
            PCL output file.

            o Two page previewing modes; Draft and Zoom. The draft mode
            lets you quickly see the entire page at once. The zoom mode
            offers multiple levels of magnification for a more detailed
            preview.

            o Full spacing support for many of the popular HP font
            cartridges.

            o Page Up and Page Down through the output.

            o Goto any page of the output.

            o Measure the position of output on a page.

            o Preview with any HP compatible soft fonts.

            o Download soft fonts to the printer.

        What You Will Need
        ------------------

        softJET II will run on an IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/2 or PC compatible
        computer with:

            o PC DOS 2.x or greater,

            o at least 256K of Random Access Memory (RAM),

            o at least one 360K disk drive (a hard disk or large RAM disk
            area is recommended) and

            o a graphics card.




        FILES ON THE DISTRIBUTION DISK
        ==============================

        The following is a short description of the files included on the
        softJET II distribution disk.

              README     - This file.
                DEMO.BAT - Demonstration procedure.
              PRTDOC.BAT - Prints User Manual on printer.
                 DOC.EXE - Self-Extracting User Manual file.
                  SJ.EXE - The main softJET program.
               SF2SJ.EXE - Convert HP soft fonts to softJET format.
                 SFM.EXE - Manage converted soft fonts.
                0???.IMG - Internal font image files.
               CARTF.DAT - F cartridge font metrix (spacing) data.
                F???.IMG - F cartridge font image files.
               ORDER.PCL - Donation/Order form.
               BLURB.PCL - F cartridge sample output.
            PROBLEMS.FRM - Problem report form.
              PRNDSK.COM - Printer capture utility.
              PRNDSK.DOC - Documentation for PRNDSK.COM.

        INSTALLATION
        ============

        The softJET II disk is NOT copy protected, therefore to make a
        working copy insert the softJET II disk in your A: drive (Note:
        These examples assume your floppy disk is the A: drive. You can
        use your B: drive but remember to replace "A:" by "B:" in the
        following examples) and entering:

            COPY A:\*.* <target>

        where <target> is the 'target' or 'destination' directory for the
        softJET files.

        For example if you have a hard disk you will want to copy the
        files on the softJET master disk into a subdirectory on your hard
        disk. First you must create a subdirectory with a suitable name
        like "SJ" with the command:

            MD C:\SJ

        then copy the files into that subdirectory with the command:

            COPY A:\*.* C:\SJ

        To copy softJET onto another floppy disk insert the softJET
        master disk in the A: drive and a blank formatted disk in the B:
        drive and enter the command:

            COPY A:\*.* B:

        When you have created your working copy, either on another floppy
        disk or into a subdirectory on a hard disk, you can store the
        original softJET master disk in a safe place.

        DEMONSTRATION
        =============

        Once you have installed softJET successfully you can run the
        demonstration by entering:

            DEMO

        Follow the instructions given on screen.

        PRINTING THE DOCUMENTATION
        ==========================

        The softJET disk includes a complete copy of the softJET User
        Manual in the file "DOC.EXE" formatted for any HP compatible
        LaserJet printer on standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. This file is in
        a 'Self Extracting Compressed' format and must be uncompressed
        before it can be printed.

        To print a copy of the documentation make sure your LaserJet
        printer is ready, move to your softJET directory and enter the
        command:

            PRTDOC

        This will automatically uncompress the documentation file to your
        printer connected to the 'PRN' device.

        If your printer is connected to a line printer (LPT:) other than
        port #1 then enter the command:

            PRTDOC <n>

        where <n> is the port number 1, 2 etc.

        If your printer is connected to a serial communications port
        (COM:) then enter the command:

            PRTDOC C <n>

        where <n> is the COM: port number 1, 2 etc.

        Alternatively you can uncompress the documentation file yourself
        by entering:

            DOC

        This will 'extract' the documentation file DOC.PCL into your
        current directory. Note that you must have at least 300K of
        available disk space to extract the documentation file.

        You can then preview the file with softJET by entering:

            SJ DOC.PCL

        or you can print a copy of it by entering:

            COPY/B DOC.PCL PRN

        WHAT'S NEW
        ==========

        Changes Since Version 2.3B
        --------------------------

            Fixed a bug in the SF2SJ program that wouldn't convert soft
            fonts. The program says it converted them but it actually
            didn't.

        Changes Since Version 2.3A
        --------------------------

            Added support for the Series II Select Paper Size command
            ^&l#A.

        Changes Since Version 2.2
        -------------------------

            The Enter key replaces the F1 key for switching between the
            Zoom and Draft modes. The F1 key still functions as before
            for compatibility.

            Now starts up in the zoom mode instead of draft mode.

            The Esc key is now used to exit the application instead of
            the slash '/' key.

            The -SF parameter (# of soft fonts) is no longer necessary.

            The -CB parameter (Cartridge Buffer size) is no longer
            necessary. The default cartridge buffer is big enough to hold
            any available cartridge up to 64K.

            The -MB parameter (Macro Buffer) to allocate RAM space for
            storing PCL macros is no longer necessary. Macros are now
            saved to disk files on the softJET work drive.

            The -IB parameter (Image Buffer) is no longer necessary. The
            image buffer is as big as the memory it can find up to 64K.

        PRINT TO DISK UTILITY
        =====================

        PRNDSK.COM allows any application to redirect printer output to a
        disk file. While most applications have this capability some do
        not and therefore this utility is provided as a convienience to
        softJET users.

        NOTE! The PRNDSK program is a Freeware(tm) product. THETASOFT
        ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBLITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE USE OF
        THIS PROGRAM. SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
        