What is USFNTFIX and what does it do?

USFNTFIX stands for; UltraScript FoNT FIXer.

For those of you who have UltraScript for your Atari ST computer system 
you may have wondered how to make better use of it.

Some software, such as; Timeworks Desktop Publisher, WordUp, Wordflair, 
and others, use GDOS to generate their printed output.  In many 
instances UltraScript produces a nicer and cleaner output than does 
GDOS.  Well then if, this is the case then how can one use UltraScript 
to print?  Supplied with the UltraScript disks is a GDOS-to-PostScript 
driver.  You must physically rearrange your ASSIGN.SYS file and re-boot, 
switch to the appropriate ASSIGN.SYS on boot-up; if you're using a "Boot 
Manager", or reassign ASSIGN.SYS files; if you're using G+PLUS.  Then, 
rather than output coming from your printer; a file "PUBLISH.PS" is 
generated in the directory in which your software is located.  This file 
must then be printed using the UltraScript program.

Here is where the need for USFNTFIX comes.  Supplied with the normal 
UltraScript package are the 'Lucida' family of fonts and a simple 
Courier font with no associated attributes (ie; italics or bold).  Most 
GDOS software uses the standard Atari fonts (Dutch, Swiss & Typewriter).  
The GDOS-to-PostScript driver performs the following conversion:

          Dutch       ==>     Times-Roman
          Swiss       ==>     Helvetica
          Typewriter  ==>     Courier

Like I said the base UltraScript package only comes with 'Lucida' fonts 
and a simple Courier font.  So, when UltraScript goes to print it cannot 
find Times-Roman or Helvetica and then goes and defaults to Courier and 
all text font attributes are ignored!  The good news is that the 
'Lucida' fonts fairly closely match the above mentioned fonts, as 
follows;

          Times-Roman    ==>  Lucida
          Helvetica      ==>  LucidaSans
          Courier        ==>  LucidaSans-Typewriter

Actually, the LucidaSans-Typewriter is not a very close match to 
Courier, but using it does allow text font attributes to be used.

In order to take advantage of these little-known facts, it is necessary 
to edit the PUBLISH.PS file and do the following replacements:

          Courier                  ==>  LucidaSans-Typewriter
          Courier-Bold             ==>  LucidaSans-TypewriterBold
          Courier-Oblique          ==>  LucidaSans-TypewriterOblique
          Courier-BoldOblique      ==>  LucidaSans-TypewriterBoldOblique
          Helvetica                ==>  LucidaSans
          Helvetica-Bold           ==>  LucidaSans-Bold
          Helvetica-Oblique        ==>  LucidaSans-Italic
          Helvetica-BoldOblique    ==>  LucidaSans-Bolditalic
          Times-Roman              ==>  Lucida
          Times-Bold               ==>  Lucida-Bold
          Times-Italic             ==>  Lucida-Italic
          Times-BoldItalic         ==>  Lucida-BoldItalic

If you followed this, you may have inferred that the 12 conversions can 
be a tedious task and is often prone to error.  USFNTFIX does these 
conversions; greatly simplifying the process.


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Running the program is very simple:

1)   Run it from the desktop (double-click its icon).

2)   At the first dialog box you may immediately proceed by clicking on 
     "OK" or pressing the RETURN key.

     You may abort and return to the desktop with no action taken by 
     clicking on "CANCEL".

     Clicking on "HELP" will simply display a reminder of what USFNTFIX 
     is about to do.  Click on "OK" or press the RETURN key to proceed.

3)   A file selector dialog box will appear.  Select an input file to be 
     converted or click on "CANCEL" to abort and return to the desktop.

4)   A second file selector dialog box will appear.  Select an output 
     file to be converted or click on "CANCEL" to abort and return to 
     the desktop.  You may select the same file as that selected for 
     input (this file name will be automatically supplied for you), in 
     which case it WILL be over-written.  You may also select any other 
     file name (by editing the file name selection line), thereby 
     preserving your original.

5)   After selecting an input and an output file, USFNTFIX will 
     immediately begin processing.  USFNTFIX will show you a dialog box 
     of each line it is processing, until it is finished.  When USFNTFIX 
     completes its conversion, it will automatically exit to the 
     desktop.


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I wrote USFNTFIX for my own personal needs and decided to release into 
the Public Domain.  As far as I have been able to determine, USFNTFIX 
does what has been just described with no adverse side-affects.  
However, I make no claims, promises or warranties.

USFNTFIX was developed using Personal Pascal, on a MEGA ST4 with a color 
monitor (medium resolution).