4.0966 Fonts: Mac Postscript to IBM Postscript (1/111)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Thu, 31 Jan 91 16:26:47 EST
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 4, No. 0966. Thursday, 31 Jan 1991.
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 91 10:34:27 MST
From: koontz@alpha.bldr.nist.gov (John E. Koontz)
Subject: Converting Mac Postscript to IBM Postscript
This procedure may be of general interest, given that some types of
exotic symbol sets are often available only in Mac Postscript fonts.
From: asmith@questor.wimsey.bc.ca (Adam Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.fonts
Subject: Re: MAC to IBM
Message-ID: <yBuJw2w164w@questor.wimsey.bc.ca>
Date: 29 Jan 91 19:53:33 GMT
References: <91027.150939TAMIL@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
Organization: Questor: Internet/Usenet in Vancouver, BC ==> +1 604 681.0670
Lines: 95
Instructions for converting PostScript-tm fonts
from Macintosh format to IBM format.
These instructions have been tested to a limited degree. They have so
far proved to be entirely successful, but unexpected results may occur.
While I see no possible reason to fear damage as a result of using the
method described, there is no guarantee. Any persons following these
instructions do so at their own risk.
Please also note that this proceure is a legal grey area. When you buy a
PostScript-tm font from a digital font foundry or supplier, the
registration that you make with the supplier is, in most situations, a
license to make use of the font, not right of ownership. An employee of
Adobe Systems has unofficially informed me that for the time being,
they have no qualms about individual users preparing fonts for there own
computer platforms with the condition that the copyright information
listed in the file header remain intact. Please keep abreast of the
future developments in this area and be sure that you honour the spirit,
if not indeed the letter of your rights and responsibilities as a
licensed user.
Procedures:
For the purposes of these instructions, a fictitious PostScript-tm font
named "Transpo", will be converted from it's Macintosh format to IBM
format. The family consists of:
mac ---> IBM
Transpo Roman TransRom TRA_____.PFB
1. On the Mac, collect the printer font and the AFM (font metrics) file
for the font and place them in a folder.
2. Start UnAdobe from the Finder. The first dialogue box asks you to
locate the printer font to be converted. Select "TransRom". The second
dialogue box asks you for the name to save the font as. It is
recommended that you name the font according to Adobe's (or the font
manufacturer's) IBM font-naming convention--in this case "TRA_____.PFB".
3. UnAdobe will convert the font and place the new font in the same
folder as the original. Quit UnAdobe.
4. Begin MicroSoft Word on the Mac. (This will probably work with any
word processor, it has only been tested with Word). Open the UnAdobe'd
font. You will see a number of lines of readable PostScript-tm code,
followed by a long section of machine code with no spaces anywhere in
it. The last line of the file should be readable PosScript-tm code
again. Select all of the machine code, from the beginning of the line at
the first line, to the end of the line prior to the last (readable)
line. Bring up the search and replace function (command-h) and set to
remove all carriage returns ("find" field should read "^p" - "replace
with" field should be empty). Select "Change All".
5. Save the file as "Text Only".
6. Quit Word.
7. Copy the new, modified UnAdobe font and the AFM file to a DOS disk
using the Apple File Exchange (normal translation). The AFM file should
carry the same name as the new printer font, but with an ".AFM"
extension instead of ".PFB". TOPS networks will probably work for
transfering files, as well as other methods, but have not been tested.
8. Copy the files to your IBM hard disk.
The font now on your IBM should now work with downloaders, allowing it
to be placed into a printer's virtual mempry and accessed by
applications. To use the font with Windows and/or ATM for Windows, it
will have to be converted with the WFNBOSS utility provided free with
Corel Draw ver2.0.
ATM and MS Windows require a font metrics file to access a font, either
resident in the printer's VM, or be downloaded at the time of printing.
If you already have a .PFM file for the font, it can be used and will
access the font correctly. Using an original .PFM file and a converted
printer font file with ATM may or may not display correctly.
To create a .PFM file for the converted font:
1. Place the .AFM and .PFB file brought over from the Mac into the same
directory.
2. Start the WFNBOSS utility, select "Adobe Type 1" as the source
format and change the source directory to the directory containing the
.AFM and .PFB files. The font should appear in the font listing window.
3. Convert the font into a Corel Draw .WFN file as per Corel's
instructions. (Incidently, the new font just created will appear in the
Corel Draw program.)
4. Change the source file type to "WFN to Adobe Type 1" and the source
directory to the Corel Draw directory (assuming this is where the .WFN
font outlines where placed in the previous action).
5. Convert the font. (Again, as per Corel's instructions--Corel Draw
provides a clear instruction manual that should cover anything that
occurs outside of the limited descriptions here.)
6. In the Corel directory will be a .PFB and a .PFM file that can be
installed using ATM for Windows and will display and print correctly.
(As well as a new .AFM file)
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Adam Smith Graphic Artist - Bad Mood Guy -> REFUSE TO FIGHT!
The Chameleon Papers Vancouver, BC CANADA
"Just when you thought it was safe to admit you're a human being..."
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