#Pagestream 2.0 & 1.3?
29 messages in this thread
I just got the Soft-Logik "upgrade to PageStream 2.0" offer in today's
mail. They list the memory requirements as 1 Meg and 2 floppies or a hard
drive, but there was no mention of OS requirement (at least I didn't see
one).
Does anyone know if it is supposed to run on either 1.3 or 2.0?
REC
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Bob, I have not gotten my ugrade offer yet. I'll have to Keep my eye on the
mail box!
I don't know about 2.0 but I did have a chance to try out 1.8 on a A2000
running WB2.0, and all seemed to work fine. So my guess would be that PgS
2.0 will run under both WB 1.3 and WB2.0 also.
-Paul-
They highlight the following features of PageStream 2.0:
Supports AGFA Compugraphic hinted outline fonts plus Adobe Type 1 IBM
Specify begin & end angles of arcs and rotate in 1/100 degree increments
Position and size any object to 1/100th of a point
Larger document sizes Bezier cubic curves
Load and save macros plus tags separate from documents
Save documents as templates
Print crop and registration marks to non-PostScript printers
Listed upgrade cost is $75
REC
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Thanks Bob. I was just on SL's bbs and I learned that If you were one of
those who got their free 1.8 upgrade and then sent in $25.00 for the full
manual and disk set, then your cost to upgrade to 2.0 will be reduced to
only $50.00! Boy I like this company's additude!
-Paul-
Talking of good attitudes, PacData is sending me an updated version of
their Postscript emulation cartridge for just shipping and handling because
the one I bought in March was out of date; their upgrade program had
already expired but their ci$ rep authorized it anyway. And if I'd bought
it earlier the upgrade would have cost $100 plus the s&h.
Ron
Bob, I've been looking for a wp program that would give me more postscript
capability then I have with Excellence!. I have the PacData IIP PS
emulation cartridge and I'll have the current version of that in a few
days, and its capable of handling downloaded type 1 fonts. Should I be
looking at PageStream 2? Could you tell me the cost and its main features?
Thanks!
Ron
Would if I could, but (alas) the only info I have is from the Soft-Logik
upgrade flyer. BTW, it is a real impressive piece of printing — not a
whipped up on a wordprocessor flyer — that compares favorably with the
kind of stuff that is common in the commercial ADP world.
The flyer says that PS 2.0 includes CS Times-Roman, CS Times-Bold,
CS-Times Italic, CS Times-Bold Italic, CS Triumvirate, and CS
Triumvirate-Bold that S-L has licensed from Compugraphic. It adds, "For
further typefaces, you can use any Amiga Compugraphic Intellifont package
or purchase an IBM typeface library and convert the files to Amiga format."
As I mentioned in a previous response, upgrade is $75 — I have no idea
what they are asking for a straight out purchase.
REC
——
I wish I knew how well it handles Adobe type 1 fonts or bit-stream fonts,
etc. But thanks! In the meantime, I'm upgrading my PacData cartridge to
the version that handles downloaded fonts.
Ron
Ron, Jumping in here, below is a message I downloaded from SL's BBS. Since
it contains information about Adobe fonts and PgS 2.0 I am posting it here.
Hope this helps.
Mike G, the answer is: YES. All you need to do to use the IBM Adobe fonts
is copy the .AFM and .PFB files to your font dir, then go to the font
manager and click on UPDATE after selecting the font dir. PGS will
download the font from the PFB file to the PostScript printer (they also
print nicely to dot matrix printers). Only problem is, the screen slows
down apreciably when using the Adobe outlines. Make sure they're Type 1 if
you want to see them on the screen. I believe Type 3 display the generic
font, as well as print unhinted.
When using the Adobe font, use the requester to select between weights,
rather than the menu. The menu got sort of confused with the family I
tried. -Paul-
Thanks, Paul. So Pagestream can dl fonts (I can use type 1 or bitstream
fonts with the PacData cartridge). Can it handle all the various sizes
instead of the 3 or 4 usually provided, and show them on the screen as
well?
Ron
I think so. I believe that PgS 2.0 will create the screen fonts on the fly.
But the messages I have read that it will slow down the screen updating
quite a bit. But that's better than not being able to use them at all!
-Paul-
Ron,
PageStream (and Professional Page) do wonderful things with a true
PostScript printer, but you will be sorely disappointed if you expect
either of them to be a substitute for a wordprocessor. PageStream is
stronger in that regard, but you would still be better off using a real
wordprocessor, with a decent dictionary and thesaurus, and IMPORTING the
text into either PageStream or Pro Page. You could then "touch it up" and
otherwise embellish your work with graphics and/or text effects.
Lloyd
What I actually need is a good ps capable wp program, that lets me use
multiple fonts and sizes, 2 columns, good dictionary, and is easy to use.
Also, that lets me use font sizes that Amigados didn't come with but PS
supports, or with fonts that can be downloaded to the PacData cartridge
that have Amiga bit map fonts that match.
Ron
Sounds like you're describing ProWrite.
ProWrite has the dictionary, columns, and multiple fonts and sizes.
Thomas:
Unfortunatly ProWrite doesn't support columns yet for PS output, only for
bitmaped output. Hopefully when they release the next version of ProScript,
it will incorporate all the neat new features of ProWrite 3.0
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Ron, Have you looked at ProWrite? Especially the latest versions – does
columns, fonts – all kinds of neat things.
.Betty
Ron:
I use PPage with Transcipt. I can write the raw text in transcirpt, then
import it into PPage boxes for layout, etc. If, while in PPage setting
this up, I need to edit the text, if Transcript is running the the
background, I can select a block of text, and "send" it to transcript
automatically for editing. When I'm finished, I "send it home", and the
altered text is dumped back into PPage. While in transcript, I can have
the PPage codes which set fonts, sizes, bolding, etc. either visible or
invisible. Also, Transcript comes with a spell checker and a thesaurus.
Finally, while I can use PPage on my 512k Agnus machine at home (with no
workbench running), I highly recommend a 1 meg agnus for this combo of
programs. At work it requires no special care, 'cause I have a 1 meg agnus
there.
?|^] Ray Lewis
Ron,
I wish there were something that would allow that too! Anyway, I'm using
WordPerfect to WRITE my text, then I bring it into PageStream 2.0 to format
and embellish it.
Lloyd
That's a lot of work!
Ron
Ron,
Yup. For some things it is definitely more work. But for other things it
is the way I would choose even if I had a wordprocessor that was more
capable (with a PostScript printer).
Lloyd
Ron,
Sounds like excellence! 2.0 is the PS WP you want. It can use its own
postscript fonts, ProPage's (after processing by an MSS utility that works
for all but Symbols font), PixelScript Post script fonts, or Adobe FOnts
from Extras 1.3 disk. It even handles Color PosScript. Now we just need
some talented PD person to put together an IBM PS font file converter…
wmc
E! gives you a choice between either its own Adobe fonts or the 1.3 ones;
but its a pain in the butt switching between and keeping things wysiwyg.
Worse is that you still have an extremely limited number of font sizes,
which is my main problem with E!. And V2 is still slow and still has at
least one very annoying bug.
How are you using the PixelScript PS fonts?
Ron
Ron,
Pixelscript Postscript font series comes with a utility to convert theire
fonts to excellence! .metric formats so that in 15 pitch you can use them
with excellence!. Works fine.
wmc
I have 1.8 and it runs under 2.0, so I assume that 2.0 will run also. I
have to believe that it will run under 1.3 also because the 1.3 market will
be out there for a long time to come.
Well I am hoping that PageStream 2.0 is not tied to DOS 2.0 because I'm
dying to try the new features (even though I fear that the Compugraphic
fonts may bring my poor 68000/A2000 to its knees). Although I welcome DOS
2.0, I have to consider the impact on my daily operations and,
consequently, will want to approach a DOS 2.0 upgrade VERY carefully.
REC
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