#Publisher
7 messages in this thread
Thanks, Arno. Since you have a "vested interest" in Gold Disk and PageSetter,
I know that PageSetter is out and at my nearest software dealer. However, the
people there don't know really anything about PageSetter, and they won't let me
open up a copy to see what it does. Can you answer some questions about
PageSetter?
What type of fonts are available for the system? Are there any regular
typesetting fonts, such as Helvetica or Korinna, Oracle or Century Schoolbook?
Or even Times Roman?
Is there word wrap capability?
What about available type sizes? What is the smallest and largest type sizes
available? (sorry, What are…)
What capability is there of making odd-sized pages? What kind of flexibility
is there on page size? Can you make items such as calendars with the system?
What is your opinion on the output? In terms of the output printer, what is
your opinion as to the best quality output device for PageSetter? Has the
PostScript option been made available yet? Not that I'm going to spring $4,200
for an Apple Laserwriter any time soon, but someday the prices will fall and
that's when I'd want to get a better printer than my Epson FX-80.
I have other questions, but I think this is enough to start.
Thanks for your input, Rno!
===Ken
Ken,
I think I'll jump in here as a user and answer some of your questions.
Word wrap: Absolutely. All standard justification (left, right, both and
centred) are available on a "box by box" basis. In tother words, you have a
text file that can be split into blocks of text, each with its own font, font
size, justification, and placement.
Available type sizes: Currently, PageSetter is supplied with standard Amiga
fonts, but has the ability to use _ANY_ font you care to name. There are fonts
available from a number of other sources, both commercial and PD.
Odd size pages: Yes… there are set sizes, both European and North Americal,
oops.. North American, and the ability to set any page size within the range
allowed, which gives you somewhere fro business card to legal size or more.
(would have to look it up for exact figures).
Calendars: Sure… All boxes may be transparent or opaque, outlined or not,
outlined top and bottom only, left and right only, and with a variety of
outlines. As well, graphics are freely intermixable with text.
The Epson and compatibles give surprisingly good output, admittedly not
Phototypeset quality, but plenty good enough for most home applications.
PostScript is not yet implemented, though it was demo'd at CES and is expected
soon.
Hope this helps you to make up your mind. Oh, and I would look for another
dealer if I were you.
Regards, Larry.
Thanks so much, Larry. Yes, I'm looking for another dealer. I was over there
just yesterday, and I was asking some rather simple questions about some Amiga
software–Instant Music, Organize!, and Superbase DB. It was like I was talking
a foreign language. He had a new high-res video character generation software
package there, but didn't have the slightest idea what it was used for. They
often have software before any other Amiga dealer in the area, and the best
prices, but their staff is the pits. Oh, well…
Regarding the PageSetter: sounds pretty good. Since I'm a relative newcomer to
the Amiga (Christmas 1986), I'm still learning about the system and what's
available.
Regarding fonts: pardon my ignorance, but what fonts are available on the Amiga
itself? I've only seen the basic typestyle it shows on screen. I know about
the fonts on DPaint, and Zuma Fonts. Both are OK for headlines, but can they
be utilized for text? Where would I find the programs for the "standard text
fonts" in the industry–like Times Roman, Helvetica, Century Schoolbook, and
the like? Are they available in 6-8 point and also headline sizes (18point and
larger)?
With text wrap, does it wrap by blocks, or can it wrap type around an odd-sized
graphic (say, a ball or a piece of line art)? And how easy is it to do?
I guess you're getting the idea that I do this for a living, and I'm hot on
trying to get my Amiga to show the guys at the office what a computer can
really do.
Do you have any experience with any of the Mac desktop publishing software to
compare PageSetter to?
Thanks again for your help!
===Ken
Ken, though I have no experience with any of the Mac DTP software, I think I
can at least tell you a few of the things you want to know.
Text Wrap: All wrapping is done by confining the test to boxes that may be
linked together to form, in effect, one large block of text with shapes
determined by the size an placement of boxes. The best wat to imagine it is to
think of the text as being "liquid", which allows you to "flow" it into the
next linked box. Suppose you have a column of text that goes striaght down the
left side of the paper at a constant width. Now you want to place a graphic
that comes part way into the column, centered on the paper.
You would use the sizing function (lower left corner of the box) to shrink
the box to just above the graphic. The text in this box will automatically cut
off at the bottom of the box. You can fiddle with the exact size while watching
the effect, and end up with the best placement of the bottom of the box.
Now you would create another box, narrower than the column, placing it
immediately below the column box, lining it up with the top of the new box
against the bottom of the old one. This is expedited by the use of a "snap
grid". You now link the old box and the new one, and the text "flows" into the
new box, stopping when it runs out of room. Adjusting the new box allows you to
set the right margin to be wherever it looks the best and not overlapping the
graphic, and to set the bottom margin as far down as necessary to make it look
right. You would continue to make boxes down past the graphic, working it
around the graphic until you get to where the full column width can be used
again.
Believe me, it's easier than it sounds from this description. I have had
absolutely no experience with any other DTP programs, and I was doing useful
work within an hour.
Fonts are available from a variety of sources. Zuma's fonts are pretty well
all "headline style". Creative Futureware of Vancouver BC puts out a disk of
fonts (13 on the disk I believe) that cover a wide range of styles and sizes.
Continuation…
Ken.. lost a line or two there…
There are fonts available in our DLs, not sure which one, and in addition
there are a variety of commercial programs that have an extra font or two in
them. Ones that come to mind are "Defender ofthe Crown" and "Shanghai".
Remember though, that the font names are copyrighted.
You might also look into the font editor that comes with the 1.2 disks.
Hope this helps some.Regards, Larry.
Thanks, Larry. It sounds pretty good! Have you been satisfied with the
program? Does it do what you need it for? What are your applications? ===Ken
I have made up a few ads with it, a few "flyers", and in general, have been
playing. The thing I like most about it is that it doesn't require me to
justify a huge expenditure to make it worth getting. A few projects done and it
has paid for itself, if not in money, then at least in pleasure and the fact
that I learn something about the publishing business (or more likely, the
typpesetting business).
Regards, Larry.