POST – how to use it?
9 messages in this thread
Can anyone tell me how to use the Postscript interpreter POST10 in the new
upload library? While the doc file is full of technical information, no
where does it actually say how to do a simple display or print of a
postscript file. While I think I've got the command syntax reasonably
understood, it can't find any postscript fonts (I have PS fonts from E!)
but I don't know what its looking for. I created a postscript output file
from E! to play with but even when run with the init.ps file it doesn't
display anything. Any help would be appreciated!
Ron
Ron:
It actually works pretty much like it seems it would have to. Your
noprint is undoubtedly because post can't find the font you used. The
default font is a NULL font – doesn't print anything. (See init.ps) If you
are going to play with this you will NEED a couple of good books on
Postscript – Adobe's red book is a must, and you will also need something
in a more tutorial vein. I have had it running here, using a program called
lptops – which just takes a plain-jane ascii file and makes it into a
postscript file with the font, size, etc. that you specify. (its in the
libs around here, with source). I tried running a Pagestream file thru it,
and it choked right from the get-go. That was Friday (late), and I haven't
had time to run down what was going on. Post is a bit faster that
Pixelscript (and has a 68020 version that should be much faster), but
doesn't have as slick a user interface. (Albeit, its not as bad as it looks
at first) Oh yeah, don't try to use Adobe fonts. Not only are they a major
pain in the wallet, they are encrypted in a manner that I don't think will
run on a clone interpreter. The CG fonts from Gold Disk work like a champ,
tho. Just remember that they MUST be in a directory called PSFonts:, and
should have NO extension (like
psfont or some similar. IE Times-Roman must SAY Times-Roman – nothing else)
Have fun! (Whadda ya want for nothing, a rubber biscuit??) :->
While I've deleted the POST files, I can (shudder) dl them again. The only
PS fonts I have came with Excellence, and I don't know which if any of
those files are usable as POST acceptable font files. Would they be
looking for the .metric files?
Ron
The .metric files are used by the editor itself, so it can determine the
size of various characters, and thereby justify the text output in a
reasonable manner. The files you would need are the actual font
definitions. I don't have Excellence, so I don't know how they are
packaged. A lot of WP's with 'Postscript fonts' really just have the screen
fonts and metrics that correspond with the native fonts in a LaserWriter+
or the like. You should be able to look into the font files to see what
they are – a real Postscript font is an ascii program, containing
instructions as to how to make each character(!) on the fly. I am using the
CG fonts from Gold Disk – HIGHLY recommended – even if you don't have PS or
Pro Draw, the included software will make an Amiga bitmapped font, in ANY
SIZE you want… Subject to Intuition's limitations. I will say this – Post
is a neat deal – but you kind of have to know what is going on. I have
found a few more little gotchas tonight, but no really gross bugs (UNLIKE
Pixelscript). I don't think, tho, I'd try to do any production work with
it. But hey, it does work, and the price is right. Oh well… Have fun!
If I understand what you're saying, the CG fonts are Postscript fonts with
software that allows you to create matching Amiga fonts in whatever size
you choose? The only problem with that is that I don't have any software
that can generate output that uses the actual PostScript fonts that I could
then use with Post or anything else, though the idea of creating fonts in
the size I want them is appealing.
I have to admit, the more I see of PS the more confused I get! 🙂
Ron
Ummm, no the CG fonts is short for the Compu-Graphic fonts. They are
copyrighted property of AGFA Compugraphic, Inc. They are actually an
outline description (like the PostScript fonts.) The GD package includes a
converter that MAKES a postscript font, or an Amiga font on the fly. Note
that a PostScript font is any size you want – it is scaled by the program,
uhhh, page description. The Amiga fonts work with DeluxePaint, etc. If you
want to play with PS, there is a file called LPTOPS over in Tech that will
create some nifty postscript output.
Copyright issue. Is there anything to prevent you from making Amiga bit
map fonts in several sizes from one of the GD/CG fonts and passing them
around? More than one person here has pointed out that font bit maps, per
se, may not be copyrighted. — Art
P.S. It would have been nice if they had provided at least one such font
to match their demo icon.ps. If they had provided a popular one such as
Times-Roman I could have gone into E!, generated a PS file (since E! comes
with that Amiga font plus metric) and finally seen POST in action. It
occurs to me that if the CG fonts have the fonts from E! included I could
use those to try out POST before buying that cartridge.
Ron