Installing older Adobe printer
fonts into PC based ATM.
 


By Don Lancaster                                                      Version 1.3 march 16, 1997

A PC based ATM Adobe Type Manager may not directly recognize older printer-only
Adobe PostScript fonts. This note shows one method to install these older fonts.


Copyright c. 1997 by Don Lancaster and Synergetics, Box 809, Thatcher AZ, 85552
(520) 428-4073. synergetics@tinaja.com All commercial rights and all electronic media
rights are *fully* reserved. Linking welcome. Reposting is expressly forbidden.

Further support on https://www.tinaja.com
Consulting services available via don@tinaja.com


The problem:

I have a lot of older Adobe printer fonts on hand. Some on Apple II hard drives, some on
a Mac, and many on hard drives for Laserwriter or QMS printers. These are typically a
single text file consisting of an ASCII header, a hex-ASCII eexec section, and an ASCII
trailer. If you translate these to a PC, they will often be ignored by ATM.

One solution:

First, carefully read Adobe Tech Note #7114 on ATM and Type I fonts. It turns out that
ATM demands either (A) a font in .PFB format and a .PFM metrics file; or (B) A font in
.PFB format and a related .INF file and a related .AFM metrics file. All in the same folder
having identical 8-3 DOS filenames. Such as CoBo____.PFB, etc...

It appears that the Adobe Type-on-call disk only encrypts the .PFB file. A cleartext but
hidden .PFM file is provided for all Adobe fonts. This is easily copied or moved.

Here are detailed instructions:

      (1)  Review any license or use restrictions on the older Adobe PostScript printer font.

      (2)  Read the exact old font name using an editor or word processor.

      (3)  Get into Type on Call and find the 8-3 PC filename for the exact same font. For instance
            Courier-Bold might be CoBo____.PFB. By beginning to order the font, you can find
            out in which numeric folder the needed font files are located. The .PFB files are typically
            found in TOC /data/common/psfonts/041 or some similar numbered folder.

            An Adobe type catalog might be needed to find out that, say, Revue is in the Aachen
            numeric file folder.

      (4)  Translate your old printer font to the PC. Using comm utilities, Apple File Exchange,
             or, if all else fails, by uploading and downloading from a web site. Place the file
             in a temporary work folder.

      (5)  Use Wordpad or whatever to verify this is a clean textfile with an ASCII header,
             a hex-ASCII eexec section, and an ASCII trailer. Then rename the file as the correct
             8-3 DOS .PFA file. Such as CoBo____.PFA.

            Make certain the "true" DOS filename changes! You may have to load into Word,
            and then "save as" using a full filename in quotes.

       (6)  Use my PFA2PFB.PS to convert this .PFA file into a .PFB file in the same temporary
              work folder. Use Wordpad to verify this file has an ASCII header, a binary eexec
              section, and an ASCII trailer. This filename should be similar to CoBo____.PFB

              The length of the underline always must bring the total character count up to eight.

        (7)  Copy the matching .PFM file from Type on Call to the temporary work folder.
               Such as CoBo____.PFM Be sure to get the (usually last) .PFM file! Use right
               mouse properties to verify the hidden trailers.

               UNHIDE THIS COPIED .PFM FILE! Again using right mouse properties.

        (8)  Since valid .PFB and .PFM files are now in the same folder, the Install feature of
              ATM should now recognize and install the font. Always use the exit button on ATM,
              instead of clicking out. Otherwise directory changes may not always get reset.

        (9)  Check and verify the font prints normally by outputing a specimen page or whatever.

Note that older Adobe printer fonts will usually have newlines only, rather than carriage
return and linefeed pairs. One way to view such a file is to bring it into Netscape Gold, where
returns will present themselves on screen normally. A conversion to CR-LF can be done by
loading into Netscape Gold, copying to the clipboard, and pasting to Notepad. But .AFM files
are best left in their "newlines only" format.

Please report any problems to me.


Copyright c. 1997 by Don Lancaster and Synergetics, Box 809, Thatcher AZ, 85552 (520) 428-4073. synergetics@tinaja.com All commercial rights and all electronic media rights are *fully* reserved. Linking welcome. Reposting is expressly forbidden.

Further support on https://www.tinaja.com
Consulting services available via don@tinaja.com