PC Shareware 15/pcs_fd_15.img/POSTER.RAR/README.TXT

Text File | 1995-09-17 | 8.4 KB | 242 lines

THE POSTER PROGRAM.

Version 1.6 9/16/95.  This version works with Win95.

INTRODUCTION.

POSTER has been designed to let you easily and quickly create large
posters  signs, and banners,  printing them at up to 9 feet by 9 feet.
The posters consist of text and graphics. The program automatically
enlarges all text and graphics, and tiles the output over multiple
pages.

POSTER was originally created to allow my daughter to generate large
posters for use in presentations for her 4-H club. After creating a
poster, she prints in double size (4 sheets of paper) and pastes it onto
a poster board.  For a typical presentation, she will use six to ten
posters.

The program has been enhanced to be of general use in a variety of
situations for printing big pages:
1. Creating large posters for presentations, projects, charts, etc.
2. Creating large signs for advertisements, announcements, etc.
3. Creating banners for special events, etc.
4. Enlarging pictures, charts, etc. for display.

This program is shareware. The author has given permission for the file
to be distributed without restriction, but does not permit alterations
to the file. If you find this program useful, PLEASE register it to
receive future upgrades and a set of borders.

ADVANTAGES OF POSTER.

This program is very easy to use, and it is very simple to create large
posters and banners.  It is especially useful when you have a number of
fonts installed, as the font selection menu displays renditions of all
the true-type fonts. The final poster size is fully configurable.


SUPPORT.

If you have any problems or suggestions, please send me a note.  My
email address is
AOL: BobBedoll
Internet: [e-mail]
Compuserv (CIS): 71754,2174


REGISTRATION.

PLEASE register this program if you find it useful. The fee is only
$10, which is really quite reasonable for a program like POSTER. This
fee helps cover my costs for distribution and support of the program.

If you have already registered a previous version of POSTER, please
do NOT reregister for this version.

If you register, your are entitled to unlimited support, future
versions, and a free disk full of fancy borders.  To register:

From CIS (Compuserv), type GO SWREG

By mail, send $10 to:
    POSTER Software
    Bob Bedoll
    11002 48th St. E.
    Puyallup, WA. 98372

I'll send you the disk of borders by return mail.


INSTALLATION.

If you have unzipped the files, then you have practically installed the
program.
The package consists of the following files:
1. This README file.
2. POSTER.TXT, which is  the documentation for POSTER.  All of this
   documentation is also in the on-line help file.
3. POSTER.EXE, which is the poster program itself.
4. POSTER.HLP, which is the on-line help file.
5. CTL3D.DLL, the 3d controls library.
6. Several BORDERx.WMF border files.  These can be imported using
   the Page->Border->From File command.

To install the program, do the following after unzipping the poster
download file:
1. Create a directory called POSTER.
2. Copy the files POSTER.TXT, POSTER.EXE, and POSTER.HLP into that
directory.
3. Copy the file CTL3D.DLL to your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.
4. Create a program manager icon for POSTER by doing the following:

    WINDOWS 3.1 or WINDOWS FOR WORKGROUPS:
    a. Select the program manager group where you want the icon.
    b. Select NEW.
    c. Select Program Item.
    d. In the dialog box, fill in Description ("Poster"),
        The command line: C:\poster\poster.exe
    The working directory: C:\poster
    If you have unzipped into a different directory, use it instead of
    c:\poster.

    WIN95:
    a. From the START button, click on START, then Settings,
         then Taskbar.
     b. From the "Taskbar Properties" box, click on
        "Start Menu Options".
    c. Click on NEW.
    d. Enter the full patch name to poster (such as
       "c:\poster\poster.exe"), or click on the browse button,
       find the directory with POSTER in it, and click on POSTER.EXE.
    e. Click on Finish.
    f. Select the folder you want the shortcut in, then click on
       Finish.
    g. Enter the name you want to use for the icon,
       and click on Finish.

5. You may view and print the documentation file, POSTER.TXT, with
notepad. However, this entire document is included in the online help file.




VERSION 1.6 IMPROVEMENTS.
1. Modified to print properly under WIN95.
2. Minor fixes to font menus, OPEN, etc.
3. Maximum characters increased to 2000.
VERSION 1.5 IMPROVEMENTS.
1. All known problems with color printer support have been solved.
POSTER should be able to enlarge full color bitmaps, such as those
created from photo-CDs.
2. An easier way to change font sizes, and full-size font-size images.
3. Printing was enhanced to allow a single arbitrary sheet to be
printed.
4. You can now override the default sheet sizes and margins.
5. Metric support has also been added by request.

VERSION 1.4 IMPROVEMENTS.
Support for metafiles and bitmap files as borders and backgrounds
Preview screen in graphics import dialog box
Inclusion of some metafile borders

VERSION 1.3 IMPROVEMENTS.

1. Fixes printing of color text.
2. Adds support for OLE embedded objects (like Microsoft draw &
wordart).
3. Adds easy banner support.
4. Adds print preview.
5. Removes restrictions on special characters and the number of
pictures.


USING POSTER.

To start using poster, simply double click on the poster icon.  POSTER
will start and ask you for the poster or banner format. After selecting
the format you want, it will present an empty page to you.  Just start
typing to begin making your poster.

You can also associate "POS" file types with poster (do this with File
Manager or Explorer.).  Then, double clicking on a POS file will
automatically start poster with that file.


PRINTERS.

This program has been successfully tested on the following printers:
    HP Laserjet II and compatibles
    HP Laserjet III - see special setup instructions below.
    HP LaserJet 4 - See special setup instructions below
    HP DeskJet PLUS
    HP DeskJet 500
    Epson dot matrix and compatibles
    Postscript printer - See special setup instructions below

If you cannot get POSTER to work properly on your printer, try checking
the box marked "Method A" in the PRINT dialog box. This should work ALL
printers (but not plotters).  If this still doesn't work, try "Method
B".  Also, see the special setup instructions below.



LASERJET III USERS.
If the posters you print are missing characters at page edges, then do
the following:
1. Select "Method A" in the Poster Print Dialog box.  Also, be sure your
printer is set to 300 dpi.

LASERJET 4 USERS.
To successfully print posters, you must configure your printer as
follows:
1. Select "Printer Setup":
2. Set resolution to 300 dpi. (At 600dpi, printing takes a very long
time, and may hang the printer.)
3. Select "options".
4. Select "Graphics Mode" = "raster", "Graphics Quality"="high", and
     check "print true-type as graphics".
If posters still do not print properly, then in the PRINT dialog box,
check the boxed marked "Method A". This should always work.

POSTSCRIPT PRINTER USERS.
POSTER cannot always automatically switch a postscript printer from
portrait mode to landscape mode.  If  "Print Preview" shows the printer
to be in the incorrect mode,use the "Print Setup" menu item to manually
select the proper mode.

If you get postscript errors, or you are loosing characters at page
boundaries:
1. From the control panel, select Printers, then select 'Setup.
2. Select "options", then select "advanced".
3. Select "print true type fonts as" "Bitmap (type 3)".
4. Close the control panel.
5. Start POSTER.
If posters still do not print properly, or print too slow, then in the
PRINT dialog box, check the boxed marked "Method A". This should always
work.

COLOR PRINTERS.
POSTER should now properly print color text and graphics.

SLOW PRINTING.
Sorry, but Windows printing is s..l..o..w.  I have no good solution for
this.  Be sure to verify your poster with "Preview" in the "Print"
dialog box.  Then, have patience while it prints.

TECHNICAL TRIVIA.

POSTER is written in C, and complied using MS C7.0.  It consists of
about 10,000 lines of code (proving that it takes a lot of code to not
do very much).

Bob Bedoll
9/16/95.
Seattle, WA.
email: [e-mail]
[phone] or [phone].