MI-M2I is a new utility from those wacky fontheads, Brett Lisk and Gary Brusanowski (aka. Mirror Image Productions), which converts any Macintosh Type 1 font into an IBM format Type 1. This will be most useful to Amiga users who own PageStream: PageStream can use Type 1 fonts directly but they must be in IBM format.
Users of POST, the PD PostScript Interpreter, might also find this program useful as there is a built in function for automatically naming the resulting Type 1's and AFMs by their full PostScript names.
This program will also convert any AFM file it is handed, Mac or IBM.
All new files are given consistant names based on the font's PostScript names. There are two methods. One has the name processed through Mirror Image's PostScript FontName Alogrithm. This will ensure compatibility with other MI products (and hopefully get this "standardization" of PostScript font names on the Amiga rolling...). The other creates files using the entire PostScript name. As mentioned, this will useful to users of POST.
MI-M2I is a freely distributable program. Instead of asking for a shareware fee though, we're instituting something called "Careware" (at least we've never heard of it). Basically, if you like the program, please donate $10 to your local Humaine Society (if you don't happen to agree with their policies, then make a donation to the worthy cause of your choice).
We don't actually own a copy of PageStream, so this program is effectively useless to us. However, many of our customers do and after seeing the abysmal efforts for converting Mac fonts put forth by SoftLogik themselves, and having the guts of the program already pretty much there (it borrows heavily from MIfont and MIoutline), I figured, what the hell! Use it in good health.
If you re-distribute this program, however, we would ask that you make sure this file and the included MI product information blurb is passed along with the archive.
As this program is public domain, Mirror Image makes no warranties for the program or the documentation and is in no way responsible for the behaviour of the program under any system. If you do find a bug or have an idea that would make it a better program we can be reached through Compuserve
(GARY BRUSANOWSKI [70304,2516]) or GEnie (B.Lisk). As well you can call us during regular business hours at (416) 495-7469. This program is not covered by any technical support program but if you want to give us a call, I'm sure we'll be able to lend an ear.
A3000 USERS: There is a bug in WB 2.0 which will cause MI-M2I to crash upon exiting the program. This bug is not present in v37.33, Kickstart 37.74 of the new Workbench or later. If you have anything earlier, we recommend you run this program under 1.3.
NOTE: In case you're curious, this program does not alter the Type 1 fonts or AFM files in any way, shape or form. The contents of an IBM format files converted with this program are EXACTLY the same as the contents of your original Mac files. The data is simply arranged in the file in a different way. Therefore, using one of these fonts for page creation will cause you no problems if you send a resulting PostScript file to an output service and have them use their copy (usually a Mac version) of the printer font.
Certain programs (notably Metamorphosis for the Mac) actually change the contents and character order of the original Type 1s and AFMs when they translate from Mac to IBM format. This is bad news because that program's intention is to create IBM fonts for use on the IBM, NOT IBM FONTS FOR USE ON THE AMIGA! We can't tell you for sure how they'll work on the Amiga, but we suspect PageStream doesn't make allowances for them and that could cause problems when sending PostScript files to output bureaus using the equivilent Mac printer fonts. We recommend you stick with MI-M2I for converting your Mac fonts.
*** The MI File Selector ***
There's no installation procedure for MI-M2I: just double click the icon.
A window will open on your WorkBench. On the left is the MI file selector. If you own any of our commercial software (MIfont or MIoutline), you should be fairly familiar with its usage and might want to skip the following section.
(MIfont users will note that we have included a new "re-read directory" function. To re-read the current directory, press the ":" button.)
Here is a quick list of the selector's features:
· the top row of short-cut device buttons will set the current
directory to the device button you click on.
· the button marked "/" is the parent gadget. This moves the selector
up one directory from where it is.
· the button marked ":" re-reads the current directory
· the button marked "D" is the Devices gadget. The gives you a list
of all system devices, volumes and assigned directories. You can move
the selector path to anyone of these by double clicking on their
names.
· if you left click and hold on the path name (just below the
short-cut buttons), you will see a "free disk space" message for the
current directory.
· the slider gadget (the button with the up/down arrows) moves up and
down through the list in the selector. To scroll, click on the slider
and, while holding down the left mouse button, move your mouse up or
down. The further you move from the center, the faster the scrolling.
Right clicking while scrolling jumps to the top (or the bottom,
depending on which direction you're scrolling) of the list. A dot at
either end indicates that there are files and/or directories in that
direction which are not visible in the selector window.
· files and directories are sorted alphabetically, directories first,
files second. Directories are entered by double-clicking on their
names.
· there is an alphabetic search performed on the current path
whenever you press any alphanumeric key. This option is best explored
in a directory containing many files or sub-directories. Essentially
the list will jump to the first entry starting with the letter of the
key you press. The search is performed on directories first. A second
press of the key searches the file names. you'll find this feature
invaluable when searching a large directory.
*** Paths ***
MI-M2I operates under a system of "source" and "destination" paths. All the files you want to convert (that is, your Mac font files) should be placed in your source directory. The destination directory is where you want the converted IBM files to end up.
You must set the paths before you do anything. Let's do the source path first.
Go to where your Mac files are with the file selector. Next, click the button marked "Source". This assigns the current directory path to the source "path bar". To set the destination path, go to where you want to store your IBM files and click the "Dest" button. The destination path bar will change to reflect this.
The path bars are also buttons themselves. Clicking on them sends the selector to the directory set in the path bar you clicked on (this is handy for jumping back and forth between source and destination paths).
*** Single vs. Batch ***
There are 2 modes for converting files. One is by simply single-clicking on a Mac Type 1 or AFM file and pressing the "RUN" button (or double-clicking on the file name). This is "Single File Conversion". The other method is batch or "Multiple" conversion. This is accomplished by clicking the run button while nothing is highlighted in the selector. If this happens, the program will go through the source directory (NOT THE CURRENT DIRECTORY, THE SOURCE DIRECTORY!) and try to convert every file it runs across.
NOTE:
MI-M2I does not require that Mac Type 1 fonts come with resource AND data forks (like SoftLogik's conversion utility). Most people use the PD utility UnSit for unpacking Mac Stuffit files on the Amiga and this program will split resource and data forks sometimes. Type 1 fonts will never be split: there will only ever be a resource fork. However, Mac AFMs will often be split into two files called ???.AFM.D and ???.AFM.R. The file that ends in ".D" is the actual AFM; if you use MI-M2I to convert your Mac fonts, you can throw the ???.AFM.R file away.
*** What Happens when you Convert ***
We recommend you try a couple of conversions with your destination path set to Ram: before you start any heavy duty conversion. You should also try converting the fonts with the "Use MI Naming Conventions" button up, and then doing the same conversion(s) with the "Force POST Naming Conventions" button up (to toggle between the two, just click on the button which defaults to "Use MI Naming Conventions"). Then get a disk management program or use the CLI and take a look at your destination directory.
The MI Naming Algorithm will process the font's full PostScript name until it is no longer than 23 characters. Then it will add the appropriate extention (".PFB" for Type 1 files, ".AFM" for AFM files) and save the new files to your destination directory.
If you have the "Force POST Naming Conventions" button up, the program will look for a directory in your destination path called "PS" (if it doesn't exist, MI-M2I will create it) and it will place the new IBM Type 1(s) there, naming the files after their full PostScript names. If you are converting an AFM, it will look for (or again, create) a sub directory in "PS" called "AFM" and place the new AFM(s) file in there, again naming them after the full PostScript names. The reason we seperate the Type 1's and AFMs when using the "Force POST Naming Conventions" is because the Type 1 and AFM files for a particular font WILL END UP BEING CALLED EXACTLY THE SAME THING!
To do a batch conversion, simply make sure you source path is set correctly and hit the RUN button. Each file in the source directory will be interigated and if it is a Mac Type 1 or ANY AFM, it will be converted. You can about a batch run at any time by hitting the ESCape key.
*** Misc. ***
Two more buttons to explain.
The "About..." button will show you a credit notice about us and the program and the "Careware" suggestion. The "Screen Tog" button will swap the program from the Workbench to it's own custom screen and back again (this if for people who'se Workbench colours do not lend themselves to MI-M2I's design).
The source and destination paths and the status of the Naming Convention (MI or POST) and the status of the screen (Workbench or Custom) are all saved into a configuration file in your s: directory called "MI-M2I.Config" every time you quit the program.
The selector will default, when you re-run the program, to the SOURCE directory, not the directory the selector was set to when you left last time.
And that's about it.
Since we're not charging you any money for this and I'm not sure there's too much more I could do with the program, we won't be offering upgrades. If an upgrade becomes available, you'll just have to hope it shows up on your local board. If you're simply desparate to have the program do something it doesn't already, give us a call and if we have time, we'll see about accomdating you. We didn't include the source code because a) it contains a great deal of generic MI code used by our commercial software, which we'd rather not see people take advantage of and b) it's written in GFA Basic and how many of you people write in GFA Basic?
Hmmm, I thought so....
Gary Brusanowski
Program Design and Development
Mirror Image Productions
30 Aurora Court, Suite 1209
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1W 2M3 <- Amiga DTP Captial of the World!
