Font Drafter v1.00




































              Copyright (c) 1992 MacroWare Software(tm)








































































        Font Drafter v1.00 is a QuickBASIC programming utility.  In essence,
it's a large macro'ing tool.  The press of a single button represents a line
of ASCII text, forced into the DRAW format for use in QuickBASIC.  It's also
relatively easy to use, even if you aren't experienced in programming.  The
more experienced programmer will be able to combine and split and edit the
product(s) of this program.



        INSTALLATION
========================================================

        It's highly recommended that you use the installation program
included in this package to install MacroFont.  It writes your
configuration file and will install all your options for you.  If
you install it using some other method, you're in for a really
frustration time of it.




        BASIC PROCEDURES
===========================================================

        The up and down arrows guide the selection bar up and down the list
of available fonts.  Once you select the particular font type you wish to use,
it prompts for the type of screen to use.  This will be used in the format of
SCREEN n, where 'n' is the entered number.  If you don't know what this means,
use this chart until you have a chance to examine screen modes more carefully:


                    Normal   Tiny   VertStetch
              VGA     13      12       --
              EGA      7      --      8, 9
              CGA      3      --       --

'--' does not mean that you can't do it with those graphics, but it
does mean that there are things you should check before using that mode.
After this dimensions will be displayed.  Many dimensions are erroneous,
due to a bug in the program used to calculate the dimensions.  The
program would normally end at the dimensional end, but due to this bug,
allowances are made (see below).
        When it prompts for border color, this is the color the text
will be printed as.  If it prompts for another color before that,
this is the color that the inside will be painted (only on Block font).
Use this table to find which number to input:


                0   =  Black
                1   =  Dark Blue
                2   =  Dark Green
                3   =  Cyan
                4   =  Dark Red
                5   =  Dark Purple
                6   =  Brown
                7   =  Light Grey
                8   =  Dark Grey
                9   =  Light Blue
                10  =  Light Green
                11  =  Light Cyan
                12  =  Light Red
                13  =  Light Purple
                14  =  Yellow
                15  =  Bright White



        IN THE EDIT BOX
=======================================================

        Once editing, use the backspace to erase, and type in all capital
letters.  Most fonts also support "(", ")", ",", ".", "`", "'", and "-".
Or, so you can see them, (),.'`-.  If you enter a period (".") as the
first letter, your editing is completed, and you write to a file.  At the
end of each line press (Enter) to move to the next line.
        Note that when you save your text to a file, it APPENDS, meaning
that it sticks it at the end of your file, it doesn't overwrite.  So you
can paste it directly into your program.  However, it's recommended that
you put it into a temporary file, such as TEST.BAS, and run it first to
assure that it is what you want, and then paste it into your program.
Also, it's always a good idea to have a backup made.
        When exiting edit, or after using on of the function keys, the
screen may scroll up.  When this happens, just keep pressing F10 until
the screen is normal.  The scrolling is a bug that hasn't been tracked
down yet, but it's harmless, just not pleasing to the eye.  Probably
a forgotten semi-colon somewhere.



        KEY INDEX
==========================================================

ENTER = Used to select font types.
        Used to end a line when inputing text, as a carriage return.
        Used to signal that you wish to save product.
        INSTALL:  Moves to next category.
ESC   = Used to exit program.
    = Used to move selection bar up and down the font choices.
F1    = Brings up on-line help screen.
F2    = Shells to DOS.  Type EXIT and press ENTER to return to MFONT.
F3    = On-Line configuration.  Allows alteration of configuration file
        from inside the program.  Can be written to configuration or,
        if not saved, only takes effect until program is exited.
        Choices are:
              1) SCREEN SAVER:  Y or N.  Enables or disables
                   screen saver.
                2) DELAY:  #.  Timer clicks to pass with no input
                   from keyboard before activating screen saver.
                3/4/5) LINE 1/LINE 2/LINE 3:  Alter the three line
                   text originally inputed at installation.  Line 1 & 2
                   are also displayed in the bottom left hand corner.
              6) SOUND:  Y or N.  Enables or disables sound.
              7) Save configuration:  Writes configuration to file so
                 it always starts up with that configuration.
              8) Exit Setup:  Exit setup and run with displayed options.
                 However, when Font Drafter is left, the configuration
                 is lost.
F4    = Options.  Contains some miscellaneous functions for MFONT.
              1) Run ScreenSaver.
              2) Repaint screen.
              3/4/5) Run various programs that should be in directory.
              6) Exit options.
F10   = Repaint screen.