DOSFON 1.0 - Copyright (c) 1991-1993 Donald F. Stegall. All Rights Reserved. Copyright (c) 1991-1993 Playroom Software. All Rights Reserved. Playroom Software is a trademark of Playroom Software. Introduction ------------ DOSFON is a collection of fonts designed to improve the readability of DOS applications running in a window on Windows 3.0 or 3.1. Some Windows applications that like fixed width characters can also benefit. We still do a lot of work in DOS, but the standard 8 x 12 serif font that DOS windows use is just not as readable as the font used in full screen VGA on most video adapters. Also, on a 17" or larger monitor, the font in full screen VGA is too big. Windows 3.1 does let you change to other font sizes, but I personally don't like the alternative fonts any better. I created these fonts so that I could stand to use DOS apps in a window. Serif and Sans Serif fonts are included. The Serif fonts have an 'S' tacked onto the end of the file name. Since most video cards use Serif fonts for their native VGA font, the Serif fonts are more like the standard font. The Sans Serif fonts are designed for even higher readability in a Windows system. The 8 x 16 font will yield a screen aspect ratio that is closest to the standard VGA ratio. Registration ------------ DOSFON is BannerWare for our retail product called Makeover for Windows. The registration fee for DOSFON is $5 along with a completed and mailed registration form. If you are a Makeover owner, registration is free, but please register anyway. The registration form is contained in REGISTER.TXT and REGISTER.WRI. The file containing these fonts should have included BROCHURE.HLP, which is an online brochure for Makeover in Windows Help format. Please take a few minutes to check out the brochure. Open BROCHURE.HLP using the File,Run... command in Program Manager or File Manager, or open the help for any Windows program and use the File,Open... command to open the file. If HLP files are associated with WINHELP.EXE, you can just double click on BROCHURE.HLP in File Manager. If there is no HLP association, you can enter the command 'WINHELP' from the File,Run... box, and then use the File,Open... menu command in Windows Help. About Makeover -------------- Makeover is a collection of utilities that let you drastically improve and/or change the appearance of Windows. Other utilities are included, but most people buy Makeover for the appearance utilities. OSFrame allows you to add 3D and other effects to title bars and sizing borders. ButtonMaker lets you edit the title bar and scroll bar buttons using a specialized icon editor. Predefined buttons are provided that mimic the Mac, NeXT, OSF/Motif, GeoWorks, and OS/2, but you can easily create your own. Makeover is available at all CompUSA stores, and via mail order from Windows Exchange (1-800-845-1900 or 313-344-1140). It's also available through other resellers. The retail price is $39.95, but the actual price you pay may be much lower. Windows Exchange has a free shipping special in effect for April and May of '93. Etc --- Please pass the original archive file containing DOSFON on to as many other BBS's or online services as possible, so that others can enjoy more readable DOS windows. Rename the DOSFON.ZIP file to DOSFON10.FON if the service allows for 8 character file names. We plan to expand the font selection with 8x8 Sans, 8x10 S/SS, and 9x18 Serif fonts in the near future, so check your shareware/freeware source from time to time. These fonts are available for OEM and site licensing. Installation ------------ You will have to do a little work and reading to use these fonts. There are a couple of ways they can be installed. To simplify the instructions below, assume that SYSTEM refers to the SYSTEM directory that is a sub-directory of the WINDOWS directory. **** Read this whole section before beginning installation. **** Create a directory called DOSFON in the SYSTEM directory and move all of the files from the DOSFON archive file to the DOSFON directory. Look in the SYSTEM directory and you will see a variety of *.FON files. Open SYSTEM.INI using SYSEDIT.EXE or your favorite text editor, and look for the [boot] section. The 'oemfonts.fon=' entry names the font that is usually used for DOS apps in 80 column by 25 line mode. In the [386Enh] section, you will probably find a 'EGA80WOA.FON=' entry, and a 'CGA80WOA.FON=' entry. EGA80WOA.FON= is sometimes used when a DOS app is running in the standard 80 column by 25 line mode. CGA80WOA.FON= is used when a DOS app is running in 50 line mode. Some Windows apps may select this font under certain circumstances. If you're not using any DOS apps that use 50 line mode, you may be able to adjust this font for the Windows app. DOSFON\CGA*.FON files can be used to replace CGA80WOA.FON DOSFON\EGA*.FON files can be used to replace EGA80WOA.FON DOSFON\VGA*.FON files can be used to replace VGAOEM.FON or 8514OEM.FON You select the font that you want to use for the various modes. The name of the font designates the use, size, and serif of the font. EGA8X16.FON is an 8 x 16 sans serif font used to replace EGA80WOA.FON, while EGA9X16S.FON is a 9 x 16 serif font. If you are not running 800x600 or higher, you cannot use the 9 pixel wide fonts properly. If you use a font that is too big, you may not be able to size the DOS window so that it fits on your screen. **** Note: You should always match the sizes of the OEMFONTS.FON= and EGA80WOA.FON= fonts. **** The easiest way to install the fonts is to edit the OEMFONTS.FON=, EGA80WOA.FON=, and CGA80WOA.FON= entries in the SYSTEM.INI file, and restart Windows. Copy all of the DOSFON files that you plan to use to the SYSTEM directory. Then change the corresponding entries, save the changes, and restart Windows. Be sure to save a backup copy of SYSTEM.INI before making the changes. If you use SYSEDIT, it creates a backup copy called SYSTEM.SYD automatically. If you use Windows Setup to change drivers, the original fonts will be restored. If you change display drivers a lot, you can use a more permanent method. You must make these changes from outside of Windows, not from Windows or a DOS window. Copy the original VGAOEM.FON (or 8514OEM.FON), EGA80WOA.FON, and CGA80WOA.FON to the DOSFON directory. Copy the desired DOSFON font file over the corresponding original file. i.e. Copy DOSFON\VGA9X16S.FON to SYSTEM\VGAOEM.FON, and DOSFON\EGA9X16S.FON to SYSTEM\EGA80WOA.FON to select a 9x16 serif font. If you have used the 'Fonts...' Font Selection dialog to set a font for a DOS app, you may have to select a new font after making these changes. Alternatively, you can edit DOSAPP.INI in the WINDOWS directory. Find the entry for your DOS app, and replace everything after the '=' with a 0. This resets the saved window position and font for the DOS app and allows you to start from scratch. License Agreement ----------------- This software is owned by Playroom Software and is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. You may not modify, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the software. You may freely distribute this version of the DOSFON software, with the following restrictions: (a) It may not be included in a software or hardware package marketed for resale without the express written consent of Playroom Software; (b) The computer archive file, diskette, or other media that contains the software must contain this document and any others originally distributed with the software in unaltered form; (c) No derivations of this software may be redistributed under any circumstances without the express written consent of Playroom Software. In no event shall Playroom Software or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability to use this Playroom Software product, even if Playroom Software has been advised of the possibility of such damages. If you do not agree to the terms of this agreement, destroy all of your copies of the software. This is your sole remedy. Should you have any questions concerning the agreement, or if you wish to contact Playroom for any reason, please write Playroom Software / 7308-C East Independence Blvd. / Suite 310 / Charlotte, NC 28227 USA / (704)-536-3093 / CIS:76702,1603.