bmh@unc.cs.unc.edu (Brad Hemminger) (10/20/87)
Definition: Font = Description of all characters in a specificied typeface for a certain size I'd like to address the general question how to obtain the ability to use many fonts from PC wordprocessors when outputing to laser printers. Our specific needs include the ability to use multiple fonts from Wordstar 4.0 (Micropro) and Wordperfect in conjunction with a CIE LIPS-10 laser printer (emluates HP-laserjet, Epson FX-80, Diablo 630). The major problem is that our laser printer, like most, has only a limited set of defined fonts. In most cases one must buy additional cartridges to expand their pool of available fonts. The alternative to this is to use software programs that can dynamically load a font definition down to one's printer. This requires that the printer has sufficient memory to handle the definitions and that your wordprocessor or your wordprocessor in conjunction with other software knows about all the fonts potentially available (i.e. size, shape characteristics needed for formatting) and can manage the dynamic downloading to the printer that may be required in the case where the number of fonts used in a document exceeds the memory capacity of the printer for storing all the font definitions. I am aware of the cartridges available for our printer; what I would like to hear from those of you experienced in this area is exactly what software capabilities like these exist in current products. Skimming PC magazines indicates that some wordprocessor seem to have some of these capabilities (e.g. Microsoft Word?); and that they are many programs out that work in conjunction with existing mainstream wordprocessors (e.g. Wordstar 2000 and Wordperfect). I would be especially appreciative for information on packages that work with the same wordprocessors and printer that we are using. I will summarize response to the net in a couple of weeks assuming I get at least a handful of responses. NOTE (actually for the LIPS-10 and possibly other printers there is an slightly different situation possible in that the LIPS-10 can accept high level definitions of a font in its own language as opposed to the lower level raster definitions used in downloading to most printers). Brad Hemminger bmh@unc