steves@mcrware.UUCP (Steve Simpson) (05/07/91)
We recently purchased new Adobe fonts for our SUN version of FrameMaker. We were
stuck by the absence .ABF files in the PC versions of the fonts from Adobe. .ABF
files are used to create screen fonts for FrameMaker. The files were deleted
with the recent release of Adobe fonts (How unfortunate for non-PC users--Oh, are
there any of us? :-)) I spoke with Adobe Tech Support about the disappearance
of .ABF files, and the support specialist who helped me (Andy) was most helpful.
He faxed a copy of the memo below that explains the procedure for creating .ABF
files. Thank you to Andy and Adobe for granting permission to post their memo.
First, some comments. This procedure requires the use of a PC-DOS machine. It
can be a slow process, particularly running the USER.BAT file--Step 5. The final
screen fonts have not been particularly attractive. The line and character
spacing in correct, but the on-screen characters DO NOT represent the printer
characters. ANY HELP SOLVING THIS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
The following memo has been reprinted with the permission of Adobe Systems.
My comments are contained in parentheses ().
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Date: March 18, 1991
To: PC Type Support, Tracey Stewart-SPD
From: Peter Koester
Re: .ABF Files
I have received a couple of requests lately for .ABF files. This is a file format
Adobe provided in previous versions of its PC type. We were not aware that anyone
was using them and removed them from version 3 packages. However, at least one
application does need .ABF file: Frame. .ABF files are an intermediate format
and the user must interrupt Font Foundry to generate them.
Have the user follow the steps below to generate the .ABF files for each typeface.
1) Install your typefaces using the Adobe PC Type Install Program. Choose WINDOWS
as your application. Also, install the Font Foundry at the same time. If you
don't have WINDOWS, create a WINDOWS directory and create a text file called
"WIN.INI" with the following line:
[HPPCL,LPT1] (I used [PostScript,LPT1])
Provide this directory name as the location of WINDOWS in Foundry.
(NOTE: DO NOT run Foundry from the INSTALL program.)
2) From the c:\FOUNDRY directory, type FUSER.EXE. Run the Font Foundry as you
would normally, to generate screen fonts only.
(Be very selective in the sizes you choose for screen fonts. Don't overdo it.
Also, be sure to select the correct printer, HP or PostScript.)
3) (When Foundry is done,) Rename the USER.CMD file as USER.BAT.
4) Using a text editor, edit the USER.BAT file and delete all lines in the file
EXCEPT those beginning with MAKEBIT.EXE and MAKEABF.EXE (There was a sample
attached.)
5) Type USER.BAT to create the .ABF files. Copy the .ABF files from the
ADOBETEMP directory into a permanent directory (or ftp to UNIX system).
Delete all other files in the ADOBETEMP directory.
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"Homer" Simpson
Microware Systems Corporation
steves@mcrware
(515) 224-1929
"Remember...As fas as anyone knows,
we're a nice, normal family." -Homer
Disclaimer: My words, not theirs.
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