DL2PFB
======

Adobe® Type 1 ASCII download font format to PFB format converter.

This hack is dedicated to all present and future FontDesigner 
users out there ;-)


Disclaimer
----------

© 1992 by Martin A. Blatter

DL2PFB may be freely distributed for non-commercial purposes only. 
The entire risk as to the quality and performance of this program is 
with you. 

The author assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever with
respect to your use or inability to use of this software.


Requirements
------------

Amiga Personal Computer with Kickstart 2.0 or higher.


What is it?
-----------

DL2PFB converts Adobe Type 1 scalable outline fonts in the ASCII 
download format to the IBM binary format required by FontDesigner 
and Amiga DTP programs like PageStream or PPage.

Adobe Type 1 outline fonts are typically distributed in the PFB
binary format. However, programs like SWDownload on the Final Copy 
fonts disks, which is able to create Adobe Type 1 versions of SoftWood's
Nimbus Q fonts only produce files in a directly downloadable ASCII
format. Also, lots of Public Domain fonts are available in DL format 
only. (In this document, we're continuing to use the term `DL' to 
describe this ASCII format).


Which fonts can I convert with DL2PFB?
--------------------------------------

PFB and DL files can be distinguished by looking at the first few
bytes. If you're not sure about the format, use you favourite file
zapper or text editor to take a closer look at the file in question.

The DL fomat consists only of ASCII characters and such files usually
start with a line saying something similar to:

(Hex) 25 21 50 53 2D 41 64 6F 62 65 46 6F 6E 74 2D 31 2E
(ASC) %  !  P  S  -  A  d  o  b  e  F  o  n  t  -  1 . 0

Files in PFB format always have 6 *binary* bytes followed by ASCII text.

(Hex) 80 01 D6 03 00 00 25 21 50 53 2D 41 64 6F 62 65 46 6F 6E 74 2D 31 2E
(ASC) .  .  .  .  .  .  %  !  P  S  -  A  d  o  b  e  F  o  n  t  -  1 . 0

You can also search for the expresssion `currentfile eexec'. If this text
line is followed by lots of binary bytes it's a PFB font. If it is followed 
by hex numbers in ASCII format (e.g. AE3F4251 etc.), you're looking at a DL
file.


Usage
-----

DL2PFB can be used from the Shell (or from Workbench using the
`execute command' menu). It takes two arguments:

1) The path- and filename of the DL file to convert
2) The path- and filename of the PFB file to create

A sample command line may therefore look like that:

1> dl2pfb foo:bar.dl foo:bar.pfb

or

1> dl2pfb from dh0:foo.dl to outlinefonts:bar.pfb


Credits
-------

Author: Martin A. Blatter
        Pfaffächerstr. 59
        CH-8913 Ottenbach
        Switzerland

E-Mail: blatter@amiga.physik.unizh.ch
        cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmswi!zethos!blatter


Trademarks
----------

All trademarked product and company names used herein are used for
identification purposes only. No infringement of trademarks is intended.
Trademarks remain property of the trademark holder.