Converting Mac PS fonts to NeXT?

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2 total messages Started by Timothy Van Zandt Thu, 17 Dec 1992 23:20

#4466

Author: Timothy Van Zandt
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 23:20

14 lines
851 bytes

What is the currently recommended way to convert Mac PS fonts
for use on a NeXT?

I see something called mac-fonts2next under 1.0 release
at the purdue archive, and I also have an old posting
about something called mfrc, but I haven't seen that
program at any of the archives.

Thanks.

Tim
-- 
Timothy Van Zandt   (609)258-4050  tvz@Princeton.EDU (NeXTMail)

Re: Converting Mac PS fonts to NeXT?

#4525

Author: Gordon Van Huizen
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 19:29

68 lines
2862 bytes

In article <1992Dec17.232029.16328@Princeton.EDU>  
tvz@zandtwerk.Princeton.EDU (Timothy Van Zandt) writes:
> 
> What is the currently recommended way to convert Mac PS fonts
> for use on a NeXT?
> 

I always suggest MetroTools, but since I wrote and sell it...

> I see something called mac-fonts2next under 1.0 release
> at the purdue archive, and I also have an old posting
> about something called mfrc, but I haven't seen that
> program at any of the archives.
> 

mfrc is pretty good and should still be around. It has its
limitations, however. 

What it does:

Sorts through POST resource in a Mac PostScript font and
emits something pretty close to what the NeXT needs in the
way of an outline file. 

What it doesn't do:

Perform any kind of installation procedure
Create .FONT wrappers
Bundle in the AFM file
Name the file correctly in many cases (due to a bug)
Distinguish between Binary and ASCII encoded sections
	(it assumes that they are all binary and converts
	them to ASCII) 
Handle very many Mac file formats:
	MacBinary Support is weak - some flavors don't work
	No support for Mac floppies under NeXTSTEP 3.0
	No support for raw resource forks from 
		FloppyWorks
		MacLink Plus/PC

In short, mfrc is quite likely still on the archives but if
you use it be prepared to do an amount of hand-tweaking to
make the fonts work when you're done. 

If you're interested in a commerccial alternative there
are two: Metamorphosis Pro which runs on a Mac and
MetroTools which runs on a NeXT. 

Meta Pro provides conversion to and from many font file
formats and will generate AFM files. It doesn't create
.FONT wrappers and since it runs on a Mac, it can't really
help with the installation - plus you need a Mac. I haven't
tried it under Executor. If you use  Meta Pro for any volume
of fonts, be prepared to do a lot of work by hand to get them
installed on the NeXT.   

MetroTools requires AFM files for the fonts you wish to
convert, but handles all the other aspects of font
installation transparently. We will release a version
sometime in January or February that generates AFM
files. 

Gordon
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Van Huizen           vox: 619.488.9411  fax: 619.488.3045
Metrosoft                   gvh@metrosoft.com [NeXTmail welcome]
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