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DANCAD3D (tm) has commands for you to create your own fonts for use with the lettering and dimensioning commands. All you have to do is to draw each character and then save the character to an ASCII type data file with the ASCII code number (0 to 255) as the file's filename's extension. The [L]oad [T]able command will Load the set of numbered ASCII data files and create the new font in the font table. After the font is in the font table the [S]ave [F]ont command can be used to save the font table to a *.FON disk file for later use with the lettering commands. Commands in the drawing editors Calligraphy sub-menu can be used to make corresponding *.808 or *.814 screen font files from the loaded *.FON file for use with the lettering, dimensioning, and edit block text commands.

In this lesson you will learn how to use some special commands that allow you to make a font file for use with DANCAD3D (tm)'s calligraphy commands.

Start from DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu. If there is something important in the workspace you should save it to disk before you start this lesson.

When you enter the name for the output macro file you may need to press [Escape] to clear what is on the prompt line before you type the new text in.

If you have done this lesson before, or run a macro that make files with the same filenames as used in this lesson, the program may put up some extra prompts asking you if you want to overwrite the files with the same name already on your disk. To avoid the extra prompts coming up, you should rename, copy to another directory, or erase any files with the same filenames as are used in this lesson.

SELECT:  Command [O]utput (press [O]) from DANCAD3D v2.7 (tm)'s main menu.

SELECT:  Command [N]ew from automatic output macro sub-menu.

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.MAC  (So you do not overwrite L10.MAC from L10.ZIP.)

SELECT:  Command [I]nitialize from DANCAD3D v2.7 (tm)'s main menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes, clear the workspace.)

SELECT:  Command [D]raw the main menu.

If there where any elements in the workspace the program would ask you if you want to turn the display of any on or off at this point through the screen update element number list.

SELECT:  Command [F]ront view from the view menu.

If you had not turned on the automatic output macro the program would ask you if you want to turn it on at this point.

SELECT:  Command [D]raw from the drawing editor root menu.

Start by drawing each letter and saving it into an ASCII type file using the same PATH\FILENAME. for each letter and having the file name's extension (.EXT) correspond to the letters ASCII code number, i.e. NAME.0 to NAME.255, or the range used for the font.

The ASCII code numbers for the "seven bit" printable characters in codes 33 to 126 can be:

 33 = !
 34 = "
 35 = #
 36 = $
 37 = %
 38 = &
 39 = '
 40 = (
 41 = )
 42 = *
 43 = +
 44 = ,
 45 = -
 46 = .
 47 = /
 48 = 0  (Codes 48 to 57 are the numbers.)
 49 = 1
 50 = 2
 51 = 3
 52 = 4
 53 = 5
 54 = 6
 55 = 7
 56 = 8
 57 = 9
 58 = :
 59 = ;
 60 = <
 61 = =
 62 = >
 63 = ?
 64 = @
 65 = A  (Codes 65 to 90 are the capital upper case of the font.)
 66 = B
 67 = C
 68 = D
 69 = E
 70 = F
 71 = G
 72 = H
 73 = I
 74 = J
 75 = K
 76 = L
 77 = M
 78 = N
 79 = O
 80 = P
 81 = Q
 82 = R
 83 = S
 84 = T
 85 = U
 86 = V
 87 = W
 88 = X
 89 = Y
 90 = Z
 91 = [
 92 = \
 93 = ]
 94 = ^
 95 = _  (95 = Underline.)
 96 = `
 97 = a  (Codes 97 to 122 are the lower case of the font.)
 98 = b
 99 = c
100 = d
101 = e
102 = f
103 = g
104 = h
105 = i
106 = j
107 = k
108 = l
109 = m
110 = n
111 = o
112 = p
113 = q
114 = r
115 = s
116 = t
117 = u
118 = v
119 = w
120 = x
101 = y
122 = z
123 = {
124 = |
125 = }
126 = ~

Codes below 32 are "control" codes and although some can be used in DANCAD3D (tm) for lettering, some control codes are used to format the text, #9 is tab, #10 is line feed, #13 is return, and #32 is space. Codes above 127 can be used for "international" characters or special symbols. Codes 128 to 255 can be used as you wish. To enter codes above 127 on keyboards that do not have special keys press and hold the [Alt] key then enter the number on the num-pad, e.g. hold down [Alt] and enter [1] then [2] then [8], then let up [Alt] to enter the code 128 (use this at a lettering prompt or in the edit block text command.) Note that the screen font loaded may or may not display the same characters as the *.FON file, if a special *.808 or *.814 screen font is not available for a *.FON file the default screen font is used. The screen font only effects the text that is displayed as you type (enter) the text in from the keyboard, not what text shows up when the screen redraws the drawing lines.

SELECT:  Command [S]cale from the drawing sub-menu.

ENTER:   4  (Fonts use 96 units per em as the default scale.)

At the top of the drawing editor screen next to the :S you should see 4:S, i.e. scale = 4 now.

PRESS:   [Z]  (Zero the cursor.)

PRESS:   [*] or [PrtSc]  (Redraw screen so it will be at new scale.)

SELECT:  Command [M]ove from the drawing sub-menu.

ENTER:   1  (Set cursor movement to 1 drawing unit [1/96 em].)

You should see 1:M at the top of the screen, move = 1.

The em is a standard typographic measuring unit. One em is usually equal to the width of the capital M in a font. DANCAD3D (tm) uses 96 drawing units (+/- 48) for one em unit. The maximum extension of ascenders and descenders is +/- 127 drawing units. DANCAD3D (tm) has a built in font designing grid that has markings for the em unit and descender limit to help you draw your fonts. The font grid is turned on by selecting the grid command in the drawing editors set up menu.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the drawing sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [S]et-up to enter the set-up sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [G]rid from the set-up sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]ont from the grid menu.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the set-up sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [D]raw from the drawing editor root menu.

To keep this lesson a reasonable length I will just ask you to draw the first three capital letters. Capital A is coded 65 decimal in ASCII. DANCAD3D (tm) has a special grid for making fonts. The em used by DANCAD3D (tm) is 96 drawing units centered on the center-lines of the capitol letters. The "U" shaped compartment at the bottom of the font grid is the limit for the descenders (qypgj). The outer square shows the limit of the font's line extension. No font line may extend beyond the outer square of the font grid (i.e. you should never draw characters outside the outer square. If the font is going to be used with thickened lines try to draw it slightly smaller, say +/- 40 units so that the letter spacing will remain correct when the font is used with thick lines.

To move to the indicated cursor position points you can use the [G]oto point command in the [D]raw lines sub-menu, use the arrow keys, or use the mouse. The tablet can also be used to trace but you would need to adjust the scaling factors, or use the magnify command, to get the character to be the right size. In the [G]oto command you can press [I] to invert (+ to -, - to +) a axis position value rather than having to re-enter the negative or positive value of a value displayed (something you do frequently to draw across X = 0). Pressing [D] doubles a numeric value at a prompt, pressing [H] halves a numeric value. Using the [I]nvert, [D]ouble, and [H]alf commands with the [G]oto point command might make drawing symmetrical things easier. You can change the reading of the position in the drawing editor from absolute to relative by selecting [D]elta when drawing lines, press [./Del] or [MouseRight] on the point to read relative to as the cursor is then moved around. The [R]ecord point and [J]ump to point commands can be used to make returning to a point where lines will meet easier.

If a font is going to be used with an engraving machine the order, and direction, of the lines as they are drawn is important since that order and direction of motion will be used during the cutting, i.e. try to have the motion as continuous as possible so that the tool does not have to keep going up and down.

CURSOR:  -36:X  48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [.] or [Del]  (Mark start of line.)

CURSOR:  0:X  -48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Done with new element message.)

CURSOR:  36:X  48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

CURSOR:  24:X  16:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [.] or [Del]  (Mark start of line.)

CURSOR:  -24:X  16:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

PRESS:   [Z]  (Zero the cursor.)

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the drawing sub-menu.

After drawing the character for the Capitol A we will save the element to the harddisk. When you save character files for a font you need to know the standard ASCII code for the character. A list of characters for ASCII numbers 33 to 126 was given above, codes 128 to 255 do not always have the same use, but some standards for PC's are in place. To see which code numbers are used in a given *.FON file use the commands in the [L]oaded font command you can get by pressing [L] from DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]iles from the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [S]ave from the files sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [W]hole.

SELECT:  Command [A]SCII for the data file type.

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.65  (n.b. 65 is the ASCII code number for A.)

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the files sub-menu.

Well one down two to go. Notice that the cursor should be centered before saving the letter. Before you start the next character use the initialize command to clear the workspace.

SELECT:  Command [I]nitialize from the drawing editor root menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes, clear the workspace.)

Now you will draw a B character.

SELECT:  Command [D]raw from the drawing editor root menu.

CURSOR:  0:X  48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [.] or [Del]  (Mark start of line.)

CURSOR:  -24:X  48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Done with new element message.)

CURSOR:  -24:X  -48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

CURSOR:  0:X  -48:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

CURSOR:  -24:X  0:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [.] or [Del]  (Mark start of line.)

PRESS:   [Z] (Zero graphics cursor.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [0] or [Ins]  (Mark end and draw line.)

CURSOR:  0:X  -24:Y  0:Z

When you are drawing you can turn the "elastic" line that follows the cursor on and off with the [E]lastic line command in the [D]raw lines sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to exit back to the drawing root menu.

SELECT:  Command [3]D-Shapes from the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [P]olygon from the 3D-Shapes sub-menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Proceed with command.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [Escape]  (Cursor is already in position.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [N]  (No need for thick lines.)

ENTER:   36  (Total sides in polygon.)

ENTER:   18  (One half of total sides.)

ENTER:   24  (Radius will be 1/4 em.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept entered values.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes we will need to rotate.)

ENTER:   0  (x axis rotation.)

ENTER:   0  (y axis rotation.)

ENTER:   90  (z axis rotation.)

ENTER:   1  (x magnification [no change].)

ENTER:   1  (y magnification [no change].)

ENTER:   1  (z magnification [no change].)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept entered values.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [N]  (Do not need to drag element.)

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to return to the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [E]lements from the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [C]opy from the elements sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [E]nter element number.

ENTER:   2 (The element number of the half polygon.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [N]  (No need for temporary reference point.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Proceed to set cursor at point.)

CURSOR:  0:X  24:Y  0:Z

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [Escape]  (Exit move cursor menu.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [N]  (Do not need to make more copies.)

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to return to the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]iles from the drawing editor root menu.

PRESS:   [Z]  (Zero the cursor.)

SELECT:  Command [S]ave from the drawing editor files sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [W]hole.  (Save all [3] of the elements as one.)

SELECT:  Command [A]SCII.  (Use the ASCII data file type.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.66  (n.b. 66 is the ASCII code number for B.)

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to return to the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [I]nitialize from the drawing editor root menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes, clear the workspace.)

So that's the general idea. Now do the last one, the C.

SELECT:  Command [3]D-Shapes from the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [P]olygon from the 3D-Shapes sub-menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Proceed with command.)

PRESS:   [Z]  (Zero graphics cursor.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [Escape]  (Exit cursor move menu.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [N]  (Do not need to use thick lines.)

ENTER:   36  (Total sides for polygon.)

ENTER:   24  (Number of sides to actually draw.)

ENTER:   48  (Radius will be 1/2 of an em unit.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept values entered.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes we will need to rotate this one.)

ENTER:   0  (x axis rotation.)

ENTER:   0  (y axis rotation.)

ENTER:   -60  (z axis rotation to move open part to right side.)

ENTER:   1  (No x axis change.)

ENTER:   1  (No y axis change.)

ENTER:   1  (No z axis change.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept values entered.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes drag this element.)

CURSOR:  12:X  0:Y  0:Z  (Move C 12 units to the right.)

You need to press the [Escape] key to exit the Drag command, because the [./Del] and [MouseRight] button are used for drawing lines when in Drag (generally in connection with doing manual cutter radius compensation.) At other times when in the move cursor mode the [MouseRight] button works as the [Escape] key (but not when in Drag.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Exit drag command.  n.b. right button is [Del].)

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to return to the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]iles from the drawing editor root menu.

PRESS:   [Z]  (Zero the cursor.)

SELECT:  Command [S]ave from the drawing editor files sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [W]hole.

SELECT:  Command ASCII.  (Use the ASCII data file type.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.67  (n.b. 67 is the ASCII code number for C.)

SELECT:  Command [Q]uit to return to the main menu.

To review, you drew the first three capital letters to conform to DANCAD3D (tm)'s 96 unit em. You then saved each letter separately using the letters ASCII code for the filename's extension. If you were making a full font you would go on to finish the alphabet and whatever symbols and numerals you also wanted.

Now you will load the separate ASCII 3D files into DANCAD3D (tm)'s font table. The font table is 2D and has the range +/- 127 X and Y integer units. With the em boundary at +/- 48 X and Y, you have some range for descenders and special symbols.

SELECT:  Command [F]iles from DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu.

SELECT:  Command [L]oad from the files sub-menu of the main menu.

SELECT:  Command [T]able from the Load files sub-menu.

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.  (Name of the input file set, ASCII type data.)

Note that you MUST end the filename with a period, or the automatic file directory search will keep coming up since it will think you are asking it to search a sub-directory, with the period at the end or an extension at other prompts it knows you are giving it a filename, i.e. enter "MYL10." and not "MYL10".

ENTER:   65  (Starting ASCII code number of file set.)

ENTER:   67  (Ending ASCII code number of file set.)

Notice the name of the loaded font at the top of the screen changed to ASCIISET.FON, this is an internal file used to hold the font table, you will need to make your own *.FON file for later use, see how to below.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the Load sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the Files sub-menu.

Now you should be back at DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu. When the main menu is displayed you will notice that some of the first letters of some words in the top data box of the main menu become highlighted. Pressing the key of the highlighted letter will activate some special purpose commands. The special purpose commands toggle the [M]acro trace, let you change the status of the [A]utomatic [O]utput macro, and view the contents of the [L]oaded font table. Here we are interested in viewing the font table to check for any errors that may have occurred.

PRESS:   [L]  (The L in Loaded font is highlighted.)

SELECT:  Command [D]isplay loaded font.

SELECT:  Command [T]hick lines.

SELECT:  Command [S]can the ASCII codes.

When the codes 65, 66, and 67 come up you should see your A, B, and C displayed on the screen. This is a built in font display feature that lets you look at each character in the font table. You can use the loaded font display to examine your font before saving the loaded font to a *.FON file to make sure everything looks correct and you didn't accidentally save one of the character drawings with the wrong ASCII code number. If you save a character drawing with the wrong number you can use the file rename command to change the filename, just be sure that you do not overwrite the file for another character by accident.

To abort if the display is still in progress, press [Escape].

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the loaded font sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]iles from the main menu.

SELECT:  Command [S]ave from the files sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]ont from the save sub-menu.

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.FON

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the save files sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape the main menu's files sub-menu.

Now lets see if the font file you just made will work properly when used with the calligraphy commands.

SELECT:  Command [I]nitialize from the main menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes, clear the workspace.)

SELECT:  Command [D]raw from the main menu.

SELECT:  Command [F]ront view.

SELECT:  Command [S]et-up sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [G]rid.

SELECT:  Command [F]ont.  (Select font grid.)

SELECT:  Command [O]ff.  (Turn font grid off.)

If the font grid is not off press [G] [F] [O] again. You can tell if the font grid is off by pressing, [Z] to "zero" the drawing screen cursor back to the workspace center, and then press [*] to redraw the screen on the drawing cursor, then press the [/] key which turns off the drawing cursor, you should not see a dot at the center of the screen, press the [/] key to turn the drawing cursor back on. If you zoom out with the [-] key, and the [*] redraw screen key, you can see the outlines of the font grid in addition to the center dot, when the font grid is turned on.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape back to the drawing editor menu.

SELECT:  Command [C]alligraphy from the drawing editor root menu.

SELECT:  Command [L]ettering from the calligraphy sub-menu.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Proceed.)

PRESS:   [S]  (Set scale in the display drawing editor.)

ENTER:   240  (240 is the default scale, shows about 7 units wide.)

PRESS:   [*] or [PrtSc]  (Re-draw the screen at new scale.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [Escape]  (Exit move cursor.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [N]  (Do not need thick lines.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.FON  (Use the font file you just made.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear the lettering text prompt.)

ENTER:   ABC CBA  (Enter text that uses the characters in the font.)

The next value entry screen that comes up should show the following values, if it does not then press the [SpaceBar] and enter the desired values.

EXAMPLE: X ROTATION.............. = 0
         Y ROTATION.............. = 0
         Z ROTATION.............. = 0
         HEIGHT OF LETTERS....... = 0.1
         LENGTH OF LETTERS....... = 0.1
         ITALIC.................. = 0

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept values entered or given.)

You should also check these values. The height and length of the letters entered here relates to the size of the em unit, and not the actual lines in the letters. Since you can draw the letters a little larger or smaller than the markings on the font grid, the actual letters in your lettering element may be correspondingly larger or smaller. If you need the height of the letters to be some exact amount you can use the [M]agnify or [F]it commands to adjust the lettering element.

EXAMPLE: LETTER SPACING MODE...... = [M]  (For Monospace spacing.)
         WORD SPACING............. = 0.5  (1/2 em unit.)
         LETTER SPACING........... = 1.0  (1 em because of monospace.)
         LETTER AT CURSOR......... = [C]  (Center text on cursor.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept values entered or given.)

Wait for the lettering command to redraw the screen.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape back to the drawing editor menu.

SELECT:  Command [D]raw to enter the drawing sub-menu.

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [./Del]  (Center elastic line.)

PRESS:   [1] or [End]  (Turn on zoom border display.)

PRESS:   [+] [+] [+] [+] [+] [+] [+]  (Press the [+] key seven times.)

PRESS:   [*] or [PrtSc]  (Re-draw the screen at current scale.)

You should see the letters you made in the requested sequence. You can go on and finish this font, or start a new one.

If you wish to edit or modify any of the *.FON files you can use the [F]iles [S]ave [T]able command from DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu to save the font table as a set of individual ASCII drawing files. The [F]iles [S]ave [T]able command converts the *.FON file into a set of numbered ASCII drawing files. Remember when editing the font's ASCII files that the end points of the line segments can only fall on whole number positions, fractional positions will be rounded off when the ASCII set is loaded into the font table. To see how the rounding will look you can use the [C]lean command in DANCAD3D (tm)'s [N]umeric sub- menu from its main menu.

To make a screen font that corresponds to your *.FON file there are some commands in the [C]alligraphy sub-menu. The *.808 and *.814 screen font files are of most use for international or non-standard fonts, since the default screen font has the standard characters. If a *.808 or *.814 screen font file is not in the same sub-directory as the corresponding *.FON file the default screen font file is used, i.e. DANCAD3D.808 or DANCAD3D.814. The *.808 or *.814 screen font files are a binary file type, and the *.F08 or *.F14 are text file versions of the binary screen font files that are used for editing the binary screen font files.

SELECT:  Command [Escape] to escape back to the drawing root menu.

SELECT:  Command [C]alligraphy to enter the calligraphy sub-menu.

SELECT:  Command [S]creen font. (Command to manage screen fonts.)

SELECT:  Command [C]urrent font.

The [C]urrent font command selects the current screen and vector font, this command is usually used to change the font in the [E]dit block command in the [C]alligraphy sub-menu.

ENTER:   MYL10.FON  (The name of the font you just made.)

When you enter the filename, you should press [Escape] before you start typing to clear the prompt, and [Return] after you finish typing to continue.

SELECT:  Command [T]oggle.  (Make sure the current font is active.)

SELECT:  Command [O]n or [K]eep  (Depending on which one comes up.)

SELECT:  Command [S]ave.  (Make a *.F08 or *.F14 file.)

The [S]creen font [S]ave command converts the vector data from the *.FON file (font table), or an existent *.808 or *.814 file, into a special file for editing the screen font. The conversion of a *.FON file into a *.808 or *.814 file does not require editing usually, but the intermediate form *.F08 or *.F14 file allows the pixels in the screen font to be edited in the [W]rite command if you like. The program will make or load *.?08 files if it is running in CGA mode, otherwise it will make or load *.?14 files. Do not mix up the different file types.

If you are repeating the lesson and a *.808 or *.814 file already exists the program will ask you for the source, generally you would answer [N]o, use vector data as source if you had not edited the *.F08 or *.F14 file with [W]rite. If you had edited the *.F08 or *.F14 file with [W]rite and converted the *.F08 or *.F14 file into a *.808 or *.814 file you would use the *.808 or *.814 file as the source. If you use the [S]creen font [S]ave command to overwrite the *.F08 or *.F14 file you will lose all of the changes made in the [W]rite command unless the source *.808 or *.814 file was made from the edited *.F08 or *.F14 file.

SELECT:  Command [Escape].  (Leave the [S]creen font command menu.)

SELECT:  Command [Q]uit.  (Leave the drawing editor.)

SELECT:  Command [W]rite.  (Enter the text editor.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] button or [F1] key.  (Pop-up text editor menu.)

SELECT:  Command [R]ead file.  (Load text file.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Clear filename prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.F??  (File mask to get the right name.)

SELECT:  MYL10.F08 or MYL10.F14  (Only one should come up normally.)

To pick the filename you can use the mouse or cursor keys to highlight the name displayed, then press [Return] or [MouseLeft]. To abort the directory press [Escape] or [MouseRight].

PRESS:  [Return].  (Accept the filename, at the prompt.)

If you forgot to press [Return] to take the filename from the directory to the prompt you may need to press [Return] again. Do not put any extra blank lines at the top of the file!

The *.F08 or *.F14 file will now load into the [W]rite command. Press [PgDn] (page down) until the text cursor is on LINE: 976 COL: 1, as displayed on the second screen line information area at the top of the screen. You need to let up on the [PgDn] key for the read out to show the current line.

The number 65 is the ASCII code number for A. The * and . 8 by 14 symbol grid below the ASCII number is the data for that character or symbol. Unused characters can be made blank with all periods. The 8 by 14 grid is used for editing both the *.F08 and *.F14 files, with the *.F08 files you should only use the top 8 lines for each character.

You can press [Ins] so that the INS under [F1]=MENU at the top of the screen disappears, then type over the symbols * (asterisk) and . (period). The asterisks stand for pixel on, and the periods stand for pixel off. The ASCII numbers 65 = A, 66 = B, and 67 = C, i.e. the three characters you have already made. Press [DownArrow] to look at the three characters in this font. Do not edit the characters now, since you do not want the *.F08 or *.F14 file ruined before you finish this lesson.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [F1]  (Pop-up the text editor menu.)

SELECT:  Command [W]rite file.  (Save "edited" *.F08 or *.F14 file.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [Escape]  (Clear the filename prompt.)

SELECT:  MYL10.F08 or MYL10.F14  (Enter the same name that was just loaded.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Overwrite to save changes.)

You should not have made any changes to your *.F08 or *.F14 file, but if you do later the steps described here are what you would have to go through to have your changes show up later in the *.808 or *.814 screen font file produced. If you do edit your *.F08 or *.F14 file, do not add any lines, or alter the text in the *.F08 or *.F14 file other than to change the pixel values as described above. You can use the overwrite text option in the [W]rite command when you change the pixel values from * to . or . to * without having to use the [Delete] or [Backspace] keys to remove the extra characters you would get when using the text insert mode, i.e. INS, you press [Ins] on your keyboard to toggle insert mode on and off.

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [F1]  (Pop-up the text editor menu.)

SELECT:  Command [Q]uit.  (Leave the text editor.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Y]  (Yes to Quit [W]rite.)

SELECT:  Command [D]raw.  (Enter the drawing editor.)

PRESS:   [MouseLeft] or [Return]  (Accept screen update list as is.)

SELECT:  Command [F]ront view.  (Text normally is done in Front view.)

SELECT:  Command [C]alligraphy.  (Enter Calligraphy sub-menu.)

SELECT:  Command [S]creen font.  (Enter Screen font sub-menu.)

SELECT:  Command [L]oad.  (Convert *.F08/F14 file to *.808/814 file.)

The Load screen font command loads the *.F08 or *.F14 file into the screen font array, then makes a *.808 or *.814 file on the disk. (You had already entered the current font filename to use, so you do not need to enter it again.) To have the screen font files load automatically, they need to have the same name and path as the *.FON vector font file, i.e. MYFONT1.FON, MYFONT1.F14, MYFONT1.814. See the commands in the [F]iles [S]ave and [F]iles [L]oad menus from DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu to edit the *.FON files.

SELECT:  Command [Escape].  (Leave the [S]creen font sub-menu.)

Now you will see how the screen font you just made looks on screen. Since you only made three letters, A, B, and C, those are the only letters that will show up when you type text. If you had made all the letters, numbers, and symbols, they could also be displayed.

SELECT:  Command [E]dit block.  (Enter [E]dit block text command.)

PRESS:   [MouseRight] or [Escape]  (Clear text at the prompt.)

ENTER:   MYL10.TXT  (The file name to save the block text under.)

After you type the filename into the filename prompt, you should then press [Return] to continue. Command [E]dit block is a small text editor that works in graphics mode so that any special screen fonts can be displayed.

TYPE:    ABC

Not much in the way of text, but you should get the idea of how some of the commands are used.

PRESS:   [F1]  (Bring up the edit block command help screen.)

PRESS:   [Return]  (Quit the help screen.)

PRESS:   [Escape]  (Quit the [E]dit block text command.)

PRESS:   [Return]  (Accept the same filename.)

Now you should be back in the [C]alligraphy sub-menu. If you had made a useful text file with [E]dit block, you could convert that text file into a drawing element with the [B]lock text command in the [C]alligraphy sub-menu. If you need to make a font that is entered right to left, reverse each symbol on the X axis, and view the monitor in a mirror when you type the lettering in, then use the [F]lip command in the [E]lements sub- menu to reverse the block of text. The same idea can be adapted if the text in some language is entered bottom to top. Since many languages enter left to right the [E]dit block command can be used as it is for them.

SELECT:  Command [Q]uit  (Return to the main menu.)

PRESS:   [O]  (Select Output macro mode set-up menu.)

PRESS:   [S]  (Select Stop output macro file outputting.)

If you have trouble getting this lesson to come out right, check to see if a file called MYL10.ZIP file is available from the download section. MYL10.ZIP contains files that I made with the automatic output macro feature while I worked through the lesson. If MYL10.ZIP is not available, and you had the output macro feature on while you worked through steps in this lesson you made own copy of MYL10.MAC called MYL10.MAC and the other files used in this lesson, if the files do not look right you can use the [W]rite command to read over the macro commands in MYL10.MAC to try to find where you went wrong.

See file D3000010.GIF for an illustration of what you should end up with.