1,+--./01Font Preview 1.3 - A Tool to Preview Windows Fonts

Function: Preview displays a list of all typefaces supported by the current printer. Click on a typeface, and a sample of the face is drawn in the window on the right. Option buttons along the top let you print a sample typeface sheet,choose the font size, set a new text string, get font metrics, and Exit.

Installation: Copy preview.exe to any directory you wish. You can launch it from Program Manager or your favorite menu system. There are no special requirements.

Operation: Preview displays a list of available typefaces in a list box on the left side of the workspace, and a sample of the current font in the larger window at the right. You choose a face by clicking on the name in the list box, or moving the highlight with the cursor keys. You can change the font size by clicking the font size button, and choosing a new size. You can change the sample string by clicking the String button and entering the new text(52 characters max). The printer button brings up a print configuration dialog which lets you choose the font size for printing a font sample sheet and also has a Setup button to run the printer device dialog. The Text Metrics button displays all the font metrics for the current font , first as realized for the screen, then as realized for the printer.

Font Sizes:The font size dialog box displays all available sizes for non-scalable fonts, and some representative sizes (up to 198 points) for scalable ones. These sizes are obtained from Windows and the current printer driver. If you select a raster, non-scalable font and the current font size is not available, the closest available size (as determined by Windows) will be displayed. If you change typefaces and don't request a new font size, Preview requests the closest available font size for the sample window. This may result in displaying a font size that is not actually available for the current printer - if that is important, check the font sizes button first.

Uses: Preview is an easy way to preview and select typefaces while in your favorite DTP or Word Processing program. Just run Preview, and keep it as an icon, or hidden behind the main program window. When you need it, click on the icon, or switch windows with alt-tab. Preview was written to minimize its use of system resources, so hopefully this will be practical for you. Preview can also print a typeface sample sheet that displays the typeface name, size, and some characters from the alphabet, one typeface per line.

Font Metrics: The best explanation of the various measures is given in Petzold's Programming Windows book. Most of the information is in pixels (the default mapping mode), and generally reflects the values for each face name as realized for the current printer. One exception is the weight, which is uniformly set to 400 (i.e. medium), as the default value is often too heavy. Both screen and printer resolution font metrics are given.

Constraints: Must be run on a 286 CPU or later.The more fonts that are installed, the more memory Preview will need (although this burden should not be too great). Preview will attempt to synthesize whatever font size is requested on the screen, even though it may not be available for the printer. This makes for a more usable display, but remember to use the font sizes button if you want an exact sizing.

Copyright Notice: Font Preview is a copyrighted work of Doug Overmyer. However, it may be used freely, and distributed so long as this explanation accompanies the original executable file.

Credits: Preview makes extensive use of the TPrinter unit developed by Bob Galivan and available on CompuServe in the Borland Tubro Pascal forum. I have not included that source code, as it is best obtained from Bob himself. I have included the extensions I use to provide support for changing printer fonts and setting margins. Many thanks to Bob for the code and the detailed explanation he provided.

Disclaimer: You use this program ENTIRELY at your own risk. It may or may not be suitable for your needs. Any loss you suffer is at your own cost. I do hope, however, that you find it useful.

Notes: Preview is written in Turbo Pascal for Windows. It has been tested with ATM and the standard Windows fonts, at VGA, super-VGA, and 1024 resolutions in 256 color mode. Release 1.2 added all iconic buttons, text metrics, and a more appropriate selection of font sizes. Minor name change. Release 1.3 added the printing option, changed font metrics to screen and printer resolution, added a few more pieces of info in the static text area, and reworked the iconic buttons again.

Problems, Suggestions: Please drop me a note on CIS:71021,2535

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