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From: elric@imryrr.Sun.COM (Rick Heli)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x,comp.fonts
Subject: OpenFonts under X11
Message-ID: <132747@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 9 Mar 90 18:09:10 GMT
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Lines: 76

Here's some information on how you can use the recently announced F3
format OpenFonts with the MIT sample server:

Anyone running OpenWindows has access to 57 F3 format fonts which can
be used to create MIT X11 format bitmap fonts.  The procedure described
here will also work for any of the 627 F3 format fonts available from vendors
as well (possibly subject to licensing restrictions -- check with vendors).

To do this, you'll need

	any F3 format font (available from font vendors, see attached
	message, or on the Sun OpenWindows tape)

	makeafb and convertfont (binaries available with Sun OpenWindows)

	bdftosnf (utility shipped with MIT X11)
	
OpenFonts may be transformed into a format appropriate for the MIT sample
server using the OpenWindows utilities makeafb and convertfont.

The OpenFont file (with suffix .f3b) needs to be converted into a 
font binary or font metric file.  Use makeafb, e. g.:

	% makeafb /home/openwin/lib/fonts/AvantGarde-Book.f3b

This will create several Adobe format bitmap font files (.afb) and/or
Adobe format metric files (.afm) with point sizes 6,8,10,12,14,16 and 18.
(Note that if you are starting with .afb or .fb files, you can skip this step.)  
To convert these files to X format (.bdf), use convertfont:

	% convertfont -x Av*.afb

This will create a .bdf file for each .afb.  Convert each to a .snf
file (such as the sample server uses) via bdftosnf, e. g.:

	% bdftosnf -t AvGBk14.bdf > AvGBk14.snf

Use xset to tell the server about these new fonts:

	% xset +fp `pwd`
	% xset rehash

The fonts are now available to any client wishing to use them.  You can
use xlsfonts or inspect the .bdf files to discern the actual font names.



For those unfamiliar with F3 fonts, a recent press release, minus most
of the marketing hype:
 
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --March 5, 1990-- Sun Microsystems today
announced that 627 F3(TM) format fonts are available to Sun workstation
users as part of Sun's OpenFonts(TM) font technology.

At the heart of OpenFonts is F3, an open, intelligent outline font
description.  These fonts are automatically created with Sun's
TypeMaker(TM) software, then generated as bitmaps for any raster device
-- from computer screens to typesetters -- at any resolution by
TypeScaler(TM) software.

OpenFonts includes such easy-to-use tools that more than 600 F3 fonts
have been created in a year.

...

"There should be well over 1,000 F3 fonts available within 10 months."

Software developers using OpenWindows can create applications that
utilize F3 fonts.  Users of Sun workstations can also get OpenFonts as
part of OpenWindows.  While 57 resident fonts are included in
OpenWindows, developers and end users can acquire many more at low cost
from type suppliers.

						Rick Heli
						Internet:  rheli@sun.COM
						UUCP:      ...!sun!rheli