The following lists the topics covered in this reference for the FONT MAGIC program. To go to a given topic area, just select the item with your mouse by clicking the left mouse button.
A brief synopsis of the purpose and use of this program.
A brief section describing the use of this manual in a browser environment.
This section explains how to load the FONT MAGIC software and documentation files. It also describes the various setup files that need to be in place for proper operation of the program.
Describes how to launch the program from with Anvil-5000.
The program provides the user the ability to load or import AutoCAD® compiled shape files or fonts. These files have an extension of ".SHX". There is no need to have the source code to the AutoCAD fonts. This section describes the other general font functions such as: deleting a font, selecting the default font from all loaded fonts, viewing the available and non-available characters for a font, text regeneration, automatic conversion of Anvil-5000 text to FONT MAGIC text and vice versa, querying attributes of FONT MAGIC text, and setting of program parameters.
Covers the various topics concerned with the creation of a FONT MAGIC text string.
Explains the ways in which you can edit text, modify a text strings font, and change certain text parameters.
FONT MAGIC text strings can be moved in their entirety or you may move only certain characters from within the string.
Reference information about the user defined entities and various other topics related to the FONT MAGIC program.
Copyrights and TrademarksHow to reach ADG for help on the use and installation of this program.
Go to Top of the Table of Contents
The FONT MAGIC© program is for use with Anvil-5000® software. The program will allow users to create and manipulate text/note entities using external font files (currently set for compiled AutoCAD shape files *.SHX). The program allows the user to load fonts, create text, edit text, move and delete text. Text can be created as standard text or it can be represented as individual line entities for use in creating 3D effects by projecting the lines in 3D space. The program makes extensive use of User Defined Entities to create the display of the text itself. There are five underlying User Defined Entity types which make up the overall system. The user can convert existing Anvil-5000 NOTE entities into FONT MAGIC text and vice versa.
Future versions of this program will include the ability to mix and match fonts of individual characters in a single text string, individually change the size of characters in a given string, and the capability to load fonts from other sources besides AutoCAD - such as Windows® True Type fonts, Anvil-5000 Character Set fonts, and others.
Use of this program assumes a certain level of basic knowledge in the interactive use of Anvil-5000. Information on interaction items such as Done, Reject, and Yes/No prompts can be found in the Anvil-5000 Electronic Reference manual.
The FONT MAGIC User Guide describes all the functions and capabilities in the FONT MAGIC program. Hypertext links are used to assist you in navigating to the desired information. Simply place the cursor over the hypertext text link ( this link jumps to itself ), then click once on the left mouse button.
This manual is broken up into sections which follow the main menu of the program. At the end of each section is a link which will return you back to the previous level. This works in much the same way that the menus in the program will work.
The text files comprising this manual are in HTML 2.0 format and the graphics files are in GIF format with transparent backgrounds. This reference can be viewed with any viewer or World-Wide Web browser that supports version 2.0 or above of the HTML (hypertext mark-up language) specification. The HTML text files can be placed in any directory you wish. In a default installation, they are placed in a directory named fmdocs which is one level below the FONT MAGIC directory. For example, on a DOS personal computer, the default location is c:\fntmagic\fmdocs. However, the GIF files must be placed in a subdirectory that is one level below the document directory and named "graphics" (for example, c:\fntmagic\fmdocs\graphics).
Note: The text files in this manual have a filename extension of htm, which you may need to alias to html for some UNIX browsers.
The table of contents which begins this document is in the file fmmain.htm. (The search path to this file, of course, depends on the FONT MAGIC directory structure that has been set up at your site.)
Note: When viewing this document, your ability to search for specific alphanumeric text strings, to save your own bookmarks, or to move back and forth through the pages you have already seen is controlled by the capabilities programmed into your viewer or browser.
How to Contact ADG Technical Support
Anomaly Report Forms
Enhancement Request Forms
You can get answers to all of your FONT MAGICTM questions by phone, fax, or e-mail. All requests for information will be returned ASAP but never more than 24 business hours.
Phone: (317) 595-8996
Fax: (317) 595-8996
Email: adgi@iquest.net
Please be sure to read through this entire User Guide before contacting us. This on-line manual covers the installation and use of the entire program.
Questions on unit pricing, site licensing, or planned enhancements should be directed to Steve Grusak, sgrusak@adgi.com.
We strongly recommend that every company using FONT MAGIC have a mandatory, written procedure for recording any problems which might be encountered. This allows you to evaluate the frequency of problems and their distribution among users. It also enables you to provide a more accurate description of the problems you report to ADG, making it easier for us to solve them and to suggest temporary work-arounds and avoidance strategies.
Any problem that cannot be solved after due evaluation at your site should be reported to ADG on the Anomaly Report form. Please use a separate form for each problem report.
The best method for improving the FONT MAGIC program is through your suggestions. All FONT MAGIC users are encouraged to submit proposals for improving and upgrading future releases using the Enhancement Request forms included with this documentation.
The completed form should be mailed to Applications Development Group, Inc., 8333 Barstow Drive, Fishers, IN 46038, U.S.A. or faxed to the number on the form.
This reference manual is the confidential and proprietary information of Applications Development Group, Inc., and is protected as an unpublished work. Any unauthorized use, reproduction or transfer is strictly prohibited.
Copyright © 1998 by Applications Development Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Note: In the event a licensed copy of FONT MAGIC software is being run over a computer network, Applications Development Group, Inc. ("ADG") hereby grants to Customer the right to copy the HTML text files and the GIF graphics files that comprise this reference manual from the server machine to the client machine, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable FONT MAGIC software license agreement.
FONT MAGIC is a trademark of Applications Development Group, Inc.
ANVIL, ANVIL-5000, GRAPL-IV, and the MCS logo are registered trademarks of Manufacturing and Consulting Services, Inc. GRAPL is a trademark of Manufacturing and Consulting Services, Inc.
Other companies' trademarks are used for product identification only, and no claim of ownership by Applications Development Group, Inc. is intended or should be inferred.
Applications Development Group, Inc.
8333 Barstow Drive
Fishers, IN 46038, U.S.A.
Phone: (317) 595-8996
Fax: (317) 595-8996
E-mail: adgi@iquest.net