Microsoft KB Archive/51055

Mac Daisy Link: Using Proportional Fonts in Word PSS ID Number: Q51055 Article last modified on 05-16-1991 PSS database name: M_DaisyLnk

1.1.3MS

MACINTOSH

Summary:

Proportional printing is possible using Mac Daisy Link but it is difficult to get precision printing, which depends greatly on the capabilities of the daisywheel printer and the fonts available to you.

If you are using GDT Softworks’ Mac Daisy Link and its daisywheel printer has the ability to use proportionally spaced print wheels, you can get proportionally spaced text when printing. However, it is only an approximation because there are currently no screen fonts designed to match print wheels exactly.

GDT Softworks currently recommends using only its fonts, such as Langley; the company does not have any proportional Mac Daisy Link fonts available.

The following are some possible methods of approximating proportionality:


 * 1) Experiment with using a font that comes close to the proportionality of the type wheel. Fonts that have fairly standard spacing are Times, Helvetica, and Geneva, in order of spacing width (Times has the least variation in character and Geneva the most). Usually a font can be found that has fairly close, but not exact, proportionality to the wheel font.
 * 2) Standard wheel fonts, such as ITC Souvenir, which have screen fonts with the same name, may or may not be similar. This inconsistency can occur because the wheel font may be licensed to a company that does not size the font in terms of points, and thus has different spacing, character size, etc. However, experimenting with the point size of the screen font may result in finding a close approximation.
 * 3) Instead of the specific printer driver, put the driver in Typewriter mode, and use the Langley fonts [which are nonproportional (monospaced)]. Then, if the printer allows it, manually put the printer in proportional mode, usually with a button or a switch. However, this procedure creates justification problems if full or right justification is an option. If you use this method, use only left justification, which lets the printer control all the proportionality instead of Word.
 * 4) Custom fonts can be created with font building programs, such as Fontastic. These fonts can be made to more closely match a particular wheel.
 * 5) Try a larger font and scale it down, that is, try using Venice 14 at 11 points. This process sometimes works better than a specific sized font.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1991.