STEP BY STEP:  How to Use GRABFONT by Pat Herrington
 
This program is self-explanatory...  so let me explain it.
 
<GRIN>
 
But SERIOUSLY, folks...  some people are intimidated by a new 
program, and like to have the most explicit directions possible.  
I should KNOW, because I'm ONE of them!
 
If you are NOT one of US, you can skip this entire doc file.  But 
if you ARE, read on...
 
Don't let the length of this file make you wary.  The program is 
VERY simple!  After you've used the program just ONCE, you will 
probably never need to refer to the docs again.  (But if you DO, 
they're HERE for you!)
 
First of all...  and I MEAN this!...  you need to get out any 
good copy utility and make yourself a WORKING copy of GRABFONT.  
Then put your original away in a safe place.  I know you are 
anxious to have a look at the program, but I really can't stress 
enough how important it is to make a backup FIRST!
 
You also need a picture file saved in SmartPAINT format.  (That's 
the type of file which ends in .HRP.) This file must be arranged 
so that all the letters you wish to convert to a font appear in 
the correct order, as shown on the templates contained on this 
medium.  If you are anxious to try out the program BEFORE making 
such a file, you can use any of the GRABFONT files ending in 
.HRP.  They were deliberately included for just that reason.
 
Now you are ready to try out the program.  It is self-booting; 
just stick it in the drive and pull the RESET switch.
 
After the program has loaded, you will see Bob Sebelist's opening 
screen.  It will tell you to PRESS ANY KEY TO BEGIN.
 
You may now remove your GRABFONT disk and put it away...  unless, 
of course, you want to use one of the SmartPAINT files thereon.
 
After you have pressed a key the display will change to the 
CHANGE DRIVES menu.  The defaults are set up so that you will 
load your SmartPAINT picture from Disk Drive One, and save your 
new font to Disk Drive Two.  If that's what you want, you're all 
set.  Just press C to continue.
 
If you want to change either option, then press S to change the 
Source drive or T to change the Target drive.  The display will 
change to a new menu which prompts you to enter the number 
corresponding to whichever drive you want to change.  There is 
also the option to press B, which will "BACK UP" one screen to 
the previous menu.
 
When you have set both your Source and Target drives to suit 
yourself, press C to continue.  (Yes, you CAN have your Source 
and Target on the same drive.)
 
Now you will see the screen which prompts you to enter filenames.  
(There are no catalog options on this program, so you need to 
know the exact name of the SmartPAINT file you want to get!) 
Press S, and then enter the filename.  It is NOT necessary to add 
the ".HRP" file extension...  the program will do that FOR you.  
If your filename is fewer than six characters, you may see 
something on your screen like "File.HRPGR" instead of "File.HRP".  
That doesn't matter.
 
Now, press T to enter the name you want to use for your new font 
set.  Again, you do not need to enter the ".fnt" extension.  The 
program will automatically do it for you.  And again, if you see 
something like "New.FNTFNT", it is NOT a problem.  It just means 
you didn't use up all the characters available.
 
After you've entered both filenames, simply press C to continue.  
You will be prompted to place the SOURCE disk in the drive you 
have selected for the Source, and to press any key when ready.  
Again, you can also choose to press B to Back Up one menu, if you 
have made a mistake or changed your mind.
 
That's really HANDY, too.  Because if you have entered a filename 
that does NOT exist on your Source disk, the program will crash.  
If this should happen, you will find yourself back in BASIC.  But 
that's really not a problem.  You can enter the command CATALOG 
in order to verify the filenames on your disk; then simply enter 
RUN to start all over from scratch.
 
Once the filenames are entered correctly and you have pressed C 
to Continue, the screen will display the message "CONVERSION IN 
PROGRESS...  GETTING (file).HRP".  This only takes a second or 
two, because it only loads the first 3k HRP file.  Then it will 
display "CONVERTING (file)".  Again, this takes just a second or 
two.  
 
You will now be prompted to enter the disk which will contain 
your new font in the Target drive you have selected, and to press 
any key to continue.
 
You will see the message, "CONVERSION PROCEEDING...  SAVING 
(file)".  This too takes only a second, after which the screen 
will change again, to display the message "CONVERSION COMPLETED..  
CONVERT ANOTHER [Y/N]".  You'll press Y for Yes if you want to 
convert another SmartPAINT file to a font, and, of course, N for 
No if you do not.
 
If you press N, you will be back in SmartBASIC.  To clear the 
screen, you can enter HOME.  (The screen LOOKS like it's in 
graphic mode, but it really isn't.  It's in TEXT mode.  Check out 
Bob Sebelist's docs for more information.)
 
If you press Y, you will start the program again.  
 
One thing you might want to know:  as of this writing, the 
program goes back to the default drives every time you restart 
it.  If you are happy with the defaults, fine; but if you want to 
use different drive options, you will need to reenter them each 
time you convert another file.  
 
Now, it seems to me that I have pretty much covered everything 
you need to know about using GRABFONT.  But it's pretty easy to 
overlook something when you are trying to write "Step-by-Step" 
docs!  So if I've managed to leave out something which YOU 
consider important, please don't hesitate to let me know!
 
In any case, this doc file covers ONLY the program itself.  It 
doesn't tell you anything about how to prepare your own 
SmartPAINT (HRP) file in the first place.  When you want to know 
more about THAT topic, please consult the doc file hereon 
entitled "HRP DOC".  
 
--- Patricia Herrington 1003 OAK LANE APOPKA FL 32703 October 24, 
1993
t how to prepare your own 
SmartPAINT (HRP) file in the first place. 