This is the first in a series of comments about using PageStream 5.0.5.6 running under Snow Leopard (OS X). Here my Snow Leopard version is 10.6.3. I'm using the Pro version of 5.0.5.6 which might be relevant now and then.

I hope the experienced Mac users will not be too harsh on my ignorance of the Mac.

Font Families:
By selecting «File -> System Preferences... -> Fonts» I find that

-- The area "Installed Font Folders" is empty

-- The option "Include System Fonts" is check-marked, hence one has access to all the 'regular' fonts on the Mac, most of which are uninteresting (to me) but some are necessary.

-- The "Default folder" is given as «/Users/'my_user_name'» which is not very useful at this point since I've not placed any font families in that directory.

I presume one can use the True Type fonts that version 5.0.3.3 (Amiga) uses!

But where should those True Type font families be placed in the MacIntosh environment?

Which, if any, of the MacIntosh fonts are necessary for PageStream 5.0.5.6 to function?

Thank you and

Cheers,
Don (Green Dragon)

fergdc@Shaw.ca wrote:
> This is the first in a series of comments about using PageStream 5.0.5.6 running under Snow Leopard (OS X). Here my Snow Leopard version is 10.6.3. I'm using the Pro version of 5.0.5.6 which might be relevant now and then.
>
> I hope the experienced Mac users will not be too harsh on my ignorance of the Mac.
>
> Font Families:
> By selecting «File -> System Preferences... -> Fonts» I find that
>
> -- The area "Installed Font Folders" is empty
>

No surprise. You have not added any PageStream specific folder of fonts.
PageStream on the Mac (and linux and windows) users the installed system
fonts by default. Since most users on those computers user either
TrueType or Type 1 fonts, and so does PageStream, that works out well.
If you add a font to your system in a OS X standard way (generally by
double clicking on the font and then choosing Add, or dragging it to the
system font folder /Library/Fonts or user font folder ~/Library/Fonts)
then that font is available to all OS X applications that use fonts
including PageStream!

The only time you would use the PageStream Fonts prefs dialog is if for
some reason you had a font or fonts that you only wanted to use in
PageStream and did not want to make it available to other applications.

> -- The option "Include System Fonts" is check-marked, hence one has access to all the 'regular' fonts on the Mac, most of which are uninteresting (to me) but some are necessary.
>
> -- The "Default folder" is given as «/Users/'my_user_name'» which is not very useful at this point since I've not placed any font families in that directory.
>

Well, it can't read minds, and that is the most logical place to start from.

> I presume one can use the True Type fonts that version 5.0.3.3 (Amiga) uses!
>

Yes, it can use Amiga (Windows) Type 1, Mac Type 1, TrueType, OpenType,
and few other odd balls containers like Suitcases with Type1 inside.

> But where should those True Type font families be placed in the MacIntosh environment?
>

Depends on if you want them available to all users (/Library/Fonts),
just you (~/Library/Fonts), or just you running PageStream (store any
place you like, add the font path using PageStream's Fonts prefs).
> Which, if any, of the MacIntosh fonts are necessary for PageStream 5.0.5.6 to function?
>

No specific font is necessary, but you do need at least 1TrueType or
Type1 font available to PageStream. I would suggest more than 1, but
that is your call.

Deron

> Thank you and
>
> Cheers,
> Don (Green Dragon)

--
Deron Kazmaier - support@pagestream.org
Grasshopper LLC Publishing -http://www.pagestream.org
PageStream DTP for Amiga, Linux, Macintosh, and Windows

Hi Deron,

Thanks for the reply. Quite useful here.

On 2010-0809-, at 5:31 PM, PageStream Support wrote:

> <<snip>>
> > Font Families:
> > By selecting «File -> System Preferences... -> Fonts» I find that
> >
> > -- The area "Installed Font Folders" is empty
>
> No surprise. You have not added any PageStream specific folder of fonts.

Yes, and I simply wanted any reader to know that.

> PageStream on the Mac (and linux and windows) users the installed system
> fonts by default. Since most users on those computers user either
> TrueType or Type 1 fonts, and so does PageStream, that works out well.

Works very nicely here.

> If you add a font to your system in a OS X standard way (generally by
> double clicking on the font and then choosing Add, or dragging it to the
> system font folder /Library/Fonts or user font folder ~/Library/Fonts)
> then that font is available to all OS X applications that use fonts
> including PageStream!

Very good. Now I know where all those Mac fonts are located. I'll start putting some fonts in ~/Library/Fonts.

> The only time you would use the PageStream Fonts prefs dialog is if for
> some reason you had a font or fonts that you only wanted to use in
> PageStream and did not want to make it available to other applications.

OK

> > -- The option "Include System Fonts" is check-marked, hence one has access to all the 'regular' fonts on the Mac, most of which are uninteresting (to me) but some are necessary.
> >
> > -- The "Default folder" is given as «/Users/'my_user_name'» which is not very useful at this point since I've not placed any font families in that directory.
>
> Well, it can't read minds, and that is the most logical place to start from.

I was not attempting to be critical! I agree with your observation about reading minds. From your comments above, I know what to do now.

> > I presume one can use the True Type fonts that version 5.0.3.3 (Amiga) uses!
>
> Yes, it can use Amiga (Windows) Type 1, Mac Type 1, TrueType, OpenType,
> and few other odd balls containers like Suitcases with Type1 inside.

Very good.

> > But where should those True Type font families be placed in the MacIntosh environment?
>
> Depends on if you want them available to all users (/Library/Fonts),
> just you (~/Library/Fonts), or just you running PageStream (store any
> place you like, add the font path using PageStream's Fonts prefs).

Okay, I took a look in the directories that you noted, and know what I'll do now. Thanks.

> > Which, if any, of the MacIntosh fonts are necessary for PageStream 5.0.5.6 to function?
>
> No specific font is necessary, but you do need at least 1TrueType or
> Type1 font available to PageStream. I would suggest more than 1, but
> that is your call.

Don't wish to be mean to PageStream, so I'll make sure it has more than one to use.