| ★ APPLICATIONS ★ PAO/PRESSE ★ PAGE SETTER 64 ★ |
PAGE SETTER 64 (Amstrad Action) | PAGE SETTER 64 (Amstrad Computer User) |
Setting it up Yvonne Taylor takes a peek at a bit of DTP on the cheap side Page Setter 64 is a desktop publishing program for the 64K Amstrad CPC with disk or tape drive. Hie program is divided into three parts; the main program, a text editor and a graphics editor. The text editor allows the user to enter and manipulate text and font files, individually, for use later in the main program. The manual does say that when designing fonts any character can be defined anywhere in the set but goes on to advise users to stay with the standard ASCII pattern to avoid difficulties. The graphics editor allows the user to design graphics or load them in from elsewhere. Outside graphics can be loaded in only if they have been saved in standard format with a .BIN extension. Graphics can be made-up of separate design elements e.g. lines and polygons, the polygons must have their sides defined before you draw them,when you have they can be filled by selecting fill from the menu and placing a cross hair inside the object. The fill is fairly fast and can be one of 1(5 fill patterns. In this way with a little talent you can brighten up your pages and break-up monotonous text blocks. The entire program is run by a set of menus where options are selected by an arrow pointer in a wimp-like environment. The main menu allows the user to carry out or access all the main functions of the program. It is from there that graphic, text, font or library files can be loaded from the RAM disk system. Text can be placed in blocks, each of a different font, and word wrapped and justified. Graphic files also can be placed into 64 different blocks and used as many times as the user chooses. For those needing to design boxes, the screen can be formed into a grid of 80 by 50. Box parts e.g. corners crossbars etc. are selected from th menu and may be placed in any of the grid squares in-order to form boxes and grids. These files can be changed if the user wishes. The standard Amstrad font is selected by choosing none of the directory font files. Each of the three program areas has an option for Extras. This option gives functions not able to fit in the other menu categories. Depending on the program area in use, this option could allow the changing of border colour, the addition of one of 16 fill patterns, the sending of printer codes to the printer, or the sending of the current file direct to the printer. From the original menu, users may select the option to load a library (LIB) file. There can be up to 8 in the memory at any one time and they can be used to load in such things as printer drivers. The Print option of Page Setter 64 was designed for use wit h the Amstrad DMP 9000 series but will operate with Epson compatible printers as standard. The standard printout will be A4 in size but can be reduced to half length and a third or two thirds width for proofing your work or publication of differing sizes. The print quality can be changed to give a high quality print if the user wishes to improve presentation. I would always use this on final print outs but speed draught will do for proof checking your work. The first and last lines of the page can be manipulated during this option and the printer can be instructed to inverse black and white from screen to printout. At only £10.00 for tape or disk Page setter represents value for money the menus are well laid out though I would like to see some use of colour to brighten up the screen. The program is very workman like and not over user friendly though it does the job allowing you to produce news letters etc. without spending hundreds of pounds. YT, ACU #9102 |
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