=============================================================================
                                   Oblique
                            Matt Browne, 1993-1995
                           Copyright RISC User 1995
                                 Version 1.12
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                        RISC OS 3 and later compatible


--> Introduction

Oblique is a program that lets you create oblique (sort-of italic) fonts. All
you have to do is specify a font for the program to use, and it will create
an oblique version of it.

Please note that both Oblique and the oblique fonts it creates are only
compatible with RISC OS 3 and later.

Oblique is written in 100% ARM Assembler for speed and efficiency. It uses
DoggySofts excellent WimpExtension module. (For the latest version of
WimpExtension, please contact DoggySoft.)

It follows normal RISC OS conventions - so if you cant work out how to use
Obliques user interface, please consult your Welcome Guide!

Please note that this application is quite old, which explains the user
interface, which is fairly tacky in places. Please dont disassemble the code
because it doesnt represent my up-to-date programming ability and style! :-)
(Most of this documentation was written a long time ago too! :-) )


--> Using Oblique

If you click over the Oblique icon bar icon with Select, the Oblique main
window will be opened up. In the main window, you will see two main groups.
One is entitled Font to use and another entitled Changes.

Inside the Font to use group there are two icons. Clicking on either of
them will bring up a font menu. You should select a font from this menu, and
the name of it will be placed in the icon inside the Font to use group.
This will be the font the computer will create an oblique version of.

Inside the Changes group there are two radio icons - Auto and
Manual. Also, there are lots of other icons underneath these radio icons
that are greyed out if the Auto radio icon is set. Usually, the Auto
setting will be the best to use. You can use the Manual setting to
fine-tune the settings. I will come to this setting in detail later.

Usually, you will find that the Auto setting the easiest to use - if
this is selected (which is default) the computer will use its default values
for creating the oblique version of the selected font and you dont need to
bother with anything else.

If you use the Manual setting, the other icons in the Changes group
will be un-greyed-out (!) so that you can fine-tune the values that will be
used to create the oblique version of the selected font. This is not normallyneeded, but with a bit of patience you can create some nice effects. If you
click on the writable icons, you can enter the values that will be used. You
can enter the Width of the new font, the rotation, the shear (italic angle),
the height, the horizontal offset, and the vertical offset.

If you get into a mess with any of the settings, press the Defaults
button at the bottom of the window to bring back all the default values.

The Re-scan button at the bottom of the window scans the font directories
again, to detect any changes. This has the effect of updating the font
selection menu. (In Oblique and in most other applications too.) Everything
is rescanned after a new font is created in Oblique automatically.

Once you have finished, click on OK to create the new font. Note that the
new font may not be included onto the font lists until the next reset or
whatever, so reset your computer before you start complaining that the
program hasnt worked!

The quickest (and probably best) way to create a new oblique font is to just
choose the font you want to use, make sure that the Auto setting is on, and
then just click on OK!

Its worth repeating that the fonts Oblique creates are only compatible with
RISC OS 3 and later.


--> Address

Please feel free to contact me at the following address:
   Matt Browne
    5 Inglefield
     Potters Bar
      Herts
       EN6 1HD

Or phone (01707) 652366; or email via grom@arcade.demon.co.uk

Be seeing you!
Matt Browne, 23rd March 1995