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_setfont
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─────Run-Time Library───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The _setfont function finds a single font, from the set of
registered fonts, that has the characteristics specified by the
<options> string. If a font is found, it is made the current font.
The current font is used in all subsequent calls to the _outgtext
function. There can be only one active font at any time.
The <options> string is a set of characters that specifies the
desired characteristics of the font. The _setfont function
searches the list of registered fonts for a font matching the
specified characteristics.
The characteristics that can be specified in the <options> string
are shown in the list below. Characteristics specified in the
<options> string are neither case sensitive nor position sensitive.
Characteristic Description
t'fontname' Typeface.
hx Character height, where <x> is the number of
pixels.
wy Character width, where <y> is the number of
pixels.
f Find only a fixed-space font (should not be
used with the "p" characteristic).
p Find only a proportionally spaced font (should
not be used with the "f" characteristic)
v Find only a vector font (should not be used
with the "r" characteristic).
r Find only a raster-mapped (bitmapped) font
(should not be used with the "v"
characteristic).
b Select a best fit font.
nx Select font number <x>, where <x> is less than
or equal to the value returned by the function
_registerfonts. Use this option to "step
through" an entire set of fonts or to save or
restore a previously set font.
You can request as many options as desired, except with n<x>,
which should be used alone. If mutually exclusive options are
requested (such as the pair f/p or r/v), the _setfont function
ignores them. There is no error detection for incompatible
parameters used with n<x>.
Options can be separated in the <options> string by blanks. Any
other character is ignored by _setfont.
The t (the typeface specification) in <options> is specified as a
"t" followed by the <typename> in single quotes. The typename may
be any of the following valid fonts:
Typename Description
Courier Fixed-width bitmapped font with serifs
Helv Sans serif proportional bitmapped font
Tms Rmn Proportional bitmapped font with serifs
Script Proportional vector-mapped font of slanted
characters formed from nearly continuous lines
Modern Proportional vector-mapped font without serifs
Roman Proportional vector-mapped font with serifs
A "b" in the <options> field causes the _setfont routine to
automatically select the "best fit" font that matches the other
characteristics you have specified. If the b parameter is
specified and at least one font is registered, _setfont will
always be able to set a font and will return 0 to indicate
success.
You can also specify a pixel width and height for fonts. If a
nonexistent value is chosen for either, and the b option is
specified, the _setfont function will choose the closest match. A
smaller font size has precedence over a larger size. For example,
if _setfont requests Helv 12 with best fit, and only Helv 10 and
Helv 14 are available, _setfont will select Helv 10.
In selecting a font, the _setfont routine uses the following
precedence (rated from highest precedence to lowest):
1. Pixel height
2. Typeface
3. Pixel width
4. Fixed or proportional font
If a nonexistent value is chosen for pixel height and width, the
_setfont function will apply a magnification factor to a vector-
mapped font to obtain a suitable font size. This automatic
magnification does not apply if the "r" (raster-mapped font)
option is specified, or if a specific typeface is requested and no
best fit ("b") option is specified.
If you specify the n<x> parameter, _setfont will ignore any other
specified options and supply only the font number corresponding
to <x>.
Note that the font functions affect only the output from the font
output function _outgtext; no other run-time output functions
are affected by font usage.
Return Value
The _setfont function returns an index that is suitable for use
with n<x> to indicate success, or a negative value to indicate an
error. An error occurs if a request for a specific font fails and
the b option was not specified, or if fonts have not yet been
registered.
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