Created attachment 13676 [details]
Cheltenham Font File (.sft/pcletto format)

For several years I have successfully used macro files stored in the deemed 0:/pcl/macros/ directory. As a result, I am able to use the same coding and documents with our actual HP LaserJets and with GhostPCL. This works wonderfully well and I am grateful that GhostPCL includes this capability.

I recently have needed to use a few PCLETTO (.sft) fonts and had hope to store them in the defined 0:/fonts/ directory, as is generally done on a physical LaserJet with PJL. 

Much like is the process with selecting disk-resident macros, I 'Set' the current numeric font ID [<ESC>*c<numericID>D], then I 'Associate' that numeric font ID with the corresponding (.sft) disk font residing in 0:/fonts/ using the Alphanumeric ID command [<ESC>&n10W<0x01>mySFTFont], and finally I 'Select' the numeric font ID [<ESC>(<numericID>X].

I cannot get the Alphanumeric ID command to locate the SFT font file.

I have tried (without success) using all the following storage locations:

0:/fonts/
0:/pcl/
0:/pcl/macros/
0:
/windows/fonts/

Unfortunately, I cannot get the font file to 'associate' in order to be selected. I understand that GhostPCL does not use the LaserJet/PJL method that includes storing font ID and attribute associations in the 'pclResourceFile' (located in 0:/pcl/macros/) as do the physical LaserJets, but I thought that since GhostPCL can find and use disk-resident macros, it should be able to find and use disk-resident 'SFT' fonts.

The test font file is valid (CheltRoman), since we are able to download the contents of that same file as part of a .pcl job and GhostPCL will process and use it correctly. This is done using the [<ESC>*c<numericID>D / <font file contents> / <ESC>*5F / <ESC>(<numericID>X] sequence.

My current workaround is to store the .SFT font files in the 0:/pcl/macros/ directory. Then, I treat that file as a macro which is 'set', 'associated' and then 'called' in the middle of the [<ESC>*c<numericID>D / <font file contents> / <ESC>*5F / <ESC>(<numericID>X] sequence. This method permits me to use the font without having to include it in the actual print-time .pcl file. 

Although 'wrapping' the font inside a macro works to select disk-based soft fonts, it is not quite as convenient or as efficient as it would be if the Alphanumeric ID Command would locate the font and 'associate' it.

I have looked through the source, and it appears the Alphanumeric ID command is fully supported (except for the '52' pclResourceFile function), but at other points I can't make out exactly where it expects fonts referred by it to be located. I've also looked at the code referencing Cartridge and SIMM fonts, but this seems to be a different issue, although there is a good chance that I am mistaken on that point.

For your reference, I have attached the test .sft font file, (CheltRoman), a working example of wrapping the font in a macro call (macroselectcheltfont.pcl), and a failing example of how font selection is requested to work (failedcheltselect.pcl).

Thanks for taking a look at these, and for setting me straight if I have mis-understood how these things should work with GhostPCL. Also, please accept my apology if this issue was corrected in a later version of GhostPCL. I had looked at the revisions since 8.71 and could find no mention of this issue, though.