Technical Bulletin #19
Date: April 11, 2000
Subject: Known Issues with color byte 5.0 - Feb. 3, 2000 Production Date
Since the launch of color byte 5.0, we have been working to identify issues that impact the smooth and consistent operation of the application. In fact, several issues have already been addressed and corrected. Additionally, improvements that enhance color byte’s capabilities have been implemented. For information on all improvements and corrections made to date, please refer to DCS Technical Bulletin #16, color byte 5.0 Program Fixes and Updates.
We’ve identified several additional issues with the software and want to make you aware of them so that you can adequately respond to your customers should a concern arise. Outstanding issues are relatively minor in nature, and for the most part, workarounds are available. Remedies are actively being sought to correct these issues and the "fixes", along with new improvements, will be implemented in upcoming color byte releases.
All fixes and improvements will be announced in future technical bulletins, which are readily available on the DCS web site. We encourage you to visit the DCS Technical Support page periodically to keep yourself up to date on this very important issue.
The issues covered in this Technical Bulletin are:
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Badges Function Jobs (replaceable text jobs) do not Print Under Certain Circumstances
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Image Placement Position does not Default to Middle Under Certain Circumstances
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The Fit to Printer Function is not Working Properly
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Debug Error when Printing Under Certain Circumstances
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Certain International Versions of True Type (TT) Fonts are not Supported in color byte 5.0
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Color Depth Incompatibility Issue when Working with Certain Color Palette Colors
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Metric Rounding and Conversion
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Changing Metric Dimensions from the Status Bar
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Rectangle Selection/Crop Tool does not Always Work in Prismscan
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Vertical Text Spacing and Kerning Problem on Small Text
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Dongle Compatibility Problem between color byte and VisionPro
Each issue is described in detail below:
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Badges Function Jobs (replaceable text jobs) do not Print under certain circumstances
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IMAGE PLACEMENT POSITION DOES NOT DEFAULT TO MIDDLE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
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THE FIT TO PRINTER FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING
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Debug Error when printing under certain circumstances
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Certain International Versions of True Type (TT) fonts are not supported in color byte 5.0
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Color Depth Incompatibility Issue when Working with Certain Color Palette Colors
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METRIC ROUNDING AND CONVERSION
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CHANGING METRIC DIMENSIONS FROM THE STATUS BAR
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RECTANGLE SELECTION/CROP TOOL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK IN PRISMSCAN
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VERTICAL TEXT SPACING/KERNING PROBLEM ON SMALL TEXT
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DONGLE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEM BETWEEN COLOR BYTE AND VISIONPRO
There are two issues that users should be aware of concerning the Badges function in color byte. First, when the Print Preview option is selected/activated in the Print dialog box, each page of the multiple page file will preview individually and print individually. You must press the Print button (in Print Preview) for each and every page of the multi-page file. To print ALL pages automatically, DO NOT SELECT PRINT PREVIEW. Deactivating the Preview option will allow color byte to print all pages of the file – or, whichever pages were selected in Preferences/Print Pages.
The second issue with the Badges function concerns the Preferences tab of the Print folder. Unless the Preferences tab is opened, color byte only prints the first "page" of a multi-page job.
Color Byte automatically makes several default settings in the Preferences folder. Customers who are aware of this may opt to bypass the Preferences tab entirely, assuming that the correct settings are made (i.e.: print 1 Copy, Print Mode: All, Badges check box activated). The software at this point requires that you open the Preferences tab of the Print dialog box, EVEN IF YOU MAKE NO CHANGES TO PREFERENCE SETTINGS. The action of clicking on the Preferences tab will cause color byte to print all pages of a multi-page file correctly. This issue is currently being addressed and will be corrected in an upcoming version of color byte 5.0.
This problem was documented in the color byte 5.0 Updates document attached to Technical Bulletin #16. Essentially, there are 3 components to this problem and all are apparent when "Sign Blank" is selected as the Print Mode in Preferences. Selecting "Selected Objects Only" or "All Objects" in Preferences/Print Mode do not change/impact the default image placement position of Middle.
There are a couple workaround remedies for this problem. The easiest way to insure that Middle is always the default image placement is to exit color byte then re-launch the application. The action of launching a new color byte session always resets image placement to its default Middle position. Alternately, you can elect to use "All Objects" or "Selected Objects" in Preferences/Print Mode rather than "Sign Blank".
Fit to Printer is rarely set as an option in Print Preferences, however this option is evoked when printing certain types of jobs — Color Swatches, for example. The Fit to Printer function is not working in the Feb. 3 version. color byte does not "fit" the job on the editing screen to the Blank Size in Layout as it should. This feature is not working whether Print Preview is turned off or on. Interestingly, the Fit to Printer option was working properly in the original color byte 5.0 release.
There is a way around the problem. Set appropriate settings in Print Preferences as you normally would. Turn Print Preview on. When in Print Preview, select the Fit to Page button. This will "shrink" the Sign Blank down to fit on the current card size. Ignore the Print Preview error message telling you that the number of pages is larger than the available number. Position the pointer on a corner nub and use the diagonal size pointer to re-size the object/Sign Blank (shrink it slightly so that it is not up against the edges of the card). Use the move pointer to position/center the object. Then print. This action will not produce centered, perfect results; however it will work for jobs such as Color Swatch charts.
Another workaround for this issue is to actually "shrink" the image onscreen to fit inside the size of the Sign Blank, then select Sign Blank as the Print Mode in Preferences. When printing color swatch charts, for example, resize the charts proportionally from 8" wide to 3.25" wide. The 2 charts will then fit inside the Sign Blank (assuming you are printing color swatches on an Oversize card). Once the image is inside the confines of the Sign Blank, the Fit to Printer option becomes a non-issue.
The error message, "StretchDlBits into Source DC failed", displays when Fit to Printer is selected in Print/Preferences AND anti-aliasing is set to Fine. The Print Mode choice you make prompts the error as well (when made in combination with the Fit to Printer and anti-aliasing selections). When "Sign Blank" is selected as the Print Mode, the error does not occur. When either "All Objects" or "Selected Objects Only" are selected, the error occurs.
This error message relates to the fact that the Fit to Printer function is not working properly at this time. Do not activate Fit to Printer in Print/Preferences. Rather, use the Fit to Page option button in Print Preview to enlarge or shrink your image to fit on the Sign Blank. Be sure to select "All Objects" as the Print Mode.
True Type fonts that are specifically designed for languages such as Greek, Arabic, Baltic, and Central European dialects do not work. The special characters present in these languages do not "register".
Presently, there is no workaround for the problem. This issue has been tagged as a priority and every effort is being made to correct the problem quickly.
This is a curious issue that presented itself while making a background color invisible in Prismscan. The Target Color Box indicated that the selected color WAS invisible, as evidenced by a black crosshatch pattern running through it. However, the color continued to be visible on the editing screen, as though it hadn’t been rendered invisible.
The computer monitor’s color depth setting was found to be the factor. When working in 16-bit color, the bitmap’s solid background continued to display, even though it wasn’t there. Adjusting the monitor’s setting to 24-bit or higher color depth caused the "view" to correct itself — i.e., the bitmap’s solid background color was invisible. Incidentally, printing the job showed that the background color had, indeed, been rendered invisible.
Upon further investigation, it was found that the actual color being rendered invisible impacted whether it displayed or not. Primary colors rendered invisible didn’t display; secondary colors did.
Until this color byte / monitor color depth issue is resolved, we suggest always working in 24-bit or higher color mode. Doing so will insure a true "on screen" representation of what is actually happening. If you are unable to set your monitor to a color depth other than 16-bit color, try "coloring" the background of a bitmap a primary color before rendering the background invisible. Colors 1 through 10 on the color byte Palette are considered primary colors.
Color Byte rounds to 1 decimal point and converts to 1 decimal point only when in metric mode. Ideally, the program should round to 3 decimal places, as it does in Imperial. This rounding/converting issue can lead to precision problems for users working in metric mode.
Users working in metric mode should be aware of the program’s shortcomings in this area and make appropriate adjustments whenever possible.
Status Bar value boxes do not retain "inputted" information on a consistent basis. Sometimes when changing the height and width dimensions of an object from the Status Bar, the figure entered registers incorrectly. Enter 5.275, for example, in Object Height and 5.25 registers.
A reliable and easy workaround for this issue is to always change object dimensions from the Layout/Size menu. Inputting metric figures directly in the Size dialog box works every time.
Sometimes the Rectangle Select Tool fails to draw or set its shape when activated. It appears as though a marquee is taking shape, however when the mouse button is released, no rectangle select is retained/visible.
We suggest that you continue to "select" an area with the tool. Eventually the shape will "set". Don’t be surprised if it takes 3-7 attempts. Eventually a rectangle select will become visible.
Color Byte does not place proper spacing between two words when working in vertical text mode. The problem is apparent when creating text that is under 1" in height. The smaller the text, the more noticeable the spacing problem is.
The workaround for this issue is to enter each word individually, then move the individual words into place. As an example, if the vertical text you’d like to create consists of Bob Smith --- first create the text line, Bob; then create the text line, Smith.
Color Byte and Vision Pro do not work independently of each other on the same computer system. The dongles used for both applications are internally programmed the same. Thus, a customer who plugs a color byte dongle into a VisionPro dongle has a security device issue because the last dongle is not seen by its respective software package.
There is no workaround at this point. The software vendor has made the necessary programming changes in-house that will allow color byte and VisionPro to have their own unique dongles. This programming change is in the process of being tested and, being a risky change, will require extensive testing to assure that there are no compatibility issues.
If you need further assistance in upgrading your printer, please contact DCS
technical support at
techsupport@directcolorsystems.com or the same
via phone at 860-829-2244.
