Release notes for MECCA 2000 version 4.23.  Nov/11/2009


Fixed:

1. Grid lines were displayed as black (m2kbin).

2. Nested "%%BoundingBox:" statements occurring in an EPS sometimes caused
   the correct bounding box values being ignored (typdrv, isepsfile, m2kbin,
   galeyc).

3. When attempting to re-install a barcode/border/panto font, the font
   installation procedure errors out (t1font.tcl).

4. The "bcompose" batch compose command now sets working directory for each
   input file on the command line (bcompose).


Changed/New:

1. Barcode Code128 handling has been changed (m2kbin, code128.tcl,
   barcodes.tcl, tclIndex):

   a. Under Query, the "minimize" state of an existing Code128 is now
      reflected (before, it was always cleared when queried).

   b. The HR (human readable) of a Code128 no longer includes any control
      codes.

   Please view "v4.23code128" text file in this directory for more detailed
   description on what changed.  Also, the one-page "code128chart.pdf" in
   this directory is an updated Appendix G Code128 table in the User's
   Guide.  Please see that PDF file for Code128 code sets and characters.

   Code128 barcodes created before this release would still display and
   print with the old style HR, and still query with "minimize" cleared.
   However, selecting Okay (perhaps with "minimize" set) under query will
   update the code.

2. Added a convenience script "tiff2ix" to convert TIFF image to MECCA
   internal format.

   Also added "tiff_info" and "tiff_dims" command-line scripts to ease
   getting image size, resolution info from TIFF files.  Note that these
   scripts make use of "tiffinfo" utility in "tiff-3.x" FreeGBSD package.

   tiff_info reports image width (pixels), height (pixels), samples/pixel
   and resolution for each TIFF file given on the command line.

   tiff_dims reports image width and height in units of inches.

3. For batch compose commands FIGURE and MFORM, "TYPE=TIFF" is now added
   (galeyc, preview, typdrv, m2kbin).

   Please note that when using a TIFF image in these commands, "WIDTH="
   and "DEPTH=" must be specified: the raster image will fit to the
   specified box.  Also when a TIFF is used, "LAYER=" can be given to
   assign the raster image to a desired layer.

   Please also note that, if batch compose to graphic (.g) file, TIFF
   images will be converted when MECCA loads the file, thereafter the
   saved drawing file (from MECCA) can be much larger in size.

4. Also for batch compose commands FIGURE and MFORM, the referenced external
   file name will now be resolved (galeyc).

   It is best to use some examples to explain what "resolved" means (assuming
   a FIGURE command in the text file residing in "/usr/home/me/reports",
   and the login HOME is "/usr/home/me"):

   NAME=                                resolved to
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ~/figs/f001.g                        /usr/home/me/figs/f001.g
   ~/f001.g                             /usr/home/me/f001.g
   chart3.g                             /usr/home/me/reports/chart3.g
   ../rpt1.g                            /usr/home/me/rpt1.g
   ../../chapter3/003.g                 /usr/home/chapter3/003.g
   /tmp/myreport.g                      /tmp/myreport.g
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Please note:
   a. The resolution occurs in galey composer.

   b. Resolution is based on "current directory", not the input command file
      path name.  Both "bcompose" and MECCA interactive "Batch Compose"
      under "Batch and More", set "current directory" to where the command
      file resides before invoking galey composer.  Customers using custom
      scripts that invoke the galey composer directly, need to be cautious
      in using relative path names, because the script may set "current
      directory" to somewhere else.

   c. The "tilde as HOME" short-cut can only appear as the first character
      in the file name, and it must be followed by a / (slash).

   d. The internal limit for the resolved, absolute path name is 511 single-
      byte characters.

::Addendum::
http://www.amgraf.com/updates/m2k/v423A.txt
http://www.amgraf.com/updates/m2k/v423B.pdf