Software that makes placemats

[jdaw1]

For quotation elsewhere: See the post in the thread entitled “Software that makes placemats” containing values to use in ExternalLinks.


The parameter ExternalLinks is to hold external links relevant to the tasting, traditionally including a link to the venue and to maps. Below are some components of ExternalLinks that could be re-used. Since first being posted other venues have been added to this post, and more could be, especially if requested. (In August 2015 the parameters of ExternalLinks were extended and re-arranged: what follows is in the new pattern.)

The Royal Air Force Club

Code: Select all

	false   (The Royal Air Force Club)     (https://www.rafclub.org.uk/)
	true    (W1J 7PY, streetmap.co.uk)     (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=528568&y=179998&z=106&pc=W1J+7PY)
	true    (W1J 7PY, maps.google.co.uk)   (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.5043,-0.1487&cbp=11,330,,0,0)
	true    (W1J 7PY, bing.com)            (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=W1J+7PY&cp=51.5043~-0.1487)

Clickable: • The Royal Air Force Club; • W1J 7PY, streetmap.co.uk; • W1J 7PY, maps.google.co.uk; • W1J 7PY, bing.com.


Simpson’s-in-the-Strand

Code: Select all

	false   [(Simpson) /quoteright (s-in-the-Strand)]   (http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/)
	true    (WC2R 0EW, streetmap.co.uk)                 (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=530511&y=180743&z=106&pc=WC2R+0EW)
	true    (WC2R 0EW, maps.google.co.uk)               (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.5107,-0.1207&cbp=11,150,,0,0)
	true    (WC2R 0EW, bing.com)                        (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=WC2R+0EW&cp=51.5107~-0.1207)

Clickable: • Simpson’s-in-the-Strand; • WC2R 0EW, streetmap.co.uk; • WC2R 0EW, maps.google.co.uk; • WC2R 0EW, bing.com.


Boot and Flogger

Code: Select all

	false   (Boot & Flogger)               (http://www.davy.co.uk/bootandflogger/)
	true    (SE1 1TA, streetmap.co.uk)     (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=532409&y=180083&z=106&pc=SE1+1TA)
	true    (SE1 1TA, maps.google.co.uk)   (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.50428,-0.0935&cbp=11,260,,0,0)
	true    (SE1 1TA, bing.com)            (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=SE1+1TA&cp=51.50428~-0.0935)

Clickable: • Boot & Flogger; • SE1 1TA, streetmap.co.uk; • SE1 1TA, maps.google.co.uk; • SE1 1TA, bing.com.


Davy’s at Woolgate

Code: Select all

	false   [(Davy) /quoteright (s at Woolgate)]                    (http://www.davy.co.uk/woolgate/)
	true    (EC2V 5HA, streetmap.co.uk)                             (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=532560&y=181440&z=106&pc=EC2V+5HA)
	true    (EC2V 5HA, bing.com)                                    (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=EC2V+5HA&cp=51.5162~-0.09084)
	true    (EC2V 5HA, maps.google.co.uk)                           (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.51652,-0.091&cbp=11,80,,0,0)
	true    [(Davy) /quoteright (s at Woolgate, plus.google.com)]   (https://plus.google.com/115233829966484950403/)

Clickable: • Davy’s at Woolgate; • EC2V 5HA, streetmap.co.uk; • EC2V 5HA, bing.com; • EC2V 5HA, maps.google.co.uk; • Davy’s at Woolgate, plus.google.com.


The Bung Hole

Code: Select all

	false   (The Bung Hole)                 (http://www.davy.co.uk/bunghole/)
	true    (WC1V 6DT, streetmap.co.uk)     (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=530848&y=181628&z=106&pc=WC1V+6DT)
	true    (WC1V 6DT, maps.google.co.uk)   (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.5182,-0.1154&cbp=11,15,,0,0)
	true    (WC1V 6DT, bing.com)            (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=WC1V+6DT&cp=51.5182~-0.1154)

Clickable: • The Bung Hole; • WC1V 6DT, streetmap.co.uk; • WC1V 6DT, maps.google.co.uk; • WC1V 6DT, bing.com.


Crusting Pipe

Code: Select all

	false   (Crusting Pipe)                    (http://www.crustingpipe.co.uk/)
	true    (WC2E 8RD, streetmap.co.uk)        (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=530351&y=180907&z=106&pc=WC2E+8RD)
	true    (WC2E 8RD, bing.com)               (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=WC2E+8RD&cp=51.5121~-0.123)
	true    (Crusting Pipe, plus.google.com)   (https://plus.google.com/103198375868437142697/)

Clickable: • Crusting Pipe; • WC2E 8RD, streetmap.co.uk; • WC2E 8RD, bing.com; • Crusting Pipe, plus.google.com.


Crown Passage

Code: Select all

	false   [(Davy) /quoteright (s at St James) /quoteright (s)]                    (http://www.davy.co.uk/stjames/)
	true    (SW1Y 6QY, streetmap.co.uk)                                             (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=529318&y=180218&z=106&pc=SW1Y+6QY)
	true    (SW1Y 6QY, bing.com)                                                    (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=SW1Y+6QY&cp=51.5058~-0.1381)
	true    (SW1Y 6QY, maps.google.co.uk)                                           (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.5061,-0.1381&cbp=11,150,,0,0)
	true    [(Davy) /quoteright (s at St James) /quoteright (s, plus.google.com)]   (https://plus.google.com/109580562186818760629/)

Clickable: • Davy’s at St James’s; • SW1Y 6QY, streetmap.co.uk; • SW1Y 6QY, bing.com; • EC2V 5HA, maps.google.co.uk; • Davy’s at St James’s, plus.google.com.


Plantation Place

Code: Select all

	false   [(Davy) /quoteright (s at Plantation Place)]   (http://www.davy.co.uk/plantationplace/)
	true    (EC3R 7BD, streetmap.co.uk)                    (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=533205&y=180840&z=106&pc=EC3R+7BD)
	true    (EC3R 7BD, maps.google.co.uk)                  (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.5108,-0.0815&cbp=11,260,,0,0)
	true    (EC3R 7BD, bing.com)                           (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=EC3R+7BD&cp=51.5108~-0.0815)

Clickable: • Davy’s at Plantation Place; • EC3R 7BD, streetmap.co.uk; • EC3R 7BD, maps.google.co.uk; • EC3R 7BD, bing.com.


Otto’s at 182 Gray’s Inn Road

Code: Select all

	false   [(Otto) /quoteright (s)]        (http://www.ottos-restaurant.com/)
	true    (WC1X 8EW, streetmap.co.uk)     (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=530931&y=182133&z=106&pc=WC1X+8EW)
	true    (WC1X 8EW, maps.google.co.uk)   (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.5229,-0.11417&cbp=11,50,,0,0)
	true    (WC1X 8EW, bing.com)            (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=WC1X+8EW&cp=51.5229~-0.11417)

Clickable: • Otto’s; • WC1X 8EW, streetmap.co.uk; • WC1X 8EW, maps.google.co.uk; • WC1X 8EW, bing.com.


Kasino Hotel, Leverkusen

Code: Select all

	false   (Kasino Hotel, Leverkusen)        (https://www.bayer-gastronomie.de/)
	true    (Kasino Hotel, maps.google.com)   (https://maps.google.com/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.014376,6.985116&cbp=11,190,,0,0)
	true    (WorldOfPort.de)                  (http://www.worldofport.de/)

Clickable: • Kasino Hotel, Leverkusen; • Kasino Hotel, maps.google.com; • WorldOfPort.de.

[djewesbury]

We are in Ox CAVE in Belfast (Tapatalk so link not easy) and sampling a number of wines by the half glass. (Please, stop muttering.)

I mentioned that we'd need a placemat. RAB casually tossed out an invention on the spot:

"If you had a little Perspex cover you could make a placemat on your iPad."

Anyone want to buy the rights?

[jdaw1]

"If you had a little Perspex cover you could make a placemat on your iPad."

Anyone want to buy the rights?

Drunks balancing full glasses on electronic devices: what could go wrong?

We are in Ox CAVE in Belfast (Tapatalk so link not easy)

Perhaps oxbelfast.com.

[djewesbury]

"If you had a little Perspex cover you could make a placemat on your iPad."

Anyone want to buy the rights?

Drunks balancing full glasses on electronic devices: what could go wrong?

Correction: half glasses.
I rest my case. (No, not on the iPad.)

Could it not be encased completely?

[PhilW]

When creating the placemats for the Martinez, one problem was encountered. The placemat parameters were essentially vanilla, set up for 18 ports and 14 people, and parsing by ps2pdf.com created the placemats as we used on the night without a problem. During preparation however, I did try several options to enhance the placemats, including enabling of /Rays and (separately) enabling of /ShapesInTitles, however in both cases ps2pdf failed to parse the output, with an "internal error" response from the ps2pdf server (perhaps some form of memory error during processing rather than a postscript parsing or syntactic issue).

[jdaw1]

Ouch!

Making the following changes to the parameters

Code: Select all

/Circlearrays [ 1 1 18 {[ exch 2 string cvs ]} for ] def
/Titles Circlearrays def
/Belowtitles [ Circlearrays length {()} repeat ] def
/Names [
	(JDAW)
] def

/ShapesInTitles true def
/ShapesToUse [/Flower] def  % At least one of: /Flower /Star

/Rays true def

works in Adobe Distiller XI on my Mac

but not with ps2pdf.com.

Further investigation reveals that ps2pdf.com is having problems, even with the default PostScript file, though it worked with a tiny PostScript program. A question has been asked of the webmaster.

[PhilW]

Further investigation reveals that ps2pdf.com is having problems, even with the default PostScript file, though it worked with a tiny PostScript program. A question has been asked of the webmaster.

In case of relevance, my placemats were based on an older version containing "% This version as of 23:00 Saturday 10th May 2014".

[jdaw1]

In case of relevance, my placemats were based on an older version containing "% This version as of 23:00 Saturday 10th May 2014".

Shouldn’t be relevant, but please always use the latest: new versions fix bugs, add features, and improve default settings.

I do want to find the problem with ps2pdf.com, but somebody with geeky computer skills could install his own GhostScript.

[jdaw1]

The default venue in the placemat code has become the Boot & Flogger. From the definition of ExternalLinks:

Code: Select all

	(http://www.davy.co.uk/bootandflogger/)  (Boot & Flogger)
	(http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=532409&y=180083&z=106&pc=SE1+1TA)  (SE1 1TA, streetmap.co.uk)
	(https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?z=20&t=k&layer=c&cbll=51.50428,-0.0935&cbp=11,260,,0,0)  (SE1 1TA, maps.google.co.uk)
	(http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?where1=SE1+1TA&cp=51.50428~-0.0935)  (SE1 1TA, bing.com)

Those links in BBcode: • Boot & Flogger; • SE1 1TA, streetmap.co.uk; • SE1 1TA, maps.google.co.uk; • SE1 1TA, bing.com.

[jdaw1]

The current draft of the placemats for the 1970s on Monday 22^nd December 2014 has BackgroundTextsGlasses as true, with BackgroundTextsGlassesTexts containing “B+F”. And TastingNotesCirclesBehind is also true.

So the TN sheets have, in effect, two watermarks.



Should the default value of TastingNotesCirclesBehind be changed such that it is false if BackgroundTextsGlasses is true? Comments?

[djewesbury]

I like this. It recalls the the intricate designs on a banknote.

[PhilW]

Comments?

I think the background text works well on the glasses page, and the circles work well as background on tasting notes pages, but the background text on tasting notes is less visually appealing so I would turn that off; my preference for defaults when background text is present would therefore be:
BackgroundTextsGlasses as true
TastingNotesCirclesBehind as true
but (the perhaps non-existant, currently):
TastingNotesBackgroundTextBehind or BackgroundTextsTastingNotes as false
n.b. note the inconsistency in whether the subset is pre-/post-fixed in the variable naming.

[jdaw1]

Current defaults
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes BackgroundTextsGlasses def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge and} def
(The IsDistiller bit is because of a set of interlinked bugs in GhostScript and Mac Preview. Don’t ask.)

Phil: which of the following better captures your preference?

➊
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes false def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge and} def

➋
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes BackgroundTextsGlasses def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge BackgroundTextsTastingNotes not and and} def

(The original question suggested something like ➋, which is still, just, my preference. But I’m open to persuasion.)


Edit: or
➌
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge and} def
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes {BackgroundTextsGlasses TastingNotesCirclesBehind not and} def

[jdaw1]

Question for non-programmers.

If there is a background text on the glasses pages, what should be the default on the TN pages?

0. Both faint circles and background text (as currently happens). If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, then just the background text.

1. The faint circles, but not the background text. If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, nothing.

2. The background text, but not the faint circles.

3. The faint circles, but not the background text. If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, then substitute the background text.

[PhilW]

Current defaults
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes BackgroundTextsGlasses def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge and} def
(The IsDistiller bit is because of a set of interlinked bugs in GhostScript and Mac Preview. Don’t ask.)

Phil: which of the following better captures your preference?

➊
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes false def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge and} def

➋
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes BackgroundTextsGlasses def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge BackgroundTextsTastingNotes not and and} def

(The original question suggested something like ➋, which is still, just, my preference. But I’m open to persuasion.)


Edit: or
➌
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge and} def
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes {BackgroundTextsGlasses TastingNotesCirclesBehind not and} def

/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes false def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge BackgroundTextsTastingNotes not and and} def

[PhilW]

Question for non-programmers.

If there is a background text on the glasses pages, what should be the default on the TN pages?

0. Both faint circles and background text (as currently happens). If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, then just the background text.

1. The faint circles, but not the background text. If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, nothing.

2. The background text, but not the faint circles.

3. The faint circles, but not the background text. If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, then substitute the background text.

3 (or maybe 1)

[jdaw1]

/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes false def
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge BackgroundTextsTastingNotes not and and} def

For non-programmers, equivalent to

1. The faint circles, but not the background text. If for technical reasons the faint circles can’t appear, nothing.

Hmm. Three people, three different preferences. Not winning.

[djewesbury]

That's democracy for you. As I say, I like 0.

[jdaw1]

That's democracy for you.

This is not a democracy. My software; my decision. A vote is not being offered. What is being offered is an opportunity to persuade me, to show me the error(s) of my ways, to guide me to a better course.

[djewesbury]

I think what you've done is wonderful. Well done. If this is such an autocracy, why are you dithering so much? I bet Stalin didn't ask people's opinion.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I think what you've done is wonderful. Well done. If this is such an autocracy, why are you dithering so much? I bet Stalin didn't ask people's opinion.

I believe he did. He would ask people about to be exiled to Siberia whether they thought he was a nice person or not.





I made this up. It may be true, but if it is then that is just coincidence.

[jdaw1]

A decision with reasoning.

• I believe the two watermarks are too cluttered. Daniel likes it because it “recalls the the intricate designs on a banknote”, but these aren’t banknotes, these are TN sheets on which people are meant to be able to write.

• Phil agrees with having just one, but prefers the circles. Typically BackgroundTextsTastingNotes is false. But if it’s true, it must be true for a reason. Maybe we wanted to add “RP” as light flattery of a visiting dignitary, maybe we had some other motivation. The circles are an elegant echo of the glasses sheet, but seem to be merely decorative (being ingratiating is more important).

So I haven’t been persuaded, and there isn’t a clear-cut consensus suggesting that I’ve made an error.

Decision: the default has now been changed to:
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge BackgroundTextsTastingNotes not and and} def

[PhilW]

Having read your decision with reasoning, it seemed something was missing; in re-reading your original question, I now see what. A follow-on attempt at persuasion for a slightly different solution:

At the moment, the first variable is /BackgroundTextsTastingNotes which when defined puts text on the back of the glasses page. We then argue about whether this should then override the circles or not on the tasting notes pages.

It would seem to make more sense to me that there should be two variables (naming up to you, below just as example) one defining the text for background use on glasses pages, and one defining text for background use on tasting note pages. This allow them to be different, or the same (using a common variable if wanted), so is more flexible and also more explicit for the user. Thus:

# Code for variables section
/BackgroundTexts false def % replace false here for background text to use on all pages
/BackgroundTextsGlasses BackgroundTexts def % replace false here for background text to use on glasses pages
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes BackgroundTexts def % replace false here for background text to use on tasting notes pages

# Code for processing section
/TastingNotesCirclesBehind {IsDistiller GlassesNumCopies 1 ge BackgroundTextsTastingNotes not and and} def

I think that would give you the default you desire (changing /BackgroundTextsTastingNotes to a default of false was my preference), while making it much simpler and clearer for the user to modify to obtain desired results, as well as more flexibility.

[jdaw1]

It would seem to make more sense to me that there should be two variables

But there are, and have been since long before this discussion. Defaults are (and have been since long before this discussion):
/BackgroundTextsGlasses false def
/BackgroundTextsTastingNotes BackgroundTextsGlasses def
(Bolding for emphasis only.)

So they can be different, though by default BackgroundTextsTastingNotes takes the value of BackgroundTextsGlasses. Your suggestion seems to be very similar, except that you want BackgroundTextsTastingNotes to default to false irrespective of the value of BackgroundTextsGlasses. (But if the glasses pages have an “RP” background then surely both should — at least, that’s what I would want to do.)

[PhilW]

Thank you for the clarification; in which case we are in overall agreement on structure and approach, with only a minor difference in preference for default; no issue.

[jdaw1]

Daniel discovered that if the Distiller was set to make archive-standard PDFs (ISO 15930-3:2002), Distiller exits with an error and no PDF. Help was received, and the problem fixed.

The solution isn’t cleanly forward-compatible, so other archive standards might need acknowledgement in the code.

As always, please start placemat production by downloading the latest version of the code.

[jdaw1]

Further investigation reveals that ps2pdf.com is having problems, even with the default PostScript file, though it worked with a tiny PostScript program. A question has been asked of the webmaster.

Still broken. However online2pdf.com/convert-ps-to-pdf seems to work. Failing contrary comment, I’ll soon change the manual page.

[Glenn E.]

I discovered this brokenness while making placemats for the 1985 horizontal, but somehow came to the conclusion that it was file size related.

Online2pdf does seem to be a fine substitute. It is what I used when I found the problem as well.

[djewesbury]

Does nobody use Distiller?

[PhilW]

Does nobody use Distiller?

No, based on cost >£15/month, and all I would use it for is doc/ps to pdf. I use a freeware pdf printer driver for all document-as-pdf output needs; the only time I need to convert ps-to-pdf is for TPF placemats.
I believe the server-based version of distiller has now also been retired, though the functionality is part of a new (I assume) server-based package for enterprise called Livecycle, though I don't know what it costs.

[jdaw1]

From the first page of the thread entitled A Placemat Consistency Problem.

Is there a way to have abovetitles text wrap upwards, so it would look like:

Gould
Campbell

Edit: hmmm...can't get it to look the way I intended. Imagine the "Gould" is a little indented and centred above the Campbell.

But it would actually be a monumentally complicated alteration from what I understand and it would reduce the usability of a piece of software that is already minimally user friendly. And the effort required would not be commensurate with the use expected.

Not going to happen, for the reasons given. (It can be done, by inserting lots of complicated code into the parameter, but don’t do that.)

Can it? I thought I’d test.

Code: Select all

/Circlearrays [
	[ [{(Campbell) StringWidthRecursive (Gould) StringWidthRecursive sub 2 div CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto} (Gould) {(Gould) StringWidthRecursive (Campbell) StringWidthRecursive add -2 div CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Campbell) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]   (1970) ]
	[ [{0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto} (Quarles) {(Quarles) StringWidthRecursive (Harris) StringWidthRecursive add -2 div CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Harris) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]   (1970) ]
	[ [{(Holdsworth) StringWidthRecursive (Tuke) StringWidthRecursive sub 2 div CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto} (Tuke) {(Tuke) StringWidthRecursive (Holdsworth) StringWidthRecursive add -2 div CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Holdsworth) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]   (1970) ]
	[ [{0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto} (Ramos) {(Ramos) StringWidthRecursive (Pinto) StringWidthRecursive add -2 div CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Pinto) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]   (1970) ]
	[ [{[(W) {-0.06 Kern} (oodhouse)] StringWidthRecursive (Smith) StringWidthRecursive sub 2 div CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto} (Smith) {(Smith) StringWidthRecursive [(W) {-0.06 Kern} (oodhouse)] StringWidthRecursive add -2 div CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} [(W) {-0.06 Kern} (oodhouse)] {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]   (1970) ]
] def


/TitlesTastingNotes [
	[(Gould) {(Gould) StringWidthRecursive neg CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Campbell) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]
	[(Quarles) {(Quarles) StringWidthRecursive neg CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Harris) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]
	[(Tuke) {(Tuke) StringWidthRecursive neg CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Holdsworth) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]
	[(Ramos) {(Ramos) StringWidthRecursive neg CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} (Pinto) {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]
	[(Smith) {(Smith) StringWidthRecursive neg CurrentFontSize -0.875 mul rmoveto} [(W) {-0.06 Kern} (oodhouse)] {0 CurrentFontSize 0.4375 mul rmoveto}]
] def

/TitlesVoteRecorder TitlesTastingNotes def

/Titles [ Circlearrays {0 get} forall ] def
/Belowtitles [ Circlearrays length {()} repeat ] def

/Names [
	(Test)
] def

/InlineTitles false def

Resulting in a PDF, and images follow.


Summary: the Titles and Circlearrays can be made to work, albeit nastily.

[djewesbury]

Yuck.

[flash_uk]

Yuck for the circlearrays.
OK for the titles, but unlikely to be used often, as the shipper abbreviations are more often used in titles, and therefore wrapping is not required.
I guess it is too difficult for abovetitles?

[djewesbury]

Does nobody use Distiller?

No, based on cost >£15/month, and all I would use it for is doc/ps to pdf. I use a freeware pdf printer driver for all document-as-pdf output needs; the only time I need to convert ps-to-pdf is for TPF placemats.
I believe the server-based version of distiller has now also been retired, though the functionality is part of a new (I assume) server-based package for enterprise called Livecycle, though I don't know what it costs.

Slightly tangentially (appropriate, I think, for a thread that is underpinned by the geometry of the circle), Adobe's ludicrous new pricing strategy means that we will stop using their products for our students. There are no bulk licences for the Cloud versions of Creative Suite, at least not in the numbers we'd need, and the cost of multiple individual licences is just astronomical. "How to make sure nobody uses your product: Part 1…"

[jdaw1]

The placemat code allows the adding of an annotation to glasses (GlassesAnnotations). After a blind tasting, should the placemat then be ‘changed’ to annotate what was what?

The ‘changed’ is in single quotation marks because such annotations would affect the digital file, but have no affect on a printout. So the changed file would print as did the pre-change file.

As an example, compare, for the tasting on 26^th March 2015, the original placemat with an annotated placemat. Is it worth the effort?

[djewesbury]

Sorry, where is the annotation?

[jdaw1]

Sorry, where is the annotation?

The following are as seen in Preview 8.0 (859.7) on Yosemite 10.10.2.



Clicking on the black square reveals previously secret information.

[djewesbury]

Not worth the effort.

[PhilW]

The placemat code allows the adding of an annotation to glasses (GlassesAnnotations). After a blind tasting, should the placemat then be ‘changed’ to annotate what was what?

No. Final version of placemats is final version, including any errors. Scoresheet (including answers) is Scoresheet. Post-event update of placemats bad.

[jdaw1]

The placemat code allows the adding of an annotation to glasses (GlassesAnnotations). After a blind tasting, should the placemat then be ‘changed’ to annotate what was what?

No. Final version of placemats is final version, including any errors. Scoresheet (including answers) is Scoresheet. Post-event update of placemats bad.

More dogmatic than me.

DB78 — though on the placemats, erroneously, as “D78” …

The placemat error has resulted in a new feature to the code, GlassesAnnotations.

I agree that the version as-printed is inviolable. Must that be true of the digital version? That is, can digital-only non-printable annotations be added after the event? Phil is adamantly against. I am more relaxed. Others?

[jdaw1]

Just created: the review thread for the Magnus tasting this evening. Normally what I would do is add a link to this to the ExternalLinks parameter. But

Placemats have been printed.

PhilW: you said “Final version of placemats is final version”. Does that mean that I now can’t add the link to ExternalLinks? Does that mean that if I’d done it before printing, it would have been OK, even thought it would not even slightly have affected the printing?

Such a position has a dogmatic logical consistency to it — but I want to check that is your position.

[PhilW]

That is indeed my (dogmatic) position. With regard to placemat links, I put them in before the tasting; for the link to placemats themselves the intention is that I name the link YYMMDD_name_placemats.pdf and then leading up to the tasting I append version numbers, saving the last one (or each in turn) with the right name with no version appended. A similar practise to the way I manage software releases, with multiple candidates, but only one final release name.

[Glenn E.]

I seem to have lost track of the alternate online PS to PDF converter that we (or at least I) have been using since ps2pdf.com starting having problems. Does anyone have a recommendation?

[Glenn E.]

I found online2pdf.com and believe that is the one that I used in January. Unfortunately, it is not able to process my most recent placemats either. (I also tried ps2pdf.com and received the 500 Internal Server Error that we've been seeing for some time now.)

My guess is that the placemats are growing too large. Online2pdf.com will still convert the placemats that I created in January, but those placemats were for 18 glasses on USL2 with simple Circlearrays, minimal Titles (the numbers 1-18), and no Belowtitles. The current placemats are for 20 glasses and have relatively lengthy Circlearrays, still fairly minimal Titles (years), and producers as Belowtitles.

I even went so far as to make a copy of the January placemats and simply replace Circlearrays, Titles, and Belowtitles with the new information. Online2pdf.com failed to convert it.

I've since tried trimming that test file down to 16 glasses (failed) and 12 glasses (failed). The original 18-glass January placemat still converts.

I am at a loss.

[jdaw1]

Email it to me?

Email it to somebody with a, ahem, Mac, who could then open it in Preview and save as PDF?

Most, perhaps all, online PS→PDF converters use Ghostscript. Install Ghostscript?

[jdaw1]

A few minutes ago online2pdf.com/convert-ps-to-pdf was tested to reproduce the placemats used on 2nd March. It worked well, quickly producing a 114-page PDF (in which Harrington and LucidaSans were replaced with Courier). So WFM.

My guess is that the placemats are growing too large.

Unlikely to be the problem. Consider …EBKAC.

[Glenn E.]

I sent the .ps file to a friend who has GhostScript installed locally, and he was able to generate the .pdf for me. It took 17 minutes, which explains why an online service would abort. The online service probably thinks that the conversion is caught in an infinite loop or something.

I'll email you the .ps so that you can take a look if you so choose. I'll also be downloading and installing GhostScript myself, which I did briefly this weekend but couldn't quickly figure out how to use it so resorted to asking a friend for help.

[jdaw1]

I sent the .ps file to a friend who has GhostScript installed locally, and he was able to generate the .pdf for me. It took 17 minutes, which explains why an online service would abort. The online service probably thinks that the conversion is caught in an infinite loop or something.

That might be the answer. Using Distiller 8 the two .ps files you sent me took 12 seconds and 8 seconds.

Perhaps the recent change of default value of InlineTitles is the problem. That’s a shame. Try /InlineTitles false def.

[PhilW]

I tried ghostscript under windows a few years ago, mostly just because I needed to view some .ps files rather than convert them, but found it fairly unfriendly, so decided to try again and see where things are at now.

- Ghostscript installed no problem
- To use ps2pdf, you have to run their batch file (from a Windows Command Prompt) referencing the full path, i.e. in my case "C:\Program Files\gs\gs9.16\lib\ps2pdf" with input and output files as parameters.
- This also requires the gs\gs9.16\bin directory to be added to your path, manually (not done by installer), to access the underlying gswin64.exe core binary executable called by the scripts
- This worked for processing a relatively simple tasting notes .ps (the Martinez vertical) but failed catastrophically with no error message on a more complex one (the Warre/Fonseca tasting)

Overall, non-trivial for users (since have to set paths manually, and run long directory-linked paths on the command line; both of these could be addressed simply with another script); clearly works to some extent; whether the failure to parse more complex postscript could be addressed by some control parameters modifications or other means is TBD.

[jdaw1]

I sent the .ps file to a friend who has GhostScript installed locally, and he was able to generate the .pdf for me. It took 17 minutes, which explains why an online service would abort. The online service probably thinks that the conversion is caught in an infinite loop or something.

That might be the answer. Using Distiller 8 the two .ps files you sent me took 12 seconds and 8 seconds.

Thank you Glenn: you have found the problem. Changing one line to /InlineTitles false def makes it work in both PS2PDF.com and online2pdf.com.

Default parameters will be reverted this evening, and cautionary words added to the manual.

Edit: I’ve had other troubles with /Helvetica-Bold. Maybe the font is somehow misformed? Perhaps the default value of TitlesFont should be one of the CMU fonts. Suggestions? Ideally widely available and included with Ghostscript as standard, bold or demi-bold, not italic, not oblique, condensed or demi-condensed, lining figures, and with all of CkDFGKNOSTVW0123456789 resting on the baseline and having the same height.

Edit edit: /TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT worked on online2pdf.com but not on PS2PDF.com. Sigh. Two different problems.