89 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
89 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
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### A short guide to use fontconvert.c to create your own fonts using MinGW.
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#### STEP 1: INSTALL MinGW
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Install MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) from [MinGW.org](http://www.mingw.org/).
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Please read carefully the instructions found on [Getting started page](http://www.mingw.org/wiki/Getting_Started).
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I suggest installing with the "Graphical User Interface Installer".
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To complete your initial installation you should further install some "packages".
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For our purpose you should only install the "Basic Setup" packages.
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To do that:
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1. Open the MinGW Installation Manager
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2. From the left panel click "Basic Setup".
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3. On the right panel choose "mingw32-base", "mingw-gcc-g++", "mingw-gcc-objc" and "msys-base"
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and click "Mark for installation"
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4. From the Menu click "Installation" and then "Apply changes". In the pop-up window select "Apply".
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#### STEP 2: INSTALL Freetype Library
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To read about the freetype project visit [freetype.org](https://www.freetype.org/).
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To Download the latest version of freetype go to [download page](http://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/freetype/)
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and choose "freetype-2.7.tar.gz" file (or a newer version if available).
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To avoid long cd commands later in the command prompt, I suggest you unzip the file in the C:\ directory.
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(I also renamed the folder to "ft27")
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Before you build the library it's good to read these articles:
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* [Using MSYS with MinGW](http://www.mingw.org/wiki/MSYS)
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* [Installation and Use of Supplementary Libraries with MinGW](http://www.mingw.org/wiki/LibraryPathHOWTO)
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* [Include Path](http://www.mingw.org/wiki/IncludePathHOWTO)
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Inside the unzipped folder there is another folder named "docs". Open it and read the INSTALL.UNIX (using notepad).
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Pay attention to paragraph 3 (Build and Install the Library). So, let's begin the installation.
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To give the appropriate commands we will use the MSYS command prompt (not cmd.exe of windows) which is UNIX like.
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Follow the path C:\MinGW\msys\1.0 and double click "msys.bat". The command prompt environment appears.
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Enter "ft27" directory using the cd commands:
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```
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cd /c
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cd ft27
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```
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and then type one by one the commands:
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```
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./configure --prefix=/mingw
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make
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make install
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```
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Once you're finished, go inside "C:\MinGW\include" and there should be a new folder named "freetype2".
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That, hopefully, means that you have installed the library correctly !!
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#### STEP 3: Build fontconvert.c
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Before proceeding I suggest you make a copy of Adafruit_GFX_library folder in C:\ directory.
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Then, inside "fontconvert" folder open the "makefile" with an editor ( I used notepad++).
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Change the commands so in the end the program looks like :
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```
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all: fontconvert
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CC = gcc
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CFLAGS = -Wall -I c:/mingw/include/freetype2
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LIBS = -lfreetype
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fontconvert: fontconvert.c
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$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $< $(LIBS) -o $@
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clean:
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rm -f fontconvert
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```
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Go back in the command prompt and with a cd command enter the fontconvert directory.
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```
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cd /c/adafruit_gfx_library\fontconvert
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```
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Give the command:
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```
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make
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```
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This command will, eventually, create a "fontconvert.exe" file inside fontconvert directory.
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#### STEP 4: Create your own font header files
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Now that you have an executable file, you can use it to create your own fonts to work with Adafruit GFX lib.
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So, if we suppose that you already have a .ttf file with your favorite fonts, jump to the command prompt and type:
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```
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./fontconvert yourfonts.ttf 9 > yourfonts9pt7b.h
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```
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You can read more details at: [learn.adafruit](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-gfx-graphics-library/using-fonts).
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Taraaaaaammm !! you've just created your new font header file. Put it inside the "Fonts" folder, grab a cup of coffee
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and start playing with your Arduino (or whatever else ....)+ display module project.
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