Qwik Convert32 Version 1.0 User's Manual Copyright 1995, GREENware QUICK START 1. If you received the program on a diskette with setup files, follow the instructions on the diskette. If you received the program as a zip file, unzip the program using an unzip program compatible with the PKZIP utility version 2.04g. 2. Copy all files into a subdirectory created for Qwik Convert (e.g. C:\QC32). 3. Use the Windows Program Manager to create a new program group, and install QC.EXE as a new program item (see "Installation" in this document if you are not sure how to do this). 4. Double click on the Qwik Convert icon to run the program. 5. Numbers to be converted can be typed into the 'I have:' box, or pasted there from the clipboard by pressing the 'Paste from Clipboard' button (see "USING QWIK CONVERT'S FEATURES" in this document for details). 6. The units for the number to be converted can be chosen from the list box to the right of the 'I have:' box. The units to which you want to convert can be chosen from the list box t the right of the 'That is:' box. 7. The converted number will appear in the 'That is:' box. This number can be pasted to the clipboard by pressing the 'Paste to Clipboard' button. 8. You can set a multiplier for the converted number by clicking the 'Multiplier:' radio button, and entering a number in the box to the right of the 'Multiplier:' radio button. Clicking on the 'No Multiplier' radio button will remove the multiplier from the converted number. 9. In order to limit the units to search through, you can select a unit category by clicking on the radio button next to the desired group. Click the 'All' radio button to return all the units to the list box. 10. If you feel that Qwik Convert is a useful tool and plan to continue to use it, please register your copy. To register send a completed copy of the registration form (QCREG.TXT) and $8.00 to: GREENware P.O. Box 24372 Lexington, KY 40524 When you register, you will receive notices of updates and future products. You will also receive technical support via Email if you are registered. The Email address for support or questions is: sgreen@mis.net Thank you for your interest in Qwik Convert32, a GREENware product. INTRODUCTION Qwik Convert32 was designed to be a quick and easy to use unit conversion program for Windows95 and NT. It was intended to be used as a tool that is quick to get in and out of while using another Windows application. For example, if you were using a number in an Excel spreadsheet and wanted to convert it to another unit, you could copy the number to the clipboard, use the Task Manager to access Qwik Convert, and paste the number into the 'I have:' box. After choosing the appropriate units the number is converted, and can be pasted back into the Excel spreadsheet from the clipboard. It has over 240 different units, which allow for over 6000 different combinations of unit conversions. The following are some of the major features of Qwik Convert: * Quick access through Windows Task Manager * Large database of conversion factors * Ability to paste and copy to and from the clipboard * A multiplier can be specified for the converted number * Available in several platforms (Windows 3.1 and Windows95) INSTALLATION This program has been distributed in several forms. If you received the program on a diskette containing setup files, they will install the Qwik Convert program for you. The instructions are on the diskette label if you received an original diskette. If you have a copied diskette, without instructions, they are: > Insert disk into your floppy drive(A:\) > select Run from the File menu of Program Manager > type A:\SETUP and press ENTER You can then follow the on screen instructions to have the program installed on your hard drive. If you downloaded the zip file without the setup files, you must install the program yourself. The following instructions will guide you through that installation. You may also order a diskette containing the setup files by sending the completed registration form (QCREG.TXT) and $8.00 to: GREENware P.O. Box 24372 Lexington, KY 40524 To install the Qwik Convert program, follow these instructions: 1. In DOS, or Windows File Manager, create a subdirectory for the Qwik Convert files, and copy the files into the subdirectory. 2. Get into the Windows Program Manager 3. Choose the 'File' menu option. 4. Choose the 'New' menu option. 5. You should see the "New Program Object" dialog box. Select the 'Program Group' option and click on the 'OK' button. 6. You should see the "Program Group Properties" dialog box. Enter a name for the program group that will hold the Qwik Convert icons (e.g. 'Qwik Convert'), and click on the 'OK' button. The Program Manager will choose a file name for the group file. 7. Now choose the 'File' then 'New' menu options again. 8. At the "New Program Object" dialog box, choose the 'Program Item' option, and click on the 'OK' button. 9. You should see the "Program Item Properties" dialog box. Enter the description you would like to see appear below the Qwik Convert icon in the Program Group you just created (e.g. 'Qwik Convert'). 10. Enter the Command Line by typing the drive path (e.g. C:\QC32\) and the program file name (QC32.EXE). The full command line should look like: C:\QC32\QC32.EXE If you created a subdirectory with a different name than C:\QC32\, then use that name instead (e.g. C:\MYSUB\QC.EXE). 11. Enter the Working Directory by typing the subdirectory name you created for the program files (e.g. C:\QC32), and click on the 'OK' button. 12. If you would like Windows to do the Command Line and Working Directory entries for you, click on the 'Browse' button, and find the subdirectory that you created for the program files. The QC32.EXE file should appear in the Filename listing. Click on the QC32.EXE file and then click on the 'OK' button. 13. You should see the Program Group that you just created, with the Qwik Convert icon inside the group. Qwik Convert is now installed! There are a few other controls you can use to make access to Qwik Convert more convenient. One way is to use the Program Group name 'Startup' when you specify the group name in Step 6 (NOTE: some systems may already have a startup group, so you won't have to create one). If you install Qwik Convert in this group, it will automatically start the program when Windows starts. This way Qwik Convert is always there when you need to convert a number. You can also click the 'Run Minimized' box in the "Program Item Properties" dialog box during Steps 9-11. This will run Qwik Convert minimized as an icon until you need it. RUNNING QWIK CONVERT Qwik Convert can be started by double clicking on the program icon in the Program Group. The "Qwik Convert32" dialog box should appear, unless you are running the program minimized. If you installed Qwik Convert in the Startup Program Group, then it should start when Windows starts. If Qwik Convert is running, but you can not see it's dialog box, then you can access it by using the Windows Task Manager. This can be done by following the steps below: > Hold down the 'Alt' key. > press the 'Tab' key, and you should see a windows with and icon and a program name appear. > Continue to hold the 'Alt' key and release and press the 'Tab' key until you see the Qwik Convert icon and program name appear. > Release both the 'Tab' and the 'Alt' keys. > The Qwik Convert dialog box should appear. USING QWIK CONVERT'S FEATURES I. Data Entry Methods The numbers to be converted can be entered into Qwik Convert in two ways. First, you can type the number in the 'I have:' box by clicking the mouse in the box, and then typing the number. The other way to get data into the box is to copy it from the clipboard (see the Windows help files if you are not familiar with the clipboard). Qwik Convert can accept data from any application that can copy to the clipboard. Qwik Convert can accept data in integer, decimal, and scientific notation formats. For example the number ten (10) could be entered in the 'I have:' box in the following ways: * 10 * 10.0 * 1.0e+1 The number 0.0005 could be entered as: * 0.0005 * 5.0e-4 The general form of the scientific notation is: x.xxxxe+/-xxx II. Changing Units The units for the number you wish to convert can be chosen from the list to the right of the 'I have:' box. The search can be reduced by clicking in the units box and typing the first letter of the unit you wish to find. You can also reduce your search by choosing one of the unit categories. Just click the radio button next to the category you would like to see, and the unit selection will change to contain only those units in that category. The units you wish to convert to are selected in the same way except that the only units available are those in the category of the unit that is currently selected in the 'I have:' unit list. Therefore, you can not select specific categories for these units. Many of the units have similar names, but have qualifiers associated with them (e.g. gallon, dry, U.S. and gallon, liquid, U.S.). Be careful to select the one that matches the numbers you entered. III. Performing the Conversion The converted number should be calculated automatically anytime any of the numbers or units change. If you are typing a new number into the 'I have:' box, and are still in the box, you can hit the 'Enter' key and the conversion will be calculated. Hitting the 'Enter' key at anytime will update the calculated number also. IV. Using the Multiplier During user testing of this program, it was found that many users were converting numbers, and then needing to multiply the converted number by one other number. For example suppose you wanted to buy 3 kilograms of a material that costs $5/pound, and you wanted to know how much this transaction would cost. You could convert the 3 kilograms to 6.61 pounds, but would still need to multiply that number by 5 to get the total cost of $33.07. You could use the multiplier to add the additional calculation and find your answer. To use the multiplier, click on the 'Multiplier:' box and enter the number you wish to use as the multiplier and then click on the 'Multiplier:' radio button to apply the multiplier to the converted number. You can remove the multiplier at any time by clicking on the 'No Multiplier' button. The number you entered as a multiplier stays in the 'Multiplier:' box until you change it to another number, even if you have clicked the 'No Multiplier' radio button. If you want to use a multiplier that is one of the following: 1000, 100, 10, 1, 0.01, 0.001, or 0.0001 then you can click on the 'X10 List' button. This will bring up a dialog box with buttons for each of the above multipliers. Clicking on one of the buttons will close the dialog box and enter the multiplier in the 'Multiplier:' box. This multiplier will be applied to the converted number only if the 'Multiplier:' radio button is checked. V. Copying the converted number to the clipboard The converted number can copied to the clipboard by clicking the 'Copy to Clipboard' button. The entire number in the 'That is:' box will be copied to the clipboard. This means that you do not have to select the number in the box before you click the 'Copy to Clipboard' button. You can then return to the application you were running, and paste the number into your application from the clipboard. You can do this for any application that will accept data from the clipboard. REGISTRATION If you find Qwik Convert to be a useful tool, and plan to continue to use it, please register your copy. You can register by sending the completed registration form (QCREG.TXT) and $8.00 to: GREENware P.O. Box 24372 Lexington, KY 40524 You will receive information about updates and product information about other GREENware products, as well as being entitled to technical support provided by GREENware via Email. The Email address for technical support or questions is: sgreen@mis.net Thank you for your interest in Qwik Convert, a GREENware product. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. GREENware, Qwik Convert, and Qwik Convert32 are trademarks of GREENware.