BMPTOICO - version 2.0 June 1996 - My Cat Software Very versatile utility to convert BMPs into ICOs (with transparency) and vice-versa. 256 color images supported. PLUS: picture Viewer, Touch Up Icon Editor with Add Text function, Crop icon-size pictures from big BMPs or Screen Capture, Extract icons from EXE or DLL/ICL/NIL files, and more! Written in Windows 3.1, but works very well with Windows 95 and True or High color video cards. Needs VBRUN300.DLL to run. To Install: ---------- Since I hate those Windows program that use SETUP to copy their DLLs over your beloved ones, I refrained from using it or any exotic DLL or VBX, except for the ubiquitous VBRUN300.DLL. This program is a must for any program written is Visual Basic, and is available on the majority of BBSs and commercial online services. On CompuServe, look for VBRUN3.ZIP in Library 1 of the WinShare Forum, or go PCFF and search for file VBRUN3.ZIP. So, to use BMPTOICO, just copy the files BMPTOICO.EXE and BMPTOICO.HLP in any directory; the only constraint is that they both must be in the same directory, so you can use Help. If you don't already have VBRUN300.DLL and download it now, it should go in your Windows\System directory. I leave to you the joy of adding the program to one of your Program Manager's Groups or TaskBar Start menu. In Windows 3.1: select a group, click on File Menu, then New, select "Program Item", add the proper description (your own words) and command line (path of directory you placed the program in, plus filename, as in "C:\DIR\SUBDIR\BMPTOICO.EXE"), then press the OK button. The icon will appear in your Group. In Windows 95: well I will leave that to you, as I don't have it yet... What's new in version 2.0: ------------------------- . Works with some Windows 95 Icons (see Help) . Now works well with Windows 95 and/or True and HighColors . Icon Touch Up Editor . Grab from Screen (Capture) . Extract Icons from EXE or DLL/NIL/ICL files . Decrease 256 colors BMPs to 16 colors before Converting . Shrink part of a BMP, or all, to Icon Size . View All function totally redesigned, much improved . Options menu, including AutoLoad of Conversion Result . Last directory used kept over for next time Registration: ------------ BMPTOICO will run for 30 days, with two more weeks of grace. After that, you need to reinstall it, or... Register! Registration is only $20 US (or $20 Cdn if you live in Canada and pay by snail-mail). On CompuServe, GO SWREG, and follow the menus; the registration number is #11559. Or use the file ORDER.TXT to register via snail-mail. American users can send a cheque. If you live outside Canada or the US, and if the charges for a bank draft or money order are out of this world, you can send the equivalent in your country's money (bank notes only); although it might not be safe, I have had no problem so far. The shareware version is not crippled in any way, I am the optimist type... (Well, I added a trial period this time). And, being mostly homebound (and not working) due to illness, I avoid trips to the Post Office. But: if you want a 32-bit version, help my buy the super computer that will run Windows 95... Please send any mail to: Lucie Dorais 603 - 222 Guigues Ottawa, Ont. K1N 5J2 Canada CompuServe: 76440,623 e-mail: l.dorais@genie.com 76440.623@compuserve.com What you will get: a nice thank you letter, a free conscience, my eternal gratitude, and maybe a 32-bit version later. And that nagging screen will disappear forever! License: ------- BMPTOICO is a Shareware program and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. You may evaluate it for 30 days; after that trial period, you will have two more weeks to evaluate it, then BMPTOICO will stop running (but will still allow you to enter the registration number if you got one). Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. And please don't give them your registration number! The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using BMPTOICO and continue to use it after a reasonable trial period, you should look deep into your pocketbook and make an effort to register it (see above). This will entitle you to the right of running one copy of the program on one computer at a time. Other MyCat Software products: ----------------------------- All programs are available on CompuServe, GEnie, and other Shareware sources, and require VBRUN300.DLL. ICOEDIT: The full version of BMPTOICO's Icon Touch Up Editor. Full Icon Editor, written in Windows 3.1 but works equally well with Windows 95 and/or video modes higher than 256 colors. Available Summer 1996. Search ICOEDIT.ZIP HTML COLORS: Designed to help Web authors quickly select background, text and link colors, or edit the HR line. Includes 600 predifined colors to chose from, and you can add more! Background patterns can also be loaded. Test your choices immediately in a Web look-alike page, then copy the tags to the Clipboard (or keep them in a tag list for future use). Search HTMCOLOR.ZIP PALEDIT: A PaintBrush palette editor, with many additional features. Load and Save palettes. Use Hue, Saturation Luminosity as well as RBG. See the detail of a dithered color. View the colors in 16 or 256 color mode. Mix two colors to create a new one. Insert a Clip from a drawing program picture to try to match a color. Edit Color or Black and White palettes. Build palettes from PAL files other than PaintBrush. Search PALEDIT.ZIP XMAS GIFTS: Very colourful, non-violent Christmas game for children. Find gifts hidden in a Christmas tree. Two levels: easy (like naval battle) for preschoolers, harder (like Minesweeper) for older children. Let the computer hide the gifts, or ask your best friend. Requires SVGA. Search XMASGIFT.ZIP