README.TXT   dLSoft

dClip the Clipboard Master

dClip Shareware Version.

This version may have been supplied with the demonstration version of the Printer 
module (see below). The Printer module is supplied only with the Professional 
version of dClip, as is a separate run-time show program. Neither are provided 
with the Standard Edition of dClip.

This version is restricted use. You will not be able to save or use images placed 
on the clipboard. However, you will be able to capture and load images, and 
create shows from images saved using the Windows CLIPBRD.EXE program.

For details of how to order the full version see the file ORDER.TXT on the 
distribution disk.

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Release v 2.4a 

This version of dClip is suitable for use with Microsoft Windows 3.0 (Standard
and Enhanced mode) and later only.

The distribution disk contains compressed files which must be decompressed
by the install program before use. FILES WILL NOT WORK IF COPIED
WITHOUT USING THE INSTALL PROGRAM.

To install this software:
Run the INSTALL program on this disk from within Windows. When using Pogram 
Manager, insert this disk in your drive (A: or B:), select RUN from the FILE 
menu, and type A:INSTALL (or B:INSTALL) and click on OK. INSTALL will prompt
you for an installation directory name.

Since the manual was printed dClip's Open File dialog has been extended to allow
BMP, DIB, PCX, TXT, WMF and (some) TIF files to be loaded directly onto the
clipboard. BMP, PCX and TIF files are converted to Device independent bitmaps 
on loading. Note that if you load coloured images which contain more colours
than your system can display then your images will either not display at all,
or look rather poor. dClip can convert 24-bit True Colour images into 256 colour
palette form on loading. Note also that for systems displaying less than 256
colours converting a DIB into a normal bitmap may produce images which cannot be
reloaded satisfactorily (because of insufficient palette space).

dClip's File Save dialog will now allow clipboard device-independent bitmaps to 
be saved as.PCX,  .DIB or .BMP files, metafile pictures to be saved as .WMF files, and 
clipboard text to be saved as .TXT files.

Please note that the Windows Clipboard viewer CLIPBRD.EXE can
create .CLP files which contain several different clipboard formats.
When dClip reads these file it will only access the FIRST format it
finds within the file. dClip does not use multiple format files as
these would be wasteful of disk space and incompatible with dClip's
function as a presentation system.

If you need to extract a single format from a multiple format .CLP
file then load the file into the clipboard using CLIPBRD.EXE, then 
switch to dClip to use or save the specific format you require.

All standard format .CLP files created by dClip can be read by CLIPBRD.EXE.

Please note that the demonstration pictures in the slide show TEST.DCS
are distributed as Device independent bitmaps so that they should display
on all Windows displays - although DIBs are slower to display than 
conventional bitmaps.

It is recommended that presentation images involving normal text should
be converted to bitmaps prior to presentation, because dClip will not
centre a text display or show a background colour around the text.

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Professional version only

The new Printer module is loaded from within dClip by selecting PRINTER from
the FILE menu, and may be used for printing either the current clipboard image
(other than text), or for printing any or all of the images in a slide show -
complete with user provided captions. To return to dClip from the Printer
module, select dClip from the Printer module's FILE menu. 

Instructions are provided in the HELP system.

The Run-time show module dsClip.exe operates in the same way as the Presentation
mode of dClip. The module is intended for providing show facilities while 
occupying minimal disk space. It does not require the presence of any other
dClip modules - merely the required show (.DCS) and image (.CLP) files.

DLSOFT January 1993

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