Copyright: Copyright © 1994,1995 Ch. Germelmann


Contents of Ico2Bmp!-Help
Icon To Bitmap Converter	Ico2Bmp!

This help is written in english only. Ico2Bmp! is multilingual (see features). If you don't understand parts of this text, don't worry - just run Ico2Bmp! !

This help file describes the full version, for the Shareware-Version see RESTRICT.TXT.

Contents

Installation

What is what

Features

Copyright

Registration


Installation of ICO2BMP.EXE
Installation

This application does not need a particular installation.

Simply move ICO2BMP!.EXE and ICO2BMP!.HLP to a directory of your choice.

Additional Files

Besides a copy of VBRUN200.DLL there are no additional files required. (no VBXs or DLLs, e.g. for DragDrop) !!!
If you have already acquired VisualBasic-programs, there is probably a VBRUN200.DLL in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM-directory. If not, please put it into the WINDOWS\SYSTEM-directory so that all VisualBasic-programs can use it. Never copy it into a program's directory.

Ico2Bmp! does not work as 'stand-alone'; it needs a File-Manager. This does not need to be the original Windows file manager - just any.


What Is What ?

Here is a visual explanation of all features...

Please use the mouse pointer to click onto the desired area or use the TAB-Key.


Icon Area

Here the dropped icon(s) is (are) shown until conversion is done.
To alter the background color (icons can be transparent ) click
onto this area with the left or right mouse button. There are
16 colors which will be cycled.
The color you selected when you choose 'yes' will be used to
make the bitmap.


'Yes'

This switch will be labeled in your particular language.
If you choose it one dropped icon will be converted
into a bitmap.


'No'

This switch will be labeled in your particular language.
If you choose it one dropped icon will not be converted
into a bitmap.


'All' [+++}

If you choose this switch all dropped icons will be converted
into bitmaps. This process will only stop if one (or more) of
the bitmaps already exist(s) in the destination directory.


'None' [- - -]

If you choose this switch none of the
dropped icons will be converted.


'Up-Down Switch'

With this switch you extend the Ico2Bmp!-window and you
may select another destination directory than the icon's path.
The same switch 'folds up' the window again. If you choosed
an optional directory the window is a little longer and the
path is shown in the lower part.


'Destination Path Name'

Here the destination path of the new bitmap is shown.
Doubleclicking will set the path to the Ico2Bmp!-path
and another doubleclick will switch back to the
previously shown path.


'Check Destination Path'

This check box switches the destination path 'on' and 'off'.
Additionally drive- and path selection are dis-/enabled.
If you choosed a destination path other than the icon path
the destination path will still be shown after 'folding up'
and can so be switched on and off again anytime.


'Drive'

Here you can set the drive for the destination
directory of the converted bitmaps.


'Path'

Here you can set the path to the destination
directory of the converted bitmaps.


Features of Ico2Bmp
Features Of Ico2Bmp!

This program converts icons into 256 color bitmaps.

Multi Language Option

This application is multilingual - it uses your Windows-language  !!!
(This may be: english, german, french, spanish and all other languages of your Windows.)

Selecting Icons

You select icons by Drag'n'Drop from any file manager. And you may convert as many icons at one time as you want; just drop an icon file (or a selection of icon files) over Ico2Bmp!, drop them and let Ico2Bmp! work !
(You don't fill lists or so to be worked out 'later on'.) - That makes it really fast !!!

It is impossible to load icons besides with Drag'n'Drop.

The bitmaps will have the same filename exept their extensions ('.bmp' instead of '.ico'). Ico2Bmp! will not overwrite any bitmap unless you definitely want it.
Here the multi language option is most useful - no matter what language you use on your computer Ico2Bmp! knows and uses it when showing messages !

Working With Ico2Bmp!

You can approve or deny every single conversion (even in multi-selections) or cancel all files at onces. So you can use Ico2Bmp! just for browsing thru a couple of icons - simply click 'no' (in your language) to not convert this particular icon.  A 'cancel' button (to cancel an entire selection) only appears with multi selections. If you use the cancel button, none of the dropped icons will be converted (= 'no' for all).

Need an icon as a bitmap for help-files ?  Then you should make use of the multi backcolor choice with left and right mouse keys. Just click onto the respectively loaded icon - the selected backcolor will then be used for creating the bitmap (matching the background of your help file). There are 16 colors available.

If you just want to see your personal icon as a cursor; drop it onto Ico2Bmp!, iconize Ico2Bmp! (or drag the icon onto the the iconized Ico2Bmp!), click on it with the left mouse key (and hold it) and move your 'sample cursor' like a  new cursor over the screen (if you don't want to convert it then, don't forget to deny conversion afterwards !).

Writing LOG-Files

Converting a huge number of Icons can cause confusion. You can simply avoid this by starting Ico2Bmp! with the LOG-command: ICO2BMP![.EXE] LOG .  The LOG-file will be written into the path of Ico2Bmp!. It contains the number of converted icons, the number of dropped files, the number of valid dropped files, the full path of the new bitmap and time and date of conversion. Each Drag'n'Drop-event is collected in a group. So it's easy to make out what when and how happend.

The ICO2BMP!.INI

This file is located in the Windows-directory. Since it contains as well the path of which Ico2Bmp! was started last you will be able at any time to find it !


This is an example for a  short LOG-file (one drag-drop event):

The example: icon #3 was the fifth file of eight in a drag-drop event
(file #3 and #4 must have been of an invalid format). This shows that
you can simply 'throw' the whole contents of a directory onto Ico2Bmp!.
It takes what it can use (valid icons only !).

Ico2Bmp!  [02/11/1995,00:03:11]

[02/11/1995,00:03:11]
[1|1/8]	c:\temp\bitmaps\ico2bmp!\	 SAMPLE1.BMP
[2|2/8]	c:\temp\bitmaps\ico2bmp!\	 SAMPLE2.BMP
[3|5/8]	c:\temp\bitmaps\ico2bmp!\	 SAMPLE4.BMP
[4|6/8]	c:\temp\bitmaps\ico2bmp!\	 SAMPLE6.BMP
[5|7/8]	c:\temp\bitmaps\ico2bmp!\	 SAMPLE8.BMP


Copyright

If you need your personal Drag'n'Drop-Tool in VisualBasic (1-3 (pro)) please contact me...
I will see how to manage your programming job.

Please accept that I do not send any source code !!!

All rights are with the author.

The author

Christian Germelmann
Am Glaskopf 26
36039 Marburg/Lahn
Germany
Tel. ++49 6421 45457
CompuServe 100520,2644

P.S.: Please contact the author for complaints and suggestions.


C o p y r i g h t

Christian Germelmann
Am Glaskopf 26
35039 Marburg/Lahn
Phone ++49 06421 45457
CompuServe 100520,2644


Registration
Registration	Use the PRINT-command to print out the order form

Ico2Bmp!  can as well be registered  ONLINE  with CompuServe.
Just  GO SWREG  and register  #4635.
For  Ico2Bmp!  you can as well search with the keywords 'Ico2Bmp!', 'icon', 'bitmap', 'convert', 'VisualBasic', 'VB', 'ChG_Tool' or 'Tool'.
The registration fee (US$ 15) will be added to your monthly CompuServe bill.

As a registered user you will receive the latest full version by return. If you GO SWREG via CompuServe you will get the full version within 24 hours after the registration notification reached me - the fastest way !

If you want to register by mail, just print out the order form of the following page.

Mail to:	Christian Germelmann
Am Glaskopf 26
35039 Marburg
Germany


SOFTWARE ORDER FORM

Icon To Bitmap Converter

Name	____________________________________________________________________

Address	____________________________________________________________________

City	_________________________ State/Province __________ ZIP _______________

Country	__________________________Phone ____________________________

WINDOWS VERSION	[  ] 3.1	[  ] 3.11

MB RAM	[  ] 2	[  ] 4	[  ] 6	[  ] 8 OR MORE

GRAPHICS	[  ] EGA	[  ] VGA	[  ] SVGA

RESOLUTION USED	[  ] 640x480	[  ] 800x600	[  ] 1024x768	[  ] 1280x1024 +

COMPUTER	[  ] 286	[  ] 386	[  ] 486	[  ]Pentium

SPEED/Mhz	[  ] 25	[  ] 33	[  ] 40	[  ] 50	[  ] 66	[  ] 90	[  ] 100

The following 'bugs' I found in the Shareware-Version ...

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

NUMBER OF COPIES	_____	Amount enclosed	$ _______ U.S.

[US$ 15  for each copy]

Christian Germelmann  -  Am Glaskopf 26  -  35039 Marburg  -  Germany