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Getting Started

Unpacking the Distribution Files

Macintosh

The Macintosh distribution file is a binhex'ed stuffit archive. Depending on how you obtained the file, some parts of this install process may have already been done for you (by your browser for example.)

Unix

The Unix distribution file is a compressed tar archive. Depending on how you obtained the file, some parts of this install process may have already been done for you (by your browser for example.)

  1. If the distribution file ends with .Z, it is in compressed format. Type:
    uncompress xxxxxxxxx.Z
    where xxxxxxxxxx.Z is the distribution file name. This will give you a .tar file for step 2.
  2. If the distribution file ends in .tar, you have a tar archive. Type
    tar -xf xxxxxxxxxxxx.tar
    where xxxxxxxxxx.Z is the distribution file name.
  3. The resulting directory contains all of the files you need to begin translating. Set the environment variable RTFLIBDIR to the full path name of the directory. You also need to add this directory to your execution path (path variable in csh, PATH in bourne shell).
  4. You may modify the shell script `rtftohtml' to suite your preferences, this allows you to add options to the command line. You don't need to do this now, just remember it for later.

Windows 3.1/DOS/Windows 95/Windows NT

The Windows/DOS distribution file is a zip archive. Depending on how you obtained the file, some parts of this install process may have already been done for you (by your browser for example.)

  1. If the distribution file ends with .zip, a zip archive. Use PKUNZIP or comparable utility to unzip the file.
  2. Add the directory containing r2hwin3.exe (Win3.1) or r2hw95.exe(Win95/WinNT) to your PATH
    (set this in AUTOEXEC.BAT)
  3. set RTFLIBDIR to the directory containing rtftohtm
    (set this in AUTOEXEC.BAT)!
  4. You may modify the batch file R2H.BAT (Win3.1) or R2H95 (Win95/WinNT) to suite your preferences, this allows you to add options to the command line. You don't need to do this now, just remember it for later.

Setting up Your Translation Environment

There are several changes you will need to make to the files html-trn and nav-panl, to customize them to your site and your preferences. You can make these changes now, or stay with the defaults until you have had an opportunity to try the filter out on some documents. If you stay with the defaults, you will need to convert your documents in the directory docs. This is because the default navigation buttons will be referenced by the URL: "images/xxx.gif" where xxx.gif is the actual file name of the graphic. For example:

docs
	yourfile.rtf
	images
		leftg.gif
		rightg.gif
		...

Converting a document

Macintosh

The Macintosh version supports conversions by dragging your RTF file onto the the filter. The The Macintosh version of RTFtoHTML allows you to setCommand line options by starting RTFtoHTML and choosing "Preferences..." from the Edit menu. If you use the OK button, those preferences will be saved for the current invocation. If you use the SAVE button, they will be saved for all invocations. Once your preferences are set, you can drag all your RTF files onto the application Icon and they will be translated.

For complete information on the preferences, and translation files, see Customizations andFAQ .
When you have converted your document you may also find image files with names like xxxx.pict or xxxx.wmf. These are graphics from your RTF document. You need to convert these images to .gif format so that browsers can display them.
You will probably see several messages beginning with "Unknown Paragraph style". This is normal and you can ignore them. But you can improve your translation by reviewing your input RTF file, and deciding what HTML markup would be best suited to display those paragraphs. Then add a line for each style to the end of the html-trn file. See Unknown Paragraph style for details.
All warning/error messages will be displayed in the status window, and also written to an .err file.

Macintosh Tips

Unix

  1. To run the filter on Unix, type
    rtftohtml filename.rtf
  2. For a complete description of the command line options, see:Command line options .

When you have converted your document you may also find image files with names like xxxx.pict or xxxx.wmf. These are graphics from your RTF document. You need to convert these images to .gif format so that browsers can display them.
You will probably see several messages beginning with "Unknown Paragraph style". This is normal and you can ignore them. But you can improve your translation by reviewing your input RTF file, and deciding what HTML markup would be best suited to display those paragraphs. Then add a line for each style to the end of the html-trn file. See Unknown Paragraph style for details.
All warning/error messages will be displayed to standard error, and also written to an .err file.

Unix Tips

Win3.1/DOS

In Windows environments, you can either

  1. Open a DOS command line window
  2. cd to the directory containing your RTF files
  3. run rtftohtm as follows:
    r2h filename.rtf

Or you can use the "File Manager" to give you a drag-n-drop interface to the filter:

  1. Open a "File Manager" window displaying the batch file R2H.BAT.
  2. Open a second window displaying your RTF input file.
  3. Drag the RTF file onto the R2H.BAT file.
    You will need to force "File Manager" to refresh the window containing your RTF file before it willshow you that a .HTM output filehas been created.

You will probably see several messages beginning with "Unknown Paragraph style". This is normal and you can ignore them. But you can improve your translation by reviewing your input RTF file, and deciding what HTML markup would be best suited to display those paragraphs. Then add a line for each style to the end of the html-trn file. SeeUnknown Paragraph style for details.
All warning/error messages will be displayed in the DOS window, and also written to an .err file.

Windows/DOS Tips

Windows 95/Windows NT

In Windows environments, you can either

  1. Open a DOS command line window
  2. cd to the directory containing your RTF files
  3. run rtftohtm as follows:
    r2h95 filename.rtf

Or you can drag-n-drop your RTF files onto the R2H95 batch file.
You will probably see several messages beginning with "Unknown Paragraph style". This is normal and you can ignore them. But you can improve your translation by reviewing your input RTF file, and deciding what HTML markup would be best suited to display those paragraphs. Then add a line for each style to the end of the html-trn file. See Unknown Paragraph style for details.
All warning/error messages will be displayed in the DOS window, and also written to an .err file.

Windows 95/ Windows NT Tips

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