The following comprises what little documentation is needed for Convert, the numeric translation master. Convert is a new stand-alone application for anyone who needs to convert various categories of numbers from one unit to another. The application itself was borne out of frustration of not having such a utility with some very specific features.
Over a thousand different conversions are possible. Mac OS's Drag and Drop is supported. Convert can be driven from the keyboard alone. Balloon Help is supported. Convert is not modal; in other words, you can run Convert in the background. Convert remembers its last screen location; this is especially handy for those lucky enough to have multiple monitors. Currency conversions are supported; useful for those pesky expense reports.
Last, Convert tries its best to provide local language support for menus and dialogs. The popup menus listing the unit names are not localized however, as the complexities were dizzying.
Getting Started
Turn on the Macintosh, as described in Apple's Getting Started With Your Macintosh manual. Insert the Convert disk in the Macintosh, wait for the window to appear on the desktop.
To get started, open the Convert application by double-clicking its icon (shown below). You can also open the application by selecting its icon and choosing Open from the Finder's File menu.
Convert Icon
When Convert is opened, you'll see the main window (shown below).
Convert window
To close the window, click the close box or choose Close from the File menu.
Closing the window also Quits the application.
The Menus
This section runs through the menus and menu items that are available to you in Convert. You can use the File, Edit, and the Options menu.
File Menu
The File menu items are Close and Quit.
• Choose Close to close Convert's window and quit the application.
• Choose Quit to close Convert's window and quit the application.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains items for Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Clear, and Select All. With the exception of Undo and Select All, the items in the Edit menu will function only when text is selected.
Options Menu
The Options menu contains Decimal Places, Separate Thousands, Scientific Notation, Flip Units, Update Currency Prices and SMPTE Frame Rates. Once altered, these settings will be "remembered" until changed again, even after you quit Convert.
• Decimal Places is a hieracrial menu for setting the number of decimal places you desire in your calculated result.
• Separate Thousands delimits, or separates, thousands with the appropriate mark. This mark is typically a comma (for the U.S.), but technically reflects the settings contained in the Numbers control panel.
• Scientific Notation determines whether of not the calculated result is displayed using scientific notation or not. Pressing Command-E is the keyboard equivalent for this item.
• Flip Units inverts the two displayed units for a given category. For example, if one was working in the Temperature category and converting from Celsius to Kelvin, and then wanted to convert from Kelvin to Celsius, instead of manually changing the two popup menus, simply use the Flip Units menu item. Pressing Command-U is the function's keyboard equivalent.
• Update Currency Prices… displays a dialog allowing you to enter the current market rates for various currencies found around the globe. We've found the Wall Street Journal to be an excellent source for these numbers. The lower left hand side of the dialog shows the last time any of the currencies were updated. The tab key on your keyboard will move you from currency to currency. Hitting the Cancel button exits this dialog without updating any of the currencies.
Shortcut: Option-clicking on a currency name from the main Convert window brings you directly to the Update Currencies… dialog.
Update Currencies Dialog
• The SMPTE Frame Rates menu allows for the manipulation of frame rates when the Digital Video category is selected. This menu is dimmed and unavailable unless the Digital Video cetegory is active.
Using Convert
Using Convert is very simple. First choose what Category of conversion you wish to perform. This is accomplished by either using the Category popup menu found in the upper left area of the Convert window, or you may use the "[" or "]" keys on the keyboard to make changes.
Three more things need to be done, and they may be performed in any order. First, choose the From unit type by manipulating the From unit popup menu. This menu is located in the upper right of the Convert window. Second, choose the To unit type from the popup menu directly below. Last, type the number you wish to convert from in the upper left text edit box, and as you type the number is automatically converted and appears in the lower left text edit box.
Note that the unit type popup menus may be controlled from the keyboard by using the up and down arrows, both with the shift key and without. Some simple experimentation should make this action clear.
Data may by drag and dropped into the From text edit box, and may be dragged from either text edit box.
Multiple monitors, if you have them, are supported. This means that you can drag your Convert window to any desired located, even on to a second display, if available. This feature really comes in handy if you are running multiple applications at once and need to "spread out."
Help
Since you are running under MacOS 7.x or later, you may take advantage of Balloon Help. Simply select the "Show Balloons" menu item from the Balloon Help menu in the upper-right corner of your menu bar. See your Macintosh manual for further instructions on how to activate Balloon Help.
Troubleshooting
The minimum system configuration you will need to successfully run Convert is a Macintosh Plus (or later) with 1 MB RAM and MacOS version 7.x or greater. Convert will not run under Macintosh System 6.x or earlier.
All of Convert's "remembered" settings, including window location and Currency prices, can be reset by throwing away the "Convert Preferences" file. This file is located in the Preferences folder, which can be found within the System Folder.
You can tell what version you have by either selecting the About Convert… menu item under the Apple menu (shown below), or by selecting the Convert icon within the Finder and then selecting the Get Info… menu item (located under the File menu).
About Convert™… Dialog Box
If there are any problems, suggestions, or bug reports, please contact Fifth Wave immediately.
Disclaimer of Warranty and Limited Warranty on Media
If you are not completely satisfied with this software at any time during the first 30 days after you receive it, return the software and manual, postage prepaid, during the 30-day time period, with proof of purchase to your dealer or to Fifth Wave, 1643 Wyndham Drive, San Jose, California 95124-4749, for a full refund of the purchase price of the product. At your option, you may include the reason for your dissatisfaction.
Fifth Wave will replace defective distribution media or manuals at no charge, provided you return the item to be replaced with proof of purchase to Fifth Wave during the 90-day period after purchase. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES ON THE MEDIA AND MANUALS, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE OF THIS PRODUCT.
FIFTH WAVE MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO CONVERT SOFTWARE, ITS QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. AS A RESULT, CONVERT IS LICENSED "AS IS," AND YOU THE PURCHASER ARE ASSUMING THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO ITS QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE.
IN NO EVENT WILL FIFTH WAVE BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN CONVERT OR ITS DOCUMENTATION, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. In particular, Fifth Wave shall have no liability for any data calculated using Convert, or for the consequences of using such data.
THE WARRANTY AND REMEDIES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHERS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. No Fifth Wave dealer, agent, or employee is authorized to make any modification, extension, or addition to this warranty. Some states do not allow exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the-above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Copyright Notice
The Convert manual (this document, regardless of medium (electronic or physical)), program, product design, and design concepts are Copyrighted, with all rights reserved to Fifth Wave. Your rights are subject to the limitations and restrictions imposed by the copyright laws of the United States of America. Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, in whole or part, including translation to another language or format, without the express written consent of Fifth Wave.
