Version 1.5.4 is based on Michael J. Conrad╒s DA Skeleton version 2, rather than version 1, which should improve reliability. Improved auto-selection of input units when converting lengths:
Ñ Mixed numbers and fractions (i.e. ╥1 1/2╙) now works in all calculations that allow input of a ╥/╙ character.
Ñ Improved specification of input units by:
- [p] or [pi] for picas
- [P] or [Pi] for PostScript picas
- [f], [ft], [i], [in], ['] or ["] for feet/inches
- [mm] for millimeters
- [cm] for centimeters
- [m] for meters
Version 1.5.3 was a minor modification to an area that could possibly cause the DA to hang on some systems. Unfortunately, the DA still has conficts on some systems.
Version 1.5.2 corrects an error in the conversion factor for Fathoms in 1.5.1.
Version 1.5.1 runs so many circles around any previous version, who cares what came before it!
I wrote this Macintosh desk accessory because I work as an ╥electronic illustrator╙ and, for technical drawings, it's always a pain to have to convert between inches and millimeters. I included points and picas to make it easier for people without a graphic arts background to work with desktop publishing software. After pressing the Enter or Return key, the DA will calculate your measurement in the chosen units and then select the entire edit box so you can immediately type in the next number without having to mouse around.
Clipboard support: In the Options menu, you can select Copy Result to put the current result in the clipboard for other applications or desk accessories. Selecting Copy Calc List will copy all of your current session╒s input and conversion results to the clipboard. Changing unit types triggers a calculation, but only calculations you trigger with Return or Enter will be added to the list. All of the standard Cut, Copy and Paste functions also work in the input box. Pressing the Command key and the Up Arrow (cursor up) will copy the current result to the Input Units edit box. Multifinder users, please note: Conversion doesn╒t yet fully support the clipboard under Multifinder. If you select Conversion from the Apple menu while holding down the Option key, then your current application will become Conversion╒s host program and all clipboard functions will operate as in the regular Finder.
Keyboard entry: When using lengths, you can enter distances as ╥1p6╙ for one pica six points (Conversion will switch to points as your input units, or PostScript points if you use a capital ╥P╙), 1'6" or ╥1 1/2ft╙ for one foot six inches (input units switches to inches), 2m for two meters (input units switches to meters), 2mm for two millimeters (input units switches to millimeters). Fractions can now be entered as well as decimals. For example, ╥1/2╙ can be substituted for ╥.5╙ and ╥1/3p╙ is equal to 4 points in lengths conversions. Fraction conversion is two way: fraction to decimal and decimal to fraction.
The DA remembers your favorite menu selections and its location on the screen. If it finds its window outside the screen size, it╒ll center it on the screen.
Scrollable Help: the About... box, which can be accessed by typing a question mark, command-slash or clicking on the ╥?╙ button, has lots of helpful information because it scrolls!
If you have less than the 20k necessary to open the help/about╔ window, then Conversion will beep. If you have less than 2k memory available when you press Enter or Return, then Conversion will beep to remind you there isn╒t enough memory to safely continue adding data to the Calc List. If you frequently run into memory shortages while converting lengths, use MiniConversion instead: it╒s a smaller, lengths-only version of this DA.
Fractions: The Fraction-to-Decimal feature converts all of your favorite fractions to decimals. The Decimal-to-Fraction feature converts your input to the nearest 1/64th and then let you know if it was an exact fit or not.
Numerics: Convert between hexadecimal, octal, decimal and binary.
Volume: Convert between liters, cords and various English and metric cubic units.
Area: Convert between square miles, acres and various squared English and metric units.
Geographical Units: Similar to lengths, but in larger units such as miles, kilometers, chains, links and leagues.
Temperatures: Convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvins.
Model Railroad: Convert between the major model railroad scales, including prototype. This one assumes input in inches to format the alternate result display, so it may help to use foot and inch marks when you enter dimensions.
If you╒ve uploaded any earlier version of Conversion to another BBS, I╒d really appreciate it if you could delete it and upload this one in its place. It╒s more useful and more reliable than any earlier version.
Are there any other conversions or features you'd like to see added? Planned for version 2 (early 1991) are more menu items and more conversion types, including power output, torque, light, pressure and fuel consumption. A utility is in the works that will allow you to edit most of the conversion tables and their related menu items. Entire menus or individual menu items can be turned off, and conversion factors can be changed. A French version is also available.
If you have any suggestions or comments, I╒d like to hear from you. My thanks to those of you who have made suggestions or located trouble spots for me. I've just completed and am torture-testing a ╥proportion wheel╙-like DA to help graphic artists size art and photos for reproduction. If you have a need for something like this, or suggestions as to what you'd like to see in it, please let me know and I'll contact you when it's ready.
FYI╤How Conversion works: For every type of conversion except temperature, fractions and numeric, there's a table that gives each unit's equivalent in one common denominator (either feet, liters, kilograms or kilometers), calculated to a precision of 20 decimal places. When it's converted to the chosen output units, it's again calculated and rounded to the nearest 20th digit. Its calculations aren't always perfect, but they're at least pretty darn close!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: My many thanks to Michael J. Conrad for his DA Skeleton (versions 1 and 2), upon which Conversion was first built, and Jon P. Wind for his many fascinating demos that inspired me to get into Mac programming in the first place. Thanks also all of the people whose input has been the basis of every new or improved feature since 1.0. These include: Martin Doettling (German translator and chief beta torture tester), SÄbastien Montambeault (French translator), Andy Burns, Dick Skover, Marv Johnson, Dan Schweitzer, Jerry Muelver (interface intuitivity torture tester from the DOS/Gem/Windows school), Larry Scott (Mac Hardware Yoda, from his homemade Mac to IIci), Brian Morgan, Peggy Burback (who got this whole thing started╤now see if you can get me OUT of this, Peggy!), Walt Baranger, Bruce Motogawa, Chester Schmidt, ╥Fresno Bob╙ Seigel, Edward H. Bennett, Ken Garzo, Wm. C. Feldbaumer and the dozens of others who have supported and encouraged my efforts. Thanks, gang!
