Creator™ Batch Conversion Read Me

This suite of AppleScripts™ is designed to automate converting a large number of Multi-Ad Creator™ documents to Multi-Ad Creator2™.  The two scripts provided are Creator Batch Conversion and Creator Batch Conversion D&D.  Creator Batch Conversion works by double clicking on the script icon, while Creator Batch Conversion D&D works by dragging and dropping folders/files onto the script icon. 

Requirements
• Multi-Ad Creator® 3.6 or newer
• Multi-Ad Creator2™ 1.1
• AppleScript™
Note: The system doing the conversion must be able to open and run all three of these applications simultaneously.

Using Creator Batch Conversion

Before starting Creator Batch Conversion, we recommend that you empty the trash.  Creator Batch Conversion uses temporary files to do the conversion, and automatically throws the temporary files away once converted.  The Finder may display a dialog box when Creator Batch Conversion tries to do this, which will stop the script until you OK the dialog.  This will be avoided by emptying the trash first.  

In order to optimize the batch conversion process, we suggest that you change certain Preferences settings of Creator2 1.1.  In the General Preferences dialog box, change the On Startup option to "Do nothing."  This allows Creator Batch Conversion to launch Creator2 without the interruption of a startup dialog box.  Also, deselect the Check for text overflow options.  You may also want to open Multi-Ad Creator and deselect the Check for text overflow options that appear in the preferences. Note:  Remember to change your settings back after the conversion process is complete.

Once you have performed these tasks, double-click the Creator Batch Conversion icon.  A dialog box with notes regarding Creator Batch Conversion will appear.  To continue, select the Run button.

You will then be asked if Creator2 is running.  If Creator2 is not running, the script will launch Creator2 for you.  Creator Batch Conversion will also launch Creator, if necessary.

Next, Creator Batch Conversion will ask for the location of the source Creator files.  Select the appropriate directory.

Creator Batch Conversion will then display location options for saving the new files: in the same folder as the originals or in a different folder.

• Different Folder. If you choose Different Folder, Creator Batch Conversion will ask for the destination directory.  Select the folder in which you wish to save the new files.  All converted files will retain the name of the original Creator document, but the converted file will be displayed with a Creator2 icon.

• Same Folder.  If you choose Same Folder, Creator Batch Conversion will ask how it should handle current files whose names are longer than 27 characters:  Skip the file or Truncate the file name.  Because Creator Batch Conversion adds an extension to the file name when it generates the Creator2 file, the source file names need to be less than 27 characters.  When Creator Batch Conversion encounters one of these files, it can either skip the file (and note it in the Log, if you have Creator Batch Conversion generate one) or truncate the file name to 27 characters, losing any characters beyond 27 digits.  Note: Creator Batch Conversion does not currently support the longer file names possible with System 8.1.

Finally, Creator Batch Conversion will display a dialog box with the option to log the conversion.  The log tracks every Creator ad converted and notes errors encountered during the process. If you choose to create a log, Creator Batch Conversion will prompt you to name the log and choose a location where the file will be saved.

Creator Batch Conversion will then begin converting.  Upon completion, Creator Batch Conversion will display a dialog with a summary of how many files were converted, and whether or not errors occurred.

Editing the Script

If you would like to customize Creator Batch Conversion in order to better suit your needs, you may edit the script through Script Editor.  Following these steps will limit the amount of dialog boxes displayed. Most people will not find it necessary to make these changes, however, for those who want to, the steps are below. 

Listed below are some specific settings that will alter the way in which the script handles certain functions.  These functions include logging, skipping/truncating file names, and starting up Creator Batch Conversion. 

To begin, open Creator Batch Conversion through Script Editor. 

• Logging.  To change the script in regard to logging the conversion, look for these lines:

--User–settable flag for using log file:
property askAboutLog : kAsk

If you would like the script to automatically log the conversion, change kAsk to kUse.  
If you would like the script to automatically skip the log, change kAsk to kDontUse.

• File Names.  To change the file names setting, look for these lines:

--User-settable flag for handling long file names (28-31 chars):
property askAboutLongFiles : kAsk

To automatically skip long files, change kAsk to kSkip.  
To automatically truncate file names, change kAsk to kTruncate.

• Starting up Creator Batch Conversion.  To disable the Creator Batch Conversion Startup Screen:

Choose Save As. . . from Script Editor's File menu, and check the Never Show Startup Screen checkbox.

Once you have made any desired changes, save the script.  The new settings will be in effect until you edit the script again.