Copyright: Copyright © Micrografx, Inc., 1994


Using Help
Using On-line Help

On-line help messages provide detailed information about commands and dialog boxes.

Accessing On-line Help

You can access help one of two ways. The first way involves pressing F1. When you press F1, you receive a help message specific to the command or dialog box choose or open.

The second way involves using the Help menu. The Help menu lets you see an index of topics.

Jump Terms

Some help messages contain underlined words and phrases called "jump" terms. A jump term takes you to a related message for that term. Jump terms let you move throughout the help system without returning to the Help menu.

Printing Help

You can print a help message using the Print Topic command in the File menu of the Help window.

To print a help message:

·	Choose the Print Topic command in the File menu.

Closing Help

You can close help and return to the dialog box in one of three ways.

·	Double click the Control menu box in the Help window.

·	Choose the Exit command in the File menu of the Help window.

·	Choose the Close command in the Control menu of the Help window.

Micrografx Help

Designed, written, and produced by Shannon B. Krakosky.


QuickDraw

QuickDraw is a Macintosh drawing program that uses the PICT Version 1 file format.

Color QuickDraw is a program that uses the PICT Version 2 file format.


Editing session

An editing session begins when the Micrografx application is started, and ends when the application is closed.


PICT Translator Help Topics

Importing from PICT

Exporting to PICT

PICT Output Filter Dialog Box

Creating a New Profile

New Profile Menu Dialog Box

Import Considerations

Export Considerations

Converting Text to Curves

INI File Settings

Transferring Files


Import Considerations

Regions are not supported in terms of their original purpose.

Line patterns are not supported.

Pen Size in a PICT file has height and width. The maximum of these two values is considered as the pen size.

Comments are not supported.

Bits and Bits Packed regions are not supported.

Clip regions are not supported.

Highlight mode is not supported.

Region transparency mode is ignored.

Dithered pattern types use black as the auxiliary color.

Related Topics

Importing from PICT


Export Considerations

Rotated text is not supported.

If edges are visible, then an edge is drawn as a separate object.

PICT does not support restricted text or character expansion factor, thus text position may not be perfect.

Line mode must be set to stroked to emulate wide lines and arrowheads.

Related Topics

PICT Output Filter Dialog Box

Exporting to PICT

Converting Text to Curves


PICT Export Setup Dialog Box
PICT Output Filter Setup Dialog Box

The PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box opens when you choose the PCT - Macintosh PICT option in the Export dialog box, and then click the Setup button.

Profiles

You can choose the Standard Options profile from the Profiles list box or one you have created, depending on the format you want.

New Button

Click New to create a new profile. The New Profile Menu dialog box opens. Type a name in the Profile Name box, and choose an existing profile on which to base the new profile from the Template Profile list box. Your choices for color translation, line mode, background rectangle, text as curves, and gradients are saved to the new profile. Profiles you create are saved with an asterisk (*) at the beginning of the name.

Delete Button

To delete a profile you have created, choose the profile name in the Profiles list box and click the Delete button. You cannot delete the original profiles.

Color Translation

Choosing Normal exports all colors in the Designer drawing to the nearest available color in the CGM format. If you choose Inverse, black is changed to white, red is changed to green, blue is change to yellow, and so on.

Choose Gray Scale to change each color to a corresponding shade of gray. Choose Inverse Grays Only to change only the gray colors to their inverse color (that is, dark gray to light gray, light gray to dark gray). Choose Inverse Gray Scale to change all colors to their inverse shades of gray.

Line Mode

You can choose either Device or Stroked. When you choose Device, all exported lines are mapped and converted to the closest matching line style in the PICT format. Choosing Stroked exports all lines with an exact simulation of the original line styles and caps.

Background Rectangle

Selecting this option exports the drawing with a background rectangle. Deselecting it exports the drawing with no background rectangle.

Export Text as Curves Option

This option lets you select whether you want text to be exported as text, or simulated by first converting the text to curves before it is exported. Text that is exported as text will lose special attributes such as line fills, and might map to a different font than the one selected. However, such text can still be edited.

Text that is exported as curves will retain the same appearance, but will not be able to be edited as text in the target application. Only text in a scalable font can be converted to curves.

Export Gradients Option

This option lets you select whether you wish gradient fills to be exported using a solid color (if deselected), or simulated by converting the gradient to many solid-filled polygons before it is exported (if selected). Exporting a gradient fill as a solid color saves disk space. Exporting a simulated gradient retains the same appearance, but uses more disk space.

OK Button

The OK button closes the PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box and saves the configuration settings for use with all following translations.

Cancel Button

The Cancel button closes the PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box without saving any changes to the configuration settings.

Related Topics

Procedure information

Creating a New Profile

New Profile Menu Dialog Box

INI File Settings


Exporting to PICT

To export to PICT:

1.	Select the symbols you want to export. If no symbols are selected, the entire page is exported.

2.	Open the File menu and choose Export. The Export dialog box opens.

3.	Choose a drive and directory for the exported files destination, if necessary.

4.	Type a name for the file.

5.	Click the down arrow in the List Files of Type list box.

6.	Choose PCT - Macintosh PICT. Designer automatically adds the proper extension to the filename.

7.	Click Setup. The PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box opens.

8.	Choose the PICT profile you want.

9.	Choose the color translation you want.

10.	Choose the line mode you want.

11.	Choose background rectangle, if you want.

12.	Choose Export Gradients, if necessary.

13.	Choose Export Text as Curves, if you want.

14.	Click OK.

15.	Click Export. Designer exports the file in PCT format.

Note: If you skip steps 7 through 14, Designer uses the settings previously used when exporting to a PCT file.

Related Topics

Dialog Box information

INI File Settings

Export Considerations


New Profile Menu Dialog Box

The New Profile Menu dialog box lets you name a new profile and select an existing profile on which to base the new one.

Profile Name

You can type a name in the Profile Name box.

Template Profile

You can choose an existing profile name from the Template Profile list box (including ones you have already created) on which to base your new profile.

Related Topics

Creating a New Profile

PICT Output Filter Setup Dialog Box


Creating a New Profile

To create a new profile:

1.	Click the New button in the PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box. The New Profile Menu dialog box opens.

2.	Type a new profile name in the Profile Name box.

3.	Choose a profile from the Template Profile list box to use as a template.

4.	Click OK.

5.	Choose other settings in the PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box and click OK.

Note: All the settings you choose, except for the check box options Export Gradients and Export Text as Curves, are saved to the new profile.

Related Topics

New Profile Menu Dialog Box

PICT Output Filter Setup Dialog Box


Importing a PICT File

To import a PICT file:

1.	Open the File menu and choose Import. The Import dialog box opens.

2.	Click the down arrow in the List Files of Type list box.

3.	Choose PCT - Macintosh PICT.

4.	Change to the drive and directory you want.

5.	Highlight the name of the file you want to import.

6.	Click Import. The dialog box closes and the imported file appears in the drawing area.

Related Topics

INI File Settings

Transferring Files

Import Considerations


INI File Settings

The PCT translator stores configuration information in the files named IMPCT9.INI and EMPCT9.INI, for import and export, respectively. PCT export options are automatically configured in the PICT Output Filter Setup dialog box.

Related Topics

Transferring Files

Export Considerations

Import Considerations


File Transfer
Transferring Files

The native diskette format of the Macintosh is different from the PC diskette format. Files are usually transferred between a Macintosh and a PC by using a Macintosh disk drive that is compatible with both formats of diskettes. Other alternatives for file transfer include networking the PC and the Macintosh together; or using a connecting cable and file-transfer software.

File formats also differ between the two machines. The type of the PC file is designated by its filename extension, in this case .PCT. On a Macintosh, a file TYPE and CREATOR must be assigned. See your Macintosh documentation for the correct TYPE and CREATOR for your application.

Related Topics

INI File Settings


Converting Text to Curves

Some Micrografx applications allow text to be converted to curves, which are vector symbols. These symbols can be exported to PICT just like any other curved object.

Converted text will retain its original appearance in Macintosh application, instead of being changed to a Macintosh font.

Please note that these objects can no longer be edited like text, nor converted back to text.

Related Topics

INI File Settings

Transferring Files

Exporting to PICT

Export Considerations

PICT Output Filter Setup Dialog Box