Pict-2-Icons is an application I wrote for a friend. I decided to make it public cause there were some people asking for it, and I also thought it could be nice for everyone, so here it is. It's main (and in this version only) purpose is to make a series of icons out of a PICT file. I could describe it like the things Apple always did on there demo CDs, and many software houses still do it too. When you insert the CD, you get a window with a large picture in it, way larger than the 32 at 32 pixels the Mac OS icons are limited to (at the moment writing). This is done by cutting a PICT file in small squares of 32 times 32 pixels. And exactly that is what this application will do...
Who could use it ?
Think the main users will be people who make CD compilations, or programmers who distribute their own software.
What does it cost ?
Hehe, always the tricky question ! Well, I want to keep this package freeware as long as possible. I'm a student medecine, so I don't have to program for my money, it's just cause I like doing it. Let's say this... If you use Pict-2-Icons for CDs which come with a magazine, or which are distributed in a local Macintosh User Group, then just think about me and mail me, or if you would be so nice, send me a sample CD and/or magazine. Maybe I can get a subscription or become a member.
What about distribution ?
Distribute it for free. Just authors of compilation CDs of any kind (magazines and/or user groups) please warn me with an email. It is nice to have an idea where your soft goes to, you see ?
OK, so far for the basic questions, now a small quick-start guide.
1) Make sure the file Data File is in the same folder as the app
2) Fire up the application by double-clicking Pict-2-Icons
3) Select file->open and choose a picture
4) If a dialog window appears now (which will 9 times out of 10) then select your choice
5) Now you can check out some of the icons that will be generated with the Try It and Save buttons.
6) Click Iconify (yeah, that's a new word I guess) or select Iconify from the File menu to turn the whole picture into icons.
7) Open the destination folder in the Finder
8) Make sure the window is wide enough. To do that, see that as many icons can be besides each other as the Info window told you the pict would be wide.
9) Sort the icons by name (but in large icon mode), that's done by holding down Option while selecting Clean Window (which will then be 'Sorted by name' or some alike) from the Special menu.
10) Start putting the puzzle together...
What are the limitations ?
Well, I made no good Error handling, cause I had no time. So, when you run out of memory, you will get a dialog box with 'NilObjectExeption error' in it. Will probably change that in a next version, but hey, I have to study too.
The maximum number of icons is 1024, cause I thought that would be enough. Don't know what happens if you pass that number. Think they will just be overwritten though...
Currently only the icl8, ics8 resources, and not the icl4 and ics4 resources are really finished, so I guess the icons will look strange on 4bit monitors (16 colours). But I think that can't be a too hard problem. The new icons from MacOS 8.5, with 32bits, are also not made...
Be sure to have the file 'Data File' that came with the app in the same folder. It really needs it, and Pict-2-Icons will crash if it is not present !
I am NOT responsible for anything you do with Pict-2-Icons or for whatever happens due to the usage of the program. It's freeware, so just take care of what you do.
Think that's all !
Hope you enjoy the program, and if you have any comments, send them in !
