home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
User's Choice Windows CD
/
User's Choice Windows CD (CMS Software)(1993).iso
/
win_a_d
/
cnvrt101.zip
/
CONVERT.TXT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-05-06
|
17KB
|
348 lines
Convert 1.01
Copyright 1991 by Gordon Haff and Bit Masons Consulting.
All rights reserved.
Description:
Unit conversion calculator for Windows 3.0.
Comes with a data file containing a large number of
common (and not so common) conversions in categories
such as length, speed, pressure, volume, and time.
The data file is a plain ASCII text file so the user
may add or delete units to best fit his individual
needs.
Prereqs: 100% IBM Compatible PC running DOS 3.0 or higher
Windows 3.0
Archive Name: CNVRT101.ZIP
Other: As mentioned above, the units data file is easily
modified. Please DO NOT, however, distribute a
modified data file in place of the distribution file.
(Feel free to distribute augmented data files
separately, however.)
The data files must be placed in either your Windows
subdirectory or in a location specified in your
WIN.INI file.
This program is being distributed as free, copyrighted
software -- commonly called 'Freeware'. The author
reserves the right to change the status of the program
to Shareware in future revisions.
┌─────────┐
┌─────┴───┐ │ (tm)
──│ │o │──────────────────
│ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of
│ │ │─┘ Shareware
└───│ o │ Professionals
──────│ ║ │────────────────────
└────╨────┘ MEMBER
CONVERT 1.01 2
DISCLAIMER
The author hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this
product, whether express or implied, including without limitation
any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose. The author cannot and will not be liable for
any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar
damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if the
author or an authorized agent has been advised of the possibility
of such damages. In no event shall the liability for any damages
ever exceed the price paid for the license to use the software,
regardless of the form and/or extent of the claim. The user of
this program bears all risk as to the quality and performance of
the software.
LICENSE
CONVERT is distributed as free, copyrighted software. What this
means is that you can use this program for as long as you like
without cost or obligation. What you cannot do is to sell this
software or make a profit off of it (except as described below)
without the express written permission of the author.
CONVERT is the sole property of Gordon Haff. The program may be
freely copied and transferred to individual parties. It may be
posted on Bulletin Board systems (BBS) for electronic access as
long as NO FEE is charged for its distribution except for private
BBS operations that charge a regular user subscription fee.
Computer information services such as Compuserve (CIS), Genie,
and Byte Information Exchange (BIX) are authorized to post this
product for subscriber access. CONVERT may be distributed on
diskette only by 1) disk distributors/vendors who are associate
members of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) or
2) users groups which do not charge more than a nominal fee ($5)
to cover the costs of distribution. Any changes to these
policies must be made in writing by the author.
This program is produced by a member of the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the
shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the
member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can
help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but
does not provide technical support for members' products. Please
write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Rd., Muskegon, MI
49442-9427 or send a Compuserve message via easyplex to ASP
Ombudsman 70007,3536.
CONVERT 1.01 3
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Since this program is a freebie, unlike the shareware programs
for which I request a registration fee, I'm not going to make any
guarantees here with respect to bug fixes or other technical
support. Having said that, I do like my programs to be as
bug-free as possible, so feel free to report any problems which
you run across.
Contact via:
Channel 1 BBS (617) 354-8873
Compuserve User ID# 72561,2637 (See Note 1)
InterNet/ARPANET 72561.2637@compuserve.com
U.S. Mail 3205 Windsor Ridge Dr.
Westboro MA 01581
Telephone (508) 898-3321 (after 6pm
Eastern time)
The above are roughly in order of preference (i.e. how quickly
I'm likely to see your message and be able to respond). I check
Channel One almost daily and the other electronic services at
least weekly in most cases. In addition, I monitor the Interlink
and the PCRelay Shareware relays through Channel One.
Note 1:
When contacting me via Compuserve, please use the Easyplex mail
system since I do not regularly monitor any of the IBM SIG
message bases.
CONVERT 1.01 4
1.0 What is CONVERT?
------------------------
Convert is a handy little utility for Windows 3.0. Convert
is effectively a special-purpose calculator which converts
between most units (i.e. things like inches, feet, and so
forth). You pick a category such as mass or volume and
the available units (available in the units database, that is)
are then displayed. You then pick your to and from units, enter
a number to convert from and out pops the answer.
There's a button to swap the TO and FROM units. You can change
the format of the answer display. Just go ahead and run it.
It's pretty much intuitive and has a full-blown hypertext
Windows help function if you get stuck.
CONVERT comes with a fairly extensive general-purpose units
database. Lots of people have a need for industry or
job-specific units though, so I've designed the database so that
it can be easily modified. It's just a plain ASCII file which
can be modified using any text editor or wordprocessor capable
of generating plain ASCII files (i.e. files without formatting
codes and such). The database formats are given in the on-line
help, so I won't repeat the information here.
CONVERT 1.01 5
2.0 Setting up CONVERT?
-------------------------
The first step is to install CONVERT.EXE in the standard manner
for a Windows program. If you don't know how to do this, please
consult your Windows manual.
If you want to have access to the on-line help, the CONVERT.HLP
file should be placed in the same directory as CONVERT.EXE.
The database files (CATS.DAT and UNITS.DAT) can either be placed
in the main Windows directory, or you can add the following
section to your WIN.INI file:
[Convert]
CatData=d:\dir\cats.dat
UnitData=d:\dir\units.dat
where d:\dir is the drive specification and path of the
subdirectory containing the data files.
3,0 About the Database.
-------------------------
Convert 1.0 comes with a database which should be useful for
many general purpose needs. The conversion factors are derived
either directly or indirectly from those in the CRC Handbook of
Chemistry and Physics.
At the same time, 1) the database could be expanded considerably
and 2) it may contain errors -- although all reasonable care has
been taken to check the data.
The database is supplied in an easy-to-modify format. If you
make any extensive additions, I'd be interested in adding them
to the program. You should also feel free to distribute any
additions for use with Convert. I only ask that they be
distributed in addition to the original files rather than in
place of them and that they be accompanied by documentation
clearly stating their source.
If you do find any errors in the distributed data, I would very
much appreciate your dropping me a line to let me know of the
problem so that it may be corrected in future revisions.
CONVERT 1.01 6
4.0 Technical and Acknowledgments.
------------------------------------
CONVERT was written using Borland's Turbo Pascal for Windows.
CONVERT was developed on a homebrew 386 (named Dejah Thoris)
based on an AMI 20MHz full-size motherboard with a Micropolis
160MB ESDI disk and Ultrastore 12(F) ESDI controller. It is a
dual monitor system with an Orchid Prodesigner 512KB VGA board
and an IBM MDA board. The system runs DOS 3.3, QEMM, and
Windows 3.0.
Thanks to Rick Strom and Ron Lloyd for testing help and
suggestions and to Rick for icon design.
5.0 Other Programs from Gordon Haff and Bit Masons Consulting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Directory Freedom (DF):
Offers users a fast, compact alternative to DOS Shells which
provides 1) selective file and directory operations; 2) a
scrollable environment for examining files and directories; 3)
user-defined keys which can operate upon highlighted files
(e.g. by defining an editor). All this in a program which
takes less than 20KB since it is written in assembler! Easily
customized through an external configuration program. A "look-
and-feel" similar to PC Mag's DR, but does much more. Now with
SmartViewers and many more exciting new features.
Shareware: $20 Registration
Latest version: 4.00 (DF400.ZIP)
the last word:
'the last word' is a quotations trivia game in which 1 to 4
players compete against each other and their own high scores in
identifying the source of quotations and completing partial
quotes. Most answers are entered free-form and are matched
against a set of acceptable responses with a sophisticated
pattern-recognition algorithm. 'the last word' runs in text
mode -- including on mono displays -- and offers a high level
of user configurability.
Shareware: $15 Registration
Latest version: 1.00 (LWORD100.ZIP)
CONVERT 1.01 7
ND:
Renames a file to the current date. In other words, if the
current date were 10-06-90, the file 'FILENAME.QWK' would be
renamed to 901006.QWK. The letters A through Z will be
appended as required to largely eliminate duplications.
This is a handy program for archiving message packets from
bulletin boards, for example.
Free, copyrighted software (with 'C' source)
Latest version: 1.0 (ND.ZIP or NEWDATE.ZIP)
Volume Edit and Copy (VEC):
In addition to the usual volume label edit and display
features, VEC allows you to copy the volume label from one
drive to another. This can be handy in a batch file when
you're copying dissimilar-sized diskettes and you can't use
DISKKCOPY (since some manufacturers depend on the volume label
during software install processes). VEC supports lower-case
and high-ASCII characters in labels.
Free, copyrighted software
Latest version: 1.1
ZIP X-Ray (ZR):
Browses the directory of ZIP archive files and allows for
the extraction of individual files or the piping of individual
file contents to Vern Buerg's LIST viewer. Much smaller and
faster than full-fledged archiver shells and all you need much
of the time. If you configure ZR as a SmartViewer in
Directory Freedom (see above), viewing the contents of
archives couldn't be easier. One space saving trick is to
combine documentation files into a single archive and then
browse the archive's contents with ZR.
Free, copyrighted software
Latest version: 1.24
These programs and others (Multi-Edit macros for use with Qmail
Deluxe, for example) are available on many fine bulletin boards.
The latest releases are always available on Channel One. If you
just have to get a copy of one or more of these programs and
can't find one, however, I can send them out for a nominal media
and postage charge.
CONVERT 1.01 8
6.0 History.
---------------
Rev. 1.00 Initial Release
Rev. 1.01 Original upload defective. Was missing data
files.
7.0 Known Limitations.
-------------------------
(i.e. This is a free program and I got tired of beating out my
brains over it for the time being.)
o Both the numerical entry and the answer only support
numerical digits -- i.e. no exponential notation. This
program limitation arises of limitations in the runtime
library String->Real and Real->String conversion
functions. I'll probably write replacement functions one
of these days.
o You may notice that the program doesn't have a
temperature conversion. This is because the common
temperature conversions require an offset in addition to
a multiplier. If people come up with other examples that
also require an offset, I'll likely add an offset as a
data field. If not, I'll probably just add temperature
internally to the program as a special case.