PaintViewer is a shareware desk accessory that allows you to view several types of graphic files:
• PNTG files: these files are being generated by MacPaint and similar programmes; most clipart is available in such files.
• PICT files: MacDraw and most drawing programmes allow to save in this format. It is not the default MacDraw format, it has to be chosen specifically when saving. PaintViewer can also open very large PICT files (above 32K) since it does not read PICT files into memory but accesses the file continuously when drawing. You can open such a file either as a Quickdraw picture or as a bitmap. If you open it as a bitmap you will gain scrolling speed but lose details especially if you zooming. You would also require considerably more memory. If you open it as a Quiickdraw picture it will always be redrawn from the file. Since this slows down the drawing process considerably the PaintViewer picture is not being updated while it is inactive, i.e. not the front one. In this case scrolling will be very slow.
• EPSF files: enc. Postscript files are created by some of the fancier LaserWriter oriented drawing programmes. PaintViewer doesn’t display the real picture but an approximation contained in a PICT resource in each EPSF file.
• PICT resources: Any application or files may contain PICT resources. PaintViewer allows to access these resources (essentially Quickdraw pictures) and raid the artwork. After choosing a file the user will be informed if the file doesn’t contain any PICT resource. If the file contains exactly one such resource this resource will be displayed. Otherwise the OPEN menu will contain a list of all PICT resources by resource number. If a PICT resource has a name (which it usually doesn’t) this name will also be shown. The user can then choose any of the listed resources. Since PaintViewer will have closed the file again, it can have happened that the volume has been unmounted or the file being opened by some different application; in thast case a (cryptic?) errror message will be displayed. PaintViewer doesn’t keep the file open since this may cause strange results for the main application.
• If you try to open a file which is being held open by another application an error massage will be displayed. PaintViewer usually closes every file immediately after reading the information from it. Only PICT files are being kept open (as mentioned above). This can be done since PaintViewer NEVER changes any information within the file. Any changes which can be made to the file (e.g. with CLEAR) are only temporary.
ZOOMING:
• You can zoom in and out of the picture, which is helpful if you try to copy a part of it that is larger than your screen. If you choose “zoom in” from the menu the picture will be enlarged by a factor of 2. You may do this repeatedly. Similarly choosing “zoom out” causes the picture to be reduced by a factor of 2. Choosing “1:1” returns the picture to standard size.
• The menu items “x:…” and “y:…” allow to specify a zoom factor for the horizontal and vertical directions independently (within an appropriate range). The names of these menu items show the presently active factors.
You can select rectangular parts of the visible region of the picture by clicking and dragging within the picture.
• When you zoom out the size of the window will be reduced if necessay. This may cause the window to disappear from the screen (if the top left corner was off screen). It is then impossible to close the accessory since the close box cannot be reached. To recover the window type ‘command Q’. This will move the window such that the top left corner of the content region is underneath the cursor/pointer.
• Zooming does not affect the size of a picture that is being copied. That can be controlled with “CHOOSE COPY FORMAT”.
COPYING:
• Choosing “COPY” from the Edit Menu will copy the selected parts to the clipboard, from where you can copy it into any other document.
• Choosing “CLEAR” from the Edit Menu erases the selected part of the picture. This does not affect the saved file on disk (nothing you can do with PaintViewer will change the original file). This erasure is useful if you try to copy a certain part of the picture, but other parts are always included in the selection rectangle: first erase the superfluous parts, then select your part of the picture. This command will only work for PNTG (MacPaint) files or PICT files opened as bitmap.
• Choosing “CUT” is the same as first choosing “COPY” and then “CLEAR”.
• “UNDO” and “PASTE” are not implemented. If you have made a mistake simply reopen the original file. This file was not affected by your error.
• You can access these menu choices using the following key board equivalents, which will even work if the application you are working in has no EDIT menu (shame on the responsible programmer):
command z : UnDo (not implemented)
command x : Cut
command c : Copy
command v : Paste (not implemented)
To clear a part of the picture you have to use Cut.
• Please note: pictures copied with PaintViewer cannot be understood by MacPaint (it seems).
CHOOSE COPY TYPE:
Please see the apporpriate help screen in the DA. This menu allows to chose one of several copy type, e.g. the MacPaint Lasso.
CHOOSE COPY FORMAT:
Please see the apporpriate help screen in the DA. This menu allows to determine the size of the picture, either as on screen, as in the file (default) or to specifications.
This programme is Shareware, i.e. you may use it for about to 1 month to evaluate whether you are interested in using it in the future. If you don’t like it or don’t find it useful destroy any copy of it you have. But if you like to continue using it, please send the registration fee to:
The fee is: $10.00 (Can) before Sept. 1, 1988 and $15.00 (Can)/$12.00(US) after Sept. 1, 1988. (The former is really the fee for versions before 2.0 the latter for version 2.0 and up). The fee entitles you to a licence for PaintViewer, notices on updates, free updates (if you provide the disk and a SASE) and technical support for this programme, i.e if you register before Sept. 1, 1988, version 2.5 still costs only $10.
Whether you like PaintViewer or not you may give copies to other people provided:
• you include this document
• you don’t charge anything except at most a reasonable copying fee
• you don’t include it in any package with commercial programmes (i.e. programmes other than shareware, freeware or public domain)
