GIF Prep is a FREE utility that solves a pervasive, but easily fixed, problem for Macintosh users creating Web graphics.
The problem: It's next to impossible to know if the true size of your GIF and JPEG graphics created on a Macintosh because of the nature of the Macintosh file system.
The fix: Drag & drop your GIFs and JPEGs onto GIF Prep before you check their size in the Finder's Get Info dialog to make sure that the file size you see is the correct one.
The Macintosh uses a file system that references two separate files, one called a "resource fork" and one called a "data fork", as a single file visible on your desktop.
In the "data fork" of a Macintosh file is your cross-platform GIF or JPEG file. Anything in the "resource fork" is Macintosh, application specific fluff. Depending on what method was used to create your graphic, there may be nothing in the "resource fork" or more data than is in your actual GIF or JPEG file in the "data fork" of your Macintosh file. This is especially true of files created using file-format plug-ins, such as our PhotoGIF and ProJPEG, in Photoshop, which is why we have created GIF Prep.
Either way you will not know for sure exactly how big your GIFs or JPEGs are really unless you use GIF Prep first to strip the resource fork from the files.
Only then can you be sure that the size shown by the Finder in its Get Info dialog is the true size of your GIFs and JPEGs.
Finally it's easy to know exactly how big your GIFs and JPEGs are.
Tell everyone about it.
GIF Prep's home is:
ftp://ftp.boxtopsoft.com/pub
A WORD OF WARNING:
GIF Prep 1.0 will permanently delete the resource fork of ANY and ALL files drag & dropped onto it without any safety checks or confirmation dialogs. Once deleted a resource fork can not be recovered.
Please take care not to accidentally drag & drop files on it that have critical information in their resource forks such as application files. All GIF and JPEG files are safe as they do not contain any critical information in their resource forks.
BoxTop Software, Inc.
101 N. Lafeyette Street
Starkville, MS 39759
http://www.boxtopsoft.com
ftp://ftp.boxtopsoft.com/pub
info@boxtopsoft.com
GIF Prep™ is Copyright 1997 BoxTop Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ImageVice™, ProJPEG™ and PhotoGIF™ are Trademarks of BoxTop Software, Inc. All other trademarks are recognized as the properties of their respective holders.
Document published: 2/2/97
Copyright 1998 BoxTop Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
