Standards change. In 1984, MacPaint was a revolution in both graphics software and (a much copied) user interface. But now there is FullPaint, it does everything MacPaint does and much more: multiple documents, movable palettes, etc. And because of this, FullPaint is now the standard for many people.
The change over has been painless; FullPaint reads and writes MacPaint files, but there are still a few leftovers that need to be taken care of. For instance, although FullPaint will open MacPaint files from within the program, you cannot double–click on MacPaint files and have FullPaint open with the document(s)—you’ll end up in MacPaint!
Similarly, when you use Command–Shift–3 to take a screen dump of the Mac’s screen, the file created is a MacPaint file, so you can’t double–click on it and end up in FullPaint either! What to do?
About FullConvert
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Use FullConvert™! FullConvert does two things: it allows you to convert MacPaint documents to FullPaint documents so they open with FullPaint (and display it’s icon) when you double–click on them, and it will fix the Command–Shift–3 screen dump so that it creates FullPaint files instead of MacPaint files, so that they will open with FullPaint (and display it’s icon) when you double click on them.
Using FullConvert
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To convert a file from MacPaint to FullPaint, choose Convert Files… from the FILE menu. You will be presented with a dialog box which lists all the MacPaint files you your disks. Click on the file name you wish to convert, and then click on the Convert button and the file will be converted. The dialog box will reappear, allowing you to convert multiple files quickly, simply click on the Done button when you are finished. Clicking on the Convert button when a folder is highlighted just opens the folder.
Choosing Fix Screen Dump… from the FILE menu will install the modified screen dump, which produces FullPaint files, in your System file on your current Start–Up Disk. While the installation process is under way, a dialog box advises you that the screen dump is being fixed, and if all goes well, a message saying the installation was successful will appear when it is finished. That’s all there is to it, now whenever you start–up from this disk, the screen dump will create FullPaint files. Since the screen dump is only fixed on the current Start–Up Disk, you may wish to run FullConvert from several Start–Up Disks to install it on all of your disks.
Miscellaneous
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Included in FullConvert’s File menu is the command “Transfer”. This menu choice allows you to run another program immediately, rather than quitting to the Finder. After you choose this command, a dialog box will appear listing the applications on your disks. Simply click on an application’s name and then click on the Transfer button and you will be transfered to that application.
Registration
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FullConvert is being distributed on the ShareWare system. This entitles you to review FullConvert before paying for it; try it out and see if you feel it is a worthy addition to your software library. If you choose to keep FullConvert, you are on your honor to send in the $8 registration fee and become a registered user. Otherwise you must destroy all of your copies of FullConvert (or better yet, give them to your friends). You are at a real advantage in that you can use FullConvert before you decide if you want to purchase it—please don’t take advantage of that privilege. Considerable time was spent developing and perfecting FullConvert and sending in your registration fee will insure the development of many more high–quality, inexpensive programs.
To make registration easy for you, we have prepared a ready–made registration form which you may print out and send in along with the registration fee. Simply choose Print Registration Form… from the FILE menu (you may wish to choose Page Setup… beforehand to set your paper size) and the form will be printed out for you. Please feel free to include any comments you have about FullConvert in the space provided, we need you to help make FullConvert the best it can be!
Thanks
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Thank you to everyone who supports the Utopian concept of ShareWare. You do make a difference.
My special thanks go to all the users of M-BBS, for giving bug reports and suggestions which made FullConvert what it is. Thanks guys.
