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Help file for WinIcon
=======================
Version 1·00 © JJM 1994
WinIcon is a conversion tool which allows you to convert icon files intended
for Microsoft Windows 3 into Acorn sprite format. Icons in Windows format
are available from many PC sources: some of them are very well-designed and
convert well to sprites. See the notes later regarding sources and
copyright.
Using the application
---------------------
WinIcon accepts icon files in standard format, which normally contain a
16-colour 32x32 pixel image with a mask. This is converted to a Mode 20
sprite, to take advantage of the higher resolution available. The results
can be converted to another format using any sprite manipulation tool, if
required.
Run WinIcon in the normal way: an icon will appear on the icon bar. Icon
files normally have a .ICO extension, which will appear as “/ICO” if the PC
disc is viewed by ADFS. Drag the icon files to be converted to the WinIcon
icon on the icon bar: they will be converted, and a window will open
showing the current set of icons. Further icon files can be dragged to the
icon bar, or into this window, at any time; they will be added to the set.
To save the sprites, use the “Save” option on the icon window menu. All of
the icons will be saved as a sprite file which can be loaded into Paint or
any other application.
The “File” menu option displays a box showing information about the sprite
file. The “Clear” option removes all of the stored sprites from memory.
Conversion options
------------------
Two settings are available on the “Options” menu. If “Include mask” is
ticked, the sprite will be created with a mask. All Windows icon files
appear to include mask information, although this may cover the full area if
the icon was intended to be square.
If “Windows palette” is ticked, the standard Windows palette data will be
included with the sprite. When it is displayed, its colours will be the
best approximation possible to those intended. To see these true colours,
it will be necessary to select a 256-colour (or better) desktop mode, or
load the WinIcon palette.
Both of these options are set to ‘on’ by default.
Sources and other possibilities
-------------------------------
Icon files are available from many sources, over and above the standard set
which are included in any Windows installation. Many PC bulletin boards and
magazine discs have a vast selection of icon files, some of which are PD or
freely distributable. You may be free to convert these files and use them
in any other application, or simply as inspiration.
Windows applications such as “IconMaster” (available from PC PD libraries)
are available for creating, editing and managing large collections of icons.
These can be used to extract icons from applications and executable files,
such as the Program Manager or the extended collection (MORICONS.DLL).
The only icon file format currently supported is the standard 16-colour,
32x32 pixel, EGA/VGA resolution. A file which is not exactly 766 bytes in
size, therefore which probably contains multiple icons or uses another
resolution/depth, will be rejected. Sorry about this limitation, but I
don't have any information about the format of .ICO files and had to work
out the details by trial and error.
Since the desktop palettes of Windows and RiscOS do not match, the colours
will not turn out as intended in a 16-colour mode or when used as Wimp
icons (notably, there are only 3 grey levels — including black and white! —
and more primary colours are available). A RiscOS palette file which
approximates the standard Windows palette is supplied within the !WinIcon
application; this can be loaded if you wish to view the icons as they were
intended.
Copyright and Disclaimer
------------------------
The WinIcon application is copyright © myself (Jonathan Marten) 1994.
The application and documentation is “FreeWare” (not PD). It may be copied
and freely distributed by anyone, on any medium (including bulletin boards
and PD libraries), as long as no files within the application directory are
altered. It may not be sold commercially, either alone or as part of
another package or application, without permission from the author. It may
be used by any person for its intended purpose, or for any other purpose
that it may turn out to be useful for.
Bulletin boards, PD libraries and magazines are requested to contact the
author before distributing the application, to ensure that they have the
latest version.
WinIcon runs under RiscOS 3 only. It was developed, and has been tested,
under RiscOS 3·10; it is believed that it will work under other versions.
The application is supplied in good faith, but with no guarantee. Neither
the author, nor any provider or distributor of the software, can be held
responsible for any damage, loss of data, damage to files, wasted time or
any other adverse effects caused by using the software, or its failure to
perform as expected. In addition, no responsibility is accepted for the
liability or consequences of any breach of copyright which may result from
the use of this application. Any user of the application is entirely
responsible for ensuring that the conversion, storage or subsequent use of
any files or images does not infringe any copyright or other claim of their
originator or copyright holder.
The “IconMaster” application mentioned above is shareware. If you use this,
or any other shareware program (on whatever machine), you should register in
accordance with its terms and conditions.
The sample icon files supplied in the ‘Examples’ directory were supplied by
PC Magazine. They are Public Domain, and may be copied and freely
distributed.
Please report any praise, bugs, shortcomings or useful suggestions to me:
Jonathan Marten Post: 11 Carmarthen Close
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 8TJ
Version 1·00 E-mail: jmarten@cix.compulink.co.uk
March 1994 Arcade: 081-654-2212 user 387