ÙHelp
Welcome to the help system for 
Converter, simply select the topic you 
wish from the pop up menu at the top of 
this window.

Converter & the help system are 
copyright Mark Dunlop 1989, all rights 
reserved. This software may be 
distributed freely, it may however not 
be charged for or distributed subject to 
other conditions. ITÕS FREE! FREE! FREE!

ÙConverter
Converter is software for Macintoshª 
range (>= Mac 512K/800) which 
converts Sunª raster files into PICT 
format.

ÙGetting Files
It is best to transfer the files from 
Unixª to your own disks before 
starting Converter.

There are two methods for transferring 
Sun raster files from Sun workstations 
to your Macintosh.

¥ AppleShareª to simply copy files 
from Unix on to your Macintosh.
¥Any communications package to 
transfer the files from Unix, ensure 
that the package is set up to transfer 
Unix binary files.
ÙConvert Menu
When you choose the convert menu you 
will go through three stages before the 
conversion takes place.

¥Select the Sun raster file to convert.
¥Name & locate the PICT version.
¥Set up conversion parameters (see 
<Parameters>)

Ù(-

ÙParameters
The parameters dialogue is displayed 
just before the conversion. It allows 
you to set various conversion 
parameters.

¥Conversion ratio <Ratio>
¥Group converted  <Group>
¥The PICT Creator <Creator>
¥Whether to beep when finished.

If you then hit the OK button the values 
of the parameters will be saved for 
future use. 
                                See also <Sizes>.
ÙRatio
The ratio menu in the <Parameters> 
dialogue allows you to set the size of 
the output picture. 

1:1 Direct bit for bit copy
1:x Shrinks the bit map so that x bits 
       are converted to the space of one
       Mac screen bit. The whole bitmap
       is preserved, but at higher
       resolution than the Mac Screen.

The 1: 3 ratio is only usable on some 
Sun rasters and will be dimmed if not 
available.
ÙGroup
Due to size limits in some drawing 
applications the bit map is split up into 
small rows (about 16 bits deep).

If the Group bitmap rows button in the 
<Parameters> dialogue is set then these 
rows will be grouped into one large  
object (which may be later ungrouped).
ÙCreator
The Creator is the name of the 
application which created a particular 
file. The Finderª uses this information 
when you double click a file icon to 
select which application to run.

Converter allows you set the creator to
MacDraw by Apple.
MacDraw II by Claris.
Canvas by Deneba Software.
SuperPaint by Silicon Beach Software.
ÙSizes
The <Parameters> dialogue box displays 
the size of the output PICTure in 
centimetres and inches. 

e.g. 5.0 cm X 3.0 cm would create a 
picture 5 cm wide and 3 cm tall.
Ù(-

ÙLaserWriters
If you intend to print the PICTures on 
Apple 300dpi LaserWriters then for 
best quality use 1: 2 or 1: 4 ratio then 
print the PICTure with ÒPrecise bitmap 
alignmentÓ option set.
Alternatively if your drawing program 
supports precise reduction you can 
reduce the picture a further 4% (i.e. to 
96% of converted size) within your 
drawing application.

This is so that the bits of the PICTure 
match perfectly onto the LaserWriter 
output.
ÙImageWriter LQ
If you intend to print converted 
pictures on Apple Imagewriter LQs then 
for highest quality use the 1: 3 ratio (if 
available).

ÙPICT format
Converter creates PICT version 1 files 
which should be readable by all 
Macintosh Drawing (not painting) 
programs, including systems running 
version 2. 

Some problems may be encountered due 
to the very large size of some of the 
converted bimaps (e.g. screendumps), 
especially note that MacDraw I has 
problems saving pictures of this size.