BMPTOICO  - version 3.0.3
March(June) 1998 - MyCat Software

Very versatile utility to convert BMPs into ICOs (with
transparency) and vice-versa. Multi-icon resource icons, 
256 color and 24-bit images fully supported. 

PLUS:  picture Viewer, Touch Up Icon Editor with Add Text
function, Crop icon-size pictures from big BMPs or Screen
Capture, and more! 

16-bit application, but uses Long Filenames on 32-bit systems.
Needs VBRUN300.DLL to run.


To Install:  
----------
Run the INSTALL.EXE program included in the Zip; it will copy all
the files to a directory of your choice, and create an Icon in
the Program Manager (Win 3.1) or a Shortcut in your 
Start Menu (Win 95).  You can also do the copying manually.

In addition, BMPTOICO creates two new files when you first run it:

      BMPTOICO.INI   in your Windows directory
      $$$PAL.DIB     in BMPTOICO's directory; created if you 
                     run the application while your system 
                     is set to 256-color Video Mode (it saves 
                     the icons' palette to disk and retrieves it)

      Two files can be moved to your Windows\System directory
      later if you think they can be used by other programs
      (for example, MyCat Software's ICOEDIT, ver 2.0, will
      use them both):

      CALL32.DLL:    needed to get access to Long Filenames
                     (you don't need it if your are running Win 3.x)
      BMPLIST2.VBX:  needed to run BMPTOICO (it adds nice
                     little graphics to the Directory list;
                     Win 3.x systems don't see them, but BMPTOICO
                     will not run without this VBX file)


If you don't have VBRUN300.DLL yet, it is available on the
majority of BBSs and commercial online services, as well as on
the Internet (start at www.microsoft.com). On CompuServe, look
for VBRUN3.ZIP in Library 1 of the WinShare Forum, or go PCFF and
search for file VBRUN3.ZIP. It should go in your Windows\System
directory. 

To Uninstall:
------------
Delete all the files in your BMPTOICO directory.
Delete BMPTOICO.INI in your Windows directory.


What's new in version 3.0:
-------------------------
. Long filenames supported for Win 95 or Win NT users
. 256-color and 24-bit Icons and Bitmaps
. Multi-icon .ICO resource files
. Conversion Wizards
. Sizes: Icons can be anything between 8 x 8 and 72 x 72;
         Bitmaps can be any size
. Edit both Icons and Bitmaps, any colors (you need to be
    in High or True Colors to edit images with 256 or more colors)
. Grab the Screen now also works on High and True Colors systems
. but... EXE/DLL/NIL/ICL files cannot be used anymore (see the FAQ)

version 3.0.x:
.1: I finally managed to adapt BMPTOICO to Large Font display... <grin>
.2: 32-bit users can now access more than 64 directories...
.3: Web links added to the About form


Registration: 
------------

BMPTOICO will run for 30 days. After that, you need to Register.

Registration is only $20 US (or $20 Cdn if you live in Canada and
pay by snail-mail).

. On CompuServe, GO SWREG, and follow the menus;
  the registration number is #16971.

. On the Internet, via REGNET: http://www.swregnet.com/2096p.htm
        Cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Am., Discover, Eurocard
        By phone: 1 800 WWW2REG (1 800 999-2734) or (805) 288-1827
 	  (registration number for BMPTOICO is 2096)

. By snail-mail:  American or Canadian users can send a cheque (made to the
order of "Lucie Dorais", not MyCat Software, please). If you live
outside Canada or the US, and if the charges for a bank draft or money
order are out of this world, you can send the equivalent in your country's
money (bank notes only); although it might not be safe, I have had no
problem so far.

Please send all mail to:
     Lucie Dorais
     603 - 222 Guigues
     Ottawa, Ont.
     K1N 5J2
     Canada

     CompuServe:  76440,623
     e-mail: l.dorais@genie.com
             76440.623@compuserve.com

What you will get:  a nice thank you letter, a free conscience,
free upgrades, my eternal gratitude.  And that nagging screen will
disappear forever!



License:
-------
BMPTOICO is a Shareware program and is provided at no charge to
the user for evaluation.  You may evaluate it for 30 days; after 
that trial period, BMPTOICO will stop running (but will still allow
you to enter the registration number if you got one).

Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give
it away altered or as part of another system.  And please don't
give them your registration number! The essence of
"user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with
quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for
programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this
program useful and wish to continue to use it after the 30-day trial
period, you should look deep into your pocketbook and make an effort
to register it (see above). This will entitle you to the right of
running one copy of the program on one computer at a time.


