BMPTOICO  - version 3.1.1
July 9, 1999 - 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 95/98).  You can also do the copying manually.

Two files can be moved to your Windows\System directory
later if you think they can be used by other programs:

      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
Internet (my web site has a link to it) and commercial online
services. On CompuServe, look for VBRUN3.ZIP in Library 1 of the
WinShare Forum, or use the File Finder and search for file VBRUN3.ZIP.
This important file, needed for all apps written in Visual Basic 3.0
(yes, there are still a lot of those around) should go in your
Windows\System directory, and kept there forever after.

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

History
-------
Version 3.0 (April 1998):
. 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 (May, June, December 1998):
.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
.31: deleted reference to CompuServe SWREG Registration service 

version 3.1 (March 1999):
. EDIT: circle tools; Flip, Nudge; Verdana font for Win95/98 (Add Text);
   Windows palette now part of EDIT form for 24-bit images
. CONVERT > ICO Wizard: if BMP is 24-bit, the 256 colors version
   is created automatically and much faster; no more Optimize button!
. 24-bit Icons are now saved correctly and are valid outsite BMPTOICO;
   and they show correctly in the View All module...
. Monochrome Icons can now have White!
. add many small improvements
. ... and corrects many little bugs

versions 3.1.02, 3.1.03 (June 1999), 3.1.04 (July 1999)
. Tried to correct a bug that might cause the app to end with an "Illegal
  Function Call" right at the beginning... (very, very rare...)
. version 3.1.03 also corrects some buglets in Install.exe

version 3.1.1 (July 9, 1999)
. Found and fixed the "Illegal Function Call"


Coming Summer 1999: BMPICO-ED!
-----------------------------------------------
Because I have decided not to upgrade my other Icon app, ICOEDIT, 
further, BMPTOICO is being transformed into a full Small Image
Editor/Converter.

. Convert/Edit Icons, Bitmaps AND Cursors
. Edit a New Icon, Bitmap or Cursor
. Add/Delete a format to/from an Icon 
. See all Icon formats at once
. Increase/Decrease Color Depth in Images
. Resize Images
. Even More editing tools, including a magnifyer
. Icon Extractor
. Bitmap Buttonizer
. Cosmetic changes that make it more like a Converter / Editor
. Edit Colors in the Editor
. Palette created from the Image if it is 24-bit
. 16-bit and 32-bit Bitmaps supported (will be 24-bit in memory)
. etc... (still working on it, your ideas are most welcome)


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).

Three ways to Register:

1) Online, via REGNET:  

.  From BMPTOICO: Clicking the "Register Online" link in the About
    form (Help menu) will take you directly to RegNet's ICOEDIT page
    (you need to have a Default browser setup; might not work with 
     Win 3.1, and definitely not if you are not connected yet!)
   RegNet's page for BMPTOICO:
         http://www.reg.net/product.asp?ID=2096
   Cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Am. Express, Discover, Eurocard
  
. From my Web site: http://www.cyberus.ca/~ldorais/soft/regis.htm
  (link to RegNet's page)

.  By phone: 1 800 WWW2REG (1 800 999-2734) or (805) 288-1827
  (mention BMPTOICO's ID, #2096)

2) On CompuServe, GO SWREG and use ID# 16971

3) By snail-mail:  please use the ORDER.TXT file if you can.
  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

     e-mail: l.dorais@cyberus.ca (preferred)
             76440.623@compuserve.com
     CompuServe:  76440,623

What you will get:  a nice thank you letter, a free conscience,
free upgrades (at least minor; I am still debating if BMPICO-ED should
be free for registered users...), 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.
