BMPTOICO  - version 2.01
Sept. 1996 - My Cat Software

Very versatile utility to convert BMPs into ICOs (with
transparency) and vice-versa. 256 color images supported. 

PLUS:  picture Viewer, Touch Up Icon Editor with Add Text
function, Crop icon-size pictures from big BMPs or Screen
Capture, Extract icons from EXE or DLL/ICL/NIL files, and more! 

Written in Windows 3.1, but works very well with Windows 95 and
True or High color video cards.  Needs VBRUN300.DLL to run.


To Install:  
----------
Since I hate those Windows program that use SETUP to copy their
DLLs over your beloved ones, I refrained from using it or any
exotic DLL or VBX, except for the ubiquitous VBRUN300.DLL. This
program is a must for any program written is Visual Basic, and is
available on the majority of BBSs and commercial online services.
On CompuServe, look for VBRUN3.ZIP in Library 1 of the WinShare
Forum, or go PCFF and search for file VBRUN3.ZIP.

So, to use BMPTOICO, just copy the files BMPTOICO.EXE and
BMPTOICO.HLP in any directory; the only constraint is that they
both must be in the same directory, so you can use Help.  If you
don't already have VBRUN300.DLL and download it now, it should go
in your Windows\System directory. 

I leave to you the joy of adding the program to one of your
Program Manager's Groups or TaskBar Start menu. In Windows 3.1:
select a group, click on File Menu, then New, select "Program
Item", add the proper description (your own words) and command
line (path of directory you placed the program in, plus filename,
as in "C:\DIR\SUBDIR\BMPTOICO.EXE"), then press the OK button.
The icon will appear in your Group.  In Windows 95:  well I will
leave that to you, as I don't have it yet...


What's new in version 2.0:
-------------------------
. Works with some Windows 95 Icons (see Help)
. Now works well with Windows 95 and/or True and HighColors
. Icon Touch Up Editor
. Grab from Screen (Capture)
. Extract Icons from EXE or DLL/NIL/ICL files
. Decrease 256 colors BMPs to 16 colors before Converting
. Shrink part of a BMP, or all, to Icon Size
. View All function totally redesigned, much improved
. Options menu, including AutoLoad of Conversion Result
. Last directory used kept over for next time

New in version 2.01:
. Corrected some minor bugs; TouchUp Editor's Fill routine now works 
  for any color in 16 color video mode
. Added more information for users with True or High colors 
  video modes in the Crop-Shrink form (the resulting icon will not
  Load properly in the main form because its colors will be decreased
  to 256 during the operation)


Registration: 
------------
BMPTOICO will run for 30 days, with two more weeks of grace. After that, 
you need to reinstall it, or... 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 #11559. Or use the file ORDER.TXT to register via
snail-mail.

American users can send a cheque. 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.
                         
The shareware version is not crippled in any way, I am the
optimist type... (Well, I added a trial period this time).
And, being mostly homebound (and not working) due to illness, 
I avoid trips to the Post Office.  But: if you want a 32-bit
version, help my buy the super computer that will run Windows
95...

Please send any 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,
my eternal gratitude, and maybe a 32-bit version later. 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, you will have two more weeks to evaluate it, 
then 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 find that you are using BMPTOICO and continue
to use it after a reasonable 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.


Other MyCat Software products:
-----------------------------
All programs are available on CompuServe, GEnie, and other 
Shareware sources, and require VBRUN300.DLL.

Also available on the Web: http://www.cyberus.ca/ldorais/index.htm

ICOEDIT:  The full version of BMPTOICO's Icon Touch Up Editor.    
          Full Icon Editor, but it also edits any Bitmap which
          measures between 16x16 and 32x32, even rectangular ones.
          Make Buttons automatically (Bitmaps only).
          Written in Windows 3.1 but works equally well with 
          Windows 95 and/or video modes higher than 256 colors.
          Search ICOEDIT.ZIP

HTML COLORS:   Designed to help Web authors quickly select        
               background, text and link colors, or edit the HR
               line. Includes 600 predifined colors to chose
               from, and you can add more! Background patterns
               can also be loaded.  Test your choices immediately
               in a Web look-alike page, then copy the tags to 
               the Clipboard (or keep them in a tag list for
               future use).  Search HTMCOLOR.ZIP


PALEDIT:  A PaintBrush palette editor, with many additional       
          features. Load and Save palettes. Use Hue, Saturation 
          Luminosity as well as RBG.  See the detail of a
          dithered color. View the colors in 16 or 256 color
          mode. Mix two colors to create a new one. Insert a Clip
          from a drawing program picture to try to match a color.
          Edit Color or Black and White palettes. Build palettes
          from PAL files other than PaintBrush. Search PALEDIT.ZIP


XMAS GIFTS:    Very colourful, non-violent Christmas  game for
               children. Find gifts hidden  in a Christmas tree.
               Two levels: easy (like naval battle)  for
               preschoolers, harder (like  Minesweeper) for older
               children.  Let the computer hide the gifts, or ask
               your best friend.  Requires SVGA.  Search XMASGIFT.ZIP
