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EyeCon v1 BETA Readme file
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LEGAL BITS

EyeCon is (c) copyright 1997 Al Hudson, of Fruit & Nut Software.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REVERSE TRANSLATE MY CODE.
Feel free to distribute this package to as many people as you like, but only in its entire original form and with its original icon(!).

DISCLAIMER

I, the Author, make no warranties or assertions as to the effectiveness, stability, usefulness or safety of this program and cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to you or your Psion system through the use of this program. I am not liable for any compensation or otherwise. I am also not responsible for anyone distributing software with a customized icon, or any other action or inaction resulting from a use, misuse or non-use of my program. 

Readme.txt

Having said all that, this program works on my system and I haven't corrupted one file yet. However, you must note: DO NOT USE THIS PROGRAM ON SERIES 3(s) PROGRAMS - THEY WILL BE DESTROYED!!! SERIES 3a, POSSIBLY S3c PROGRAMS ONLY!!

What is EyeCon?

EyeCon is an icon management system for the Series 3a Psion computer. It allows you to change the icons of applications without the need for reverse translating them. Currently you can only do this for S3a apps, but in the future S3 will be supported. Note that changing an S3 icon to an S3a will probably be impossible, but we will see!

You are able to extract icons from apps using EyeCon, or load other icons and "transplant" them into host applications. For instance, if you don't like the EyeCon icon you would be able to load EyeCon, load a new icon and transfer it into EyeCon: then, reinstalling EyeCon would show the new icon.

What constraints am I under?

EyeCon will only work with S3a, possibly Sienna and S3c (untested but should work), apps. Also, this is only a Beta copy of the software so it might throw up a few error messages if you don't treat it with the utmost respect. Also, it doesn't check the size of .PICs loaded as icons: it assumes they are 48x48 with a grey plane. Yes, I know. . .big assumption. This will corrupt an application if a .PIC too large is transplanted: the app will no longer run, and might even crash the system. However, by retransplanting a valid icon the app is repaired: there should be no lasting damage to the App. 

I advise that you make a back-up of you application before you transplant. Then, after you have reinstalled the application with its new icon embedded you will know whether it has been a success. If there is no icon, i.e. just a black bordered box, then the application may have been damaged. If you find this to be the case, let me know and I'll look into it: I have tested it with many major S3a apps (Mapper3a, IconEd etc.) and they have all worked, no problems. Also, you may want to extract the old icon before you embed the new one: you cannot retrieve the old icon after a new one has been transplanted.

MORAL GUIDANCE SECTION

I am sure that few authors would object to you customizing your desktop by installing your own icons. But please, please, please, please: DO NOT DISTRIBUTE SOFTWARE WITH A CUSTOMIZED ICON. It is probably against the license agreement, but apart from that it won't make you popular and it won't make me popular. You are definitely not allowed to do that with EyeCon, even if it would be slightly ironic.

What will I see in the full version?

Several things:

- More foolproofing: Eyecon should have a little more intelligence, and won't transplant
  to apps it knows it could corrupt (i.e. S3 possibly). It will only load 48x48 .PICs
- File conversion: I may include a .GIF converter if I have the time so icons can be 
  designed on a PC. I know some Psion people don't like PCs, but they have one big 
  advantage over a Psion: a mouse :-)
- Multiple icon files: I will include a function so that software authors can include
  several icons with their programs for users to choose from. If any authors want to 
  contact me about this now, feel free to do so.
- "Themes" : I will include a function so that collections of icons can be grouped in a 
  file-manager type program and people can install themed collections without having to
  reload every app and do it manually

Contacting Fruit & Nut:

You can mail me at albalbo@hotmail.com, or you can visit our homepage:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/n_hudson/fn/index.html

Other legal banterisms

Psion, 3a, 3c, Sienna are all trademarks of Psion Ltd.
I also wish to acknowledge the authors of Mapper3a and IconEd