-- What should have been in the .LZH file ------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
    89A_87A.PRG    The program, version 1.1.
    READTHIS.1ST   This file.


-- What this is --------------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
This is a simple program that converts GIF 89a format pictures (the new
standard) to GIF 87a format pictures (the old standard).  In the process, any
extra information in the GIF is stripped out, so the image may not be exactly
the way it's supposed be (this won't happen too often, though).  This program
will also fiddle with GIFs processed through a PC program called GIFLITE; some
programs (most notably DMJ GIF) won't take GIFLITE GIFs any other way.


-- Freeware notice -----------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
This program is Freeware.  You can copy it and distribute it all you want, but
don't charge for it.


-- Disclaimer ----------------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
I am not responsible for any damage you might suffer or cause through the use
of this program.  USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.  This is a "quick" program, not meant
for anything fancy; it just does its job.  Don't do anything tremendously
stupid and you'll be okay.


-- Using the program ---------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Cut and dried, very simple.  Double-click on 89A_87A.PRG in any resolution; an
alert will appear telling what the program is.  Dispense with it, and go right
to the fileselector.  Here you can select your GIF 89a picture.  If you
accidentally select a GIF 87a picture, the program will tell you; if you want
to go ahead and fiddle with it anyway (probably because it's been processed
through GIFLITE), click "Yes".  Clicking "No" will plop you back to the
fileselector.  Otherwise the GIF will be loaded and converted.  A second
fileselector will appear, allowing you to select the destination file (the
default is to overwrite the source file, so be careful).  You'll need enough
memory to hold the entire GIF file, but since most GIFs are less than 300K,
that's not too much of a problem.  If the program doesn't have enough memory,
it will tell you how much more it needs and return you to the first
fileselector.  Try stripping your AUTO folder programs and accessories out, and
run the program again.

This program is by no means a final product.  I wrote it because Gordie Meyer
sent me the GIF 89a standard (thanks, Gordie) and suggested I support GIF 89a
in DMJ GIF 4.0, which I expect to have available in mid-May.  Well, the support
will be there, and this program is here to tide you over until then.  I also
adjusted it to handle GIFLITE GIFs, because several users have pointed out that
DMJ GIF doesn't like them; one finally sent me some sample GIFLITE GIFs to play
with (thanks, KJP) so I could finally figure out what the problem was.

If you're looking for DMJ GIF, you can find the latest version (3.0) on GEnie,
CompuServe, Delphi, or Usenet.  You can also obtain copies of the program from
me for $15 (the Shareware price of DMJ GIF).

    Damien M. Jones
    PSC 8 Box 657
    APO AE 09109

Any comments or suggestions for this program (which will be included with DMJ
GIF 4.0) would be appreciated, though.  Already slated for addition is batch
support.

    -dmj


The Graphics Interchange Format(c) is the Copyright property of CompuServe
Incorporated.  GIF(sm) is a Service Mark property of CompuServe Incorporated.