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                 ICON TO .XIC FILE CONVERTER VERSION 1.1
                   (c)1992 Software Development Systems
                         Written by Scott Sanders
                            Registered Version
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INTRODUCTION
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With the introduction of the new breed of Atari computers, users are now
able to exploit the power of their computer even more. Custom icons have
been a part of the GEM Desktop ever since TOS 2.05. SDS created the Newdesk
Icon Editor in a response to the fact that although the desktop icon file
was editable, there really was no easy way to do it.

After releasing the first version of our product we soon began working on a
second version now being released. During the development of this product
we found it necessary to create a new standard icon file format.
Previously, the only standard icon format was .ICN which was a very poor
format and could not contain a lot of basic icon information. We came up
with .XIC (eXtended ICon). This format can contain from 1 to 65535 icons in
a file with icons from 16x1 to 32768x32768 pixels in size (theoretically).
In addition if Atari every introduces 8 bit color icons, .XIC will be
capable of handling it.

This program is for users of the original Newdesk Icon Editor or for you
non-owners out there (shame!) who wish to use .XIC Print, a program which
prints icon files to a GDOS driver. In addition, this program can be used
to split icon files with more than 200 icons into smaller chunks for
loading into the Newdesk Icon CPX V2.0. It is also capable of converting
.RSC, .XIC, .ICE, and .ICN (Degas and GEM) files into .XIC.

USAGE
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This program is a .TTP (TOS Takes Parameters). This means that when you
double-click on it, a box allowing you to enter program parameters appears
before the program starts. If you simply hit return on a blank line, the
program will show a listing of all of the options.

COMMAND LINE FROM THE DESKTOP
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The command line should consist of your input filename and whatever options
you desire. To simply convert a file with no options, simply type the name
of the file you wish to convert and hit return. The file should either be
in the same directory as this program or you should include the whole path
such as C:\ICONS\FAVORITE.ICE.

Your filename can be preceeded with any of the following options:

-q       Forces quiet mode (no message printing.)

-s       Split Mode (If file has more than 200 icons more than one output
                     file will be created.)

-o[FILE] Specify output filename (Ex: -o NEWFILE.XIC)

Options can be combined but you should not use -o and -s together because
the -o option creates its own filenames. Here are some examples:

deskicon.rsc                  Converts file to DESKICON.XIC
-q deskicon.rsc               Converts file to DESKICON.XIC without
                              printing messages
-o NEWICONS.XIC deskicon.rsc  Converts DESKICON.RSC to NEWICONS.XIC

-s PDICONS.ICE (file of 700)  Converts PDICONS.XIC to PDICON0.XIC,
                              PDICON1.XIC, PDICON2.XIC, and PDICON3.XIC.

COMMAND LINE FROM A CLI
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you are using a command line interpreter simply change directories to
the program directory and then type the program name followed by whatever
options you'd like and the file you'd like to convert as follows:

icncnvrt [OPTIONS] [FILE TO CONVERT]

COMMAND LINE THROUGH INSTALL APPLICATION
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You may also install this application at the desktop. Simply click on
ICNCNVRT.TTP and then select Install Application from the Options menu of
the desktop. Select Document Type as .RSC, .ICE, .XIC, or .ICN. Place any
default options on the argument line and select Top Window for your Default
Directory and Full Path for your default Parameter.

Now simply click Install and save your desktop. Now, whenever you
double-click on a file bearing the extension you listed the file will
automatically be converted.

DISCLAIMER
>>>>>>>>>>
Neither Software Development Systems nor Scott Sanders will be held
responsible for any damages resulting from the use of this program either
incidental or consequential.

REGISTRATION
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This file is the commercial version of the Icon Converter. Do not upload
this to any BBS or give it to a friend. A shareware version of this program
is available on many BBS's with a shareware version of XICPRINT.PRG. No
shareware fee is necessary if you have purchased the Newdesk Icon Editor
V2.0.