KOALA GG CONVERTER V3

  by James Hehl

 This program will allow you to convert Koala and GG (compressed Koalas) to TED Multicolor compatible graphic files.

 The initial prompt is for changing the destination drive. If you choose "N", the default destination drive will be #8. Any drive 8 to 15 will be accepted. This will allow you to convert graphic files and SAVE then to another disk. Any Commodore type drive is acceptable (1541, 1571 or 1581). The source drive is always number 8.

 The next prompt asks "Scratch Original File?". If you chose "N", then the original files will remain on your source disk. Choosing "Y" will scratch the original files, making room to SAVE the converted files, on your source disk. This is handy if you are using a single drive set up. The "NO SCRATCH" selection, will still allow you the opportunity to swap to another disk, if you are using that option with a single drive.

 At the main selection menu, use the cursor keys to select the name of the file that you want to work on. The Return key does the actual select. The RUN/STOP key will exit to a clear, BASIC "Ready" screen. Use the Run/Stop key, if you want to exit and change the original defaults. Just type RUN to restart the program. Also, the Clear/Home key, if pressed, will return you to the top of the current "page" of filenames. If you tap it a couple of times, you will be returned to the top of the first "page", no matter how far down in the listing you are. This is handy if you are using a 1581 drive, as the source, and it has LOTS of filenames on it.

 When you select a filename, it will be LOADed into RAM at $2000. The converter screen will appear. This converter will allow you to change many of the graphic parameters. Its default settings will be about right, for the majority of Koalas and GGs that you will encounter. You may cousor around the screen and change the settings. Some will not allow you to change them. See the second part of these docs, for further information.

 When the settings are acceptable, press the ESCAPE key. The screen will blank for a couple of seconds, as the converter works on the picture. Then the converted picture will be displayed.

 When you are done looking at it, press the Spacebar. You will be prompted "(R)ework or (S)ave". If you aren't satisfied with the picture and want to change some of the parameters, press the "R" key to re-enter the converter. You can change the settings that you want and press the Escape key again.

 If you are satisfied with the conversion, then press the "S" key, to enter the SAVE menu. You are asked if you want to SAVE the file as a (S)tandard file (41 disk blocks), (C)ompress the file or (A)bort. This is the time to swap to your formatted, destination disk... if you'd like. The (A)bort (pressing the A key) will take you back to the file selection menu, without doing anything further.

 If you originally chose the "Scratch" option, the original file will be scratched from your source disk. The file will then be SAVEd with a "KO" prefix, for a standard file, or a "CK" prefix, for a compressed file. An identifier will also be included, within the file (to act as a "flag" for some of our viewers) and identifying it as a converted Koala.

 When the SAVE is completed, you will be returned to the file select menu.

 The operation of this program is pretty straight forward and simple. It will allow you to view and quickly convert those many Koala and GG file, for use on your Plus/4.

 This program should not be Turboloaded, especially if you are going to ues a 1581 as either the source or destination drive.

 There is a crunched version of this program, on this disk called "CONV.VE.COMP". It is a more convenient way of using this program, if you need to transfer it to another disk(s). The individual file that make up this program are there, for those of you that want to putter. Also, there is the large, combined and uncrunched file called "CONV.V3.COMB".