MULTICOLOR CONVERTER

  by James Hehl

 This program will allow you to convert virtually ANY C64 multicolor graphic file to Plus/4 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 multicolor files that you will encounter. You may cousor around the screen and change the settings. Some will not allow you to change them. See file called "MULTITECH.NOTES", for further information.

 The automatically supported formats are:

  MICRO ILLUSTRATOR(C64)      BLAZING PADDLES       KOALA
  ADV.ART STUDIO(OCP)         ARTIST 64 (MULTI)

 There are also parameters given, in the "MULTITECH.NOTES" file to allow you to use:                                                                        
  FLYING COLORS      RAINBOW PAINT

 You are also shown, in that info file, how to calculate the values to use on virtually any multicolor format.


 If the settings in the converter 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 (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 SAVE the converted graphic. You prompted "(C)ompressed (S)td. (A)bort". If you want to quit to the select menu, then press the "A" key to Abort the operation. If you want to SAVE the converted graphic to a compressed format, press the "C" key to compress and SAVE it. Finally, if you want to SAVE the converted graphic to a standard TED (41 disk block) multicolor file, press the "S" key.

 You will be prompted to "Press the Spacebar to Continue". This is the time to swap to a new, formatted, destination disk, if you are using a single drive system.

 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" or a "CK" prefix. You may change this prefix later, if you'd like. It is used to identify that these files were originally C64 files. It will also write an identifying set of bytes, into the graphic file, along with the border, background and foreground color information.

 When the SAVE is completed, you will be prompted to "Press the Spacebar to Continue". This is the time to swap the disks back, if you've used a different destination disk.

 The program will return you to the selection menu.

 The operation of this program is pretty straight-forward and simple. It will allow you to quickly convert those many C64 multicolor files, for use on your Plus/4.

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