HelioConverter 1.1
By Ryan Casey
http://cardtable.go.to/helio


Introduction: 
------------- 

This program is a graphical front end to all the converters for different 
programs out there. 

It can convert the following. Please note that the executables listed 
are required for the conversions under them to take place.  The executables
listed has to be copied to the directory that HelioConverter is in. 

  makehdb.exe: 
  . PDB and TXT to EReader 

  makezhdb.exe: 
  . TXT to TextView 
  . Z3, Z5, Z7, Z8, DAT to Frotz 
  . PDB to Font File 
  . TXT and BAS to SmallBasic
  . GAM to TADS
  . HEX to Hugo

  maketoc.exe
  . Table of Contents for TextView

  With makedoc.exe: 
  . PDB to TextView 

  makegray.exe: 
  . BMP and JPG to Grayscale Viewer 

  rom2app.exe 
  . GB, ROM, GBC, CGB Gameboy Roms 
    Not all Roms will work with Liberty, especially many GBC and CGB. 

The executables required are available as part of the application download
for each application, except for makedoc, which can be retrieved from
Capitalware (http://www.geocities.com/capitalware/helio.html). This has 
only been tested with Makedoc8. 


Using HelioConverter: 
--------------------- 

First, you must select a format. This affects what files are listed when 
you click 'Open File'. The program will warn you at the bottom if you have 
neglected to do so. 

Click 'Select File'. This will pop up a standard dialog box. It will list 
files appropriate to that converter. Select the file or files you want to 
convert, then click Open. 

Click 'Convert'. This will attempt to convert the files. 
. If a needed executable is missing, the program will alert you. 
. Any current output file is first deleted before the executable is run, 
as this is how it checks whether it was successful. 
. Since EReader and TextView output the same file, using one will override 
the output from the other. 

To make a TextView file and TOC, convert the file using TextView and then
select TextView_TOC and convert again.  This will create the TOC.  In
future versions this will be one step.\


Note: 
------ 

Be careful when converting files that have the same output, for instance
one file into both EReader and TextView.  Only the last one converted will
be in the directory.

If there is a failure in conversion, the output bar will let you know what 
happened (what the converter said). This is sometimes less than useful, so 
feel free to let me know what happened. 

Adding new converters is easy for application developers and others. Just 
look at the 'Making Macros' section.


Making Macros:
--------------

Variables
  %filename      Filename without extension, add needed extension
                 manually in /command/.
  %filename.ext  Filename with extension

Keys
  name      Name of converter.  Must be one word currently (You 
            can use underscores).
  output    Type of output.  This is the file extension of the 
            output.  Only needs specified if it is NOT hdb.
  types     Types of file that the converter can handle.
  command   Syntax of the conversion command.  Use the variables
            above to substitute.

Chains of commands
  If you have one file that needs multiple actions on it to
  convert to hdb, put the earliest required actions first.  See
  the TextView example if need be, which has to convert .pdb
  to .txt before it can convert to .hdb.

The syntax is really quite simple, flexible, and powerful.


Planned Enhancements:
---------------------

. Add output directory option for all files, instead of
  converting in place.
. Option to select alternate location for converter executables.
. Add converter for ZHDB2File.


Contact Information:
--------------------

Please contact scfiead@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

