User manual DATAVIZ CONVERSION PLUS SUITE

Convert and Open Files, No Matter Where They Come From. Instantly. User's Guide ® Don't Get Caught With a File You Can't Open! User's Guide Conversions Plus Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 and 2000 DataViz, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. © Copyright 1997, 1999, 2000 by DataViz, Inc. Trumbull, Connecticut U.S.A. MacOpener, Conversions Plus, MacLinkPlus, Desktop To Go, and Documents To Go are registered trademarks of DataViz, Inc. Table of Contents Welcome to Conversions Plus ............................................................................. 7 Terms Used in This Manual .................................................................................. 8 Product Contents ................................................................................................... 8 Installation .............................................................................................................. 8 Technical Support .................................................................................................. 8 Upgrades ................................................................................................................. 9 Getting Started ....................................................................................................... 9 Other DataViz Products ......................................................................................... 9 Using and Converting Files .................................................................................. 11 Opening Problem Files ........................................................................................... 11 Getting Information on Files ................................................................................. 13 Converting Files ..................................................................................................... 14 Right-Clicking to Convert ...................................................................................... 14 Converting Graphic Files ....................................................................................... 15 Converting Portions of Graphic Files ................................................................... 16 Converting Clipboard Files ................................................................................... 17 Quick Convert ......................................................................................................... 17 Converting Batches of Files ................................................................................... 17 Using the Conversions Plus Program ................................................................... 19 Viewing and Printing Files ................................................................................... 21 How to View Files ................................................................................................... 21 Viewing Attachments Received in Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express or Exchange Mail ....................................................................... 22 Viewing Compressed Files ..................................................................................... 23 Viewing Files Using the Conversions Plus Program ............................................ 23 Decompressing Files ............................................................................................ 25 How to Decompress Files ....................................................................................... 25 Using the Conversions Plus Program to Decompress Files ................................ 27 Retrieving Files from E-mail ................................................................................. 29 Using the Attachment Wizard ............................................................................... 29 Contents Preferences ............................................................................................................ 31 General Preferences ............................................................................................... 31 Archive Preferences ............................................................................................... 32 Quick Convert Preferences .................................................................................... 33 Opening Files Preferences ..................................................................................... 34 Batch Conversion Preferences .............................................................................. 35 Using Macintosh Disks in Your PC ..................................................................... 37 Disk Format ............................................................................................................ 37 The MacOpener Driver .......................................................................................... 37 SCSI Disks ................................................................................................................ 38 File Format .............................................................................................................. 38 Setting the Driver Preferences .............................................................................. 38 Extension Mapping ................................................................................................ 38 Dual CD-ROMs ........................................................................................................ 41 Driver On/Off ......................................................................................................... 42 Formatting a Macintosh Disk ................................................................................ 42 Macintosh Properties ............................................................................................. 43 Name Doctor .......................................................................................................... 45 Adding Extensions to File Names ......................................................................... 45 Correcting Illegal Files Names .............................................................................. 46 Preview .................................................................................................................... 47 Appendix A: The File Conversions Library......................................................... 49 Appendix B: Features Supported ........................................................................ 51 Appendix C: The Translator List .......................................................................... 52 Appendix D: Macintosh Files ............................................................................... 53 Appendix E: DOS/Windows File Extensions ...................................................... 54 7 Welcome to Conversions Plus Conversions Plus is a utility that helps you use and access files regardless of what format they are in or where they came from. With Conversions Plus you can: · · · · · · Open files that Windows doesn't recognize. Convert files for use in your favorite programs. View and print files even if you don't have the program that created the file. Decompress any archive file. Decode and use file attachments you receive via e-mail. Read, write and format Macintosh disks in your PC. Conversions Plus contains file translation combinations supporting a variety of file formats. The translators provide conversions for the most popular word processing, spreadsheet, database and graphics programs. Converted documents retain all the original formatting (margins, paragraphs, bold, headers, footers, footnotes, embedded graphics, etc.) and are ready to use in your favorite PC program. With Conversions Plus you can decompress any archive file that has been compressed using the most popular compression programs. You can view and print compressed files, as well as virtually any file on your computer. Conversions Plus is considered "The DataViz Suite" of products and therefore includes all of the features of MacOpener® (the Macintosh Disk Opener). E-mail has become a method to send and receive files. However, with all the different e-mail software available, the process of receiving attachments is not always reliable. Conversions Plus allows you to retrieve and use problem file attachments received via e-mail. As mentioned, Conversions Plus includes the features of MacOpener, which allows you to read, write and format Macintosh disks in your PC. You will have access to Macintosh disks and files as if you were accessing a PC disk. Conversions Plus allows you to put a Macintosh disk (floppy, SCSI or CD-ROM) in your PC and copy files to and from that disk, as well as convert files from that disk directly on to your PC. It is the only product of its kind to provide both file transfer (via MacOpener) and file translation. 8 Welcome to Conversions Plus Terms Used in This Manual Conversions Plus supports a variety of Macintosh media. In order to simplify references to certain media, we will use the following conventions throughout the manual. SCSI Disk will refer to any Macintosh SCSI media, removable cartridge or hard disk. These include SyQuest, Bernoulli or a Macintosh hard disk. Macintosh Disk refers to any of the above and Macintosh CD-ROMs. Use Macintosh Disks refers to reading, writing and formatting Macintosh disks with the exception of CD-ROMs (which are read only). Product Contents Your package should include: · This manual · A CD-ROM disk · Conversions Plus registration card · Getting Started manual Installation To install, place the Conversions Plus CD in your CD-ROM drive, and the installer will automatically run. If this does not happen, go to the CD and run "setup.exe". Technical Support Technical support is only provided to registered users. For this reason, it is important that you fill out your registration card and return it to us. Our support group can be reached weekdays at (203) 268-0030 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST. You can also visit our web site at http://www.dataviz.com. If you call for assistance, please have your registration number handy. It can be found in the "About Conversions Plus" box, which is accessed through the Help menu in the Conversions Plus program. It can also be found on your registration card. Welcome to Conversions Plus 9 Upgrades When you register your product, you will be put in our database and informed of all new releases of Conversions Plus. Upgrades are provided to all registered users for a reduced fee. As new versions of programs are released, we will usually provide updated translators to support them. Therefore, it is important that you register so you will receive information regarding these important upgrades. Getting Started For the experienced user, we have included a Getting Started manual which provides quick tips for using the product. If you have difficulty, please consult the appropriate section of the manual before calling our technical support department. Other DataViz Products The following is a brief description of other DataViz products. These products are available to all DataViz customers at a reduced price. MacOpener: This is a utility for Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT that reads and writes Macintosh disks (SCSI, CD-ROMs and hard drives) in your PC. It allows you to copy files back and forth between a Macintosh disk and your PC, as well as format disks as Macintosh right in Windows. This product is also included with Conversions Plus. Desktop To Go: Desktop To Go is a utility which synchronizes your desktop data with a PalmTM Organizer, HandspringTM Visor or IBM® WorkPad. It includes synchronizers for Microsoft® OutlookTM 97/98/2000 and Schedule+ 7.0-7.5. Documents To Go: Documents To Go is a utility which views word processing and spreadsheet files (such as Word and Excel) on a PalmTM Organizer, HandspringTM Visor or IBM® WorkPad. There is no need to specially format your documents because Documents To Go automatically optimizes them for viewing on your handheld every time you synchronize. MacLinkPlus: MacLinkPlus is a file translation utility for Macintosh that provides file conversions between Mac and PC files, as well as between different Macintosh formats. Once translated, all the original file formatting is retained. 11 Chapter 1 Using and Converting Files This chapter is designed to help you use or convert files when you don't have the program that created the file. It is divided into two sections. The first section will provide instructions for opening files that Windows cannot recognize. The second section will provide information on converting files, so you can use them in the program of your choice or to give to someone else. Conversions Plus provides two methods for converting files, and each is explained in detail. The process for converting files from a Macintosh is the same as PC files and will be treated as such. For more information on exchanging disks between Macs and PCs, see Chapter 6, "Using Macintosh Disks in Your PC." Note: The words "translate" and "convert" will be used interchangeably throughout this manual. Opening Problem Files Sometimes you receive files and cannot use them in any of your programs. You may not have the program that created the file, or it may have the wrong extension associated with it. You may notice that when you double-click on the file, Windows is unable to recognize it. When this happens, the file will appear on your computer with a default document icon (as shown below on the left). When you double-click on the file, you will get the Windows "Open With" Dialog (as shown below on the right). 12 Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files Conversions Plus will help you with these problem files by deciphering the files and providing you with information about them. To access any file on your computer with Conversions Plus, all you have to do is double-click on the file. When Windows is unable to open the file, Conversions Plus will intercept and: · · · Figure out the file format (the program that created it) Check the file extension and correct it if necessary Determine if the file can be opened in a program you have on your PC If Conversions Plus can open the file in an appropriate program you will get the following "Open with Conversions Plus" Window. For example, in the above situation, the user double-clicked on a WordPerfect document, but has Word on the computer. The user can select Microsoft Word from the list, click "Open", and Conversions Plus will convert the file and open it in Word. If Conversions Plus cannot open the file or find an appropriate program on your computer, you will see the "Quick File Information" window. This window gives you the file type and offers you a tip for using the file and/or a quick view of the file. Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files 13 Getting Information on Files In some cases, you receive a file and want information about it before using it . Conversions Plus provides you with information about virtually any file you have on your machine. To get information on particular file(s), select the file(s), right-click on them and select "Info" from the Conversions Plus menu. This will bring you to the "Conversions Plus File Info" window. From this window you have the option to view, convert or launch the file(s). You can also get information on files by dragging and dropping the files over the Conversions Plus icon, which is placed on your desktop during installation. Viewing Files From the Information Window, you have the option to view any of the files listed. This is useful when you want to get a quick view of a file without having to launch or convert the file (even if you do not have the program that created it). To use this feature, simply highlight the file(s) you want to view and click . For more information on viewing files, see Chapter 2. Converting Files From the Information Window, you have the option to convert files to any of the formats that Conversions Plus supports. This will allow you to use the file in a program of your choice or convert a file to a format somebody else can use. Information about how to convert files is detailed in the following section of this chapter. 14 Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files Launching Files From the File Info window, you can also launch any of the files listed in their original programs. To do this, either highlight the file within the Information Window and click or double-click on the file. Converting Files In addition to opening problem files, Conversions Plus can also convert files to the program of your choice. There are two methods for converting files when using Conversions Plus. One is by right-clicking on files and the other is to use the Conversions Plus program. Right-Clicking to Convert This is the quickest and easiest method for converting files between different programs. To convert a file, simply right-click on the file and from the Conversions Plus menu item choose "Convert". This will bring you to the following "Conversions Plus Convert Window": Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files To convert the file: 1. 2. 3. 15 4. Select the file format you would like to convert the file to from the format list. Type in a name for the file (the default name is listed). Conversions Plus will add the correct extension to the file, based on the format chosen in Step 1. Choose a location for the translated document. You have the option to browse your computer to determine a location for the converted file by clicking . You can also create a new folder by selecting from the Browse Window. Note: The folder that will initially appear for your new location is your default document folder from your preferences. For more information on this, see Chapter 5, "Preferences". Click . This will bring up the Conversion Status window. Once the conversion is complete, the new document will be in the designated folder. You can now use it as you would any file originally created in that program. Converting Graphic Files There are many types of graphic formats available. Some formats are specific to programs, while others are more general and encompass many types of files. The formats supported in Conversions Plus are general formats, such as EPS, GIF, TIFF, JPEG and PICT. By supporting these formats, Conversions Plus allows you to use virtually any graphic file, as most programs will save files into one of these general formats. When converting entire graphic files, you should use the same procedures discussed above for converting files. Conversions Plus provides you with some unique features when converting graphic files, which include converting portions of graphic files as well as converting images from the Windows clipboard. Converting Portions of Graphic Files To convert only a portion of a graphic file, you need to first preview the graphic in the "Conversions Plus File Viewer" window. To do this, right-click on the file and choose from the Conversions Plus menu selections. 16 Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files From this window, use your cursor to select the portion of the graphic you would like to convert. Once selected, click . This will take you to the "Convert" window. Follow the steps explained above for converting an entire file. Converting Clipboard Files Conversions Plus includes a feature that allows you to convert images to and from the Windows clipboard. This is useful when you have a graphic within a file that Conversions Plus does not support directly. You may also have a graphic within a document that you wish to have as a stand-alone file. For example, you may have a graphic image located in a PowerPoint presentation that you want to save for future use. All you need to do is copy the image from the presentation to the clipboard. You can then use Conversions Plus to convert the graphic image, by selecting the Windows clipboard file to convert. The procedure for using the Conversions Plus program to convert documents is explained later in this chapter. Quick Convert The Quick Convert feature of Conversions Plus allows you to quickly convert files to your preferred formats without having to access the Conversions Plus interface. To do this, simply right-click on the file you would like to convert and go to the "Quick Convert" section of Conversions Plus. The converted document will be placed in the destination folder specified in the Conversions Plus preferences. Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files 17 Conversions Plus saves the last five formats you converted files to and lists them in your Quick Convert list. If you would like to preset the default formats to a select set of programs, you can do so from within the Preferences setting. Preferences and their features are detailed in Chapter 5, "Preferences". Converting Batches of Files Conversions Plus allows you to convert multiple files in one session. You can do this by selecting a batch of files (using the Control or Shift keys) or an entire folder. Rightclick on the files or folder and select from the Conversions Plus menu. This will bring you to the Batch Conversion Settings Window: From this window you should: 1. Select the format for each of the file types from the format lists provided. 2. Choose a location for the translated documents. You have the option to browse your computer to determine a location for the converted files by clicking . You can also create a new folder by selecting from the Browse Window. 3. If you would like to save these settings as your default formats for batch translations, check the box provided. 4. Click . This will bring you to the status window, which provides you with a translation status of the batch of files being converted. Once the conversions are complete, you will get the "Batch Statistics" window shown below. 18 Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files It will tell you: · The number of total files you selected · The number of files that were converted · The number of files that were simply copied with no conversion · The number of files that were renamed · The number of errors that occurred in the conversion process For more detailed information about any of the statistics listed, you will need to view the log. To do so, click on the button. You can also save your log file for future reference. Using the Conversions Plus Program The second method for converting files, involves using the Conversions Plus program. All of the features mentioned in this chapter are accessible through the Conversions Plus program as well as from the Windows Explorer (via right-click, double-click or drag and drop). To access Conversions Plus, run it from the Conversions Plus Program Group within the Start menu. Conversions Plus provides you with an Explorer like interface, from which you can select files. Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files 19 From this window, you simply select the file(s) you are interested in. You have the options to get information, view, convert, or launch the file(s). When choosing one of these options, Conversions Plus will bring you to the appropriate window. Getting File Information As explained earlier, the Information Window provides you with additional details on the selected file(s). Viewing Files From within Conversions Plus, you have the option to view any of the files listed. To use this feature, simply highlight the file(s) you want to view and click . Converting Files You can choose to convert files by selecting the file(s) and clicking . The steps you will encounter are the same as the ones described earlier when you right-click to convert. When converting graphic files from the Windows clipboard, you should choose the clipboard file, it is located on the desktop, entitled "Windows Clipboard". Launching Files From within Conversions Plus, you can also launch any of the files listed in their 20 Chapter 1: Using and Converting Files original programs, assuming you have the program on your machine. To do this select the file(s) and click .