
                                    Documentation

                                         for

                                   Source Convert


                                    Prepared by:

                                  Herbert F. Hrowal
                                    David D. Ely

                                   April 29, 1990


                              -- System Requirements --

               Source Convert requires a minimum of 64k and 65c02
          processor. This should allow it to be used on most conventional
          Apple II systems still in use. Future conversion modules will
          undoubtedly require 128k.


                      -- Source Convert General Information --

               Source Convert is a shareware source file converter
          available directly from Palace Productions and on many
          information services. It is designed to ease the pain in
          transferring source files from one assembler to another. SC was
          written by Herbert F. Hrowal and is supported by Palace
          Productions. If you like the program, and plan on using it,
          please send $10 to this address:

                                 Palace Productions
                                c/o Herbert F. Hrowal
                                  13754 Penn Street
                                 Whittier, CA. 90602


               Currently, the following conversion methods are available
          and supported by Source Convert:

                                  Merlin --> Orca/M
                                  Orca/M --> Merlin
                                  Orca/M --> Micol Macro (Assembler)
                                  Orca/M --> Lisa816

               Should there be a demand, conversion modules for popular
          languages may be implemented. Source Convert was written with
          future expansion in mind and currently can support up to 10
          conversion modules. For those interested in further information,
          a doc file on conversion module format may be obtained directly
          from us.

               Source Convert should be received on your end in a
          ShrinkIt/NuFX file containing the following:

               SOURCE.CONVERT/
                    CONVERT.SYSTEM
                    SC.MOD.02
                    SC.MOD.03
                    SC.MOD.04
                    SC.MOD.05
                    SC.DOCS
                    READ.ME   (may be included for update information)

               Source Convert is a source file converter for the Apple
          IIe/c/gs. Feel free to pass this program out among the various
          online systems and to all your friends.  However, because this is
          a Shareware program, and I reserve all copyrights on this
          program, and request that after a trial period of ten days, you
          either delete Source Convert and all it's associated conversion
          modules from your disk, or send a $10 registration fee to the
          address above. We further request that the file be left in the
          current file format so that required information and support
          files are not inadvertently lost.


                           -- How to Use Source Convert --

               Source convert has proved to be a fairly easy to operate,
          yet very powerful tool for anyone wishing to convert source files
          from one assembler to another. After installing Source Convert on
          your disk, start it up via your normal selector program. You'll
          be greeted by four options.

                                       Q - Quit
                                       C - Catalog
                                       I - Information
                                       S - Convert Source

               All options can be selected either by letter, arrow keys or
          the mouse. Descriptions of these options follow:

          Quit           - self explanatory, meaning leave, exit, adios,
                           asta-la-byebye etc.

          Catalog        - catalog current prefix or modify to suit your
                           needs. See section below on editing commands.
                           The last prefix used here will be considered the
                           source prefix. You will notice that only one
                           screen of the catalog is displayed. To see more,
                           use the arrow keys to scroll the display up /
                           down.

          Information    - ye old about screen. This displays information
                           about Source Convert, where to send the
                           shareware fee, etc.

          Convert Source - does the actual job of converting source files.
                           You will be prompted for a source prefix (where
                           the file currently lives), and will initially be
                           given either the last prefix cataloged, or the
                           launch path (default). You may modify this as
                           desired, and then press return. Next comes the
                           destination prefix. This is the path you wish to
                           use for the new source file that will be
                           created. Once again, press return when finished.
                           Now comes the fun part. What are we converting?
                           A list of module options will appear. Select the
                           conversion method you wish to use, and a list of
                           source files will appear. In the event that
                           there are no files of that type in the current
                           source directory, you will be informed of this
                           and returned to the main menu (do not pass go,
                           do not collect $200, adnauseum).  If you wish to
                           convert source files that are not of the proper
                           filetype/auxtype combination, you may hold the
                           Open-Apple key down while selecting a conversion
                           method and all the files in that directory will
                           be displayed.

                           Now you will be able to select from a list of
                           files the file to be converted. After making all
                           of your selections, press return and your new
                           source files will be created. Any errors will be
                           reported and you will be ALL SET to check these
                           babies out in your assembler. There may be a
                           need for some small amount of editing to get
                           your new assembler files working correctly.
                           However, the rest of the conversion process
                           should be relatively painless and hassle free.

          Disclaimer - Many hours of testing by several people on all kinds
                       of source files has been done, but errors MAY exist.
                       If in fact you discover a problem with source
                       convert, PLEASE contact one of the people listed
                       below to report this problem so that it may be
                       rectified as soon as possible (ASAP for you acronym
                       hounds).


          Editing Commands [ those shown in here are options ]:

          Tab    - jumps forward one full pathname in the current prefix.

          oa-Tab - jumps backward one full pathname in the current prefix.

          oa-X   - will switch the source and destination prefix buffer
                   contents following the standard set in Cat Doctor (and a
                   couple of completely insignificant others). [ opt-X,
                   ctrl-X ]

          oa-A   - will select all files. Any files currently selected will
                   be 'de-selected'. [ opt-A, ctrl-A ]


                        -- Palace Productions - who issit? --

               Palace Productions is the cooperative effort of Herbert F.
          Hrowal and David D. Ely. There has been a San Diego Apple II
          utility group for quite some time, now there's a Los Angeles
          group. We've got some interesting older utilities available
          including BetterBye80, RamStuff, ZipTools and now ... Source
          Convert. There are a few other new projects in the works, but
          more on that later. In the meantime, we are available online at
          the following E-Mail address's:

                                   GEnie:    DDELY
                                             H.HROWAL

                          America Online:    DaveEly
                                             HerbH1

               If you have an idea for something you'd like to see, or
          you'd like to join the group (we're not in this for the money ya
          know, just the fun), drop us a line. Basically, we want to expand
          programmer information, and make it easier on both the end user
          and the programmer. If you have a program or utility that
          accomplishes this task, is free or shareware, we'd love to hear
          from you. If you have any questions about Source Convert, pass
          them along too.
