!ReadMe for !MF->Edit

 COPYRIGHT NOTICE++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 This is a Public Domain application but it is copyright so 
 please copy it freely but do follow the conditions below
 
 # No part of the application is to be copied for profit
            
 # The whole of the application should be copied including
   this file
 
 # Any modifications should be commented in this file & a
   copy sent to me so that they can be incorporated in future 
   versions.
                                                           
 # This application is supplied as is without any guarantee
   as to its function or its suitability for any purpose.
 

 # The above applies to my own coding and work, !Shell is
    to Paul Hobbs and Interface is  Simon Huntingdon

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What do you get?  Well, first of all you should find this!

Okay:   !Run       Simply starts up the Utility
        !RunImage  This is the one which does the hard work
        !Sprites   Simple Sprite File
         ReadMe    That's this one
         Templates Template file believe it or not!
         Interface This is  Simon Huntingdon and improves the window
                   design and layout.
You should also find a Masterfile Directory, this contains a demo pair of
files for you to experiment with if you haven't got Masterfile.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Version 1.00 - August 11th 1991

This utility came about as I write a monthly column in a Radio Magazine and
I wanted to have a list of the various Clubs around the world available to
use in my column.  I already had several thousand names filed, but in
Masterfile ( BeeBug) Format while I wanted them in !Edit format for this
purpose.  I did NOT wish to re-enter all the data again, so I came up with
this utility.

As far as I know, there is nothing readily available to do this conversion,
so I set about writing my own utility to handle it for me.  This first
version works, it's not pretty, and it doesn't even pretend to Multi-Task,
but it works!  The actual work is all done in five lines and presently the
program assumes that (i) the datafile to convert is held in RAMFS, as
M.<Name> for the Master, and D.<Name> for the Descriptor file for the <Name>
file.  The converted !Edit file is then saved back to the RAM Disk as
$.<Name>

Version 1.10 - August 11th 1991, the afternoon!

Okay, it now is RISC-OS Compatiable, it "signs on" on the icon bar, has an
Info Box and a main window.  Because my version of Masterfile seems to have
two different file tyes for the Masters.Data (&FFD and xxx) I suggest you
use the Descriptor files (type &FFD - Data) to select which Masterfile data
you wish to convert.  You will also need to have a reasonable size RAM Disc
available for the data as that is used to store the converted file (as
$.Text) from where you can examine it, move it, rename it or whatever to
your hearts content.

If you come up with "Not enough room for this DIM" when used first, then the
datafile you wish to convert must be pretty big, so amend the WimpSlot
min/max in the !Run File, if you get this error message after using it a few
times, it's probably because I've used a LOCAL DIM as the datafiles are
usually varied in length so if I set a large block regardless of the RAM
available to you, I might stop you even using the program.  The largest file
I have at present is some 260 Kilobytes.  If you do come up with this
problem, simply exit the program and re-run it.

Okay, assumptions: The program assumes that no matter where you have your
Masterfile data, on floppy or hard disk, or even RAM Disk, it is stored in
the following style of tree:

                            Masterfile    
                                |
                              MFData
                              /   \
                        Descriptor Masters
                          |           |
                          File 1   File 1
                          File 2   File 2
                            etc     etc

So if you have a file to be converted called Addresses on your IDEa
harddisk, the path would look something like this:-
IDEFS::HardDisc4.$.Masterfile.MFData.Masters.Address &
IDEFS::HardDisc4.$.Masterfile.MFData.Descriptor.Address

It will actually allow you to drag either Descriptor files or Masters to
either the Message Window or the Icon Bar, but will only work if the
filetype is &FFD, ie:Data.

Blank records are ignored, and a blank line it printed between each record.
As far as I can tell, any size of Masterfile records should convert
correctly, but obviously if it doesn't, don't blame me if it goes wrong!
I'd like to know if it does go wrong as I will do my best to correct the
problem.  Record numbers are not included at present, I might allow for that
later but I don't need it so I probably won't!

Dragonrider - August 1991 

If you want to get in touch with me, I can be contacted as follows:

    David Shepherdson
    3 Tarn Villas
    Cowpasture Road
    ILKLEY
    West Yorkshire
    LS29 8RH, England

