PopChar Lite 2.7.2 Release Notes

Note: If you have Netscape Navigator installed on your Mac, you should read the document ReadMeFirst.html instead. It contains the same information but also allows you to link to other sources of information on the web.

After two years, a new release of PopChar is finally available. The following problems have been corrected in this version:

 ¥ PopChar no longer crashes when used with a QuickDraw GX font.
 ¥ PopChar now correctly recognizes dialogs without editable text fields.
 ¥ PopChar now shows the correct font when editing a table in WriteNow.
 ¥ PopChar no longer crashes in ClarisWorks when no windows are open.
 ¥ PopChar was renamed to PopChar Lite.

You'll notice that some problems have been fixed, but no new features have been added. In fact, this will be one of the last releases of the freeware version of PopChar. In the past years, I spent much time on the development and improvement of PopChar - too much for a freeware utility. Now I decided to spend even more time to make PopChar much better. However, PopChar's successor will not be distributed as freeware any longer. Instead, it will be marketed as a commercial product under the name PopChar Pro. That's also the reason why the freeware version was renamed to PopChar Lite; The name should remind you that there's more to come. See below for details.

Installation
As usual, just drop PopChar Lite into the Control Panels folder. However, if you already have an older version of PopChar installed, you must first remove that from your Control Panels folder before restarting. Starting up your Mac with two copies of PopChar in the Control Panels folder would very likely lead to crashes.


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PopChar Pro is not just a minor improvement over PopChar Lite. It is a completely new product with lots of new features. Here is what PopChar Pro will have to offer:

Speed
PopChar Pro is much faster. In addition, essential parts of PopChar Pro are now so-called Òfat binariesÓ. On Macs with a PowerPC, PopChar Pro will be even faster.

Floating Window
The ÒMoreÉÓ screen has gone. Instead, you will be able to open a floating window that remains accessible all the time. You can continue to use the keyboard for regular text and click on a character in the floating window when you need a special character. Here's an example of what a floating window looks like:

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Customization
PopChar Pro can be customized for every single font. You'll be able to see Geneva in a small table with font size 9 and Times in a larger table with font size 14. You can omit letters and digits for text fonts (such as Geneva, Times, and Helvetica; see the floating window above for an example) and see all characters of picture and symbol fonts (such as Cairo, Symbol, and Zapf Dingbats).

Layouts
PopChar Pro comes with a layout editor that lets you arrange the characters of certain fonts in a more convenient way. For example, you can have PopChar Pro show similar characters next to each other even if they appear wide apart in the ASCII order.

Adaption to Applications
PopChar Pro learns about how to determine the current font in the applications you use. In addition, you can tell PopChar Pro to always show a particular font in certain applications. If PopChar Pro is unable to determine the current font, it will let you specify which font to use.

Multiple Languages
PopChar Pro can be configured to appear in your language of choice. The current beta version already "speaks" English and German. More languages will be supported by the final version.

Recognition of GX fonts
PopChar Pro recognizes QuickDraw GX fonts and shows only those characters that are available in those fonts.

Although PopChar Pro sports many new features, you will still be able to use it as easily as PopChar Lite. You will not have to learn a new way of working with PopChar.

In order to make PopChar Pro superior to PopChar Lite, two restrictions had to be introduced:
 ¥ PopChar Pro will require System 7 or newer.
 ¥ PopChar Pro will no longer support the Òhot spotsÓ in the menu bar.


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Distribution of PopChar Pro

PopChar Pro is currently (as of May 1996) under development. It will become available in fall 1996.

PopChar Pro will be distributed by UNI SOFTWARE PLUS. If you are interested in announcements or special offers, check out their PopChar Pro page at http://www.unisoft.co.at/e/products/popchar.html, send e-mail to popchar@unisoft.co.at, fax to +43 (7236) 3338 30, or write to:
     UNI SOFTWARE PLUS
     ATTN: PopChar Pro
     Softwarepark Hagenberg
     A-4232 Hagenberg
     Austria

GŸnther Blaschek, May 1996