Displays the Figger "About Box" which contains some
information about the program. This dialog also
contains a button for entering the program registration
area.
...desk accessories
File Menu
"Open"
Used to open an input file. Brings up the open
dialog, described in the following chapter.
"Close"
Closes the open file. If the file has been
edited, a dialog will ask whether the data
should be saved.
"Save As…"
Saves the open file. If any Hide menu commands
have been used to hide data in the file, a FIG
file will be produced in addition to a GIF
file.
"Quit"
Quits the program. If there is an open file
that has been changed, a dialog will ask
whether the data should be saved.
Edit Menu
"Undo"
Undoes the preceding editing or hiding command.
This item is only available after such a
command has been issued.
"Redo"
This command replaces "Undo" on the Edit menu
after an "Undo" command has been issued. "Redo"
eliminates the effect of the preceding "Undo"
"Cut","Copy","Paste"
These standard clipboard commands are not
supported by the current version of Figger, but
appear in the Edit menu so that the menu conforms
to accepted standards for the Edit menu.
"Clear"
This standard editing command is not supported
by the current version of Figger, but appears
in the Edit menu so that the menu conforms to
accepted standards for the Edit menu.
"Crop"
Permanently removes data outside of the current
selection rectangle from the image. This data
is not saved for the FIG file. This command
can be undone.
"Show Clipboard"
Opens a window displaying the current contents
of the clipboard. These contents are useless
within the current version of Figger.
Hide Menu
"Unlock"
Undoes any preceding "Hide Border," "Matte," or
"Blacken" commands. This command can be undone.
"Hide Border"
Removes any part of the image outside of the
selection rectangle and saves it for inclusion
in the FIG file. This command can be undone.
"Blacken"
Fills the selection rectangle with black.
Any data which is obliterated is saved for
inclusion in the FIG file. This command
can be undone.
"Matte"
Fills any part of the image outside of the
selection rectangle with black. Any data
which is obliterated is saved for inclusion
in the FIG file. This command can be
undone.
Display Menu
"Normal Size"
Causes the image to be displayed on the monitor
at its actual size.
"Zoom In"
Causes the image to be displayed on the monitor
at double the size it currently appears. The
limit is 16 times the normal size.
"Zoom Out"
Causes the image to be displayed at half the
size it currently appears. The limit is
1/8 the normal size.
The "Open" command is available only if there isn't already an open file. The "Close" command is available only if there is an open file.
The "Undo" command is available only after a command that changes the file has been issued. (These commands include "Crop", "Unlock", "Hide Border", "Matte", and "Blacken".)
The "Redo" command is available only after an "Undo" command has been issued.
The "Crop," "Hide Border", "Matte", and "Blacken", commands are available only when a rectangle has been selected in the image.
The "Unlock" command is available once a "Hide Border", "Matte", or "Blacken" command has been issued. Once the "Unlock" command has been issued, these other commands are forgotten, so the "Unlock" command then becomes unavailable.
The "Normal Size" command is available only when the image is not being displayed at its normal size. The "Zoom In" command is available unless the image is being displayed at its maximum size (16 times). The "Zoom Out" command is available unless the image is being displayed at its smallest size (one eighth).
VI. Dialog Reference
• File Dialogs
Most of the dialogs presented by Figger are used to select input and output files. These dialogs are similar to the dialogs used for such purposes by almost every Macintosh application.
Certain elements appear in every file dialog. These include the file list, a pop-up menu used to navigate through folders, and the "Eject", "Drive" ("Desktop" under System Seven), "Open" and "Cancel" buttons.
The dialogs used in Figger to select input files include additional controls that help in selecting exactly which files will be displayed in the file list.
These include a series of checkboxes that determine which file attributes will be considered in selecting the files for the list. These checkboxes include:
• Check File Type
On the Macintosh, every file has an associated type, which
is why double-clicking on a particular file in a Finder
window will result in the correct program being started
to handle the file.
When this checkbox is checked, only files having the
proper file type will be displayed.
Note that files created on non-Macintosh systems will
not have a file type. Also, if a file is created using
a Macintosh and then moved to another type of system,
the file type will be lost. Such files will not
appear in the file list if this checkbox is checked.
• Check Extension
By convention, GIF files frequently have names that
consist of one to eight alphanumeric characters
followed by the extension ".GIF". A similar convention
for key (FIG) files, in which the extension is ".FIG",
is being encouraged.
When this checkbox is checked, only files whose names
end with the appropriate extension will be listed.
• Check Contents
Both GIF and FIG files contain internal information
that can be used to determine that they are a GIF
or FIG file. When this checkbox is checked, files that
do not contain the appropriate information will not be
listed.
Note that this might prove to be a time-consuming
process, as a large number of files might have to
be read.
The effect of the various checkboxes is cumulative: if more than one of the boxes is checked, only files that meet all checked criteria will be listed. If none of the checkboxes is checked, then all files in the particular folder or directory will be listed.
These filtering criteria do not affect whether folders are listed in the file list. Folders are always listed.
The following discussions cover details about the various file dialogs presented by Figger.
-- Open File Dialog
This dialog is presented when you select "Open" from the File
menu. It allows you to select an input file.
Both GIF and FIG files will be displayed. If you select a GIF
file, then the file will be opened and you will be able to edit
it using Figger. If, instead, you select a FIG file, you will
begin the process of joining a GIF/FIG combination into a
restored GIF file.
This dialog contains the checkboxes for narrowing down which
files are displayed. By default, the "Check File Type" box is
checked. This means that the only files that will be displayed
will be those with the correct Macintosh file type.
An additional set of radio buttons allows you to determine whether
only GIF, only FIG, or both GIF and FIG files will be displayed.
By default, both types of files will be displayed.
-- Select GIF File Dialog
This dialog is presented after you select a FIG file from the
Open File Dialog.
Its purpose is to allow you to select the GIF file to be
combined with the FIG file. Note that if you select a GIF
file that was not created in tandem with the FIG file, an
error will occur.
Near the top of the dialog is the "suggested name." This
is the name of the GIF file that was created at the same
time as the FIG file. This information was stored inside
the FIG file. There is nothing to prevent people who own
or distribute the GIF file from changing the name of the file,
so it is possible that the displayed name will not be the
name of the copy of the file that you have. Hopefully,
people will make things easy for others by maintaining the
same name for the file.
This dialog has one additional checkbox, "Match Name," which
is initially checked. This means that only files that have
a name which matches the suggested name will be displayed.
This option has a cumulative effect with those of the other
checkboxes.
If you press the "Cancel" button, the FIG file will be closed
and the process of opening a file will end.
-- Save File Dialog
After you select a GIF file, you will be presented with a
dialog where you can enter the name of the new GIF file to
be produced.
When you select the "Save As" item from the File menu, you
will be presented with this dialog. You can then choose a
name and location for the GIF file that you are producing.
Although you can use the same name and location as those of
the input GIF file, this action is discouraged, because it
means that the original GIF file will be deleted.
If you press the "Cancel" button, the process of saving the
file will end and you can return to editing the image.
-- Save FIG File Dialog
After you specify the name of the output GIF file, you will
be presented with a dialog where you can specify the name and
location of the associated key "FIG" file.
If you had given the GIF file a conventional name, (including
the ".GIF" extension), the name box will be filled in with
the same name as the GIF file, with a ".FIG" extension. It
is suggested that you follow this convention and use this
name.
• The "About Box"
The About Box appears when you start Figger as well as when you select "About Figger…" from the Apple menu. Its purpose is simply to display information about the program, including required copyright notices.
As you start the program, the About Box will appear without any visible buttons. During this time, the program will be going through its own initialization. Eventually, two buttons will appear in the lower right-hand corner of the box.
Press the "Okay" button to dismiss the About Box.
The "Register" button brings up the registration dialog, which is discussed later in this document.
Note that if your copy of Figger has not been given a proper registration number, the About Box will not disappear automatically after the program has initialized. Once the registration process has been completed, then each time you start Figger the About Box will disappear as soon as program initialization has completed.
VII. File Naming Conventions
Because GIF files are exchanged among various types of computer systems, a naming convention has been adopted which allows the same name to be used for a particular file no matter where the file is being stored. The name consists of one to eight alphanumeric characters, (the first character must be a letter), followed by the extension ".GIF".
Even though the Macintosh provides quite robust file naming capabilities, Mac owners have usually followed the short naming convention if they are exchanging GIF files with users of other types of computers.
It is suggested that in order to facilitate the exchange of FIG files across different types of systems, a similar naming convention be used, in which the extension is ".FIG". Also, to simplify the task of matching FIG files to GIF files, it is suggested that the main part of the name (the first one to eight characters) be the same for both files.
Files may be renamed after they are created. However, it is suggested that the file names be retained as long as the files are in circulation, so that the proper GIF/FIG combination may be located by anyone interested. When a file combination is initially created, the name of the GIF file is stored inside the FIG file. Renaming the GIF file would render this information useless, and complicate the process of locating proper GIF/FIG combinations.
Note that the word "GIF" is pronounced with a "soft G", i.e., "jif". In a similar manner, "FIG" is pronounced "fidge," "Figger" is pronounced "fidger," and "DisFigger" is pronounced "diz-fidger."
VIII. The "Figger Mark"
When Figger creates a GIF file that has an associated key or "FIG" file, it places a tiny "F" in the lower right-hand corner of the GIF image. This serves the sole purpose of letting anyone who views the image know that a key file is available for the image.
When the key file is combined with the GIF file, the "F" will be removed, since it no longer has meaning.
This mark is _not_ meant as a tool to enforce registration of the product. It is produced by both registered and unregistered copies of Figger.
IX. Registration
Registration of this product offers several benefits, including a formatted printed copy of the documentation, a copy of the latest version of the program, and support. For details on registration, see the registration form that is distributed with this package.
This section describes the Figger functions related to registration. There are two such functions. The first allows you to create a copy of the registration form, just in case you have lost the form that came with this package. The second allows you to enter the registration number that you receive when you receive your registered copy of the program.
To perform either of these functions, you must first display the "About Box." The easiest way to do this is to select "About Figger…" from the Apple menu. Next, press the "Register" button located in the lower right-hand corner. This will bring up a dialog that gives a short description of the registration process.
If you press the "Create Form" button in this dialog, you will be presented with a standard file-saving dialog in which you are asked to provide a name and location for the text file that is about to be created. After you specify these items and press the "Save" button, the form will be created. This form may be read using any standard word processor that accepts text format files, (including TeachText).
You may print the registration form using a word processor, fill it in, and mail it to Daly Associates to register your copy of Figger. When you receive your registered copy of the program, you will receive a unique registration number.
The second function of the registration dialog is to allow you to enter your registration number. Once you have done this, the About Box will disappear automatically after you have started Figger, rather than requiring you to press the "Okay" button to dismiss it.
To enter your registration number, bring up the registration dialog by pressing the "Register" button in the About Box. Type the registration number and press "Okay".
The registration number is stored in a special file named "Figger™.PREF", which is used to maintain information that Figger uses from one execution to the next. This file is stored in your system folder. (Under System Seven, it is stored in your Preferences folder within your System folder.) If you want to move your copy of Figger to a different machine, you might want to move the Figger™.PREF file along with it.
If you give away a copy of Figger to a friend, don't bother giving them the Figger™.PREF file, as it contains information that is pertinent only when you personally are using the program.
