-- What should have been in the .LZH file ------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
    89A_87A.PRG    The program.
    READTHIS.1ST   This file.


-- What this is --------------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
This is a simple program that converts GIF 89a format pictures (the new
standard) to GIF 87a format pictures (the old standard).  In the process, any
extra information in the GIF is stripped out, so the image may not be exactly
the way it's supposed be (this won't happen too often, though).


-- Freeware notice -----------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
This program is Freeware.  You can copy it and distribute it all you want, but
don't charge for it.


-- Disclaimer ----------------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
I am not responsible for any damage you might suffer or cause through the use
of this program.  USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.  This is a "beta" version of the
program; it works (as far as I can tell), but try not to do anything stupid, as
it can be rather unforgiving.


-- Using the program ---------------------------------------------------------
   ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Cut and dried, very simple.  Double-click on 89A_87A.PRG in any resolution; an
alert will appear telling what the program is.  Dispense with it, and go right
to the fileselector.  Here you can select your GIF 89a picture.  If you
accidentally select a GIF 87a picture, the program will tell you and plop you
back to the fileselector.  Otherwise the GIF will be loaded and converted.  A
second fileselector will appear, allowing you to select the destination file
(the default is to overwrite the source file, so be careful).  You'll need
enough memory to hold the entire GIF file, but since most GIFs are less than
300K, that's not too much of a problem.  If the program doesn't have enough
memory, it will tell you how much more it needs and return you to the first
fileselector.

This program is by no means a final product.  I wrote it because Gordie Meyer
sent me the GIF 89a standard (thanks, Gordie) and suggested I support GIF 89a
in DMJ GIF 4.0, which I expect to have available in mid-May.  Well, the support
will be there, and this program is here to tide you over until then.

If you're looking for DMJ GIF, you can find the latest version (3.0) on GEnie,
CompuServe, Delphi, or Usenet.  You can also obtain copies of the program from
me for $15 (the Shareware price of DMJ GIF).

    Damien M. Jones
    PSC 8 Box 657
    APO AE 09109

Any comments or suggestions for this program (which will be included with DMJ
GIF 4.0) would be appreciated, though.  Already slated for addition is batch
support.

    -dmj


The Graphics Interchange Format(c) is the Copyright property of CompuServe
Incorporated.  GIF(sm) is a Service Mark property of CompuServe Incorporated.