Drop Text is a drag-and-drop program that I wrote to convert a multitude of text files that we seem to collect into whatever format is needed. In this case, conversion between Mac (or Apple II), MS-DOS, and Unix are what is done.
There are other programs out there that can do these, of course, but mine has some advantages:
• Converts the file "in-place" - you don't have to bother with extensions to the filename to get rid of or tons of duplicate files.
• Very safe - any error aborts the process, leaving the file being converted untouched.
• Abortable at any point.
• Checks the file for resource forks and "illegal" ASCII codes and does warnings - you can then choose to stop, skip, continue, or just do them all.
• Processes directories up to 10 levels deep.
• Can work on non-text files if you so desire.
• Fast - processes in excess of 15k per second on a stock IIsi.
How to use this:
Well, real simple: select some files and drag it on top of the icon (the falling safe). If you hold down the OPTION button as you drop the file(s) or folder(s), the program will give you the Conversion Settings (the Options :) ) dialog. These settings are saved in the Preferences directory, so the next time you use the program it will use the same settings as before.
Requirements for use:
• System 7.0 or later. It uses AppleEvents - sorry folks!
• I'm not sure if it will work on a 68000 machine - somebody let me know.
• Is 32-bit clean (of course).
• Needs only 40k on disk, and 384k of memory when running. Nice & tiny!
• Some text files to convert...
Legal stuff:
Drop Text 1.1 is totally free. Not for sale or profit for any reason. This program can only be GIVEN AWAY - it cannot be sold or charged for in any way shape or form (in other words, if you put it on a CD-ROM or on a pay-for-use system, don't charge the user for getting this program).
The standard legal disclaimer applies: Not responsible, not my fault, your problem, not mine. It hasn't broken my machine in the time I've used it. Bla Bla Bla. If you loose your one and only text file version of War and Peace because this program ate it, you should have backed it up first.
This junk aside, seriously, the program hasn't messed me up yet - which is why I put all the safty-checks in there in the FIRST place. In you accidently converted the file to DOS from MAC, just convert it back.
Other stuff:
• If you get a Bus Error when you launch this thing, don't blame me - blame Apple. It happens to me when I run Teach Text sometimes too. Just hit the button (if you're in 32 bit mode) to exit and try it again. Otherwise, reboot. I've done my best to track it down and fix it (somewhere in SetPort).
• Source -IS- available if you want it.
Version History:
1.0:
First public release.
1.1:
Modifed program to strip bit 7 from text files. Will warn you if it finds one before it does this.
Cleaned up dialog display so that it doesn't flash and annoy you.
Expanded the memory from 100k to 384k so that more than 40 files can be processed at once.
Doubled the size of the file buffer so that it doesn't hit the disk as much.
Moved where the temp file was at (now on the boot volume's hidden Temporary Files folder). This keeps the Finder from updating info behind my back and slowing the program down.
Fixed (hopefully) problem with program blowing with a bus error (tracked it down to SetPort - anyone got any ideas?)
Added beep to the "What Now?" dialogs.
Added beep when process takes longer than a minute.
Added support for b&w users - title box and progress bar.
