kamit.com Kevin A. Mitchell writes GIFConverter and other cool stuff.

The file is a Self Mounting Image; after downloading, double click it to mount the disk on your desktop, then look inside the disk for the GIFConverter icon. You can run GIFConverter from the SMI, or copy it to your hard disk.

This is an experimental/development release. Please take care to avoid saving over important files. If you intend to modify a picture, work on a copy. It may contain some bugs, and there are several cosmetic issues under Aqua.

My intention is to get GIFConverter stabilized under Carbon, then to get to work on new features. Watch back here periodically for new releases, and more information about the GIFConverter on OS X program. Please report bugs to gc-bugs@kamit.com, and make suggestions for new features to gc-suggestions@kamit.com.

• Documentation is now available online in HTML form. GIFConverter will display it in your web browser. See Online Documentation in the Help menu. The documentation has been updated to cover most of the 2.4 features.
• There is a script in the Scripts menu for setting the desktop picture on MacOS 8.5.
• When using an open box, GIFConverter recognizes files by their extensions and MacOS file types only. Use the GIFConverter AutoTyper (included) to change file types. GIFConverter will try to identify by examination any file that is dropped on it or given to it by an Apple Event.
• GIFConverter now recognizes its own slide show documents. It also assumed that most other files were GIF files; this has been fixed.
• GIFConverter is only available electronically; the diskette/manual options have been removed from registration programs and order forms.
• PICT files sometimes had black backgrounds when read into GIFConverter; this has been fixed.
• GIFConverter works around some system inconsistencies that caused problems launching other applications.
• The size property of an image is now the "dimensions". This prevents a conflict with the size of a text character. GIFConverter will work with old AppleScripts, but you may need to change them to use "dimensions" if you recompile them.
  
• The installer only requires System 7.0. It mistakenly required System 7.1.2, because it was based on the PPC-only installer (how embarassing!).
• GIFConverter is no longer tested or supported on machines without Color QuickDraw. It now requires 68020 or newer.
• I have a new P.O. Box address. Mail from the old box will be picked up for a time, then forwarded, and finally will stop working. I have no idea yet how long the Postal Service will forward for.

• This installer requires System 7.0 rather than 7.1.2. 7.1.2 was the earliest Power Macintosh system; since the installer is fat, it should accept any System 7 installation now. If there is any trouble running GIFConverter under System 7, please let me know.

• Fixed a bug that could cause crashes when Remove Unused Colors was turned on.
• Fixed a bug with the Enhance command calculating wrong histograms.
• "Look inside" settings are now sticky for the remainder of a run.
• GIFConverter makes every attempt to identify a file opened via an AppleEvent or being dropped on the GIFConverter icon.
• The Help menu now offers ways to look for new versions or file bug reports via the WWW.

• Filenames without extensions now have the extensions added correctly (without removing the actual name of the file).
• When a file can't be opened during a slide show, report the filename that can't be opened. Note that a slide show only contains aliases to files, it doesn't actually contain the pictures. If the files are lost, then an error will occur when opening the slide show.

• Fixes to custom installations on PPC (used to install ObjectSupportLib if GIFConverter requested in custom install; if you are running OS 8, remove any ObjectSupportLib from the extensions folder).
• Eliminates a crash on New Document on 68K.

Updaters are available from 2.4.

• Sped up a number of operations, including JPEG file reads.
• A number of crashes involving multiple file opens were fixed. Some of GIFConverter's insides were fixed to be more robust. Some internal changes were also made that will support new features.
• GIFConverter makes better use of memory and will run out of memory less often. It can use more memory that is allocated to it, is smarter about doing so, and will release memory when you change to another program (this may be accompanied by a delay and some disk activity if you do this after opening many images).
• 24-bit images may be rotated.
• Many of the image-editing commands (reducing colors, etc.) now work if there is no selection. If no images are selected, then GIFConverter does a Select All automatically.
• GIFConverter for 68K is now a single-segment program; this means that as on the PowerPC, it loads the entire program at once. This requires a little more memory. It eliminates a number of defects related to segment loading, and an entire class of memory management problems.

• Fixed a bug that caused crashes when opening files, particularly larger JPEG files. This crash was most obvious when using a droplet to convert many files.
• Fixed a bug that caused crashes after reading a PICT file.
• Fixed a bug where a file error would occur if compression was turned on for PICT files and the saved file was on the boot disk.
• Resolution is implemented for PICT files, and is read in and saved out with PICT files. There is now a resolution property on the graphic document so the resolution can be changed from a script. The resolution can now also be set to arbitrary values (within reason) from the menu item.
• GIFConverter now ships with a glue file for Frontier, and now supports Menu Sharing in Frontier. A few bugs that prevented scripting with Frontier have been fixed.
• There is an edit preferences Apple Event for bringing up dialog boxes for specifying file preferences.
• GIFConverter download files are smaller, 68K and PPC-only versions are available, and updaters are available.
• Internet Config is no longer bundled with the download version; it is available separately.

• New, low cost $30 payment option available only through Kagi. See below for details.
• Registration is easy using the Register 1.2.5 kam program. This program is included in all GIFConverter releases after mid-September 1995; you can obtain such a release here.
• Kagi accepts registrations by Postal Mail, E-mail, or FAX.
• The Kagi service takes payments via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and First Virtual. International customers can take advantage of these electronic payment options to avoid heavy fees for checks payable in the US.
• Kagi will, of course, accept registration via postal mail, accompanied by a Check.
• The Register 1.2.5 kam program automatically calculates quantity discounts.
• The license key that removes the shareware reminder will be returned by E-mail as well as by postal mail.

GIFConverter is now available at the lower price of $30. Certain restrictions apply:

• GIFConverter must be registered through the Kagi Shareware service by using the Register 1.2.5 kam program included in the newer GIFConverter releases.
• This offer includes the key to remove the shareware reminder (sent by e-mail) and a receipt (sent by postal mail, with the key as well).
• This price does not include a diskette and manual sent in the mail like the higher priced options do.
• You can obtain the GIFConverter program by direct download, and at the UMich and Info-Mac sites. Since GIFConverter is shareware, please try it out before you pay for it.
• You can obtain the manual in PDF form by direct download. You can get a free Acrobat reader from Adobe Systems which will enable you to view or print the manual.

I've re-released GIFConverter 2.3.7 with the Register program and other useful information. You can download these files here. You should also find the GIFConverter Documentation at the same sites.