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Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!decwrl!labrea!rutgers!att!alberta!dvinci!lowey
From: lowey@dvinci.USask.CA (Kevin Lowey)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Graphics Conversion Programs
Keywords: Graphics, Conversion Utilities
Message-ID: <1929@dvinci.USask.CA>
Date: 30 Mar 89 15:27:22 GMT
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Lines: 36


Hi,

  I work in the User Support Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.
One of our functions is support of Microcomputers on campus.

  Many people use microcomputers for wordprocessing.  This caused problems
because we had a proliferation of different word processors all using
incompatible file formats.  Luckily there are a number of programs out there
like "Word for Word" that easily let us convert from one wordprocessing 
format to another while leaving most of the formatting information intact.

  Recently the use of microcomputers for Graphics has increased on campus.
People are using PCs and Macs to develop their own graphics.  This is causing
similar file compatibility problems that we had with Word Processing.

  A lot of programs can READ other graphic formats.  For example, Word Perfect
can read many graph formats and convert them to .WPG files for use in WP 5.0.
Unfortunately, most programs only WRITE to one or two formats.  I need a
"Word for Word" like program that converts between the popular graphics
formats like .PCX, ANSI Metafiles, Encapsulated Postscript, HP7475 plot files,
IFF, TIFF, Lotus .PIC, etc.

  I realize that this isn't easy.  Some of these programs store bitmaps, others
store the picture as objects.  However, any pointers someone can give me to
commercial or PD programs would be welcome.

  Also, any pointers to the structure of the various graphics file formats
would be appreciated.  Then I could (gasp) write my own conversion program.

  Please send any replies to:

  LOWEY@SASK.USASK.CA         on internet (prefered)
  {ihnp4,alberta}!sask!lowey  on uucp
  LOWEY@SASK                  on BITNET