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|A ^0Diskussion |A               ^1 On the Editor's Desk |A                ^0Diskussion |A
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^CPrint Shop (R) and Big Blue Disk

^Cby George Leritte


        This column is designed to provide information about the Print Shop (R) 
 images which we publish on a regular basis.  There have been numerous 
 questions about their care and usefulness.  I decided that a column such as 
 this might be a better forum for the various bits and pieces of information 
 being bandied around.  (Print Shop (R) and The New Print Shop (R) are the 
 registered trademarks of Broderbund Software.) 

        For simplicity, the step-by-step instructions were usually written 
 assuming no hard disk was available.  Only where the lack of a hard disk 
 would make the operation extremely time-consuming was its use referenced. 

        The column is  presented in Question and Answer format to make it more 
 easily organized, since it covers a discontinuous range of information. 

 Q1:  What are Print Shop images?

 A1:  Print Shop images are clip-art images designed to be used with 
      Broderbund Software's Print Shop program.  This program is a commercial 
      software product for creating personalized greeting cards, stationery, 
      posters, banners, etc.  The clip-art images published in Big Blue Disk as 
      Print Shop images may be used directly by the Print Shop program. 

 Q2.  Can the images be used if I do not have Broderbund Software's Print Shop 
      program?

 A2.  Maybe, depending on what software you do have.  If you have another "clip-
      art" package, you may use these images AFTER they have been converted to
      the precise format and naming conventions dictated by that package.

      If you have no "clip-art" package, but DO have the Print Shop Utilities 
      III program published on a previous issue of Big Blue Disk, you may use
      PS UTILITIES III to view or print the clip-art.

      If neither of these options are available, you may still view the clip-art
      with the program on the Big Blue Disk publication disk:  psmed.  Use the
      "Copy It" option from the Big Blue Disk menu to copy both program and 
      clip-art images to another disk.  To view the art, type:  psmed grxxxxx
      where xxxxx matches the remaining part of the name of the file of images.
      For example:  psmed GRBBD49.

 Q3.  How do I convert the clip-art to another package's format and naming 
      conventions?

 A3.  There are several programs available to convert between formats.  The
      aforementioned PS UTILITIES III is my favorite (for ease of use, not 
      because I wrote it).  This program converts between Print Shop and Unison 
      World's popular PrintMaster program formats.  If you need other formats, 
      you'll have to look around for conversion programs.

 Q4.  What about The New Print Shop?  Do these images work there?  

 A4.  The images we have published (to-date) are in the original Print Shop
      format.  To use them in The New Print Shop, you would use the CONVERT
      program included with The New Print Shop software to convert the Big
      Blue Disk clip-art to The New Print Shop format.

      Stay tuned for new developments.  I plan to write PS UTILITIES IV in the 
      near future.

 Q5.  What about using these images in PrintShop Plus?

 A5.  I'm not sure.  I'm not familiar with PrintShop Plus.  If it is really 
      Print Shop or New Print Shop or PrintMaster Plus, then some of the notes
      below will answer your question.  If it is none of the above, you will 
      have to try to find a conversion program elsewhere.

 Q6.  I recently bought a copy of the New Print Shop.  I was wondering if you 
      knew of a program I could use to draw my own graphics?
 
 A6.  If all you want to do is draw Print Shop graphics, there is an editor for 
      that purpose in both new and original Print Shop.  In New Print Shop, 
      select Graphic Editor from the Main Menu.  If you want to create bigger
      graphics, you will need to investigate some of the many drawing or 
      "paint" programs on the market.

 Q7.  You have always added extra Print Shop graphics?  Why not some fonts, 
      too?

 A7.  Few fonts have been submitted to Big Blue Disk.  Maybe the future will
      bring us some.
 
 Q8.  How do I copy Print Shop images from Big Blue Disk?
 
 A8.  Step 1.  Be sure you have some formatted floppy disks for use in the
                process.  (Consult the DOS manual FORMAT command.)

      Step 2.  From the Big Blue Disk menu, select Print Shop Images.

      Step 3.  From the sub-menu, select the "Copy It" option.

                A screen of instructions will appear ending:

                Enter drive/path of your disk:  -

                At this point, you need to tell BBD where to put the copy
                you are making.  The proper response varies, but here are
                some guidelines.

                Single Floppy Disk systems, type:    b:\

                Two Floppy Disk systems, with BBD in drive A, type:   b:\  

                Hard Drive systems:  Put the copy on a floppy disk by typing 
                  a:\   or   b:\   as above.   The remaining instructions 
                assume this. 

                (On a single floppy drive system, insert the formatted blank
                disk when prompted for the B: disk drive, and insert the BBD
                disk when prompted for the A: disk drive.)

                The program psmed.exe and two data files will be copied from
                BBD to your formatted floppy.  The two data files will both
                begin with the letters GR.  One will end with an extension
                .NAM and the other with .DAT.  These conventions are required
                by Print Shop.  The two data files are really what you need
                for Print Shop.

      Step 4.  Exit normally from Big Blue Disk.
 
 Q9.  Can you give me step-by-step instructions for using Big Blue's images in 
      Print Shop?

 A9.  ^1Using BBD's PS Images in Print Shop -- NOT NEW Print Shop^0
 
        1.  Be sure you have some formatted floppy disks for use in the
            process.  (Consult your DOS manual's FORMAT command.)

        2.  Follow the instructions in Answer 6 for copying Print Shop
            images to a floppy disk.

            The program psmed.exe and two data files will be copied from
            BBD to your formatted floppy.  The two data files will both
            begin with the letters GR.  One will end with an extension
            .NAM and the other with .DAT.  These conventions are required
            by Print Shop.  The two data files are really what you need
            for Print Shop.
        
        3.  Load up Print Shop.  From the Main Menu, select the SETUP option.
               
        4.  The SETUP option should let you tell Print Shop:
 
                1)  How many floppy disk drives you have:  1 or 2

                2)  If you have a hard drive.

                3)  What drive you wish to designate as a DATA Drive.

             For this function, specify the A: drive as the DATA Drive.

        5.  Continue with whatever you want to do in Print Shop.  When you
                get to the "Choose a graphic" prompt, select "From Disk."
 
                If you are running Print Shop from the A drive, you should 
                receive a message:  "Remove Print Shop Disk and Place Data Disk 
                in the A drive."  Place the disk you copied TO in step 2 into 
                Drive A and press <ENTER>.

        6.  **NOTE** See detailed notes about PS UTILITIES III later in this 
            article.  The utilities give you a lot of help with organizing
            the clip-art images you collect.
 
 Q10.  Can you give me step-by-step instructions for using Big Blue's images in 
       The New Print Shop?
 
 A10.  ^1Using BBD's PS Images in The New Print Shop^0
 
        1.  Be sure you have several formatted floppy disks for use in the
            process.  (Consult your DOS manual's FORMAT command.)

        2.  Follow the instructions in Answer 6 for copying Print Shop
            images to a floppy disk.
       
            The program psmed.exe and two data files will be copied from
            BBD to your formatted floppy.  The two data files will both
            begin with the letters GR.  One will end with an extension
            .NAM and the other with .DAT.  These conventions are required
            by Print Shop, not The New Print Shop.  The two data files must
            be converted to what you need for New Print Shop.
    
        3.  The New Print Shop documentation includes a page of instructions 
            for using the CONVERT program.  For this discussion, we will assume 
            New Print Shop is NOT installed on your hard disk.

            Find the floppy disk labeled Data Disk 2 and insert into drive A.
                Type:    CONVERT
                Press    <ENTER>.

        4.  Choose the option for converting original graphics.

        5.  Choose graphics.

        6.  Remove the New Print Shop disk and replace with the disk containing
            the copied Print Shop Images.
 
        7.  You will be prompted for the disk drive with the original graphics
            files.  Type:    a   

        8.  The list of Print Shop files on the disk in drive A (Usually just 
            one) will be displayed.  Use the <SPACEBAR> or <F1> to select the 
            file to be converted.

        9.  Press <F10>.  

        10.  You will be prompted for the disk drive to receive the converted 
             graphics files.  Type:   a

        11.  Press <F10> again.  When conversion is complete, EXIT from the
             CONVERT program.

        12.  The disk in Drive A now contains files with the extensions .PNM 
             and .POG in addition to the original files with .NAM and .DAT 
             extensions.   The .PNM and .POG files are those used by the New 
             Print Shop. 

        13.  Load up The New Print Shop, and begin whatever project you wish.  
             After you select "Graphic," a prompt at the bottom of the screen 
             will appear: "F9 - Choose disk drive." 
 
             Press the <F9> key.  Insert the disk with your converted files in 
             Drive A and select "Drive A."  

             In some cases you may receive a message that The New Print Shop
             could not find graphics files.  Select the "Select Another
             Drive" option, and direct The New Print Shop to the correct
             drive for your graphics files.  

        14.  **NOTE** See detailed notes about PS UTILITIES III later in this 
             article.  The utilities give you a lot of help with organizing
             the clip-art images you collect BEFORE they are converted to
             The New Print Shop.
 
 Q11.  Can you give me step-by-step instructions for using Big Blue's images in 
       PrintMaster?

 A11. ^1Using BBD's PS Images in Unison World's PrintMaster^0
 
        1.  Be sure you have some formatted floppy disks for use in the
            process.  (Consult your DOS manual's FORMAT command.)

        2.  Follow the instructions in Answer 6 for copying Print Shop
            images to a floppy disk.
       
            The program psmed.exe and two data files will be copied from
            BBD to your formatted floppy.  The two data files will both
            begin with the letters GR.  One will end with an extension
            .NAM and the other with .DAT.  These conventions are required
            by Print Shop.  The two data files are not what you need
            for PrintMaster and must be converted.

        4.  Load PS UTILITIES III, published on Big Blue Disk #34.

        5.  Select the "Configuration Menu" option.  Place the disk with the 
            copied Print Shop files into the A drive.  Select "Source Print Shop 
            Drive/Path."  Type:     a:\ 

        6.  Select "Destination PrintMaster Drive/Path."  

            Type:    a:\
               
                 The converted images will be put on the same floppy disk
                 with the copied Print Shop images.
 
        7.  Select "Back to Main Menu."

        8.  From Main Menu, Select Printmaster <===> Print Shop.

        9.  On the PS/PM Conversion Menu, select "Source PS Drive/Path."
             Place disk with BBD converted files in the A drive.
             Type:   a:\

        10.  Select "Destination PM Drive/Path."  
             Type:   a:\  

        11.  Select "Print Shop to PrintMaster."  You will be prompted to
             select the PrintMaster file to which the converted images are to 
             be added.  Select an existing file, or select "New File" and type 
             a file name.  (**NOTE:  PrintMaster reads files named ulib.shp and 
             ulib.sdr.  Type:   ulib     as the file name.) 

        12.  PS UTILITIES III will convert the Print Shop images to PrintMaster 
             format and place them in the destination file named in Step 11 in 
             the destination directory named in Step 10. 

        13.  Exit from PS UTILITIES III and return to the DOS prompt.

        14.  Remove the disk and label it appropriately, as the PrintMaster 
             images that converted from the BBD Print Shop images. 

        15.  Load up the PrintMaster program.  From the Main Menu, select the 
             "Configuration" option.  For Data Drive, type:   a
               
        16.  Continue with whatever you want to do in PrintMaster.  When you
             get to the "Choose a graphic" prompt, select "From Other Disk."
             If you are running PrintMaster from Drive A, you should receive 
             a message: "Remove PrintMaster Disk and Place Data Disk in Drive 
             A."  Place the disk with the converted images in Drive A.
             Press <ENTER>.

        17.  **NOTE** See detailed notes about PS UTILITIES III later in this 
             article.  The utilities give you a lot of help with organizing
             the clip-art images you collect.
 
 Q12.  Can you give me step-by-step instructions for using Big Blue Disk's 
       images in PrintMaster Plus?

 A12. ^1Using BBD's PS Images in Unison World's PrintMaster Plus^0
 
        1.  Be sure you have some formatted floppy disks for use in the
            process.  (Consult your DOS manual's FORMAT command.)

        2.  Follow instructions for PrintMaster with these exceptions:

             Step 11.   You will be prompted to select the PrintMaster file to 
                    which the converted images are to be added.  It may be an 
                    existing file, or select "New File" and type a file name.
                    (**NOTE:  PrintMaster Plus allows for multiple file names,
                              so give it something helpful.)

 
             Step 16.   When you get to the "Choose a graphic" prompt, select 
                     "Another Disk."  The Data Drive (A) will be accessed, and
                     all PrintMaster graphics files on the disk there will
                     be listed for you to select the one you wish to access.
 
 
 Q13.  I have seen references to Print Shop Utilities III in Big Blue Disk.  Can 
       you describe those utilities?

 A13.  Print Shop Utilities III provide many services to make handling graphics 
       for Print Shop or for PrintMaster more convenient.  These conveniences 
       were not available in Print Shop, so I wrote the program to provide them.

     Examples:  Extract images from one file to another.
                Merge multiple image files into one file.
                Print a file of images for reference.
                Print images on labels.
                Convert between Print Shop and PrintMaster images.
                Create an index of images and print.

 Q14.  Does Print Shop Utilities III handle conversions to/from the NEW Print
       Shop?

 A14.  Not yet.  Watch for Print Shop Utilities IV.

 Q15.  Where can I buy Print Shop Utilities III?
 
 A15.  Call Softdisk, Inc., at 1-800-831-2694 to place your credit card order 
       for Big Blue Disk Back Issue #34.

 Q16.  How do I use Print Shop Utilities III?

 A16.  A couple of examples have already been mentioned.  There are a few main 
       points to remember.
 
       FIRST, go to the Configuration Menu from the Main Menu and set the 
       correct drive/path combinations for Print Shop and PrintMaster images 
       and for any index file you may eventually build.  
        
         If you have a hard drive, and have installed Print Shop on the hard 
         drive in a subdirectory (like c:\ps) then source and destination here
         for Print Shop should be c:\ps as the default.

         If you have a hard drive, but have not installed Print Shop on the
         hard drive, then source and destination here should act as if you do
         not have a hard drive.  Alternatively, if you have installed
         Print Shop Utilities III on the hard drive in a subdirectory, then
         you may want to use that subdirectory.  However, you will then have
         to use the DOS copy to put the image files on a floppy disk because
         Print Shop/PrintMaster operate with these options only:  images in the 
         same subdirectory as the programs; or images in root directory of some 
         drive A-H.

         If you have no hard drive, using "a:\" for the source and "b:\" for the
         destination is a common ploy.  If you have only one physical drive,
         this results in a great deal of disk swapping.

     Second, set the "Change Main File Type" option to Print Shop or to 
     PrintMaster.

        If you have the Print Shop package, but not the PrintMaster package,
        you would normally set file type to Print Shop (and vice-versa).  To 
        change the file type, highlight "Change Main File Type" and press the
        <ENTER> key until the desired package name appears at the bottom
        of the menu.

     Third, make backup copies of all your disks before trying new options.

        This is a very good habit to get into.  Print Shop Utilities III is 
        quite easy to use, but we all make occasional mistakes.  You will be 
        much less tense with one or more backup copies stored away.

     Fourth, try each option on the menu for which you have the necessary 
        files.  Always try new things on an extra set of files first.
        
        For instance, convert Print Shop images to PrintMaster format, note
        the changes in file name extensions.  Then, convert back to Print Shop.
        Try out everything so that you feel familiar with the workings of
        Print Shop Utilities III.   




     I hope this helps you get more from the Print Shop images we publish
     on Big Blue Disk.  

                                                George



        Thanks to the following BBD readers for their questions and comments 
                   which led, in part, to this article.

        Susie Hunt                J. Daniel Lyons          R. W. Gilman
        Salinas, California       Manassas, Virginia

        Priscilla Haynes          Kerry Cutler             Ottomar Cabral
        Grass Valley, California  Richmond, Virginia

           James A. Hartzell                       Debbie Karimullah
           East Haddam, Connecticut                Leeming, Western Australia


