hilmes@utx1.UUCP (02/02/87)
Help. My girlfriend needs to convert some word_star files to multimate
format without losing the formats, tabs, etc. This is a one time only
conversion. If anyone has a program to share or knows of a cheap method,
it would be greatly appreciated. You can reach by posting to the
newsgoups above, mail, or the US mail address below. Thanks.
Doug Hilmes (305) 476-6738
Racal-Milgo
1601 N. Harrison Pkwy
MS E115
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323csaron@opal.berkeley.edu.UUCP (02/04/87)
In article <37@utx1.UUCP> hilmes@utx1.UUCP (Douglas Hilmes) writes: >Help. My girlfriend needs to convert some word_star files to multimate >format without losing the formats, tabs, etc. This is a one time only >conversion. If anyone has a program to share or knows of a cheap method, >it would be greatly appreciated. The MultiMate or MM Advantage package itself may include such a conversion utility; perhaps another comp.sys.ibm.pc reader knows whether this is the case. There is a shareware utility that converts files between various word processor file formats. It's called XWORD, and version 2.22 claims to convert files in almost all of the possible directions between WordStar, WordStar 2000, Sidekick, Xywrite, WordPerfect, Multimate, and ASCII. The author indicates that, when converting from WordStar to Multimate, it is important to be careful of indents (tabs? indented margins? ^OG?) and to make sure they come after only hard returns or ^PM codes. Apparently, most of the print formatting is preserved when the files are converted using XWORD, but this is always somewhat of an inexact art, even with the slick commercial programs in this genre. This utility (in whatever version is now current) should be available on most of the major information utilities (e.g. CompuServe, GEnie, Delphi, The Source) and enlightened BBSs. The author asks $20 if you use and like the program. His name, and the address listed in the version 2.22 documentation, is: Ronald Gans 350 West 55th Street New York, NY 10079 (212) 957-8361 CompuServe: 74216,264 I've used the program just once, to convert a WordStar file to ASCII as part of an informal test of a set of such limited-purpose utilities. It worked well (no surprise there) but also extremely rapidly-- much faster than other "un-WordStar" programs we tried on that occasion. I haven't tried the particular conversion you are seeking, and have no idea how well it might work. One alternative to using a program of this type is for your girlfriend to have the files converted by a commercial disk/file format conversion service--particularly since you suggest that the conversion will be needed on a one-time-only basis. Check the classified ads in the back of publications like PC Magazine and InfoWorld for listings of such services. This may not be an inexpensive solution, however. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Aron Roberts Tolman Microcomputer Facility University of California 1535 Tolman Hall Berkeley, CA 94720 csaron@opal.Berkeley.Edu (415) 642-2251 Usual disclaimers apply to protect UCB from harm. "And you were in the parking lot, subterranean, by your own design ..."