# Summary for DaVince Tools

Version: 2.1

Last Modified: December 1, 2002

## Introduction

DaVince Tools is a group of programs for converting JPEG, TIFF and text files to Portable Document Format (PDF) files. These programs can either be run from a Windows application or in a DOS command line environment. As a bonus, included with the product is a TIFF tag viewer and a program that creates 2-dimensional mazes in PDF.

These are stand-alone programs, which means they are not plug-ins for other applications nor do they require other software in order to run. There is a converter for each file type. For example, "tiff2pdf" is used to convert TIFF files to PDF. The Windows application, wdavince.exe, provides a single interface for all the converters. This is the application most users will use for converting files to PDF. A DOS command line environment is also available, where program execution can be controlled by either the command line or a command file. This environment is typically used for automated or batch conversion. Each converter uses a configuration ".ini" file to store commonly used profiles. All converters use the same command line syntax.

Common Features

All converters share a significant amount of common features. Refer to the "DaVince Tools Converters" for a detailed summary of features common to all converters.

DaVince Tools is Shareware

DaVince Tools is shareware, which allows you to use this software free for 30 days. After 30 days you need to either register this software or remove it from your computer. You can register your software at the DaVince Tools web site http://www.davince.com. Your software registration promotes shareware as a viable method of selling software and encourages future enhancements to DaVince Tools. This software is fully functional; there are no crippling or timeout restrictions in the program. We trust you. However, to encourage you to register your copy of DaVince Tools, registered copies will display a registered status during the execution of the program and in the generated PDF file, and the DaVince Tools annotation will not be created on the first page of a generated PDF file.

Refer to the release notes for instructions on installing DaVince Tools.

With the exception of wdavince, all DaVince Tool programs run in a Windows 9x/NT/2000 DOS window in a batch or command line environment. The tool set was written using the DaVince C++ class library, a library for creating PDF documents from C++ applications. The same author developed both DaVince Tools and the DaVince C++ class library. You can contact the author for more details about this product at info@davince.com .

## Description of Programs

DaVince Tools contains the following converter programs:

wdavince | Windows program for interfacing with the DOS (command line) converter programs
jpeg2pdf | DOS program to convert JPEG files to PDF
tiff2pdf | DOS program to convert Group 3 and Group 4 encoded TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files to PDF
txt2pdf | DOS program to convert text files to PDF

The following bonus programs are also included with DaVince Tools:

pdfmaze | DOS program to create maze puzzles in PDF automatically.
tiffdump | DOS program to view the TIFF file data structure for a specified TIFF file

A brief syntax summary for any program can be displayed when using the "-?" command line option when executing any of the programs listed above.

For the latest news, documentation and upgrade information, visit the DaVince Tools web site at http://www.davince.com.

## Take Your Pick: Windows or Command Line Interface

DaVince Tools offers the flexibility of running from either a Windows interface or a command line interface. For users accustom to using Windows applications, the wdavince program offers a Windows interface to all of the converter and bonus applications. It provides a convenient method of choosing the appropriate converter and profile, as well as choosing the files and/or directories to convert and various other conversion options.

For users familiar with DOS and writing batch programs, the command line interface may be the best interface for running the converters. It allows more control in the conversion process and bypasses limits imposed by the operating system on the length of a command line. It is also the method developers choose when integrating DaVince Tools with other applications (the Windows interface program, wdavince, interfaces with the converters by using dynamically created command files). The converters can run using either command line parameters or command file parameters. Command line parameters provide a quick and easy way of running a converter by specifying all conversion options on the command line. A command file is a scripting like language that uses a text file containing commands on how the conversion is to be performed. This allows full flexibility in the conversion process.

## Limitations of Unregistered Version

The unregistered version of DaVince Tools allows full use of all program features. Unregistered copies will create an unregistered notice within the PDF file, and the Windows application will notify the user of its unregistered status after each conversion. This notice within the PDF file will disappear for all future conversions after you register your copy of DaVince Tools. Previous conversions will have to be re-run using a registered version of DaVince Tools in order to create a PDF file without the unregistered notice.

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## About Shareware

DaVince Tools is a shareware product. You are allowed to use the unregistered version for up to 30 days for evaluation purposes. After 30 days, the product should either be registered or removed from the computer. If you find this software useful, you are encouraged to register your software by clicking on the "Register" menu item under the "Help" menu in the Windows application, wdavince. Your registration helps support future enhancements to the product.