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	3DS2IM.EXE - 3DS to Imagine object converter - READ.ME Document
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This document describes the above mentioned program and gives
other general information.

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				DESCRIPTION
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  3DS2IM converts 3DS binary object files to Imagine format for use
with Imagine modeling/animation software from Impulse, Inc.  

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GENERAL NOTES
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- I used to distrubute 3DS2IM is shareware.  But due to an unfortunate
  accident I lost the source code to the program.  So, I can only ask that
  if you use this program on a regular basis, send me $20.  It's not little
  money for a student and it will help me.

- DOS4GW.EXE, included with this distribution, is a DOS extender.  It
  allows 3DS2IM to use your extended memory.  Many 3DS files are very
  large and contain many objects.  DOS4GW overcomes the 640K limit of
  DOS and lets you use all the memory for conversion.

- Imagine currently imposes a 32K limit on the number of faces, edges
  vertices (32K each).  Consequently, 3DS files which contain objects
  with more than 32K of vertices, edges or faces will not be
  converted.  

- All the converted objects are grouped to a single axis located at
  origin.  To ungroup them, PICK the axis and press Alt-Y.

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				    SUPPORT
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  Your best chance of reaching me is on Compuserve or Internet.  You
can also find the latest version of 3DS2IM converter in GUGRPA forum.

  Compuserve ID: 73021,66
  Internet: zmievski@herbie.unl.edu

  If you have found a bug or a technical problem, don't hesitate to
contact me.

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	   		    FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS	
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  * None planned at this point.

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				KNOWN BUGS
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  NONE

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			    HOW TO USE 3DS2IM
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  To run 3DS2IM you have to have both 3DS2IM.EXE and DOS4GW.EXE in
your path or current directory.  3DS2IM will *not* run withour
DOS4GW.EXE.

  Usage:  3DS2IM <input>[.3ds] [output[.iob]] [/v]

  <input> is the name of the 3DS file you wish to convert.  If you
don't type in the .3DS extension, 3DS2IM will add it for you.

  <output> is the name of the output Imagine file that 3DS2IM
creates.  If you don't provide it, the name of the input file plus
extension .IOB will be used.  If you don't provide an extension for
the output file, .IOB will be added to it.

  /v - turns on verbose mode.  In verbose mode, 3DS2IM prints out
addtional information as it processes the file.  The information
includes face and vertex count for each object.

  NOTE: 3DS2IM will not convert objects that are composed only of
        vertices and do not have faces.  These objects are
	degenerate indicated by "Object has no faces" line after the
        name of the object.

  If you see a line that says "Object is too complex.", it means that
the objects has over 32K of vertices, edges or faces and will not be
converted by shareware version.

  Examples:
     
	3DS2IM iris /v			Convert iris.3ds to iris.iob in
					verbose mode.
 
	3DS2IM chevy.3ds chevy.grp 	Convert chevy.3ds to chevy.grp
					in quiet mode.

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			      IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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  3DS2IM converter is NOT a public domain program.  It is Copyright (C) 1995
by Andrey Zmievski.  All rights reserved.

  This software and accompanying documentation are protected by
United States Copyright law and also by International Treaty
provisions. 

  The Shareware evaluation (trial use) version is provided AS IS.
Andrey Zmievski makes no warranty of any kind, expressed or
implied, including without limitation, any warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.


			Thank you for using 3DS2IM!