This program is Shareware.  Continued use of Chgrel requires a fee be paid to
the author.  You have 30 days from the first use of the program to register
by sending U.S. $35.00 to receive a program which will work beyond 30 days.
Send check to:

        Chgrel Program c/o R. Frank
        8433 Southside Blvd. Ste. 1104
        Jax., FL 32256

Prompt deliveries via US Mail first class.  We will send you a Registered
Chgrel and illustrated documentation, which will work indefinitely.
You may also phone in for $79.95 at (904) 642-0938.
The $35.00 offer is available for mail-in orders only.
Rich and Robert Frank can be reached on CompuServe at 73030,302.
If you are satisfied with the performance of Chgrel please register now.

This program does have a TIME LOCK.  Make sure your system 
date is correct, especially when you first run Chgrel.  You will be reminded
after 30 days to register.  At that point you will have a grace period of
an additional 20 days.


This file describes the DOS Command line instructions for CHGRELE.EXE.
If you wish to use the full screen interface, simply type CHGREL.

Chgrel(tm)  AutoCAD(r) drawing file release downgrade utility.
Shareware Version 3.11 for DOS.  (C) 1991-94 R. Frank Utilities


IMPORTANT NOTE:
Chgrel operates directly on .DWG files.  Backup (.DBK) files are created,
but CHECK YOUR DRAWINGS until you are satisfied Chgrel will not corrupt
your files.


This file documents the use of the CHGRELE.EXE program from the command
line.  If you wish to use the full screen interface (which calls CHGRELE.EXE
automatically when necessary) type CHGREL (no parameters) from the sub-
directory where your files reside.

To use:      CHGRELE [path]<filename>[.ext] [-r#][-p][-e][-k][-x][-i][-?]

<filename>:  existing drawing name(s). May contain wildcards * and ?.
parameters:  -r# output release: 12, 11, 10 (default), 9, 6 (2.6), or 5 (2.5).
             -p  output file path. -pA:\, -pC:\PROJ\, default same as source.
             -e  output extension. -eR10, -eR9, default same as source.
             -k  backup file extension. -kDBK (default), -kBAK, -k (none).
             -x  expert mode, erases incompatible items without pausing.
             -i  information only, searches drawing(s) for items that would
                 be modified. Original drawing(s) will remain unchanged.
             -?  directory of drawings showing version. drawing(s) unmodified.

The primary purpose of this program is to allow you to exchange AutoCAD
drawing files with people using a different AutoCAD release.
For example, you are using release 11 and you wish to convert a drawing
called HOUSE.DWG.  To convert HOUSE.DWG to R10 type:
           CHGRELE HOUSE

To copy drawings to the A: drive while converting them to release 9 type:
           CHGRELE * -r9 -pA:\

To get version information on all files type:
           CHGRELE * -?

To locate R11 xref's in all files beginning with PLAN type:
           CHGRELE PLAN* -i

To create release 10 files with a .R10 extension type:
           CHGRELE * -eR10

To get instructions on line type CHGRELE alone (no arguments).

If you are converting to a version that does not support a feature, such as
an R11 external reference, you will be warned and the item will be removed.
Expert mode will suppress the warning pauses (where you have an opportunity to
quit the conversion).  Use the -i flag to search for incompatibilities
before committing to the conversion.  Backup files (.DBK) are created unless you
specify otherwise with the -k switch.  Use of -p (target path) and -e (output
extension) will create new files without modifying your source file.
Use of -p or -e will cause Chgrel to not create backup files.  If the target
file exists (when using -p or -e), you will be prompted to overwrite unless
expert mode is specified.  R11 paperspace entities are transferred directly
to model space.  R11 extended entity data is removed.


Special Notes:

You may hit <Ctrl>-C at any time during conversion to cancel.

Erased external references will leave text indicating the name of the
block in its place.  If you do not BIND external references before conversion,
INSERT (using "=" for redefinition) the block indicated by the text afterwards.
Experiment on SHUTTLE.DWG provided with AutoCAD in the SAMPLE subdirectory
to test Chgrel with XREF's.

AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
This program was compiled using MSVC++ and Macro
Assembler and uses MARCOMP Autodirect libraries.
Chgrel is a trademark of Rich Frank.  

Please share "CHGREL.ZIP" by passing it along!
Also available, SYLZIP for unbeatable DWG compression.



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