How to load and save files

When the AIF Builder starts the AIF Icon Designer, it either:

• creates a new .mbm file, or

• loads an .mbm file, and displays the icons on the grid

In the second case, the .mbm file must meet the requirements that the UI variant imposes:

• no more than the maximum number of icons

• the correct size(s) for the icons

• each icon has an associated mask (AIF Icon Designer assumes that each icon is followed by its mask in the .mbm)

But even if these requirements are not met, you can still base your new icons on the images in the .mbm file. To allow you to do this, the Load MBM dialog is displayed. You can use this to select individual images that you want to use from the .mbm file.

When you have selected the relevant images, click OK, and AIF Icon Designer will load them on the grids, automatically scaling them to the correct icon sizes.

To load an existing .bmp or .jpg image into an icon grid, use Load on the File menu. AIF Icon Designer will automatically scale the image to the correct icon size.

To save your icon designs, and create an .mbm file holding them, use the Save command on the File menu. The Generate command on the Action menu does the same thing.

If the file has not been generated before, you will be asked for a location to store a control file (.lst) and the generated file.

Note that bitmap files for each icon and mask are written to a subdirectory of where the .mbm is saved called mbmName_BMPs. You do not need to supply these files with your application: only the generated .mbm.

To change the location to which the files are saved, choose Save As on the File menu.