Q: Is MacFlow OS X-compatible?

Answer: Unfortunately not. MacFlow will only run on Macintosh, System 9, and possibly earlier depending on your version of MacFlow. Under OS X, the only possibility is Classic mode.

Q: I can no longer run MacFlow. Can I use WinFlow to view my files?

Answer: It is often possible to open your MacFlow files in WinFlow, assuming that they were not done with a very old version of MacFlow, i.e.v4 and prior. Bit-map graphics may not transfer but text, symbols and flow lines should. As success often depends on the version of MacFlow and complexity of flowcharts, this is not a guaranteed process but is well worth while if considerable investment has been made in the flowcharts. Special Winflow crossgrade pricing of $99 is available to registered MacFlow users.

Q: How do I open my MacFlow 3.x flowcharts with MacFlow version 4.0.x?

Answer: There are two ways to open files created with previous versions of MacFlow and convert them to version 4.0 files.

Start MacFlow 4.0.x, and choose Open... from the File menu. When the standard file-open dialog appears, use the Show pop-up menu to change the file format to either "MacFlow 3.x Files" or All". Locate the file you wish to open and click the Open button. The 3.x file is now converted to a version 4.0.x file.

OR, drag the MacFlow 3.x file icon onto the MacFlow 4.0.x application icon. This launches MacFlow 4.0.x and automatically converts the file to the new format.

Note: Files converted to version 4.0.x can no longer be opened by MacFlow 3.x. If you wish to keep the MacFlow 3.x files, save the converted file with a different name.

The same technique works for MacFlow 2.x files.

Q: When I launch MacFlow 4.0.x, I get an error message saying "Can't find DragLib." What is this and how do I get MacFlow to work?

Answer: When you installed MacFlow 4.0.x, the folder "Macintosh Drag & Drop 1.1" was automatically placed in the same folder as the MacFlow application. The system extensions found in this folder provide Drag & Drop functionality with MacFlow 4.0 for users running System software version 7.0 or 7.1. The Drag & Drop extensions MUST be installed for MacFlow Drag and Drop features to operate correctly with System version 7.0 or 7.1. If they are not correctly installed, the message "Can't find DragLib" will be displayed. Open the "Macintosh Drag & Drop 1.1" folder and read the instructions for installing the system extensions.

Q: I spent a lot of time adding symbols to my symbol palette and now when I launch MacFlow all I get is the standard symbol palette. Where did my customized symbol palette go?

Answer: When you create a customized symbol palette, it is saved with the document that was open, not in MacFlow itself. Open the file in which you created the custom symbol palette and you will see the custom symbol palette. You can save this document as a "Stationery" file, which will then open a blank untitled flowchart with all of your custom symbols.

Q: What's the secret to having MacFlow use a font that I specify when I open a new, blank flowchart?

Answer: No secret really. Just create a document with any font, size, style, color, etc. you wish and save it as a stationery file. Choose File > Save As, select "Stationery" from the Format pop-up menu, and save the file. When you double-click this document, MacFlow will open a new untitled flowchart with all of your choices immediately available.

Q:There isn't a spell checker in MacFlow. How can I check my spelling?

Answer: One way that you can check the spelling in a MacFlow document is to choose Show Outline from the Link Menu. With the outline displayed, choose Save As... from the File menu. The saved TEXT file may be opened in any word processor and the spelling can be checked. Of course any corrections needed will have to be made in MacFlow.

Q: I'm trying to save a flowchart as a PICT file so that I can insert the picture in my word processor document. When I choose Save As... all I see in the Format pop-up menu is "Flowchart". What am I doing wrong?

Answer: Most likely you have moved the MacFlow application to the desktop or some other folder. To use any of the extensions for exporting and importing files, running plug-in modules, or switching color palettes, the MacFlow extensions must be in the same folder as the MacFlow application. If you want to access MacFlow from a different location, create an alias to the application, which you may put anywhere you like.

The same holds true for WinFlow and its extensions. The various extensions must be kept in the same directory as the WinFlow application.

Q: When I try to print a multi page flowchart on my LaserWriter, I often am unable to get all of the symbols on the second page to print correctly. What's wrong?

Answer: The version of the printer driver (the extension that lets you access the printer) is very important. Choose Page Setup... from the File menu to check the driver's version. The version number is visible next to the OK button. For an Apple LaserWriter, this number must be 8.2 or later. Updated printer software is available from Apple Computer.

When using any printer, you should almost always use the most current version of the driver for that printer.

Q: How do you draw multiple lines from one symbol to another without them all ending up one on top of another?

Answer: By default, MacFlow's preferences for lines is to center them on the symbol face. You can change this by choosing Preferences from the Edit menu. Click on the Lines button and uncheck the Center on Symbol Face check box. You can now draw multiple lines between symbols and move them as you like.

Q: Is there any way to show that lines that cross each other are not connected?

Answer: In electrical diagrams these are often shown as a small half circle where one line crosses another, denoting no connection. We don't have a line attribute that does this automatically, but you can use a symbol from the Electronics symbol library to achieve this effect.

Q: What are the current version numbers for MacFlow and WinFlow?

Answer: Both are currently version 5.0.1. You can check which version you are using by choosing About MacFlow from the Apple menu while MacFlow is running, or About WinFlow from the Help menu while WinFlow is running.

Q: What can cause WinFlow 4.0.x to crash at launching?

Answer: A problem which may cause WinFlow 4.0.x to crash at launch has been identified as a conflict between certain screen drivers installed on machines using Matrox graphics cards. The solution is to download the latest drivers from Matrox

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