Microsoft Image Composer: FrontPage User's Dirty Secret

edited December 2016 in Software
I'm just Average Joe User OK? So my main go to graphics soft has been the included Microsoft Paint, or JASC Paint Shop Pro.

So the other day, I'm messing with something, can't remember what - and while looking for an answer via Google, MS Image Composer came up. So naturally, I had to rat around the InterWebs until I found a copy of FrontPage 97 here on Winworld and ripped it out of the ISO.

Man, what a heck of program! Includes:
Microsoft Gif Animator,
Microsoft WordArt,
uses standard Adobe .8bf plugins,
features an unlimited workspace,
uses a very unique compound image format(MIC),
AND handles most common image formats both as source AND output.

I spent the best part of last night rigging that crufty Microsoft ACME Installer to do reliable installation on Windows 7 x64.
All I can say, very, very good software, lousy lousy installer package - always was, always will be.


Oh! Almost forgot: Along the way, I found an early Image Composer 1.5 BETA lying in an old ftp site, so downloaded that while I was at it.

PS: The guys on the Dev team left some comments in their installer scripts which should have been deleted but escaped final scrutiny - always find such stuff a hoot!

Comments

  • I don't see FP97 here on WW. IIRC, I think there's a version on an NT disc (either Terminal Server or Embedded) but I don't remember if it's 97 or something else.
  • ampharos wrote:
    I don't see FP97 here on WW. IIRC, I think there's a version on an NT disc (either Terminal Server or Embedded) but I don't remember if it's 97 or something else.

    I lied. It was FrontPage 98.

    https://winworldpc.com/product/microsof ... page/98-v3

    From another site:
    Image Composer 1.0 is included in the Bonus Pack bundled with both Microsoft Front Page 97 and Visual Interdev. Image Composer 1.5 is available only with the FrontPage 2000 stand - alone version and is shipped with FrontPage 98. Users of Office 2000 Premium receive Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000....It is not available as a standalone application and Microsoft do not intend to develop the application any further.

    Anyway, the "Microsoft Image Composer beta 1.5.0.1500" is a 14 meg typical MS self-exe CAB package.
    The entire Image Composer package from the FP CD is 181 megs (RARed). That's because nearly 200 megs of images are included in the Full Install.
    I have never, ever used FP fo r anything useful, which explain why I guess I never heard of IC before now (shrugs).
  • From a quick peek at it, it seems quite related to PhotoDraw conceptually, and likely in code.
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