Starting and Using Hp2Xchange

This page describes the installation and use of Hp2Xchange, starting with installation on the three main server types—Microsoft Windows, Linux and UNIX (which entails Solaris, AIX and HP-UX). These instructions are followed by a description of Hp2Xchange use, primarily as part of a server process.

Before you begin... you should note down a list of files you want to convert, record the exact directory pathways for source and destination directories, and have some idea of which custom parameters you'd like to apply to the conversion process. (Complete information on the parameters can be reviewed by clicking the "Command Parameters" link in the Contents column to the left.)

Installing Hp2Xchange on a Windows server

Having extracted the installer from the ZIP archive, locate and double-click the installer icon ("psxchange.exe").
When the first Installer wizard appears, use it to pick the destination directory for the Hp2Xchange software installation, if you want to install the software in a directory other than the default.
Click Finish to conclude the installation.

Now you can make use of Hp2Xchange—as detailed in Making Use.

Installing Hp2Xchange on a Linux server

After downloading the executable file (stored in a Zip archive), unzip the file and copy the executable file into the directory of your choice.

Now you can make use of Hp2Xchange—as detailed in Making Use.

Installing Hp2Xchange on a UNIX server

After downloading the executable file (stored in a Zip archive), unzip the file and copy the executable file into the directory of your choice.

Now you can make use of Hp2Xchange—as detailed in the following section.

Making Use of Hp2Xchange

You can configure a process on your server that makes use of Hp2Xchange in two ways: (1) use the built-in features of a drawing application that would use Hp2Xchange to process single files or collections of files in a single session, or (2) set up a scheduling application to run Hp2Xchange at set times to scan a particular folder/directory and automatically convert all files loaded into this folder—storing the converted images in a designated destination directory.

Create a process or set up your application to utilize the following basic Hp2Xchange command syntax:

Hp2Xchange -i <INPUT FILE > -o <OUTPUT FILE>

The main elements of every command are (1) the actions, and (2) any parameters that affect the output. The actions in the above-noted example are indicated by the "-i" and the "-o", plus the two placeholders—as detailed here:

<INPUT FILE>

This placeholder should be replaced with the name of the input (source) file—the .HP or .HP2-format file you want converted. If the input file is not in the same directory as Hp2Xchange, then the full directory path must be entered—as shown here:

-i c:/MainDir/SourceDir/OrigFile.hp

<OUTPUT FILE>

This should be the name of the output (resulting) file. If the output file is not to be created in the same directory as Hp2Xchange, then the full directory path of the destination directory must be entered—as shown here:

-o c:/MainDir/DestDir/NewFile.jpg

All command parameters—that moderate the actions— are preceded by a dash (-). Some parameters will be noted as letters and others will be noted as numbers, while others (such as directory paths) will follow the dash with a space and then a text string—as shown in the previous example.

To customize the conversion of any output files, you can type additional parameters following the "-o" entry. For example, you may want to customize output as detailed here:

-- Convert an .HP file to .JPG (for Web viewing)

-- Resize this image to 640x480

-- Maintain the highest JPG image quality

-- Set up the page orientation as "landscape"

If so, type the additional parameters as shown here:

Hp2Xchange -i <SOURCE FILE.HP> -o <RESULTING FILE.JPG > -f=.JPG -rql=2 -rbp=640 -rht=480 -r=-1
Once you have typed the command and all relevant parameters, press Return/Enter to start the conversion process. (Or prompt the application to start the process.)
REMINDER: Complete information on the Hp2Xchange command parameters can be reviewed by clicking the "Command Parameters" link in the Contents column to the left.
When the conversion is complete, Hp2Xchange will quit and be ready for other conversion processes.
Repeat this process to convert other files at this time.