1544 lines
79 KiB
Plaintext
1544 lines
79 KiB
Plaintext
VPIC ver 6.0 USERS MANUAL
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A Picture File Viewing/Conversion Program
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(C) Copyright 1990-1992, All Rights Reserved
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by Bob Montgomery CIS 73357,3140
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INDEX
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Topic Page
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Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
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General Features and Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
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Menu Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
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Single File Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
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Single File Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
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Slide Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
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SuperVGA Boards Supported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
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Filetypes Viewed and Converted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
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Menu Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
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Mouse Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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Menu Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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Commands while Viewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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VPIC Command Line Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
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Examples of VPIC Command Line Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Slideshows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
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Detailed Command List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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Keyboard and Mouse Commands in Menu Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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Keyboard and Mouse Commands while Viewing a Picture . . . . . . .10
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Decoding Other File Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
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Added features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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Known Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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Support For Other SuperVGA Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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Useful Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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How VPIC Operates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
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Decoding Directly to Screen Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
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Decoding to CPU Memory First. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
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VPIC Terms and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
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Upgrades from Previous Programs and Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
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Orders from Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
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Disclaimer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
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Special Versions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
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Graphic Oriented BBS's. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
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Appendix A - Revision History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1
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History of VGIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1
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History of VPIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A3
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MENU SCREEN
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1024K Tseng ET-4000 256 Color *.* FILES Auto/Lock/Norm Wait
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320x200 640x350 640x400 640x480 80x600 1024x768
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FILE1.BMP
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FILE2.CUT
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FILE3.GIF
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FILE4.LBM
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FILE5.MAC 4 Column, 20 Row Picture Menu
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FILE6.PCX
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FILE7.PIC
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FILE8.SCO
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FILE9.TGA
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Dialog Line Memory=498307
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SPACE=Tag/UnTag ENTER=Show ESC=Quit F1=Help F2=Slides F3=Info F4=EGA/VGA <- ->
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F5/F6=+/-Res F7=Lock/Auto/Norm F8=Wait F9=Path AltF9=DIRS F10=ShowPath PgUp PgDn
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Page 1
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INTRODUCTION - The original program was called vgif, reflecting its
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ability to view only GIF files. When the program evolved to include
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other paint file formats, its name was changed to vpic. See the revision
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history in Appendix A for latest additions and bug fixes. Look at the
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section titled How VPIC Operates for an explanation of the differences
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between vpic and other viewers, and the advantages and disadvantages of
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both types.
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The picture on the index page shows the screen you get if you just enter
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vpic in a directory that has viewable files. The top row tells what
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SuperVGA card and how much memory vpic thinks you have (you should
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configure vpic if this is not correct), the filespec vpic is using (ie,
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*.pcx), and is also where the Lock/Auto/Norm and Wait indicators appear
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(shown in italics). The second row is the the resolution line, with the
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current resolution hilited; you can chage resolution with F5/F6 or by
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left clicking with the mouse. The next 20 lines are the alphabetical
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listing of the viewable files; you can use the cursor keys and Enter or
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the mouse to select one for viewing. Line 23 is the Dialog Line where
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info and prompts appear; at the end of this line is the amount of free
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memory that vpic can use for slideshows. Line 24 and 25 list the more
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common commands available from the menu; these can also be left clicked
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with the mouse to activate them. Pressing F1 gives a help screen of
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additional commands, and these can also be left clicked with the mouse
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to activate them. There is much more to vpic, but this quick overview
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will give you the flavor of the program.
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GENERAL FEATURES - vpic is a very easy to use but powerful file viewer
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and converter. It shows pictures in EGA, MCGA, VGA or SuperVGA video
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modes on most of the popular display adapter cards, and uses a plain
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text configuration file to tell vpic which VGA chip your display card
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uses and what video modes it can do. It has a single file, slideshow,
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and menu mode of operation, and will show pictures in many of the
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popular file formats. When a picture is on the screen, except in slide
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modes, vpic can manipulate the picture, or convert the picture to other
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file formats. All this in a fast, easy to use program that puts you in
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total control, and is rated by users as the top in it's class. It
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supports 32K and 16.5M color modes using the Sierra or ATT DAC's for
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viewing 16 thru 32 bit Targa's only, and conversion are not supported
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yet.
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MENU MODE - This is the default mode when you just enter vpic from the
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DOS command line. It lists all viewable files in a 4 column menu with
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easy to use controls to allow you to show pictures the way you want to
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see them, including a slide mode. See Menu Features.
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SINGLE FILE MODE - This mode has advanced features which make it
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attractive for application programs which don't have the ability to
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display hi-res graphics, such as data bases. You can shell to vpic with
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a filename and the /r option to display a picture and return immediately
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to your application, without waiting for user input or displaying the
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shareware message. If you want user input, call a batch file containing
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'vpic /r %1' and
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'wait 100'.
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Page 2
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SLIDE MODE - This mode uses a plain text command file listing the
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pictures you want to see in the order you want to see them, with mode
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and delay specs if desired. This is particularly useful to showcase your
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product line at trade shows, or to put on a self running demo. See
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Slideshows.
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IMPORTANT: vpic requires DOS 2.0 or up to run from the current
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directory, or DOS 3.0 up to run from anywhere. You must configure vpic
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for your graphics board using CVPIC or CONFIG; vpic comes configured for
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a Tseng ET-4000 SuperVGA board with 1M memory). The WHICHVGA program
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will try to identify your VGA chip and the amount of display memory. See
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CONFIG.DOC.
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The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a Service Mark owned by
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Compuserve.
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For further information, please contact:
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Compuserve Incorporated, Graphics Technology Department,
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5000 Arlington Center Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43220, USA
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SUPERVGA BOARDS SUPPORTED - Presently, vpic has SuperVGA support for
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the following SuperVGA chips (see CONFIG.DOC for details):
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* Ahead (A & B chip)
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* ATI New and old boards.
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* Chips & Technology
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* Everex
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* Genoa
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* Headland - Newer Video 7 cards.
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* NCR - used in newer Boca boards.
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* Oak
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* Paradise - Older Paradise cards.
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* Primus - Used on Galaxy SVGA boards.
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* QVision - Compaq's video board
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* Realtek - used in Realtek board.
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* S3 GUI Accelerator - Doesn't use VESA info since not all modes
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supported.
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* Trident (8800BS/CS and 8900)
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* Tseng(ET-3000 and ET-4000)
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* Video 7 - Older Video 7 cards.
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* Western Digital - Recent Paradise cards.
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* Zymos
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The CONFIG program semi-automates the configuration process. If your
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display board implements the VESA standard (thru BIOS or a TSR), this
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will be auto-detected and used regardless of the configuration; the only
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drawback to VESA is you can't scroll down quite as far. The /v command
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line option makes vpic ignore the VESA info your display card returns,
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and use the configuration info.
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FILETYPES VIEWED AND CONVERTED - vpic
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will view and convert to the following file formats [convert command
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while viewing in brackets]:
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Page 3
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1. Dr. Halo CUT files (with PAL if present). Not Dr. Halo PIC files,
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which are display adapter specific. [C]
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2. GIF87a and GIF89a files; saves to GIF87a format only since GIF89a
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stuff is mainly animation and text handling enhancements. [G
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normal], [I interlaced], [M mirrored], [U upside down], [<
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rotated CCW 90 deg], [> rotated CW 90 deg].
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3. Deluxe Paint LBM (or IFF) files, regular and enhanced. [D]
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4. MacIntosh MAC files. Display only.
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5. Pictor/PC Paint PIC files. [P]
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6. Zsoft PCX files (including 256 color files). [Z]
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7. ColorRIX/EGA Paint SCx files, uncompressed only. RIX wont tell
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anyone his compression algorithm, so compressed files can't be
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done. Use ColoRIX's RIXLATE to uncompress SCx files that are
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compressed. [R]
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8. Targa 8 thru 32 TGA files, compressed or uncompressed. Also
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uncompresses Targa files that are compressed (e option while
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viewing). Now supports the Sierra DAC in 15 bit color and ATT DAC
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in 24 bit color, but file conversion options don't work from
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viewing screen. [T]
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9. Binary Image Files (BIF) from B&W image capture boards. Display
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only.
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10.Microsoft Windows 3.0 Bitmap BMP files, compressed or normal. [W]
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11.Viewpoint PIC files with a fixed palette (usually 1024x768x256).
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Display only.
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MENU FEATURES:
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* Handles up to 2000 files using mouse or keyboard.
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* Gives 4 column menu of files with extensions vpic recognizes.
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* Arrow keys, PgUp/PgDn move thru menu.
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* Starting letter (or number) of filename jumps to files starting with
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that character.
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* Shows file at cursor with ENTER or left mouse button.
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* Mark/unmark files for viewing with SPACEBAR or right mouse button.
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* Shows marked files singly (ENTER or left mouse button) or like a
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slide show (F2) in the order marked.
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* [F1] gives help.
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* [F2] shows marked files like a slideshow.
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* [F3] gives file size, colors, and other info.
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* [F4] toggles between 16 (EGA) and 256 (VGA) color modes.
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* [F5/F6] decrease/increase default resolution.
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* [F7] Locks current resolution, or selects auto resolution mode.
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* [F8] Makes multi-image GIF's pause for a keypress between images.
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* [F9] prompts for new path.
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* [Alt F9] scans current drive, gives a directory tree in the menu
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window.
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* [F10] shows current path for files.
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* Alt_D prompts for new slide delay for slideshow (F2).
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* Alt_L prompts for new fixed margins. Entering 'a' makes that axis
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auto centering.
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* Alt_T (tag) marks all files.
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* Alt_U (untag) unmarks all files.
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* Alt_X prompts if you want to delete the file at the cursor.
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* Alt_Z toggles the name display while decoding on/off. Default is on
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unless /z passed on DOS command line.
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* Menu text color setable in configuration file.
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Page 4
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MOUSE SUPPORT - All the above functions are now controllable by the
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mouse. Click on the resolution bar, bottom 2 lines of quick help, or
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files. For the menu screen, the left button is the same as enter, and
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the right button is the same as the spacebar. While decoding, the right
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button aborts; while viewing, the left button returns to the menu. Most
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of the Alt functions must still be done by keyboard or from the
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help/menu (F1). The Alt_F9 (directory tree) can be done by mouse from
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the file menu screen.
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MENU LAYOUT - Menu lines are as follows:
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Line Contents
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1 Gives the board type along with the number of colors (16 or 256).
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Toggle values also appear on this line (Lock/Auto, Wait).
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2 Gives the resolutions available with the default resolution
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highlighted.
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3 - 22 Four column menu of files with extensions vpic recognizes.
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23 Prompt and message line. Free memory displayed at far right.
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24, 25 Quick help on commands and mouse menu.
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COMMANDS WHILE VIEWING - The following commands (shown in brackets) are
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available any time the picture is on the screen.
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* Shows filename while decoding, and [ESC] aborts decoding.
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* / or ? or clicking the right mouse button gives a help/menu overlay.
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The desired command can be clicked with the left mouse button or the
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key can be pressed to activate the command (except for F1-F10).
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* [A] animates a picture by rotating the palette; very pleasing for
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fractals. SPACEBAR pauses the animation, ENTER stops it for further
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commands such as conversions, and ESC returns to the menu. Up/Dn
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arrows and PgUp/PgDn increase/decrease the animation rate.
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* [B] converts a 256 color picture to 64 gray shades. 256 color modes
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only.
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* [E] expands a compressed Targa to disk for use by other programs.
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* [F] prompts for another filename and x,y margins; gives picture in
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picture. Works best when vpic invoked with /m, /x, and /y command
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line options, or with Lock (F7) and Alt_L to set the margins from
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the menu.
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* [C, D, G, I, M, P, R, T, U, W, Z, <, >] are file conversion
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commands; see 'FILETYPES VIEWED' above. The picture is converted in
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the number of colors you are viewing it in, thus allowing 256 <-> 16
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color conversions.
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* [Alt F] momentarily displays filename in case you forgot.
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* [Alt X] prompts if you want to delete this file; Y deletes.
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* For marked (tagged) file viewing:
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[ENTER] shows next file in a continuous loop.
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[Alt ENTER] shows previous file in a continuous loop.
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[ESC] breaks the loop and returns to the menu.
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Page 5
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* [F1-F10] are adjustments for red, green, blue, contrast, and
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brightness which decrease/increase in pairs; ie F1 decreases red, F2
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increases red. [Alt F10] restores the original palette (except after
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a [B] command).
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* If the picture is larger than the screen the Up/Dn arrows and
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PgUp/PgDn scroll the picture vertically on the screen. This only
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works if you have enough video memory and your display card will
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write to video memory not being displayed (Video 7 won't). vpic
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doesn't scroll sideways; see 'How VPIC Operates'.
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VPIC COMMAND LINE OPTIONS - The command line format for running vpic is:
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vpic [[path]filespec] [/a /b /d /e /h /l /mN /0 /r /v /w /xN /yN /z /?]
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where:
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* The default path is the current drive and directory, and the default
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extensions are BIF, BMP, CUT, GIF, IFF, 5LBM, MAC, PIC, PCX, SCx,
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and TGA.
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* The /a option starts vpic in Auto resolution select mode.
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* The /b option causes vpic to beep after displaying a file except in
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slide mode or with /r.
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* The /d option saves files to the directory vpic was started from;
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the default is the same directory you're viewing. Good for saving
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CDROM pics.
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* The /e option starts vpic in 16 color (EGA) mode.
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* The /h option allows the viewing of hidden files; great for R or X
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rated.
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* The /l option tells vpic not to set the video mode. This is used to
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add a picture to a picture already on screen. Works best with /r /m
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/x /y
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* The /mN locks the video resolution to mode N; N is determined from
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the menu or the configuration file. The 256 color modes are 1-10,
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and the 16 color modes are 11-20. 320x200x256 is mode 1, 640x480x16
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is mode 12.
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* The /o option tells vpic not to check for EGA/VGA on startup and
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just use the configuration file info.
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* The /p option stops vpic from swapping GIF background color and
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color 0. Good for saving to PCX files for PC Paintbrush.
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* The /r option immediately returns control to a calling program after
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displaying the picture. Calling program must reset text mode (mode
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co80) if required. vpic returns an integer, and if negative means:
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-1 Can't find the file specified.
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-2 Not a valid picture file for the extension.
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-3 File read or write error.
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-4 Disk is full.
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-5 Not enough memory for operation.
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-6 An image in a GIF file is larger than the picture.
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-7 Operation not supported.
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Page 6
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* The /v option disables VESA detection and uses the config file info.
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* The /w option wait for a keypress after each image in a multi-image
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GIF file. Only works for multi-image GIFs.
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* The /xN option gives a N pixel left margin for pictures smaller than
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the screen horizontally; default is centered.
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* The /yN option gives a N pixel top margin for pictures smaller than
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the screen vertically; default is centered.
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* The /z option inhibits printing the filename of each file when
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showing.
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* The /? option gives a help screen of command line options.
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* The /@filename option uses the commands in file filename to do a
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slideshow. The default filename extension is SLD.
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* If filespec is a filename, the single file will be shown (the
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default extension is GIF for picture files).
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* If path\filespec is a directory, a menu of all viewable files in
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that directory will appear. Otherwise all files meeting the filespec
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will appear. For example, [vpic d:\pics\*.pcx] would give a menu of
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all PCX files in the PICS directory of drive D, while [vpic d:\pics]
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would give a menu of all viewable files in the PICS directory of
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drive D.
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Options and filespec may be entered in any order. The /r option only
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works in single file mode, where all other work in menu or single file
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mode.
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EXAMPLES OF VPIC COMMAND LINE OPTIONS
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* vpic [path\]filename[.ext] shows the single file specified. The
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default path is the current directory, and the default extension is
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GIF.
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* vpic [path\][filespec] will give a menu of all files in the
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specified path meeting filespec (may contain wildcards). The default
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path is the current directory, and the default filespec is any of
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the viewable files; just entering vpic will give a menu of all
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viewable files in the current directory. If Path contains . or .., a
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filespec must be given (may contain wildcards). Thus ..\*.* would
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give a menu of all viewable files in the parent of the current
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directory.
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* vpic /a starts vpic in auto resolution mode.
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* vpic /b causes vpic to beep after a file has been fully decoded.
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Lets you know when the viewing options are available. Doesn't beep
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in slide mode or when using the /r option.
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* vpic /e starts vpic in 16 color (EGA) mode; default is 256 color
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modes.
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Page 7
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* vpic /h allows vpic to find and display hidden files in the menu.
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Great for those R or X rated files you don't want to be normally
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accessible. This option doesn't appear on the help screen.
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* vpic /r filename[.ext] shows the filename picture and then returns
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to DOS (or a calling application program) with the picture still on
|
|
the screen. It is not necessary to change the video mode between
|
|
viewing each file, but it is up to the calling program to reset text
|
|
mode (mode 3) after all viewing is done. The /a, /e, /l, /m, /x, /y
|
|
switches are valid with /r.
|
|
|
|
* vpic /v gives a menu of the files in the current directory, but does
|
|
not look for VESA info from the display card. This is useful if the
|
|
VESA info is incorrect or doesn't support all the modes the card can
|
|
do.
|
|
|
|
* vpic /? gives a help screen for modes and command line options.
|
|
|
|
Example: vpic /m3 /x0 /y0 /r file1 displays file1 in mode 3 in the
|
|
upper left corner. Then, vpic /r /l file2 /x320 /y200
|
|
displays file2 starting at column 320 and row 200 leaving
|
|
file 1 on the screen.
|
|
|
|
Page 8
|
|
SLIDESHOWS
|
|
|
|
vpic /@[path\]slidefile[.ext] will do a slide show from commands in
|
|
slidefile. The default path is the current directory, and the default
|
|
slidefile extension is SLD. The path applies to both the slide file and
|
|
all files for viewing, but vpic allows you to set a different path in
|
|
the command file for the pictures. The commands are placed on separate
|
|
lines, and consist of either:
|
|
a. A filename (GIF extension assumed) and optional:
|
|
1. Display mode (number) and/or
|
|
2. Animate command (a followed by optional number with no spaces).
|
|
b. A delay (viewing time) spec of the form 'd n' (space required) where
|
|
n is the desired viewing time in seconds.
|
|
c. A path for all the picture files in the form 'p path' (space req'd).
|
|
d. The statement QUIT to end the slideshow after 1 pass. QUIT may be
|
|
upper or lower case.
|
|
|
|
The maximum number of files is 100. The number following the optional
|
|
'a' is the number of vertical retraces between animation steps. The
|
|
default value is 8 (if no number follows the 'a'). The mode is explained
|
|
below.
|
|
|
|
To pause a slideshow press [SPACEBAR]; to end it press [ESC].
|
|
|
|
The default viewing time is 5 seconds if no delay spec is given. A delay
|
|
spec applies to all files following in the slide file until changed. The
|
|
first slide is not delayed the first time it is shown. The default
|
|
viewing mode is automatic (whatever fits). vpic understands comments
|
|
preceded by a semicolon, blank or comment lines, and extra spaces. For
|
|
example, the following slide file contents are understood by vpic, but
|
|
not recommended:
|
|
|
|
d 20 ;Delay for file1.gif & file2.pcx is 20 seconds.
|
|
file1 1 ;First file in slideshow. File1.gif using mode 1.
|
|
file2.pcx ;This is a Zsoft filename with leading spaces.
|
|
;This is a comment line with leading spaces, next is a blank line.
|
|
|
|
p c:\pics ;The directory for the picture files is c:\pics
|
|
d 10 ;File3 is delayed 10 seconds.
|
|
file3 a30 ;Show file 3, animate at 1 shift every 30 vertical retraces.
|
|
d 15 ;15 second delay file4.gif. Has leading & separator spaces.
|
|
file4 ;Show file4.gif for 15 seconds, then do file1.gif.
|
|
|
|
The mode requires a little further explanation. In the above slide file,
|
|
it says to use mode 1 with file1. Modes 1 thru 10 are the VGA (256
|
|
color) modes, and modes 11 thru 20 are EGA (16 color) modes. Most
|
|
display boards only have a few of each type. The Orchid Designer has 4
|
|
VGA modes and 4 EGA modes which appear in the file menu.
|
|
The VGA modes are � The EGA modes are
|
|
1. 320x200x256 2. 640x350x256 � 11. 640x350x16 12. 640x480x16
|
|
3. 640x480x256 4. 800x600x256 � 13. 800x600x16 14. 1024x768x16
|
|
Thus, the slide file says to show file1 in the 320x200x256 mode, and
|
|
show all the others in the default modes (whatever fits).
|
|
Page 9
|
|
DETAILED COMMAND LIST - The following gives details & peculiarities of
|
|
the various commands.
|
|
|
|
Keyboard and Mouse Menu Mode Commands.
|
|
|
|
* The [up], [down], [right], and [left] arrow keys move the cursor
|
|
around the menu of files. [PgDn/PgUp] goto next/previous page.
|
|
Pressing a key goes to next file starting with this character. The
|
|
PgUp/PgDn area in the lower right corner allow the mouse to change
|
|
pages.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing the [SPACEBAR or the right mouse button] marks a file for
|
|
viewing or slides, and [SPACEBAR] moves to the next file; it will
|
|
also unmark a previously marked file.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [ENTER or the left mouse button] will display the marked
|
|
files in the order they were marked. If no files were marked,
|
|
pressing enter or the left mouse button displays the file at the
|
|
cursor.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F1] will bring up the help/menu screen; Enter or Esc will
|
|
return to the menu. Clicking the left mouse button on a command
|
|
activates it, and clicking the right mouse button returns to the
|
|
menu.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F2] will do a slide show of marked files until [ESC] is
|
|
pressed.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F3] will display the file size, colors, and filetype on
|
|
the prompt/message line.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F4] will toggle between 256 (VGA) and 16 color (EGA)
|
|
modes. Left clicking the mouse on the board name also toggles
|
|
between VGA/EGA.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F5/F6] will decrease/increase the default resolution for
|
|
file viewing. In VGA, the default resolution for 320x200 pictures is
|
|
320x200 unless 'lock' [F7] is invoked. Left clicking the mouse on a
|
|
resolution sets that resolution as the default.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F7] goes to LOCK, which forces the default resolution
|
|
(above) no matter what the file size. Pressing F7 again goes to
|
|
AUTO, which automatically selects a resolution which will display
|
|
the whole picture. Pressing F7 again goes back to the normal default
|
|
mode. You can left click the mouse on Lock, Auto, Norm, on line 25
|
|
of the menu to set that mode.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [F8] toggles the wait mode, where vpic waits for a keypress
|
|
between multiple images in a GIF file.
|
|
|
|
* [F9] prompts for a new path\filespec, and displays a menu of the
|
|
files in the new path meeting the filespec.
|
|
Page 10
|
|
* [Alt F9] gives a directory tree of the current drive in the menu
|
|
window. The DOS drives are listed on the 2nd line, and may be
|
|
selected with the mouse or by pressing the drive letter key. The
|
|
first time a drive is selected, vpic scans the drive for all
|
|
subdirectories, and saves this info in a file called $$DRIVEx (where
|
|
x is the drive letter) in the same directory where vpic is located.
|
|
Subsequent times, the drive data is retrieved from this file, and
|
|
the drive is not scanned. If you added or removed directories, you
|
|
should probably rescan the drive by pressing Alt_S or clicking the
|
|
mouse where it says Alt S on the directory tree screen. The cursor
|
|
keys work the same as in the normal file window, and a directory is
|
|
selected by pressing Enter or clicking on it with the left mouse
|
|
button. The directory tree is folded into 4 columns, and the indent
|
|
level of a directory is shown by the lines preceding the name. The
|
|
PgUp/PgDn and <- -> move the display by clicking these locations
|
|
with the mouse.
|
|
|
|
* [F10] displays the current path on the prompt/message line.
|
|
|
|
* [Alt D] prompts for a new slide [F2] delay time in seconds.
|
|
|
|
* [Alt R] prompts for a new filename to rename the file at the cursor.
|
|
|
|
* [Alt T] tags (marks) all files in the menu.
|
|
|
|
* [Alt U] untags (unmarks) all files in the menu.
|
|
|
|
* [Alt X] prompts if you want to delete the file at the cursor. [Y]
|
|
will delete it, [N] or ESC doesn't, and all other keys are ignored.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [ESC] ends the program and returns to DOS.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [Ctrl-Break] or [Ctrl-C] will get you directly to DOS from
|
|
anywhere.
|
|
|
|
All other keys are ignored. If errors are encountered, an error message
|
|
appears on the third line from the bottom, and disappears when the
|
|
cursor is moved. The amount of far memory available is also printed on
|
|
the same line. The menu title is the search spec.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keyboard and Mouse Commands while Viewing a Picture (except in slide mode)
|
|
|
|
* The up/down arrow keys will scroll the picture by one line if it is
|
|
longer than the screen, provided you have sufficient display memory.
|
|
The [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys will scroll by 10 lines. The Video 7
|
|
extended VGA boards do not support writing to non-displayed memory
|
|
or scrolling pics larger than the screen, so this function is
|
|
disabled for these boards. Straight VGA boards can't scroll in
|
|
320x200x256 mode because the picture takes up all of display memory.
|
|
vpic will not scroll sideways; see 'How VPIC Operates'.
|
|
|
|
* If the picture size is <= 1/2 the screen width, pressing [2] will
|
|
give a double size image (which may be scrollable) and pressing [1]
|
|
will give the normal size again. For VGA, the picture will be
|
|
changed only in the horizontal direction; this will unsquash some
|
|
320x400 pics so the aspect ratio is correct.
|
|
Page 11
|
|
* Pressing [+] will increase the resolution (320x200 to 640x480, etc).
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [-] will decrease the resolution; useful if 800x600 rolls.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [/] or [?] or clicking the right mouse button gives a
|
|
help/menu screen of commands available while viewing. Left clicking
|
|
the mouse on the command or pressing the command key activates the
|
|
command (except for F1-F10). Right clicking the mouse or pressing
|
|
Enter or Esc removes the help/menu overlay.
|
|
|
|
NOTE: The file conversion options won't work when viewing a Targa in
|
|
32000 or more colors. All the following conversion options check if the
|
|
default filename is present, and prompt for a new name if it is. They
|
|
create a file on the current drive and directory with the same
|
|
dimensions as the file being viewed. If you screw up at the new filename
|
|
prompt, hit [Ctrl-C] to escape immediately to DOS; this will usually
|
|
preserve a file you don't want to write over. The safest bet is to view
|
|
files in another directory using the -d command line option, since the
|
|
new file is saved to the default directory, which is the drive and
|
|
directory you ran vpic from. I put vpic in my UTIL directory, and have
|
|
my PATH set to include UTIL, so I can run vpic from any drive or
|
|
directory.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [A] will 'animate' a picture by rotating the palette
|
|
periodicly. This is especially effective on fractals, where large
|
|
areas tend to be the same color. Pressing [SPACEBAR] will pause the
|
|
palette rotation, and pressing [ENTER] will stop it and return to
|
|
the command mode. Thus, by waiting for an especially nice pattern
|
|
and then pressing [ENTER], the pattern can be written to a file
|
|
using the file save commands. Pressing [ESC] will return to the
|
|
menu. The rate of palette rotation can be increased/decreased with
|
|
the up/down arrows (slow) or PgUp/PgDn (fast).
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [B] will convert a color VGA picture to a 64 shade gray
|
|
picture. The resulting image can be saved with the gray palette.
|
|
Only works in VGA. The original palette cannot be restored with [Alt
|
|
F10] after [B], but you can always redisplay the picture to see it
|
|
in color again.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [C] will create a Dr. Halo CUT file with the same filename
|
|
and extension CUT. A palette file (.PAL) will also be created.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [D] will create a Deluxe Paint II (Electronic Arts) file.
|
|
vpic will prompt for a normal or enhanced DP II file, and for
|
|
compressed or uncompressed.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [E] will expand a Run Length Encoded (RLE) compressed Targa
|
|
file. If the file is not a Targa or is already uncompressed, this
|
|
key does nothing.
|
|
Page 12
|
|
* Pressing [F] will prompt for a new filename to overlay on the
|
|
existing picture. It also prompts for x and y offsets (in pixels).
|
|
The colors may not be exactly correct since the new picture uses a
|
|
best match to the palette of the original picture, and some colors
|
|
may be missing. This feature is handy for building composite
|
|
pictures; ie, four 320x200 pics on a 640x400 screen with the screen
|
|
size 'locked' using F7 or /m on the command line. Specify where you
|
|
want to place the first picture on the command line when vpic is
|
|
executed using the /x and/or the /y options, or use the Alt_L
|
|
command from the menu; the filename display is suppressed using the
|
|
/z option on the command line. Alternately, you can have an all
|
|
black picture as the first picture, then overlay the others onto it.
|
|
The composite picture can then be saved in any of the file formats
|
|
vpic supports. You can also specify the /mN resolution mode from the
|
|
command line to lock the video mode to the desired composite size;
|
|
it can be changed once you are in the menu. Later pictures use the
|
|
first pictures palette (if all are 256 color), so it's a good idea
|
|
to pick the first picture with the widest range of palette colors;
|
|
this gives the best rendition of the other pictures. A good way to
|
|
invoke vpic for this mode is `vpic /x0 /y0 /z /m3'.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [G, I, M, U, <, or >] will create a GIF file on the default
|
|
drive, and prompt for a new filename; the default extension is GIF.
|
|
[G] is for non-interlaced, and [I] is for interlaced, [M] is for
|
|
mirror image, [U] is for upside down (inverted), [<] is rotate image
|
|
90 degrees CCW, and [>] is rotate image 90 degrees CW.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [P] will create a PC Paint or Pictor file. The default
|
|
extension is PIC, and for EGA it prompts for a PC Paint or Pictor
|
|
file.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [R] will create a ColoRix file with the same filename and
|
|
extension SCx where x is a function of the screen size. If in EGA,
|
|
will prompt if you want an EGA Paint or ColoRix file.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [T] will make a Targa 16 or 24 file with the same filename
|
|
and extension TGA. vpic defaults to Targa 16, and prompts for Targa
|
|
24.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [W] will create a Microsoft Windows Bitmap file. The
|
|
default extension is BMP and it prompts for a compressed or
|
|
uncompressed file.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [Z] will create a Zsoft (PC Paintbrush) file with the same
|
|
filename and extension PCX. The file will be in whatever mode you
|
|
are currently using (EGA or VGA). The VGA palette will be correct
|
|
for the versions of PC Paintbrush which save a VGA palette at the
|
|
end of the file.
|
|
|
|
* [Alt_F] displays the current filename momentarily.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [Alt-X] will prompt you to delete the current file. If you
|
|
answer [y] it will be deleted, [n] or ESC it won't, and all other
|
|
keys are ignored.
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [ENTER] will return to the menu or DOS, or show next file
|
|
for marked menu mode.
|
|
Page 13
|
|
* Pressing [Alt ENTER] will show the previous marked file (if any are
|
|
marked).
|
|
|
|
* Pressing [ESC] will end the display and return to the menu.
|
|
|
|
* The following keys control the picture tone as follows:
|
|
[F1] Decrease red content of picture.
|
|
[F2] Increase red content of picture.
|
|
[F3] Decrease green content of picture.
|
|
[F4] Increase green content of picture.
|
|
[F5] Decrease blue content of picture.
|
|
[F6] Increase blue content of picture.
|
|
[F7] Decrease contrast of picture (VGA only).
|
|
[F8] Increase contrast of picture (VGA only).
|
|
[F9] Decrease brightness of picture (VGA only).
|
|
[F10] Increase brightness of picture (VGA only).
|
|
[Alt-F10] Restore original palette after you thoroughly mess up the
|
|
colors. Doesn't work after a [B] grey shade conversion.
|
|
[V] Reverses the current palette; interesting effect especially
|
|
for black & white images.
|
|
After a little experimenting, a 'washed out' VGA picture can be greatly
|
|
improved by using [F1-F10], and you can always start over by using
|
|
[Alt-F10]. To retain a black background in a VGA picture, the brightness
|
|
should be decreased when the contrast is decreased. If you have really
|
|
improved the picture, you can then save it any of the supported formats.
|
|
vpic will prompt you if the file exists in the default directory, and
|
|
you have the option of overwriting it or giving a new filename. This
|
|
works really well with images created on the Sharp, Howtec or Targa
|
|
scanners, which are sometimes 'washed out'.
|
|
|
|
All other keys are ignored. Pressing [Ctrl-Break] or [Ctrl-C] will go
|
|
directly to DOS.
|
|
|
|
DECODING OTHER FILE FORMATS
|
|
|
|
Each picture is viewed in whatever mode you are presently using (VGA or
|
|
EGA) and at the resolution you have selected. If you choose to save to
|
|
another file format which differentiates between VGA and EGA modes, it
|
|
will be converted using the appropriate rules. This makes EGA <-> VGA
|
|
conversions possible, which is not supported by most paint programs.
|
|
|
|
The decoding for other than GIF is not as fast as could be done, but the
|
|
added versatility more than compensates for this. For example, EGA PCX
|
|
files can be very quickly decoded to EGA, but are in the wrong format
|
|
for VGA, and considerable manipulation is required to produce a VGA
|
|
image. For all formats, the method of viewing is to decode to a buffer
|
|
for a single line at 1 byte/pixel, then copy this line to the display in
|
|
whatever mode you are using. This is a compromise for most file formats,
|
|
since they are geared to EGA or VGA, and display time suffers, but it
|
|
makes the code much simpler. Besides, the other formats are supported
|
|
mainly to allow easy conversion to GIF, which is the preferred format
|
|
for storage since it gives the smallest file size.
|
|
|
|
The TARGA viewing (except with the Sierra DAC) uses a fixed palette to
|
|
speed up the decoding, so the picture does not have good color
|
|
rendition. It is mainly there to verify that an image is present. Use
|
|
Pegasus Imaging Corp's SHOWTGA to make a Targa 8 with excellent color
|
|
rendition, and then convert this to GIF using vpic.
|
|
Page 14
|
|
ADDED FEATURES
|
|
|
|
vpic is meant to fill a void not covered by paint programs, and to allow
|
|
very convenient file viewing and conversion between file formats. It is
|
|
not meant to compete with the paint programs, and in general if a paint
|
|
program does something well (such as resize a picture to fill the screen
|
|
or cut out a portion of the picture), vpic will not attempt to do it. On
|
|
the other hand, if you think of a feature which would enhance vpic,
|
|
please let me know, and I will consider adding it to the program.
|
|
|
|
KNOWN PROBLEMS
|
|
|
|
1. The ATI VGA Wonder 1024x768x16 mode and all the S3 16 color modes
|
|
use 2 pixels/byte, unlike any other VGA or EGA mode. It is supported
|
|
for most viewing and conversions, but will not view or convert to
|
|
EGA Paint files, ColoRIX EGA files, or Pictor EGA files, since these
|
|
are on an EGA plane basis.
|
|
2. If you have a board with the Trident TVGA 8900 VGA chip, don't run
|
|
MAMODE before running vpic, or run MAMODE 64 if you were in a 128K
|
|
bank mode.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPORT FOR OTHER SUPERVGA BOARDS
|
|
|
|
I will try to support other VGA boards with extended VGA modes if the
|
|
owners will write me with the details of how to set the various modes,
|
|
and how to bank switch the display memory. Of course, if you also
|
|
register vpic I will give the problem more consideration. Use of a board
|
|
is mandatory, since I can't tell if the new routines work unless I can
|
|
try them.
|
|
|
|
The bank switching Info for some of the 'not so common' VGA boards is
|
|
hard to come by, and is needed if vpic is to support extended VGA modes
|
|
for these boards. A VGA board needs to bank switch for extended modes
|
|
because there is only a 64K window in the PC address space for graphics
|
|
memory (from A000 to AFFF), and extended modes require more than 64K of
|
|
memory; 640x480x256 requires 307200 bytes of memory, or about 4.7 'banks
|
|
of 64K'. Bank switching is a means of mapping the (A000 to AFFF)
|
|
graphics address space into 64K chunks of actual display memory. The
|
|
method of bank switching is determined by the VGA chip used on the
|
|
display board, and what I need is info on how to switch banks and how to
|
|
set the various modes the board supports.
|
|
|
|
USEFUL TECHNIQUES
|
|
|
|
Running With your Favorite Options
|
|
|
|
If you like to run vpic with a particular set of options, you can put
|
|
vpic in a directory NOT in your path, and make a batch file which IS in
|
|
your path which calls vpic with the options as follows:
|
|
@echo off
|
|
x:\vpicdir\vpic /options %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6
|
|
where x:\vpicdir is the drive and directory where vpic resides, and the
|
|
%1..%6 pass other options to vpic.
|
|
Page 15
|
|
Batch Conversions (Sort of)
|
|
|
|
If you run vpic in auto mode (/a or F7) and mark the files you want to
|
|
convert, the first picture is displayed when you press Enter. When the
|
|
picture is on the screen, you press the desired conversion command, and
|
|
when vpic is done with the conversion, you just press Enter to view the
|
|
next picture, and so on. With this technique, you can mix file types for
|
|
conversion.
|
|
|
|
HOW VPIC OPERATES
|
|
|
|
VPIC decodes a picture file directly to screen memory on your display
|
|
card. The other technique is to decode to CPU (normal) memory and then
|
|
copy the picture (or a portion of it) to screen memory. Both ways have
|
|
their advantages and disadvantages.
|
|
|
|
DECODING DIRECTLY TO SCREEN MEMORY (LIKE VPIC).
|
|
|
|
ADVANTAGES - This method offers the best speed, since it doesn't have to
|
|
go thru the intermediate step of decoding to CPU memory first. It will
|
|
also always decode large pictures, even above the maximum display size.
|
|
The CPU method usually doesn't have sufficient memory for large pics,
|
|
like 1024x768x256, or even 800x600x256 if you have any TSR's in memory;
|
|
these pics require 1 byte/pixel.
|
|
|
|
The file conversion options uses the current palette data and the
|
|
current data in display memory to make the new file. Thus, what you see
|
|
is what you get in a new file format, in whatever mode you are viewing
|
|
(256 or 16 color).
|
|
|
|
DISADVANTAGES - Because the picture is decoded directly to screen
|
|
memory, any picture data beyond the right edge of the screen is thrown
|
|
away. For this reason, you can't scroll left and right. vpic will
|
|
continue to decode to display memory beyond the bottom of the screen
|
|
until it runs out of memory, set by BANKS in the configuration file. If
|
|
the card wraps memory beyond the bottom of the screen back onto the
|
|
screen, like the Video 7 cards, then vpic doesn't decode beyond the
|
|
screen bottom.
|
|
|
|
Thus, if your display card doesn't wrap display memory, you will be able
|
|
to scroll the picture up and down.
|
|
|
|
If the screen doesn't display the whole picture width, any converted
|
|
file will be truncated on the right edge to the screen size.
|
|
|
|
DECODING TO CPU MEMORY FIRST
|
|
|
|
ADVANTAGES - If there is sufficient CPU memory to hold the whole picture
|
|
(at 1 byte/pixel), a rectangular area equal to the screen size can be
|
|
copied to display memory, which allows you to scroll around the picture
|
|
in all directions.
|
|
|
|
DISADVANTAGES - If there is not sufficient CPU memory, most of the
|
|
programs will refuse to display the picture. There is also the wait
|
|
while the picture is decoded to CPU memory before you get to see it.
|
|
Page 16
|
|
VPIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS
|
|
|
|
NOTICE - VPIC is not free software. If you paid a "public domain" vendor
|
|
for this program, you paid for the copy and mailing service only, and
|
|
not for the program itself. Nothing ever gets to the author of the
|
|
program from such a sale. You may evaluate vpic for 10 days, and if you
|
|
find it useful, you should register your copy. There are several
|
|
incentives for registering vpic. You get free technical support (which
|
|
can be quite valuable at times), you can get updates from me (with about
|
|
1M of good GIFs) for $5 ($10 foreign) to cover shipping and handling,
|
|
and you allow me to stay in business and improve the program. vpic has
|
|
been evolving since 1987, and new features and/or video card support are
|
|
added all the time. I have tried to make it as versatile and fast as
|
|
possible, while still retaining the ease of use and intuitive operation.
|
|
|
|
VPIC is copyrighted software, and all rights are reserved. vpic may not
|
|
be changed or modified in any way except by the author. vpic is
|
|
SHAREWARE, and may be freely distributed, as long as it remains in its
|
|
complete form with all support, documentation, and configuration files.
|
|
It may be used for a ten day free trial period. Regardless of how the
|
|
copy is obtained, it is requested that all users comply with the
|
|
following licensing/registration provisions if they continue to use it
|
|
after the 10 day trial period:
|
|
|
|
1. $25 per copy for individual users. Users can feel free to use vpic
|
|
for anything. I need your name and address for my records, and you
|
|
are entitled to:
|
|
a. Use all updates at no cost (except shipping and handling; see
|
|
below) provided the registration fee hasn't changed.
|
|
b. Technical support either by phone (you call me) or by letter.
|
|
c. If you order the latest version along with your registration (see
|
|
below), you also get a printed manual.
|
|
2. Site License: $125 per 10 copies if used or distributed by you, or
|
|
as part of your product. All users would be registered collectively
|
|
under your name, but can fell free to use vpic for anything. Update
|
|
requests and technical support would be thru you (since I don't know
|
|
the names of the individual users) and would be distributed by you
|
|
to the users.
|
|
3. Quantity discounts: (Only one disk provided, you keep track of users)
|
|
10 to 99: $17.50 per copy.
|
|
100 to 1000 up: $12.50 per copy.
|
|
1000 up: $10 per copy.
|
|
All registered users can feel free to use vpic for anything. You can
|
|
get technical support from me, and pass it on to your customers.
|
|
Please provide me with a list of the user names and addresses, so I
|
|
can honor update requests.
|
|
4. a. $1.50/copy royalty if used as part of a DEMO; a demo is not part
|
|
of your product, but is a means of advertizing your product.
|
|
b. $3/copy royalty if used as a utility for running your product.
|
|
The maker of the demo/product should be a registered user. If a
|
|
recipient of the disk uses vpic for other purposes (not part of
|
|
the demo or product) he should register. You should sign a
|
|
royalty agreement with me, and make payments annually. You may
|
|
estimate the yearly usage, and then correct it from year to year.
|
|
You should supply to me a written statement listing the copies
|
|
shipped each year.
|
|
Page 17
|
|
For foreign orders, please send a check drawn on a US Bank,
|
|
International or US Postal Money Order, Travelers Checks, or cash, since
|
|
the banks here charge up to $60 collection fee for foreign checks.
|
|
|
|
For all the above, vpic should be distributed intact, with all
|
|
documentation (DOC files), support programs (CVPIC, CONFIG, and
|
|
WHICHVGA), and configuration (.CFG) files. Archived form is OK to meet
|
|
this requirement, since it minimizes disk space, if you supply the
|
|
un-archiving program.
|
|
|
|
A user may install vpic on more than one machine, provided he is the
|
|
only user on each machine. The registration and license policy is
|
|
similar to a book, which can be taken with you but used only by you.
|
|
|
|
Please use the enclosed registration/order form since it allows me to
|
|
keep better records and keep up with the newer VGA boards.
|
|
|
|
UPGRADES FROM PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AND UPDATES
|
|
|
|
You may use all updates (with the same registration fee) free once you
|
|
have registered vpic. If you are already registered for VGIF or ZS (any
|
|
version) you may upgrade to vpic for an additional $15. Upgrading from
|
|
vpic is $10. Since vpic is updated regularly, I do not send notices, but
|
|
it gets around quickly to most graphics oriented BBS's, and is available
|
|
at Compuserve in Data Library 3 of the PICS forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ORDERS FROM ME
|
|
|
|
If you order a vpic update from me, please send $5 ($10 outside the USA
|
|
and Canada) for materials, postage, and handling. As a bonus I will fill
|
|
the rest of the disk with good pictures. Please specify 1.2Meg 5.25"
|
|
disk or 1.44M 3.5" disk, and EGA, VGA, or SuperVGA (640x480x256 etc) so
|
|
I'll know what pictures to send. I have some 1024x768x256 pictures, but
|
|
most are about 500K in size and eats up a sizeable portion of a disk, so
|
|
if you want one of these there wont be much room for other pictures. If
|
|
you want additional disks of pictures, please add $5/disk (3 disks max).
|
|
I have quite a few 640x480x256 pictures (mostly by Boris Vallejo), only
|
|
1 disk full of 320x200x256 pictures and 1 disk of EGA pictures, and a
|
|
few larger sizes.
|
|
|
|
Data on the various file formats vpic supports is available free if you
|
|
request it with your order, but will use about 200K of disk space.
|
|
|
|
Please use the enclosed registration/order form since it allows me to
|
|
keep better records and keep up with the newer VGA boards.
|
|
|
|
DISCLAIMER
|
|
|
|
All warranties are disclaimed, including damage to hardware and/or
|
|
software from use of this product. In no event will I be liable to you
|
|
for any damages, including lost profits, lost savings or other
|
|
incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use or inability
|
|
to use the program, or any other claim by any other party.
|
|
Page 18
|
|
SPECIAL VERSIONS - Contact Bob Montgomery for:
|
|
1. Special versions of vpic tailored to your application.
|
|
2. Other graphics oriented applications (file conversion, etc).
|
|
Any suggestions or comments should be mailed directly to me. The
|
|
following are graphics oriented BBS's:
|
|
|
|
GRAPHICS ORIENTED BBS'S
|
|
|
|
Compuserve PICS Forum (My ID is 73357,3140)
|
|
Magic City USA, Orlando, Florida 1.0 Gig Online; Modems: 2400 baud
|
|
(407) 628-2546, HST (407) 628-0185
|
|
Tsunami BBS, Half Moon Bay, Calif. (415) 726-2726
|
|
PC Rockland, S. Nyack, NY (914) 353-2538 [Freeboard] 1.6 Gbyte Online
|
|
Megabyte Image Center (918) 492-0087 1200/2400/9600 baud USR HST
|
|
Pictures and Scanning Services:
|
|
Event Horizons: Catalog, 311 Avenue "B", Suite 209, Lake Oswego, OR
|
|
97034 Order:503-697-7700,Modems:(1200/2400) 503-697-5100,
|
|
(9600HST) 503-697-5126
|
|
JPix Graphics Imaging: Modems:(2400) 219-267-2188, (9600) 219-267-8528
|
|
Tech's Warehouse BBS, Jacksonville, Florida (904) 260-9283 APPENDIX A - REVISION HISTORY
|
|
APPENDIX Page A1
|
|
HISTORY OF VGIF
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 1.1 1-13-88
|
|
* Added test for EGA adapter.
|
|
* Fixed menu colors.
|
|
* Allow [ESC]ape from marked file viewing.
|
|
* Added [Ctrl-Break] or [Ctrl-C] exit to DOS anywhere.
|
|
* Added 'disk full' notification when creating picture file.
|
|
* Added critical error handler for 'drive not ready' errors.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 1.2 1-15-88
|
|
* Changed name to VGIF.
|
|
* Slide mode now ignores the end of file mark in slide file, and any
|
|
key will now end slide mode.
|
|
* Added slides to menu mode if [S] pressed-shows marked files as
|
|
slides until a key is pressed.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 1.3 1-21-88
|
|
* Added better error checking to GIF file decoding. Notifies if bad
|
|
GIF file.
|
|
* Fixed error reporting bug in single file mode.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 1.4 2-9-88
|
|
* Added instantaneous screen update in slide mode from menu or command
|
|
(SLD) file.
|
|
* Added the /r option which allows an application program to call VGIF
|
|
to view a file and then regain control.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 1.5 3-2-88
|
|
* Added [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys to scroll by 10 lines at a time.
|
|
* Added a max pic height of 819 lines so EGA buffer would not overflow.
|
|
* Greatly improved color reproduction for 'problem' pictures (such as
|
|
FROG, ARCHIT, PUFFIN, VEGTABLE, etc). These pictures typically have
|
|
more than 16 colors. Selected colors on basis of frequency of use
|
|
where possible.
|
|
* Fixed following bugs:
|
|
1. Line buffer would overflow into other variables if pic width was
|
|
> 640 pixels, causing strange results.
|
|
2. Didn't recognize the end of image marker correctly. This would
|
|
cause the palette to change when the image was done.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 1.6 3-11-88
|
|
* Fixed a bug in handling multiple images. First noticed when viewing
|
|
WHIMMI.GIF.
|
|
* Use same palette for multiple images, and get best color match.
|
|
* Added [L] and [S] commands while viewing a picture. These allow you
|
|
to create full size paint program files.
|
|
Page A2
|
|
VGIF ver 2.0 3-26-88
|
|
* Added the ability to view long GIF files ( > 819 lines) without
|
|
wrapping the display.
|
|
* Added the [C] and [H] (Dr. Halo) file creation option while viewing.
|
|
* Added the [L] and [S] prefix to paint program file creation commands
|
|
while viewing to save long pic files.
|
|
* Added the Info and Help commands in menu mode.
|
|
* Deleted the # requirement to specify a directory from the command
|
|
line. The program now looks for a directory which meets the spec on
|
|
the command line. If none is found, it assumes the spec is for a
|
|
single file.
|
|
* Added [F1 - F10], and [V] palette control keys while viewing a file.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.0 5-2-88
|
|
* Added VGA capability, and support for Tseng extended VGA modes
|
|
(640x480x256 and 800x600x256).
|
|
* Determines and displays available modes for your system.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.1 5-11-88
|
|
* Fixed a bug in dir/file spec from command line. Now accepts VGIF
|
|
d:\dir\*.gif or VGIF d:*.gif, although the [\]*.gif is not required,
|
|
since this is the default filespec.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in forced EGA when doing slides, where an interlaced pic
|
|
displayed at double size would have a 'venetian blind' effect.
|
|
* Changed so pics larger than 320x200 are shown in 640x480 VGA; can
|
|
get 800x600 by pressing + key.
|
|
* The EGA mode on the Orchid VGA card appears squashed vertically.
|
|
This is normal, and cannot be corrected without reprogramming the
|
|
parameters for mode 16, which would change the vertical retrace
|
|
frequency and probably cause your monitor to roll.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.2 5-26-88
|
|
* Added 500 file menu, and assy language text screen updating; now
|
|
super fast.
|
|
* Fixed a bug which caused the Vega VGA card to hang up.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.3 6-9-88
|
|
* Added user spec of video mode for non-Orchid VGA boards.
|
|
* Added GIF and Pictor save of current screen for VGA/EGA pics.
|
|
* Added prompts to screen for conversion to other formats.
|
|
* Removed conversion starting at first visible row-now does whole pic.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.4 6-23-88
|
|
* Fixed a bug in the GIF save routine.
|
|
* Added color, contrast, and brightness adjustment in VGA.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in menu mode for marked files.
|
|
* Added /n command line option to stay in 640x480x256 for VGA pics.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.5 7-14-88
|
|
* Fixed some misc minor bugs.
|
|
* Added increase/decrease resolution command while viewing 16 color
|
|
VGA pics (using the /e option).
|
|
* Added slide mode for VGA.
|
|
* Added lock mode option to start pics from the menu in a desired mode.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 3.6 8-8-88
|
|
* Fixed some bugs.
|
|
* Fixed EGA slide show.
|
|
Page A3
|
|
VGIF ver 3.6A 9-10-88
|
|
* Fixed 1024x768x16 mode.
|
|
|
|
VGIF ver 4.0 10-20-89
|
|
* This was a beta test version which got out. It had lots of bugs,
|
|
which were fixed in vpic.
|
|
|
|
HISTORY OF VPIC
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.0 & 1.1 12-27-88
|
|
* Beta test versions.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.2 12-27-88
|
|
* Added configuration option for various display boards.
|
|
* Added VGA file conversion for all previous Paint programs supported.
|
|
* Added Deluxe Paint 2 conversion.
|
|
* Added Targa 16 file conversion.
|
|
* Added EGA/VGA toggle from menu.
|
|
* Added default resolution select, and Mode Lock key from menu.
|
|
* Added WAIT option to pause between images of multi-image files.
|
|
* Added MAC, PCX, & Colorix file viewing capability. Others will be
|
|
added in later versions.
|
|
* Added 'animate' while viewing.
|
|
* Fixed VGA 16 color palette.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.2A 1-4-89
|
|
* Fixed MAC -> GIF conversion
|
|
* Fixed CVPIC for ^Z as EOF char.
|
|
* Fixed 16 color palette for other file formats if VGA 16 colors.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.3 2-2-89
|
|
* Fixed cursor in menu.
|
|
* Fixed 'lock up' if GIF header size wrong (640x350 labeled 350x640).
|
|
* Now pauses pic if file error and waits for key press-can see partial
|
|
pics in bad files this way.
|
|
* Shows GIFs with MAC headers (1st 128 bytes are not GIF standard); if
|
|
F3 (info) pressed shows if file has a MAC header.
|
|
* Fixed so views and saves new Zsoft VGA PCX files which include
|
|
palette at end of file. Still doesn't load PAL files.
|
|
* Fixed Zsoft file displays and saves.
|
|
* Added Wait toggle (F8) which pauses between images in multi-image
|
|
GIFs, and allows conversion to other filetypes.
|
|
* Made MACs black on bright white instead of gray.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.4 3-15-89
|
|
* Added printout of filename while decoding except in slide mode.
|
|
* Added help while viewing a picture; press [?] or [/].
|
|
* Added delete a file option [X] (with query) while viewing.
|
|
* Added hit [ESC] while decoding to abort picture.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.5 3-23-89
|
|
* Fixed bug in 'Escape while decoding' which would hang system.
|
|
* Fixed EGA x2 display for interlaced files.
|
|
* Fixed problem with saving a pic after scrolling.
|
|
* Fixed palette in animate, so save will use current palette.
|
|
* Fixed problem with bad files in slide mode that would hang computer.
|
|
* Fixed error display in /@ slide mode and single file mode.
|
|
Page A4
|
|
VPIC ver 1.6 4-5-89
|
|
* Fixed bugs in slide show from command file. Added comments.
|
|
* Added resolution option for each picture in slide command file.
|
|
* Fixed miscellaneous minor bugs.
|
|
* Added configurable menu color.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.7 6-13-89
|
|
* Added Trident chip set support (for Maxxon and Logix VGA boards and
|
|
maybe the ATI board).
|
|
* Fixed a few bugs concerned with putting & getting lines from the
|
|
display screen.
|
|
* Fixed problem with Ctrl Z at end of slide definition file.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.8 6-28-89
|
|
* Added EGA Paint viewing/conversion.
|
|
* Fixed conversion to 800x600 ColoRIX file.
|
|
* Fixed other minor bugs.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 1.9 7-19-89
|
|
* Added inverted, mirrored, and rotated GIF saves.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in the Dr Halo CUT file creation.
|
|
* Added menu updating after file creation or deletion.
|
|
* Added new path spec feature from menu with [F9] key.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.0 8-6-89
|
|
* Added Pictor/PC Paint PIC, Dr. Halo CUT, Deluxe Paint LBM, and Targa
|
|
16 or 24 file viewing capability.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in the palette selection for EGA.
|
|
* Fixed bug which would not show VGA for the plain vanilla VGA config.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in the Zsoft PCX display for extended EGA modes.
|
|
* Added Auto resolution option and switch from the menu [F7].
|
|
* Made cursor stay fixed when files are created or deleted.
|
|
* Added Chips & Technology support. (VPIC 2.0A)
|
|
* Fixed Zsoft save at higher screen resolution than pic. (VPIC 2.0B)
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.1 9-5-89
|
|
* Fixed a bug in LBM viewing
|
|
* Added ColoRIX 16 color SCR and SCP view/create.
|
|
* Speeded up GIF decoding about 50%.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.1A 9-10-89
|
|
* Fixed a memory allocation problem for slides.
|
|
* Made small increase in speed.
|
|
* Fixed directory callout (*.PIC, etc).
|
|
* Re-enabled [ESC] for GIF viewing.
|
|
* Fixed Chip & Tech bank switching routine.
|
|
* Fixed Deluxe Paint II (LBM) file creation.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.2 10-23-89
|
|
* Fixed problem in new path command ([F9] from menu).
|
|
* Fixed intermittent GIF decode problem.
|
|
* Program now tells if GIF image and screen sizes conflict.
|
|
* Menu now correctly displays file sizes larger than 1 Mbyte.
|
|
* Now lists & displays Electronic Arts IFF files (same as LBM).
|
|
Page A5
|
|
VPIC ver 2.3 12-13-89
|
|
* Fixed C_T bank switching.
|
|
* Added Everex 678, Ahead (B chip), and Genoa 6400 support.
|
|
* Fixed bugs in GIF and Pictor decoder.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.4 12-28-89
|
|
* Fixed bug in GIF decoder for very wide pics.
|
|
* Fixed palette for many file types.
|
|
* Fixed slide mode from menu.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.5 1-28-90
|
|
* Fixed single file and /r modes.
|
|
* Fixed Pictor viewing for B&W pics.
|
|
* Fixed MAC header interpretation problem.
|
|
* Fixed memory clearing for pictures longer than the screen.
|
|
* Added F10 to menu to display current path. Menu no longer shows
|
|
complete path (only filespec) to avoid clutter with long paths.
|
|
* Deleted path from filename display when showing picture.
|
|
* Added SCY conversion for ColoRIX.
|
|
* Added Zymos VGA chip support.
|
|
* Corrected CVPIC to allow more than 9 banks in config file.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.6 1-28-90
|
|
* Fixed palette for 2 color GIFs.
|
|
* Fixed SCU display in 1024x768x16 mode.
|
|
* Fixed Pictor EGA and ColoRIX EGA slide viewing.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.7 3-17-90
|
|
* Fixed GIF bug and palette for files with local color maps.
|
|
* Added /b command line option to beep after a picture is decoded
|
|
except in slide modes.
|
|
* Added Alt_F command while viewing a picture to momentarily display
|
|
the file name.
|
|
* Fixed Targa viewing for all sizes; now handles RLE images too.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.8 3-27-90
|
|
* Added /h command line option to find hidden files.
|
|
* Changed menu display to allow up to 8 modes for VGA or EGA.
|
|
* Fixed palette in Dr. Halo CUT files.
|
|
* Added Tseng 4000 chip support.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.9 5-23-90
|
|
* Fixed Targa module to handle all 8 thru 32 bits/pixel formats.
|
|
* Added copyright messages.
|
|
* Fixed PCX viewing for gray scale files.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 2.9A 7-1-90
|
|
* Fixed Targa module for files which don't follow the compression
|
|
rules of 'don't overrun lines'. Added TGA expand option [E] while
|
|
viewing a RLE compressed Targa file.
|
|
* Fixed conversion routines so they save the pictures size. This was a
|
|
bug that crept into ver 2.9.
|
|
* Added ESC to abort deleting a file with [Alt_X].
|
|
* Added file types (where applicable) to the info command [F3] from
|
|
the menu.
|
|
* Added uncompressed ColoRIX SCO file (1024x768x256) support.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in CVPIC.
|
|
* Fixed a bug which prevented working with DOS 4.x.
|
|
Page A6
|
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* Added Deluxe Paint II enhanced viewing and save capability.
|
|
* Fixed a color bug in Targa 32 viewing.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 3.0 9-15-90
|
|
* Added capability to view the new GIF89a files, and FRA fractal files.
|
|
* Added delay and user response features of GIF89a.
|
|
* Fixed a bug which would hang the computer if you deleted the last
|
|
viewable file from a directory.
|
|
* Added prompt for a file conversion, allowing you to escape.
|
|
* Added C&T, as well as the previous C_T, which VPIC will accept as
|
|
the Chips & Technologies VGA chip in the config file.
|
|
* Fixed memory allocation bug in PCX creation for 1024x768x256 images.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 3.1 9-25-90
|
|
* Added flexibility to slide mode. Always decodes to memory and can
|
|
change delay for files; see the section on 'vpic /@slidesfile`.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 3.2 10-29-90
|
|
* Fixed the bank switching for the Trident 8800 chip.
|
|
* Fixed a palette problem when viewing Targa files.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 3.3 11-5-90
|
|
* Fixed problem with lines on VGA pics in slide mode.
|
|
* Added animate command in slide command file, and speed control for
|
|
animation.
|
|
* Fixed MCGA 16 color palette.
|
|
* Fixed ATI 1024x768x16 slide mode.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 3.4 11-21-90
|
|
* Fixed most conversion routines so they work in ATI 1024x768x16 mode;
|
|
can't do EGA Paint or 16 color ColoRIX, or Pictor EGA files.
|
|
* Fixed most viewing routines so they work in ATI 1024x768x16 mode;
|
|
can't do EGA Paint or 16 color ColoRIX, or Pictor EGA files.
|
|
* Fixed bugs in conversion for pics less than screen width wide.
|
|
* Cleaned up numerous small bugs.
|
|
* Added BIF Binary Image File from B&W image capture boards.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 3.5 12-15-90
|
|
* Added 64 shade gray conversion for VGA images (press b while viewing).
|
|
* Added auto-centering for pictures smaller than the screen.
|
|
* For slides, now displays as much of picture as memory will allow.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.0 02-13-91
|
|
* Added GIF89a features including transparent color, variable size
|
|
plain text, user input, variable delay, and display of comments.
|
|
Works in all EGA and VGA modes.
|
|
* Fixed all file conversions so they work with centered images.
|
|
* Improved palette selection, and made hi contrast help messages.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.0a 02-20-91
|
|
* Added OAK and new ATI (with normal 1024x768x16 mode) card.
|
|
* Added `whichvga' program to try to identify your VGA chip.
|
|
Page A7
|
|
VPIC ver 4.1 03-15-91
|
|
* Added Microsoft Windows 3.0 Bitmap BMP file viewing/saving in
|
|
compressed or uncompressed format. Sometimes uncompressed is smaller
|
|
than compressed.
|
|
* Changed VGA chip designators, added VGA chips; see CONFIG.DOC. Be
|
|
sure to use the version of CVPIC supplied with this version of VPIC.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.2 04-10-91
|
|
* Fixed palette bug which would reverse black and white in some pictures.
|
|
* Fixed menu when disk was rescanned.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.3 04-27-91
|
|
* Added x and y offset, and inhibit filename display, from command
|
|
line using /x, /y, and /z options.
|
|
* Added overlaying of pictures onto display using the 'F' command
|
|
while viewing a picture.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.3a 05-05-91
|
|
* Fixed ATI VGA Wonder scrolling.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.3b 05-15-91
|
|
Fixed EGA palette.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.4 07-09-91
|
|
* Added mouse support for the menu screen (so far).
|
|
* Added Viewpoint picture viewing (.PIC files).
|
|
* Added wider selection of menu colors; see CONFIG.DOC.
|
|
* Added a mode set from the command line.
|
|
* Added 1280x1024 EGA modes (DEFINICON.CFG)
|
|
* Fixed a bug in the BMP decoder for OS/2 PM files.
|
|
* Fixed a bug in slides mode.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.5 08-05-91
|
|
* Added full VESA autodetect and use for all 16 and 256 color modes.
|
|
* Added mouse support in the menu.
|
|
* Added Tseng ET-4000 HiColor (32K colors) support for Targa files.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.5a 08-15-91
|
|
* Did some cosmetic fixes for mouse operation.
|
|
* Marked files now don't stay marked when you change directories.
|
|
* Added 2 pages of comment storage for GIF89a file.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.6 08-23-91
|
|
* Fixed a VESA related problem with late STB boards.
|
|
* Added /v command line option to ignore VESA info and use config file
|
|
data.
|
|
* Fixed a Windows BMP problem; removed compressed option for conversion.
|
|
* Fixed GIF89a with comments problem.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.7 never released
|
|
Someone tried to add the Dark Avenger virus to VPIC in the Boston
|
|
area. You can't change a single byte in VPIC or it will refuse to
|
|
run, since it does a checksum on itself. They used a batch file or
|
|
some other sneaky thing, and had the virus assemble and execute
|
|
after exiting VPIC. It was not detected by Central Point Virus Scan,
|
|
since it wasn't an EXE or COM file, but was detected by someone
|
|
there who sent me a letter with the name and phone number of the
|
|
person who uploaded it. The FBI is currently investigating it.
|
|
Page A8
|
|
VPIC ver 4.8 02-25-92
|
|
* Fixed BMP viewing and conversion so Windows will read all files
|
|
created by VPIC (compressed too), and VPIC will view all files that
|
|
windows does. Change RLE extension to BMP for viewing compressed
|
|
BMP's.
|
|
* Added general means of telling VPIC in the configuration file about
|
|
the presence of the Sierra DAC and what modes it works in.
|
|
* Updated CVPIC to work with new CFG files.
|
|
* VPIC now comes up with mouse cursor out of the way in upper right
|
|
corner.
|
|
* Added /l option for putting another picture on the screen from an
|
|
application; doesn't change the video mode.
|
|
* Added Alt_D from menu to change the slide delay for marked files.
|
|
* Added QUIT command in slide command file to do just 1 pass and quit.
|
|
* Fixed numerous minor bugs in ver 4.6.
|
|
* Added S3 VGA chip (Orchid Fahrenheight 1280, Genoa Windows VGA, etc).
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.8a 03-10-92
|
|
* Fixed minor bug in /m command and updated help screen.
|
|
* Fixed conversion to 16 color Windows BMP.
|
|
* Fixed menu file marking bug where spacebar was ignored after marking
|
|
files with mouse.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.8b 04-08-92
|
|
* Fixed bug in marked file viewing when saving or deleteing a file.
|
|
* You can now lock the mode for marked file slide viewing.
|
|
* Added Uncompressed DPII conversions.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.8c 04-20-92
|
|
* Fixed a bug in VESA module for boards with dual VESA windows.
|
|
* Updated CVPIC to handle VESA windows.
|
|
* Added internal character table for boards which don't have
|
|
characters built into Video BIOS (S3 in extended modes, 8514A, etc).
|
|
* Fixed an annoying bug when you pressed ESC to end slide mode.
|
|
* Fixed ATI viewing in mode 55h (1024x768x16).
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.8d 06-01-92
|
|
* Added NCR (NCR.CFG) and REALTEK (REALTEK.CFG) VGA chip.
|
|
* Fixed bug in uncompressed BMP viewing and conversion for odd sizes.
|
|
* Eliminated palette colors swapping for text readability.
|
|
* Added 24 bit color (65 million colors) for Genoa 7900 (GENO7900.CFG)
|
|
and Diamond Speedstar 24 (DIAMON24.CFG), and possibly others. This
|
|
and the 32K color modes don't support file conversion or help yet,
|
|
and are mainly there as a convenience to the user.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 4.9 Never released
|
|
This was a Beta test version I sent to someone with a specific
|
|
request not to upload it anywhere. Oh well, so much for requests. It
|
|
may be buggy, and you should get ver 5.0.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.0 06-18-92
|
|
* Added 8514A support. Added 8514A and ATIULTRA config files. Should
|
|
also work with XGA, and you may be able to add the 800x600 mode.
|
|
* Changed Targa info to remove number of colors.
|
|
* Changed Targa slides to always decode to screen; mainly to
|
|
accommodate the 32K and 16M colors modes.
|
|
* Added Alt T and Alt U to menu; Alt T (tag) marks all files, and Alt
|
|
U (untag) unmarks all files.
|
|
Page A9
|
|
VPIC ver 5.0a 07-12-92
|
|
* Fixed a problem with the VESA bank switching which caused the screen
|
|
to overwrite the top portion.
|
|
* Fixed a problem with the 8514A (and ATI Ultra) where it wouldn't
|
|
display the whole picture in 1024x768x256 mode.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.0b 07-21-92
|
|
* Fixed 8 bit Targa display routine.
|
|
* VPIC now puts the 'bad code' message for corrupted GIFs at bottom of
|
|
the screen, leaves the picture on the screen, and goes into command
|
|
mode. This allows you to save at least a portion of a bad GIF.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.0c 08-01-92
|
|
* Added path specifier to slide command file. This is useful for pics
|
|
on a CD ROM or other unmodifiable device.
|
|
* Added Alt_R in the menu to rename a file. It prompts for a new
|
|
filename and uses the old extension if you don't give it a new one.
|
|
* Added /D command line option to save files to the directory VPIC was
|
|
called from. The default is the now the directory you're viewing.
|
|
This is useful for saving CD ROM pictures, that you can't write to.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.0d 08-20-92
|
|
* Separated /x and /y command line parameters so you can spec one and
|
|
the other will be centered.
|
|
* Changed built in help so 'vpic /?' gives help from the DOS command
|
|
line, F1 gives help from menu, and / or ? gives help while viewing.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.1 09-03-92
|
|
* Fixed VESA bank switching bug.
|
|
* Added context sensitive help (command line, menu, conversion).
|
|
* Fixed Targa viewer for 24 bit cards and top-down Targa'a.
|
|
* Fixed LBM viewer and conversion-added pad bytes when req'd.
|
|
* Limited S3 320x200x256 to 1 screen; scrolling not supported by S3.
|
|
* Blanked screen between slides.
|
|
* Added Compaq Qvision support-didn't work.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.1a 10-28-92
|
|
* Fixed Qvision viewing.
|
|
* Added /o option; Doesn't check for EGA/VGA on startup.
|
|
* Added /p option; Doesn't swap background for GIF's. Good if you are
|
|
saving to PCX and going to PC Paintbrush.
|
|
* Added /d option; Saves to current dir instead of the viewing dir.
|
|
Good for CD ROM conversions.
|
|
* Added p command to slide files to specify the path for the pictures.
|
|
Good for CD ROM slideshows.
|
|
* Upped file limit to 2000 for the menu. Good for large dirs.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.1b 11-15-92
|
|
* Fixed LBM viewing and conversion.
|
|
* Added Primus 2000 Graphics Accelerator.
|
|
* Marked files now stay marked when you press Esc from either Slides
|
|
(F2) or manual viewing with Enter; they can be unmarked by Alt_U
|
|
from the menu. You can now go to the previous file with Alt_Enter.
|
|
For marked file viewing with Enter, the viewing continues like a
|
|
slide show and you press Esc to quit back to the menu.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 5.1c 12-04-92
|
|
* Fixed grey conversion to give better representation of shades.
|
|
Page A10
|
|
VPIC ver 5.1d 12-10-92
|
|
* Added Acumos SVGA chip, used on co-processor boards. Not tested yet.
|
|
* Changed to medium memory model to accommodate more program features.
|
|
This may have caused a few bugs which I haven't found yet. If you
|
|
find one, please let me know.
|
|
* Made help screens also serve as menus.
|
|
* Fixed last file viewing in command file slideshows when QUIT used.
|
|
* Added Alt_L to menu to set top and left picture margins.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 6.0 12-20-92
|
|
* Added directory tree when you press Alt F9. Scans current drive for
|
|
all subdirectories, and presents them in the menu window.
|
|
* Added Alt_Z to menu to toggle filename viewing while decoding.
|
|
* Added graphics cursor similar to Windows cursor.
|
|
* Price Increase: Since 90% of the VPIC registrations want the latest
|
|
version ($20), and to cover the nifty new features I plan to add,
|
|
the base price for VPIC was raised to $25 for a single user.
|
|
Shipping and handling for updates to the latest version (registered
|
|
users only) is the same at $5 inside the USA and Canada, and $10
|
|
foreign, and includes about 1M of good GIF pictures. When you
|
|
register or upgrade from a version prior to 6.0, and get the latest
|
|
version from me, you also get a printed manual.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 6.0a 1-17-92
|
|
* Added super 16 color palette selection for viewing in 16 colors.
|
|
Pictures are not dithered, but look better than some dithered pics.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 6.0b 1-30-92
|
|
* Added VESA ver 1.2 checking, so it recognizes hi-color modes.
|
|
* Added Alt M to menu to tell you what modes are currently defined.
|
|
* Added Alt C to menu to set the hi-color mode (8, 15, 16, or 24 bit).
|
|
* Fixed Alt S (from the keyboard) to rescan a drive after Alt F9.
|
|
* Fixed 'Abort, Retry, Fail' problem when you have additional floppy
|
|
drives above drive C.
|
|
|
|
VPIC ver 6.0c 2-09-92
|
|
* Fixed drives in directory tree so they can go from A to Z.
|
|
|