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CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso
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FRACRAM.DOC
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1995-01-30
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FRAC-R.A.M.
DOCUMENTATION
=============
INTRODUCTION:
-------------
Frac-R.A.M. is a program designed to explore the world of fractals.
Included with the Frac-R.A.M. package are routines for the generation of
10 different types of fractals and each type can be generated in either of
two coloring methods. These fractal types can be divided into two categories
and are:
MANDELBROT TYPES
Type Method 1 Method 2
------------------- --------- ---------
Mandelbrot (T-mndlm1) (T-mndlm2)
Self Squared Dragon (T-drgnm1) (T-drgnm2)
Cosine (T-cosm1) (T-cosm2)
Hyperbolic Cosine (T-coshm1) (T-coshm2)
Phoenix (T-phnxm1) (T-phnxm2)
JULIAN TYPES
Type Method 1 Method 2
------------------- -------- ---------
Mandelbrot (T-mndlj1) (T-mndlj2)
Self Squared Dragon (T-drgnj1) (T-drgnj2)
Cosine (T-cosj1) (T-cosj2)
Hyperbolic Cosine (T-coshj1) (T-coshj2)
Phoenix (T-phnxj1) (T-phnxj2)
Users can also write their own routines for the generation of fractals
using the language of their choice (compiled languages only) and call them
from the Frac-R.A.M. program.
Frac-R.A.M. also allows the use of different color palettes for the
generated fractals. Included with the Frac-R.A.M. package are several
custom color palette files and the utility program "PALETTE". The PALETTE
utility allows the user to create their own custom color palettes.
1) Please refer to PALETTE.DOC for information on the PALETTE utility
program.
2) Please refer to USER.DOC for information on writing your own fractal
generation routines.
REQUIREMENTS:
-------------
Frac-R.A.M. requires an EGA or compatible graphics card and monitor.
Upon start-up Frac-R.A.M. will test your computer to determine if your
graphics system is compatible. If it is Frac-R.A.M. will start. If it is
not Frac-R.A.M. will inform you that your graphics card is not the correct
type and will terminate.
Frac-R.A.M. also requires a mouse. Upon start-up Frac-R.A.M. will test
your computer to determine if your computer has a mouse. If it does Frac-
R.A.M. will start. If it does not Frac-R.A.M. will inform you that your
computer requires a mouse and will terminate.
STARTING Frac-R.A.M:
--------------------
To start Frac-R.A.M. type "FracRAM" at the DOS prompt and press <ENTER>.
Frac-R.A.M. will then load and start.
RUNNING Frac-R.A.M:
-------------------
The Frac-R.A.M. screen is divided into several windows. The pattern below
depicts what each of the windows is used for:
-------- --------
| DATE | | TIME |
-------- --------
---------------------------------------------------
| |
| |
| FRACTAL DISPLAY |
| |
-------- | |
| DATA | | |
| VIEW | | |
-------- ---------------------------------------------------
Frac-R.A.M. is completely mouse driven. To select a command move the mouse
cursor (the pointing hand) to the desired command button and press the left
mouse button. The button that the mouse points to will appear to press. The
selected command will now be executed.
Some commands require a fractal to have been "Built" first. If any of these
commands are selected before the building of a fractal the user will be
notified of the need to build a fractal first.
Some commands require additional input. When this is the case a pop-up
DIRECTORY window will appear. The DIRECTORY window has four buttons and two
sub-windows. The largest window is used to display the list of options. The
small window displays the selected option. The buttons and their functions are
listed below:
ENTER - Records the selected option name and returns the
player to the program.
UP - Scrolls the option list up.
DOWN - Scrolls the option list down.
CANCEL - Cancels any selections made and returns the player
to the program.
MANUAL - To manually enter an option name move the mouse to
the small window and press the left mouse button.
Once this has been done the small window will fill
with a dotted pattern and the name of the desired
option can be entered manually. To complete the
manual input press <ENTER>.
The main program buttons and their functions are listed below:
LOAD - The LOAD option scans the disk for all fractal
("*.FRC") files and displays a list of these files
in the DIRECTORY window. The user can then select
a file to load.
SAVE - The SAVE option prompts the user for a name to
save the fractal file under.
TYPE - The TYPE option scans the disk for all executable
("?-??????.EXE") files and displays a list of these
files in the DIRECTORY window.
MAKE - The MAKE option writes all of the parameters (size,
detail, and iteration limit) required for fractal
generation to the file "FRACTAL.DAT". The MAKE
option then "shells" out to the fractal generation
routine selected with the TYPE option. The fractal
generation routine then reads the parameters from
the FRACTAL.DAT file and generates the fractal.
COLOR - The COLOR option scans the disk for all palette
("*.PAL") files and displays a list of these files
in the DIRECTORY window.
SIZE - The SIZE option produces and displays a list of
size determination methods in the DIRECTORY window.
The size determination methods are:
ZOOM-IN - Allows one to select the fractal
size (horizontal and vertical start
and stop values) graphically with the
mouse. To select a horizontal and
vertical START value move the mouse
cursor to a desired region of the
fractal and press the left mouse button.
Now to select a horizontal and vertical
STOP value move the mouse cursor to a
desired region of the fractal and again
press the left mouse button.
NOTE: 1) As the mouse is moved about the
current horizontal and vertical values
are displayed in the "DATA VIEW" window;
NOTE: 2) The area inside of the box is
the actual area that will be generated.
PIVOT --- Allows one to select the fractal
pivot point (horizontal and vertical
values) graphically with the mouse.
To select a horizontal and vertical
pivot value move the mouse cursor to
a desired region of the fractal and
press the left mouse button.
NOTE: 1) As the mouse is moved about
the current horizontal and vertical
values are displayed in the "DATA VIEW"
window.
NOTE: 2) The pivot value is only used
for the generation of Julian types.
QUERY --- Allows one to read the horizontal and
vertical values anywhere on the fractal.
This is done graphically with the mouse.
As the mouse is moved about the current
horizontal and vertical values are displayed
in the "DATA VIEW" window.
KEYBOARD -Allows the user to manually enter the axis
end points. These end points are:
X_START - Horizontal (X axis) start value.
X_STOP -- Horizontal (X axis) stop value.
Y_START - Vertical (Y axis) start value.
Y_STOP -- Vertical (Y axis) stop value.
X_PIVOT - Horizontal (X axis) pivot value.
Please note that this parameter is only
used for JULIAN type fractals.
Y_PIVOT - Vertical (Y axis) pivot value.
Please note that this parameter is only
used for JULIAN type fractals.
ZOOM-OUT -Sets the horizontal and vertical axis limits
to the maximum allowed by Frac-R.A.M. (+/- 5.0).
EXPORT- The EXPORT option saves the current fractal (including
the pallete) as a PCX formatted image. Additionally, a
text (.DAT) file containing the fractals parameters is
also written to the disk.
DETAIL -The DETAIL option produces and displays a list
of iteration limits in the DIRECTORY window.
EXIT - The EXIT option terminates Frac-R.A.M.
HINTS and NOTES:
----------------
HINTS
1) The lower the detail (iteration limit) the quicker the fractal will
generate (with the poorest quality also). However, this is useful when one
wants to zoom into an area and does not care about fractal quality.
2) For the best quality one should increase the detail as one zooms into
a fractal area.
3) All of the fractal generation routines provided with this package allow the
user to terminate the fractal generation - simply press the "ESC" button and
when the routine finishes the current column it will terminate.
NOTES
1) Copyright (C) Ronald Marsh, 1991, All rights reserved.
2) In no event shall Ronald Marsh be liable for any loss of profit or any
other damages from the use of this program.