ftp.xmission.com/2014.06.ftp.xmission.com.tar/ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/fractint/archive/v01.n010

Internet Message Format | 1997-08-29 | 42KB

From: [e-mail] (fractint Digest)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: fractint Digest V1 #10
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Sender: [e-mail]
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Precedence:


fractint Digest        Friday, August 29 1997        Volume 01 : Number 010



In this issue:

    (fractint) Color Printing
    Re: (fractint) Color Printing
    Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    Re: (fractint) Color Printing
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    (fractint) A minor FRM file searching speedup
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas
    (fractint) 32bit version of fractint
    (fractint) Plasma Algorithm
    Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas
    Re: (fractint) 32bit version of fractint
    Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas
    (fractint) Those awful viewwindows
    Re: (fractint) Those awful viewwindows
    (fractint) fractint porting information
    Re: (fractint) A minor FRM file searching speedup
    Re: (fractint) 32bit version of fractint
    Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas
    Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards
    Re: (fractint) fractint porting information
    Re: (fractint) fractint porting information

See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the fractint
or fractint-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 12:01:39 -0500
From: Jack Gill <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) Color Printing

I've just downloaded Fractint and Winfractint.  I can print in color
with Winfractint, but Fractint (dos) will not print in color.  I've
changed the sstools.ini but there is no option that I've found for a hp
Deskjet color printer.  It prints fine in black and white if I select hp
for the laserjet.

Any suggestions on how to print in color with the Deskjet would be
appreciated.

Jack Gill
[e-mail]


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 11:04:49 -0600
From: Rich Thomson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Color Printing

In article <[e-mail]> ,
    Jack Gill <[e-mail]>  writes:
> Any suggestions on how to print in color with the Deskjet would be
> appreciated.

I suppose you could always render to a GIF file and use a windows
utility to print the GIF?
- --
  ``Between stimulus and response is the will to choose.''  -- Steven Covey
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
     3D Paint: The Power to Create in 3D;        Rich Thomson
     email me for more info                [e-mail]

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: 28 Aug 97 13:36:52 EDT
From: George Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas

Friends,

I've been following this thread with interest, since I wrote the most recent
changes to the Fractint "search for a formula" code, and will probably take on
making any additional changes which the group wants. Version 19.6 added the
"frm:" feature for including formulas in par files, and changed somewhat the
sequence of events in a formula search. (BTW, there is a bug in the 19.6 "frm:"
feature which appears when a formula and image entry in a par file have the same
name - this has been fixed for the next release).

The Fractint documentation does not get into detail about how the program goes
about finding a formula, lsystem or ifs entry. Here is that detail:

I.  Item selected from menu screen in interactive mode:

     a. The item selected is always the one highlighted on the screen.

II. Item is named as a command parameter in a .par file

     a. First, some definitions:

          1. Default directory - the directory where the default .frm,
             .l, or .ifs file is located upon starting up fractint.

          2. Current item directory - the last directory from which a
             formula, lsys, or ifs item was selected, as applicable.

          3. Current directory - the directory you were in when you started
             fractint, unless you changed it by shelling to DOS.

          4. Default extension - .frm for formulas, .l for lsys, .ifs for
             ifs, and .par for parameter files.

      b. Phase one - look for the file named in the parameter entry. If
         the file is found, look for the named formula, ifs or
         lsystem entry. If the entry is found, the search is done. If not,
         continue the search. The file search goes like this:

          1. Look for the named file in the current item directory (this
             must be first so that I. above works correctly).

          2. Look for the named file in the current directory (only if
             curdir=yes is in effect)

          3. Look in the .par file itself (the entry must have an
             appropriate prefix)

          4. Look for the named file in the default directory.

      c. Phase two - do a general search of the default directory in
         files having the default extension, checking each file one by
         one until the sought for entry is found, at which time the search
         ends. If not found, bzzzt the user.


If there are two formulas with the same name in two different .frm files in the
default directory, there is no guarantee that the correct one will be selected
by the final general search; nor is there any guarantee of the order in which
the files will be processed during the general search. If two formulas in the
same .frm file have the same name, the first one will *always* be selected, even
if you select the second one from the menu screen in interactive mode.

Under the current system, it is critical that formula writers give their
formulas unique names; the more active formula writers have done this by
including their initials or some variation of their names as part of the name of
each formula they write (e.g. Carr3192). You can also consult the orgform
compilation to check whether a formula name has already been used.

Hope this helps -

George Martin


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 14:16:30 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Grasso, Nick)
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

Bob Norton wrote:
> This is exactly the problem that I'm having. What video BIOS version do
> you have running on your Matrox chip?

It says I have VGA Bios 2.0. I just installed the latest NT drivers (ver
3.20 dated 7/21/97) but nothing changed. I tried running several other VESA
DOS programs, but none of them worked. I'm going to email Matrox tech
support. I'll let you know what they say. I think the BIOS can be upgraded
with software but I don't know if this will help.

Nick
[e-mail]


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 14:20:32 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Grasso, Nick)
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

Serge wrote:
>
>I also use Fractint in Windows NT 4.0 with Matrox video card. But, I have
>Mistique with 2Mb. First time I also had the same problems. Now I
>downloaded new driver from www.matrox.com and at least can work in the
>640x480x16k mode. (And all SVGA modes with 256 colors also) As I have seen,
>new driver for Millenum also available.
>
Thanks for your reply Serge. I just installed latest drivers (dated 21 July
97) but they didn't help. I'm going to email Matrox tech support.

Nick
[e-mail]


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 14:35:46 -0400
From: "Damien M. Jones" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Color Printing

Jack,

 - > Any suggestions on how to print in color with the Deskjet would be
 - > appreciated.
 -
 - I suppose you could always render to a GIF file and use a windows
 - utility to print the GIF?

I'd agree with this approach.  You'll have a lot more control over how the
image is printed, as well as a completely current driver, by using a
Windows program.  FractInt just can't (and IMO shouldn't) try to provide
support for every printer.

Personally, I've had decent results (for the price) by rendering at
1600x1200 or higher and printing on my Epson Stylus Pro.  Using the stiff
glossy cardboard-like paper runs about $1 per sheet, but as I said, for the
cost, it's great.

Damien M. Jones  /  temporary sanity designs  /  http://www.emi.net/~dmj/
   [e-mail]  /  my gallery: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2605/


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 17:18:01 -0500
From: Barry Bluestein <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

Is this truly an isssue with the card's video drivers? Or is it an issue with NT
4.0?

Grasso, Nick wrote:

> Serge wrote:
> >
> >I also use Fractint in Windows NT 4.0 with Matrox video card. But, I have
> >Mistique with 2Mb. First time I also had the same problems. Now I
> >downloaded new driver from www.matrox.com and at least can work in the
> >640x480x16k mode. (And all SVGA modes with 256 colors also) As I have seen,
> >new driver for Millenum also available.
> >
> Thanks for your reply Serge. I just installed latest drivers (dated 21 July
> 97) but they didn't help. I'm going to email Matrox tech support.
>
> Nick
> [e-mail]

- --
Barry Bluestein
TeleJamaica Design Project Manager

USAID/Kingston
2 Hainning Rd
Kingston 5, Jamaica, W.I.
809-926-5001 x3327



- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 17:33:08 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Grasso, Nick)
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

At 05:18 PM 8/28/97 Barry Bluestein wrote:
>Is this truly an isssue with the card's video drivers? Or is it an issue
with NT 4.0?
>
Very good question. I wish I knew the answer! I just emailed Matrox tech
support, so I'll post their reply. If I have time, I'll search Microsoft's
knowledge base on microsoft.com. There may be a clue there.

Nick
[e-mail]


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 00:32:59 -0500
From: Barry Bluestein <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

I wonder this especially because, as I noted earlier, I have been unable to go
over 640x480x16 under NT 4.0 with a Matrox Millennium w/ 4Mb WRAm OR a # Nine
Series 2 w/ 8Mb of VRAM.

DEEPLY disapointing!!

I've tried the MS KB. Since they reoganized it last year it has been
monumentally unhelpful, mostly.

[Serious wishful thinking below]
Tim, any plans to redo Fractint as an NT friendly, hi-res, 32-bit software? I
would rather see this even more than a 24-bit color version. The ability to
leverage the full speed of PPro 200's and P-II 300's at very high resolutions
(1600-1280 or even 2000x1600) would be so much more useful to me than 24-bit
color.

Call me easy, but I love the results of even 8-bit color. I just want the full
speed of NT on a P Pro 200 and the hi-res possible with todays better
mainstream 2D video cards, monitors and printers.

Grasso, Nick wrote:

> At 05:18 PM 8/28/97 Barry Bluestein wrote:
> >Is this truly an isssue with the card's video drivers? Or is it an issue
> with NT 4.0?
> >
> Very good question. I wish I knew the answer! I just emailed Matrox tech
> support, so I'll post their reply. If I have time, I'll search Microsoft's
> knowledge base on microsoft.com. There may be a clue there.
>
> Nick
> [e-mail]
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
> Post Message:   [e-mail]
> Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
> Administrator:  [e-mail]
> Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"



- --
Barry Bluestein
TeleJamaica Design Project Manager

USAID/Kingston
2 Hainning Rd
Kingston 5, Jamaica, W.I.
809-926-5001 x3327



- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 01:10:12 -0600 (MDT)
From: "Sean (and/or) Jaqueline" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) A minor FRM file searching speedup

  I can't say for sure, but I believe it was Tim who said there is no
saying which .frm files are searched first when Fractint is having trouble
finding a formula.
  I noticed that it was darned annoying testing out PARs and their related
.frm files downloaded from this list and other sources, because Fractint
would invariably search through all my _*.frm files before it started
searching through the new .frm files I'd just added to my formula
directory.  (Running Orgform takes a while, and I only do it when my
formula directory starts filling up.)
  But you *can predict which .frm files Fractint will search first.  It
searches the files in the order which they were added to your formula
directory, not based upon the .frm filenames or timestamps.  If you use
the DIR command at the DOS prompt, you'll see that the order in
which the files are listed is the same order that Fractint searches your
files. Same thing using the "Sortorder - None" option with LIST.COM.
  Simply making a temp directory, moving all your .frm files into it, and
then copying them back one by one in the order which you would like
Fractint to search them seems to work just fine.  Of course, a batch file
greatly speeds up this process.  :)  (I'll post an example of this batch
file if anyone cares enough to ask.)

  An example.  I have a ton of formulas that I just got from Paul
Derbyshire's excellent web-page.  I haven't yet run Orgform on them, and
they are stored in a file called DERBY.FRM.  But when running his PAR
files, Fractint searches through every OTHER .frm file before it reaches
DERBY.FRM, because it was the most recently added file in that directory
(subtly different from the file with the most recent timestamp).  So my
disk churns away for many unneccessary seconds, when *I know where the
darned new formula is!
  Just running my handy batch file whenever I download a significant
number of .par and .frm files forces Fractint to search through the files
I want it to search before it tries the _*.frm files.  And it takes a
heckuva lot less time to move these files back and forth than it does to
run Orgform more often.

    - Sean

- ---
      ****** Sean or Jaq Pratz * [e-mail] ******
      *     o  \ o / _ o      __|   \ /    |__      o _ \ o /  o    *
      *    /|\   |    /\  __\o  \o   |   o/   o/__  /\    |   /|\   *
      *    / \  / \  | \ /) |   (\  /o\  /)   |  (\ / |  / \  / \   *
      ***************************************************************


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 02:33:13 -0500
From: "Paul N. Lee" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

Grasso, Nick wrote:
>
> At 05:18 PM 8/28/97 Barry Bluestein wrote:
> >
> > Is this truly an isssue with the card's video drivers?  Or is it
> > an issue with NT 4.0?
> >
> Very good question. I wish I knew the answer!  I just emailed
> Matrox tech support, so I'll post their reply.  If I have time,
> I'll search Microsoft's knowledge base on microsoft.com.  There
> may be a clue there.
>

I know normally to find out if it's a video driver problem under Win-95,
you would try running under "Safe Mode"???  This is a good test to see
where problems really lie.

But under Win-NT 4.0, you have to do a Shut Down, Restart the computer,
and when the OS Loader menu appears select the Windows NT Version
(Server or Workstation) 4.00 [VGA mode] option.  Then test the problem.
If the problem does not occur, you may have a problem with the installed
video driver.  Where you would then consult the video adapter
manufacturer to obtain an updated video driver.

Here is a good link to go to for some NT specifc information on video
driver problems:
    http://www.microsoft.com/kb/articles/Q155/6/81.htm

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 11:01:50 +0000
From: Peter Otterstaetter <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas

Hello friends,

George Martin wrote:
> Under the current system, it is critical that formula writers give their
> formulas unique names; the more active formula writers have done this by
> including their initials or some variation of their names as part of the name of
> each formula they write (e.g. Carr3192). You can also consult the orgform
> compilation to check whether a formula name has already been used.

I think, to identify a formula, the most important thing is NOT its
name but its CONTENT. So why not use a "content dependend
identifier" like a "hash count" or a "fingerprint" (may be some
techniques used in PGP would help) as a formula identifier?
Just an idea.

Peter



- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter Otterstaetter
BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Zentralbereich Informatik
ZXA/U Anwendungsentwicklung
D-67056 Ludwigshafen
E-mail: [e-mail]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
All things come to those who wait. They come, but often come too late.
    From Lady Mary M. Curie: Tout Vient a Qui Sait Attendre (1890)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 97 14:28:50 +0100
From: "Guenther Pfannhauser" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) 32bit version of fractint

On Fri, 29 Aug 1997 00:32:59 -0500, Barry Bluestein wrote:

>Tim, any plans to redo Fractint as an NT friendly, hi-res, 32-bit software?

It's a good idea to port FRACTINT on a 32-bit plattform. But it is a
fact that DOS (or an emulation) comes with every 32-bit system.
Isn't it better to port Fractint on Linux (I'll think it's already
done)? Because Linux is free and not everyone wants to pay a lot of
money for an operating-system which he (or she) does only need for
creating fractint-images!

The advantage of a multithreaded Fractint will be great. For example:
rendering an image in background while configuring the parameters for
the next image, or similar...





GP

- -------
E-mail: [e-mail]
visit my homepage: http://www2.htl-hl.ac.at/~3825/
- -------
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!






- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 11:45:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Chester A. Kustarz ii" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) Plasma Algorithm

Hello.

I am interested in the "Plasma" fractal type and looked at the
source code. Since I am not familiar with any of the source,
it is very hard to figure out what's going on with it.

I was wondering if anybody knew how the algorithm worked.
I absolutely do not need the integer math tricks because
im trying to port it for a power-mac, and it really doesnt
need to be as fast as possible.

Also, fractint seems to have some really great color palettes.
I looked at some docs and stuff a *little* but not enough to
understand how they are generated. Does anybody have any pointers?

Thanks,
Chester Kustarz
University of Michigan.



- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: 29 Aug 97 12:17:27 EDT
From: George Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas

Friends,

Peter Otterstaetter wrote:

>I think, to identify a formula, the most important thing is NOT its
>name but its CONTENT. So why not use a "content dependend
>identifier" like a "hash count" or a "fingerprint" (may be some
>techniques used in PGP would help) as a formula identifier?
>Just an idea.

Worth a look, but this would constitute a *major* change in the way
Fractint handles the identification of formula, par, ifs, and lsystem
entries. Also, there is a fair amount of formula rewriting going on. For
example, quite a few formulas have been rewritten to take advantage of the
new if..else feature of the formula parser. These formulas look much
different than the originals, and run much faster; but in fact draw the
identical images as the original formulas with the same underlying math.
I wouldn't want to lose the ability to have such improved formulas
automatically used by old parfiles, as they can be now because the
formula name remains the same.

And Sean Pratz wrote:

>I noticed that it was darned annoying testing out PARs and their related
>.frm files downloaded from this list and other sources, because Fractint
>would invariably search through all my _*.frm files before it started
>searching through the new .frm files I'd just added to my formula
>directory.

I'll look into adding a command line option to specify the directory in
which Orgform files are located. Then the search order could be "default
formula directory" followed by "Orgform directory". A nice side effect is
that only one file in the Orgform directory needs to be searched; for
example, if the formula name is "abc", the only file that needs to be
looked at is _a.frm. If it's not found, there won't be a formula of that
name in _a_dup.frm either. Another benefit would occur when there are
two "abc" formulas, and the one you want to use is in _a_dup.frm. By
copying _a_dup.frm from the Orgform directory to the default formula
directory, you could be sure that the search will select the formula you
want.

BTW, I have a few of Paul Derbyshire's formulas from files "nova.frm" and
"quartz.frm" at his web page, and "pderb.frm" at the Spanky site. I don't
have a file "derby.frm" which you referred to. Can you let me know where
I can find this file? Thanks -


George Martin




- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 13:46:33 -0500
From: Barry Bluestein <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) 32bit version of fractint

Guenther, I was thinking of the size of the installed base of NT and 95 vs Linux
or Free BSD. While Linux and Free BSD are free, most users will never be adept
enough to dual boot their machines with these packages. Millions of people will
be getting NT or 95 in the upcoming years, though.

Regardless of whether Fractint is ever made 32bit or multithreaded, it does not
seem to run seamlessly under 95 or NT in all instances. I have now tried it on 3
NT 4.0 boxes, each with a different video card from different manufacturers and
higher res modes at 256 colors just won't work on any of them. I have also tried
it on 2 different 95 boxes, and 1024x768x256 won't work there either unless you
reboot into DOS mode.

Some of my graphical DOS software have the same problems, others do not. For
example, 'CHAOS - The Software' (now sadly out of print) runs perfectly on every
box I have tried it on.

Of course 32-bit and multithreaded would be just lovely! The sped issue alone
would justify that. I certainly wouldn't turn it down!

Guenther Pfannhauser wrote:

> On Fri, 29 Aug 1997 00:32:59 -0500, Barry Bluestein wrote:
>
> >Tim, any plans to redo Fractint as an NT friendly, hi-res, 32-bit software?
>
> It's a good idea to port FRACTINT on a 32-bit plattform. But it is a
> fact that DOS (or an emulation) comes with every 32-bit system.
> Isn't it better to port Fractint on Linux (I'll think it's already
> done)? Because Linux is free and not everyone wants to pay a lot of
> money for an operating-system which he (or she) does only need for
> creating fractint-images!
>
> The advantage of a multithreaded Fractint will be great. For example:
> rendering an image in background while configuring the parameters for
> the next image, or similar...
>
> GP
>
> -------
> E-mail: [e-mail]
> visit my homepage: http://www2.htl-hl.ac.at/~3825/
> -------
> LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
> Post Message:   [e-mail]
> Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
> Administrator:  [e-mail]
> Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"



- --
Barry Bluestein
TeleJamaica Design Project Manager

USAID/Kingston
2 Hainning Rd
Kingston 5, Jamaica, W.I.
809-926-5001 x3327



- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 12:01:04 -0600 (MDT)
From: "Sean (and/or) Jaqueline" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas

On 29 Aug 1997, George Martin wrote:
> I'll look into adding a command line option to specify the directory in
> which Orgform files are located.

  Awesome idea, George.  This might solve a good number of the formula
seraching problems people have.

> BTW, I have a few of Paul Derbyshire's formulas from files "nova.frm" and
> "quartz.frm" at his web page, and "pderb.frm" at the Spanky site. I don't
> have a file "derby.frm" which you referred to. Can you let me know where
> I can find this file? Thanks -

  My apologies.  This file exists only on my hard drive.  It is a
compilation of the above files into which I dump Paul's formulas whenever
I find a new one.

    - Sean

- ---
* Brought to you by Sean and/or Jaq, and their 18 cats:
    * Crystal, Sputnik, Venus, Berkeley
    * Tinker, Evers, Chance,
    * Crosby, Stills, Nash,
    * Tigger, Pooh, Piglet,
    * Orion, Cursa, Spica, Polaris, and Atria.
 [And yes, we have children, too.  Can't remember their names, though.]


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 13:38:32 -0700
From: "Jay Hill"<[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) Those awful viewwindows

Help.
When one is new to Fractint, or even not so new, a very irritating feature
is
the 'viewwindows'.  I took the list in bulk from the email and changed the
frm
blocks to have frm: in front. Now I can name the bulk file to something.par
and
begin scanning the images in the list. However as soon as I hit one of
those
cute little pictures with viewwindows set to a small part of the screen,
well that
gets irritating. How do I get it back to normal without editing the .par?
That
means at least exiting Fractint, even if just to reenter and carefully step
over
the offending images.

Any ideas? Thanks.


Jay



- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 14:53:46 -0600
From: Rich Thomson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Those awful viewwindows

In article <[e-mail]> ,
    "Jay Hill"<[e-mail]>  writes:
> How do I get it back to normal without editing the .par?

Type 'v' to get the view window screen, then say "no" for "Preview
image".
- --
  ``Between stimulus and response is the will to choose.''  -- Steven Covey
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
     3D Paint: The Power to Create in 3D;        Rich Thomson
     email me for more info                [e-mail]

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 97 14:39:17 -0700
From: Tim Gilman <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) fractint porting information

heyo,

Recently joining this list, but using Fractint for some years, I'm
curious to find information on porting the DOS version of fractint to
other processors.  I've combed through the pages maintained by Noel
Giffin, but I'm eager to learn of other people who are working on direct
assembly porting of x86 code.

Thanks,

Tim Gilman
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 18:28:56 -0600
From: "Tim Wegner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) A minor FRM file searching speedup

>   I can't say for sure, but I believe it was Tim who said there is no
> saying which .frm files are searched first when Fractint is having trouble
> finding a formula.

I may have said this, but you are right, it depends on the order they
are sorted in the directory. I thought of reading in all the files
and sorting the list before searching, but didn't want to use the
required memory.

Tim


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 18:28:56 -0600
From: "Tim Wegner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) 32bit version of fractint

> It's a good idea to port FRACTINT on a 32-bit plattform. But it is a
> fact that DOS (or an emulation) comes with every 32-bit system.
> Isn't it better to port Fractint on Linux (I'll think it's already
> done)? Because Linux is free and not everyone wants to pay a lot of
> money for an operating-system which he (or she) does only need for
> creating fractint-images!

Fractint runs on Linux now as Xfract. Also under Unix. It has nearly
every feature, though it's slower because the assembler was
translated to C.

However Linux is not the total answer because the installed base is
very small compared to Win95/DOS.

We've given a lot of thought to this platform question. We are
seriously hamstrung by our current 16 bit programming environment.
Perhaps a better solution would be to port to djgpp, the free
extended DOS GNU compiler. Such a port would still be a DOS
application, but would have 32 bit memory access.

The future probably holds a more portable Fractint that runs on many
platforms.

Tim


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 18:28:56 -0600
From: "Tim Wegner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Searching for Formulas

Peter Otterstaetter wrote:

> I think, to identify a formula, the most important thing is NOT its
> name but its CONTENT. So why not use a "content dependend
> identifier" like a "hash count" or a "fingerprint" (may be some
> techniques used in PGP would help) as a formula identifier?
> Just an idea.

This is an interesting idea, but when you try to implement it, there
are problems. Trivial changes in algebra would change the "hash
count", as would changes in names of variables.

Still, it's worth reconsidering. But for now, serious fractal
fanatics need OrgFrm or something similar.

Tim


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 18:28:56 -0600
From: "Tim Wegner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Matrox Millenium cards

> [Serious wishful thinking below]
> Tim, any plans to redo Fractint as an NT friendly, hi-res, 32-bit software? I
> would rather see this even more than a 24-bit color version.

The most common question I get is "any plans to do xxxx?" <grin!>

I personally have had ideas for three or four years that I haven't
gotten around to implementing yet. Fractint's development goes in
fits and starts, according to the interests and abilities of folks
who decide to be Stone Soup developers.

Fractint could die on the vine in it's present version (probably
won't :-)). It is also possible that an energetic developer will
burst on the scene and just do the Win95/NT port, so you'll have it
in a month. There are also many in between scenarios. :-)

I'd say a Win 95/NT port will happen, but not overnight. But I can't
predict for sure.

BTW I'm following the NT/Matrox thread with interest. Unfortunately I
have neither NT nor a Matrox, so I'm helpless to comment. I really
appreciate all the folks who have jumped in and shared (this is one
reason for the list). Bert Tyler has NT. I don't think he joined the
list, but I'll ask him to view the achive web page and search for
"NT" or "Matrox".

Tim


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 18:32:28 -0600
From: "Tim Wegner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) fractint porting information

> Recently joining this list, but using Fractint for some years, I'm
> curious to find information on porting the DOS version of fractint to
> other processors.  I've combed through the pages maintained by Noel
> Giffin, but I'm eager to learn of other people who are working on direct
> assembly porting of x86 code.

There'sa an Amiga port that has a lot of assembler. Sorry, I've
forgotten where to find this, but it's prominent on Amiga pages. What
target processor are you interested in?

Tim


- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 97 17:31:09 -0700
From: Tim Gilman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) fractint porting information

>There'sa an Amiga port that has a lot of assembler. Sorry, I've
>forgotten where to find this, but it's prominent on Amiga pages. What
>target processor are you interested in?

powerPC's are my interest.  I've done a lot of 604e work; but before I
commit myself to seriously munging through a mountain of low-level
reconstruction, which would take quite a while, I want to make sure
there's not already some kind of orchestrated effort for porting fractint
to different processors.

- -Tim Gilman

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for using Fractint, The Fractals and Fractint Discussion List
Post Message:   [e-mail]
Get Commands:   [e-mail] "help"
Administrator:  [e-mail]
Unsubscribe:    [e-mail] "unsubscribe fractint"

------------------------------

End of fractint Digest V1 #10
*****************************

To subscribe to fractint Digest, send the command:

    subscribe fractint-digest

in the body of a message to "[e-mail]".  If you want to
subscribe something other than the account the mail is coming from, such
as a local redistribution list, then append that address to the
"subscribe" command; for example, to subscribe "local-fractint":

    subscribe fractint-digest [e-mail]

A non-digest (direct mail) version of this list is also available; to
subscribe to that instead, replace all instances of "fractint-digest"
in the commands above with "fractint".

Back issues are available for anonymous FTP from ftp.xmission.com, in
pub/lists/fractint/archive.  These are organized by date.