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1980-03-26
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0ØF7ØØØØØL0ØØØØØÞ JØF JØØ dØØØØ# µØØØØK 7Ø1JØ#
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¬"~¬"" ¬"~ " ¬" "" ¬"" ""¯ "" ¬""¬""
(c) 1996 John Hawkins
Introduction
-=-=-=-=-=-=
The logo says it all really. IFF to ASCII is a simple program that converts
IFF pictures into text files, so you can create that group logo or stunning
piece of ASCII art you've always wanted.
Copyright conditions
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This program is copyrighted by John Hawkins of HaVoC software. It may be
freely distributed as long as the following conditions are met:
1> This document file is always included in ANY distribution. I would prefer
if you could include the examples files, but this is not essential.
2> The product is not sold for any more than standard PD prices, with the
exception of special compilations such as CDs or magazine coverdisks.
3> If you like it, a donation of £5 to the address below would be really
appreciated (see below for more details).
4> There is NO condition number 4.
Getting started
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
If you're going to convert a picture into text, you're fairly obviously
going to need a picture first. This is very straightforward. I use Dpaint,
but any iff-outputting package will do.
Draw your picture in hires (640x256 or 640x200) and in 2 colours.
This is very important. If the screen size is wrong, the program will just
fit it in the best it can, but if you use any more colours than 2 you're
heading for a disaster.
So, you've got your 640x200/256 2 colour masterpiece. Save it to disc.
Now, load up the program. You can either do this from workbench by
double-clicking on the icon, or from the CLI, whichever you prefer.
Upon loading the program you are presented with an information screen. click
a mouse button to proceed. You're now into the main program. notice that you
have a purple control panel (refered to as the control panel) on top of a
blank screen (refered to as the processing area).
The main program
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
To be honest, it's very straightforward generating your ASCII pics. The
process can be broken down into a number of very simple steps:
-Load in IFF picture
-Select character set (optional)
-Select portion of picture to convert (optional)
-Convert it
-Save the ASCII file
Loading in your IFF picture
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is very simple. On the control panel, click on Load IFF. A file
requester will now appear, from which you should select the IFF file you
want to convert. Remember it should be 640x256/200 and in 2 colours. Click
Ok, and the picture will be loaded into the processing area.
Selecting a character set
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is an optional part of the process, so you can completely ignore it if
you wish.
This part allows you to determine which characters will be used to make up
your ASCII picture. You have a choice between letters, most and all- all
being the default.
If letters is selected, your picture will only be made up from upper and
lower case letters and no other characters.
If most is selected, your picture will be made up from all characters up to
character 128 in the amiga ASCII set, thus giving more compatability with
other ASCII sets.
If all is selected, all applicable characters in the amiga ascii set will be
used. This is the best to use when the result is only going to be shown on
the amiga, although may be a little slower than the other two to generate,
and wierd results could occur if you view it on other machines with other
ascii sets.
In order to change the character set, merely click on the cycle gadget in
the bottom left hand corner of the control panel (underneath the words
'character set:'). The one that will be used is the one displayed.
Selecting a portion of the screen to convert
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This again is optional: if you want to convert the entire picture, then go
straight on to the next stage.
Note that on the control panel you are given the width and height in
characters that will currently be used. The defaults are a width of 80 and a
height of 32- i.e. 80 columns and 32 rows. Be aware that although a hires
screen can fit 80 characters across it, a lot of text viewers and editors
have borders and scrollbars limiting you to 78 or 79 characters across.
If you only want to convert some of the picture, the process is very simple.
First, click on the '<-Set' button on the control panel. The control panel
will now dissapear, exposing the whole picture. You need to click and drag a
rectangle which holds the area you want to convert. To do this, first click
anywhere on the screen. Then, without letting go of the left button, move
the mouse until the correct rectangle is displayed, then let go of the left
button. The control panel will now re-appear, and your new width and height
will be displayed.
Converting it
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Now, the important bit. Once you're all set up by the previous three stages,
simply click on the 'GO!' button on the control panel and you're away.
In the processing area, you can see very clearly the program's progress, as
when each new character is generated, it is printed over the area of screen
it represents. There is also a progress bar on the right hand side of the
control panel- the more white it is, the more the program has got done.
Note also on the right hand side of the control panel the word match. The
percentage to the right of this signifies how close the last letter
generated was to the block it represented. A 100% match will only usually be
achieved by blocks of blank space.
When the conversion has finished, the iff picture will be removed, and your
piece of ascii art will be displayed in the processing area in it's full
glory. A report window will also display, giving details about the
conversion. Note that these values could be a bit wrong if you aborted
early. When you've finished reading the report window, click a mouse button
to return to the control panel.
If at any time you want to abort, click on, and hold down the 'Stop' button
on the control panel (don't let go of the mouse until the report window
displays).
Saving the ASCII file
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
To finish off, you need to save the result. To do this, click on Save ASCII
on the control panel. A file requester appears in which you should specify
the name of your new ASCII masterpiece.
And that's it- it's as easy as anything.
Other buttons
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There are two other buttons on the control panel that are as yet
unexplained, but also very self-explanatory.
About reproduces the about screen that appears at the start of the program.
Quit, surprisingly enough, quits the program.
Hints and tips
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
There are several things you can try in order to get better results:
-Remember that you can always tweak your ascii file in a text editor
afterwards, such as spacing bits out and changing characters around. So
always leave a bit of space at the right hand edge of your picture.
-If you want to convert a picture of more than 2 colours or a different
resolution, programs like dpaint can very effectively change screen formats,
as well as doing the necessary dithering. It may be worth a try.
-Clear shapes with lots of space around probably convert most accurately,
but you may well get interesting effects from less clear pictures, so give
them a try.
-The easiest way to create an ASCII logo is to write it out in a very big
font in a paint package, then convert it. The logo at the top of this file
was done in this manner- using a pd font called cswiss, which was drawn in
102 point size. The bigger the font the better the result.
-Experimentation is probably the key to success.
Feedback and donations
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
If you like this program I would really appreciate a donation. If you can
send me a donation of £5 I will send you the Amospro source code on a disk
with some other goodies.
Otherwise, please feel free to contact me for any reason: comments, ideas,
suggestions, bug reports, pleas for help, queries or anything. Also if you
have created any particularly good Ascii art with this program I would be
very pleased to see it.
Snail-mail: John Hawkins,
29, Shields, Crescent,
Castle Donington,
Derby,
DE74 2JS.
E-mail: ssu95jh1@reading.ac.uk
web: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~ssu95jh1/
(I've got an amiga page on my site, too!)
Current projects
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Multimedia engine
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
No fixed title as yet. A multimedia program along the lines of hyperbook et
al. Hopefully to be released as licenceware. It's absolutely massive. Don't
miss it. Should be released before easter 96.
Operative
-=-=-=-=-
A futuristic 1st person perspective dungeon-master style game. 1 or 2
players. It's going to be an epic. Again, possibly licenceware, and should
be released before easter 96.
Havoc rainbows
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Just finished. Available on my web site, and wherever else I can get it to.
It's basically a rainbow designer for Amos pro. What more can you say?