United Public Domain Gold 4/United Public Domain Gold 4.iso/tbag/tb015.dms/tb015.adf/Doc-Files/Graphics.Doc

Text File | 1988-01-02 | 21KB | 532 lines

Graphics Docs

This file includes Documentation for all files in the Graphics Drawer. They
have all been combined into one to save disk space.

The Docs included in this file are:

Play.Doc
Clip-It.Doc
SuperBreakOut.Doc
View.Doc


Doc File Headers are in RED!

*****************************************************************************

PLAY Documentation


Sonix Score Player 1.0 - December 1, 1987
(C) Copyright 1987 Mark Riley,
All Rights Reserved.

Sonix is a trademark of Aegis Development, Inc.
Amiga and Workbench are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc.


Some Information About PLAY
===========================

PLAY is that program you've been patiently waiting for that'll let you
listen to Sonix tunes without Sonix itself.  Not only can you play scores,
but you can also create PLAY scripts that play multiple scores, one right
after the next.  This allows for continuous music which is desirable for
slide shows and the like.  This is possible since PLAY can start a score
playing, while preloading the next score.  In addition, PLAY may be used
from either the Workbench or the CLI.

This program is ShareWare; it isn't free.  If you like PLAY and want to
continue to use it, please send $10 to the address below.  This will make
you a legal user of PLAY.

  Mark Riley - Play
  P.O. Box 234
  Simi Valley, CA 93062

Thank you!  Paying for PLAY will help to reimburse me for the time I spent
on it, as well as to provide improved versions with time...  If you have
any questions or comments regarding PLAY, I can be reached at the above
address or the following services:

BIX: mriley - PLINK: SONIX

PLAY is a quality program, well worth the money you'll spend for it.  With
PLAY you don't need to buy an expensive music composing program if all you
want to do is listen.  So, let PLAY and your Amiga rock you...

Enjoy!  -Mark-


Important Note
==============

You (as an individual) may freely redistribute PLAY in its original unaltered
(and PAKed) state provided that you do not charge money for the program.
PLAY is intended for private use only.  It is copyrighted software.  It may
not be used (in full or in part) for commercial applications, nor may it be
used for demonstration purposes associated with commercial applications.
If it is your desire to do so, I may be reached at the above address or at
[phone] to discuss licensing arrangements for including PLAY or its
object code routines into your application.


What You've Got Here
====================

This file "Play.pak" was created by another utility I put together called
Pak (which is now floating around the various BBS's.)  In addition to
the PLAY files, I've thrown in my LED program which swaps in/out the audio
filter on an Amiga 500 or 2000.

Play           The Sonix score player itself
Play.doc       The file you are now reading
Play.info      An icon for the score player
Score.info     A generic score icon
Script.info    A generic script file icon
Scores.info    A generic scores drawer icon
LED            Swaps audio filter on A500/A2000
LED.info       Icon for the LED program


Playing Scores from the Workbench
=================================

Before you can use PLAY from the Workbench, there's a little setting up
to do.  First off, PLAY and it's ".info" file should be copied to the root
directory of the disk that contains your Sonix scores.  Secondly, if your
scores are located in a directory other than the root, you need to copy
the "Scores.info" drawer icon into the score directory's parent directory.
If your score directory is named "My Tunes" then the drawer icon should
be named "My Tunes.info".  Thirdly, you need to make copies of the
"Score.info" icon file for each score and place them in the same directory
as that score.  These icons must have the same name as the score file with
".info" appended at the end.  If a score is named "Jingle Bells.smus" then
the corresponding icon should be named "Jingle Bells.smus.info".  If the
instruments for a particular score are in a different directory, then you
must specify where they are in the icon file.  To do this, select the icon
for the score, then select the Info item in the Workbench menu.  In the
Tool Types box type the pathname of the instrument directory after the
"I=" and Save the info file.  Relative pathnames such as "I=/Instruments"
are ok here.

Now, just double click on a score icon and it should load and play.  You
may also use extended selection to play multiple scores in the order they
were selected.  If PLAY encounters a problem and can't load the score it
will "beep" the display and try to load the next score (if any.)  If you
wish to stop playing a score, double click on the PLAY icon.  Also, if
you try to play a score while another is playing, the new score will
override the previous one.


Playing Scores from the CLI
===========================

Usage: PLAY [*] [I=instrdir] score[.SMUS]

If you plan on using PLAY from the CLI then copy "Play" to your commands
"c:" directory.  Just specify the pathname for the instruments directory
and the pathname for the score, and PLAY will load and play that score.
You don't need to type the ".smus" part of the score name as PLAY will
do that for you if necessary.  Use quotes if a pathname has spaces in it.
If you want PLAY to run asynchronously, add the asterisk as the first
parameter.  This works better than "run" because it allows you to perform
an "endcli" properly.  This is useful for playing songs from a startup
sequence.  To stop a score while playing, just issue a Ctrl-C to abort
(if PLAY is running asynchronously then use "play *" or start another score
playing to abort the original score.)

Example:

1> dir
     Scores (dir)
     Instruments (dir)
1> dir scores
  Jingle Bells.smus           Cameo.smus
  YTV.smus
1> play i=instruments "scores/jingle bells"
1> cd scores
1> play i=/instruments ytv cameo.smus
1> cd /instruments
1> play * /scores/cameo
1>


Creating & Using PLAY Scripts
=============================

PLAY scripts basicly allow you to sequence through many songs back-to-back.
This feature is especially useful for slide shows or demonstrations that
require backround music.  You might even want to setup a sequence of songs
you want your Amiga to play in the backround while you are busy with other
tasks.  One important feature of PLAY scripts is that they enable you
to play one score while loading the next.  This way you get continuous
music since no time is spent loading a score between songs.

To create a PLAY script, you need a text editor of some type.  PLAY scripts
consist of a series of options seperated by spaces, commas, or carriage
returns.  Most options consist of a letter, an equals sign "=", and an
argument.  If an argument (such as a pathname) has spaces in it then
enclose that argument in quotes.  When you save your PLAY script, you might
want to use the extension ".play" so that you can distinguish PLAY scripts
from other types of files.  PLAY script options are discussed in the next
section.

You may start a PLAY script from either the Workbench or the CLI.  You must
put a copy of the "Script.info" icon file in the same directory with your
PLAY script (appropriately renamed.)  Just double-click on the icon to
start your script playing.  To invoke a PLAY script from the CLI you
use the following:

Usage: PLAY [*] P=script

In addition to aborting a PLAY script with a Ctrl-C, you may stop the
current song and skip to the next with a Ctrl-E.  When invoked from
a CLI, PLAY can report any errors it encounters within a script file.

Example:

1> dir
     Scores (dir)
     Instruments (dir)
  Demo.play
1> dir scores
  Cool.smus                   Cameo.smus
  Rollover.smus               YTV.smus
1> type demo.play
;This is a demo PLAY script:

d=scores        ;Set current directory
i=/instruments  ;Specify instruments directory

r=2                 ;Repeat the following twice
  v=128 c=3 a=cool  ;1/2 volume & repeated 3 times
  v=-1 a=cameo      ;Use score's original volume
.                   ;End of repeat loop

r=0           ;Repeat the following forever
  a=rollover  ;A bunch of asyncronous scores
  a=ytv
  c=2 a=cool  ;Repeated twice again
  a=cameo
.             ;End of repeat loop
1> play p=demo.play
1>


PLAY Script Options
===================

These options may be used in either a PLAY script or in the command line
itself.  For simplicity's sake, the usage desciptors do not indicate all
of these options.

score       A filename by itself indicates a score to be loaded and played.
            PLAY will append ".smus" to the filename as necessary.

A=score     This option tells PLAY to play the specified score and proceed
            immediately with loading the next score.  This allows for
            continuously playing music.  One drawback is that you need
            enough memory to hold two scores and their instruments into
            memory at one time.

I=instrdir  This specifies to PLAY where to look for a score's instruments.
            This applies to all subsequent scores until it is changed again
            with another "I=".  Relative pathnames are ok here.

D=newdir    PLAY scripts inherit their current directory from the Workbench
            or CLI.  You can specify a new current directory with this
            option.  Relative pathnames are also legal here.

C=count     Specifies how many times to repeat a score.  A value of zero
            indicates that this score is to be repeated forever (or until
            aborted...)  The count value applies only to the next score to
            be played.

V=volume    Specifies the volume at which the following scores will be
            played.  The valid range is from 0 to 255.  A value of -1
            uses the score's default volume.

R=repeat    This option allows you to repeat a block of options (and
.           scores) a number of times.  The repeat block is bounded by
            the repeat option and a period "." (or another repeat option.)
            A value of zero indicates that the block is to be repeated
            forever.  Repeat blocks only work from within PLAY scripts.

;comment    A semi-colon ";" indicates that the rest of a line is a
            comment.

P=script    You may link to another PLAY script from within a PLAY script.


The LED Program
===============

This program toggles the brightness of the front panel LED.  Also, on the
Amiga 500 & 2000 it will swap in/out the audio filter.  It can be
started from either the Workbench or the CLI.  Type "LED ?" to see the
parameters for CLI invocation.  While running a program that uses Amiga
sound output, try double clicking on the icon and you'll notice a
substantial difference when the filter gets swapped out.  It's like
someone took the cotton out of your ears!  You may hear a squealling sound;
this is the aliasing that the filter was designed to eliminate in the first
place.  Double clicking again will turn the filter back on.

Example:  (for using with the CLI)

1> play * ytv   ;Play a score asynchronously
1> led ?        ;Lets you see usage
LED 1.1 - Mark Riley - 11/11/87
Usage: LED [DIM|BRIGHT|TOGGLE]
1> led          ;Toggles status of audio filter
1> led bright   ;Turns filter on
1> led dim      ;Turns filter off
1> led toggle   ;Same as "led" by itself
1>



****************************************************************************

   ClipIt 1.1                            Copyright (c) 1987 by Mike Scalora


   This program is shareware.   Freely distributable as long as this
   notice stays in.

   This program was originally uploaded to PeopleLink's Amiga Zone.  The
   Amiga Zone has well over 3000 members, and a library of thousands of
   public domain files.  If you're interested in joining us, call
      800-524-0100 (voice)
   or 800-826-8855 (modem).

  This program is shareware.  If you use it, please send me $10 so I can
  continue to not work at McDonald's so that I will have the free time
  to write program for you, the Amiga community.  Please give ClipIt
  to all the Amgia users you know.

  Non-distributable source code is available (on disk) for $20 (Includes
  shareware fee!).  The source code for this is Benchmark Modula-2 and
  assembler.  To compile the source you must have Benchmark Modula-2.
  If you want to re-assemble the InputHandler, you must also have an
  assembler. (Asm68K, the PD assembler, will NOT work, sorry.  It does
  not work with the Benchmark Modula-2 include files.)  A make file will
  also be included.  Free updates with SASMw/3.5"disk.
  Source shows how to:
    - write an InputHandler (in ASM) and interface it with Modula-2
    - write simple ILBM files (1.4K routine vs. 5K for library routine)
    - do window iconification.

  Send your contribution to:

  Mike SCARY Scalora
  342 Hurley Ave
  Kingston, NY  12401

  NOTE to PLink users: Shareware fees can be paid using a PLink gift!  Save
                       time and stamps!

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

  ClipIt is a utility for the Amiga that lets you take 'clips' of graphics
  from any screen.  The 'clips' are 'clipped' into a window and can then
  be saved in IFF format.  You can have up to 5 'clips' at any one time.
  You can have 'clips' on any screen**.

  ** 1)  Some screens don't like windows on them (i.e. DPaintII) and 'clip'
         windows will erase what is under them.

  ** 2)  If you close a screen while there is a 'clip' window on it, you
         stand a good chance of meeting the guru or locking up ClipIt.  I
         tried this a few times to see what would happen.  I never got the
         guru, but I locked up ClipIt every time.

  How to use ClipIt:

  To take a clip, just hold down the LEFT-Alt key and drag out an
  imaginary box with the mouse and the LEFT-Button.  That was
  LEFT-Alt - LEFT-Button-drag.  Got it?  Good!

  NOTES: You can only clip from the front screen, and to get good results,
  you should have this screen pulled all the way up.

  The ClipIt window.  When you run ClipIt, it opens a control window on
  the Workbench screen.  This window is used to select options and
  save 'clips'.  There are 5 number gadgets that select the 'clip' to
  be saved.  The SAVE AS gadgets is used to save the 'clips'.  Next to it
  is a string gadgets that is used to specify the file name to save the
  'clip' under.  The default file name is 'RAM:Clip.iff'.  There is
  also a gadget labeled 'Clip to Workbench'.  When this gadget is on,
  all 'clip' windows will be opened on the Workbench screen.  When the
  'Color' gadget is on, 'clip' windows will be opened with the border
  in color 3 instead of color 1.  'Kill HOT-KEYS' turns off ClipIt.
  While this gadget is selected, any LEFT-Alt - LEFT-Button events will
  be passed on to intuition. The last gadget is 'Iconify', this gadget
  closes the control window and opens a small 'icon' window.  To open the
  control window back up, just click in the non-border area of the 'icon'
  window.

  ClipIt will run from both CLI and Workbench.  If you run ClipIt from
  Workbench, a small, I'm talking small here, window will be opened in
  the very top left corner.  How small you ask?  1 by 1!

  ClipIt will refuse to make clips that are too large or too small.

  NOTE: If you need to use Alt and the LEFT-Button on the mouse and you
  don't want to use 'Kill HOT-KEYS', use the RIGHT-Alt.  RIGHT-Alt is NOT
  used by ClipIt.

  I was thinking of making the clip windows sizable.  It would take a bit
  of code.  Is it needed?  Wadda ya thin?  I was also thinking about
  putting in a 'save-screen' feature.  Is this needed with all the PD
  screen savers around?  If I did that, I think I would have to go to a
  packed ILBM file.  That could turn out to be a lot of code also.

  If you find a bug, OR you thing you have a good idea of something else
  that could be put into ClipIt, please let me know.

  I can be reached at:

  People Link: SCARY
  Internet   : [e-mail]
  CI$        : 73717,2334    (every other cold day in hell)

  OR

  - ] Mike SCARY Scalora [ -
  342 Hurley Ave 7-12
  Kingston, NY  12401
*****************************************************************************

                SUPER BRICKOUT
                --------------
                           by
                  James David Walley

    For all those with a nostalgia for the first video games, here is an
all-time classic.  (Did you know that the Atari arcade version was programmed by
none other than Steve Wozniak?)

    This version is based on the first Brickout made available for the
Amiga, written in ABasiC by Wayne Davison.  Super Breakout is written in C, and
includes a few new features:

    o Three games available:
        BRICKOUT -- The standard
        BRICKTHRU -- The ball keeps going until it hits a wall
        DOUBLE -- Two paddles and two balls
    o True STEREO sound
    o Different tones from each brick hit.  Make music with your game!

    One note:  for best game-play with the DOUBLE game, I would recommend a
system with TRUE FastRam.

    While the game of Brickout is certainly a generic concept, this specific
version is (C)opyright 1987 by Bit Player Software.  The author of this program
and Bit Player Software give permission for this game to be freely distributed,
under the following conditions:

    1) This game may not be modified, and must be distributed along
       with this documentation file.
    2) No charge may be made for this game (user groups, public-domain
       disk libraries, and the like may charge a sum not exceeding $5
       to defray charges for media, postage, etc.).
    3) This game may NOT be uploaded to or posted on CompuServe without
       written permission of the author and Bit Player Software.  Until
       such time as CompuServe ceases to claim copyright over all
           programs uploaded to it, and readmits John Foust to the AmigaForum,
       such permission will be AUTOMATICALLY denied.

    If you enjoy Super Brickout, your contributions would be welcomed.  We
are a new software company that would like to be able to go the shareware route
as much as possible.  In order to help us do that, please send any contributions
to:
            Bit Player Software
            9021 Evergreen Way--Suite 130
            Everett, WA   98204-7118

    We thank you for your support.
*****************************************************************************

VIEW Documentation


IFF (ILBM) Picture VIEWer 1.0 - January 1, 1988
(C) Copyright 1987 Mark Riley, All Rights Reserved.

VIEW is a *small* utility for displaying IFF pictures.  Now, I realize that
there are plenty of IFF viewers out there already, but I thought that this
one would be of interest because of its small size (only 600 bytes.)  There's
no fancy anything in VIEW, since it is optimized for size.  This means no
error messages or built in usage facilities.  Thus, VIEW is the smallest,
tiniest, dirtiest IFF picture VIEWer in town (until some tall dark stranger
comes up and blows it away... ;-)  If you haven't guessed already, VIEW
is written in assembly language.

I'd like to thank Andry Rachmat for posting USHOW 2.0; there were some neat
tricks for optimizing in it.  No doubt VIEW can probably be squeezed in size
further, but I thought I'd release it and see what someone else can come
up with.

Feel free to redistribute VIEW (for non commercial purposes only.)  If there
are any questions or problems, I can be reached at the following services:

PLINK: SONIX - BIX: mriley

Happy VIEWing....  ;-)  -Mark-

P.S.  I'll be uploading a more robust version of VIEW that'll interact with
      PLAY (my Sonix score player) and allow people to easily put together
      really polished looking slide shows w/music.  Look for it at a BBS
      near you!


VIEWing Pictures
================

VIEW is simple to use.  You may want to install it into your "c:" directory
before you use it though.  This way it'll be there no matter which directory
you move to.

Usage: VIEW picture

Don't use quotes when typing the picture name, even if there are spaces.
This is because there is no command line parser in VIEW (optimization), so
what you type is what you get (I think it's actually easier.)  If VIEW has
any problem displaying the picture, it'll just exit, no error message, no
nothing (sacrifice for optimization.)

Once the picture is up, you can use the usual invisible screen drag and
front/back gadgets to manipulate it.

To quit a picture, just type Ctrl-C.  The CLI from which you issued the
VIEW command must be active in order for Ctrl-C to work (this is the case
if you don't go roaming around to other screens while VIEWing.)  Otherwise
just click in the CLI window and do a Ctrl-C.

If you "run" view then issue a "break" to the process number you ran it as.
Here's an example:

1> run view nagel
[CLI 2]
1> break 2
1>

Being able to run VIEW, makes it a natural in execute files (slide shows)
since you can quit it remotely with a break command:

1> type slideshow
run >nil: view nagel
wait 10
break 2
run >nil: view nagel2
wait 10
break 2
1> execute slideshow
1>

*****************************************************************************