Shareware Extravaganza - Disc 1/ShareWare Extravaganza 1 of 4 (The Ultimate Shareware Company).iso/grprogs/tpaint.exe/TPAINT.DOC

Text File | 1990-10-02 | 22KB | 537 lines

              TurboPaint Version 1.0 Documentation - April, 1990

    This program was designed as an alternative to using PC Paintbrush and
    Deluxe Paint. One of the big drawbacks to using PC Paintbrush is that
    you have to reinstall the program every time you want to change video
    modes. Both PC Paintbrush and Deluxe Paint consume a great deal more
    memory than TurboPaint, too. That means that people with less memory can
    use TurboPaint and those who like to keep their TSRs resident don't need
    to reboot with a different configuration before using it. You also can run
    TurboPaint effectively without a mouse--try that with PC Paintbrush and
    Deluxe Paint. And the price is right. This ShareWare version is fully
    functional and the registered version is only $20.

    If you register TurboPaint, you'll get TurboPaint Professional. It's a
    four-disk set that includes a greatly enhanced version of the program,
    some extra utility programs, and three disks filled with clip art, pic-
    tures, and fonts. The enhanced program has an extra picture page,
    loads fonts to EMS if it's available, offers printer output, lets you
    use a joystick if you don't have a mouse, and does color cycling
    for EGA and MCGA.

    The two utility programs that come with the package are TurboGRAB and
    TurboSHOW. TurboGRAB is a memory-resident screen capture utility.
    TurboSHOW is a slide show program that even has its own script file
    language. These programs save and show graphics and text screens.

    There's one other consideration, if you're unsure about registering:
    I've spent an enormous amount of time developing this program.
    Since my time is not free, you shouldn't consider this program free,
    either. I paid with my time and expertise--you need to pay with money.
    I'm only asking $20 which isn't much when you consider that PC Paintbrush
    and Deluxe Paint cost more than $100.

    To register TurboPaint, send your name, address, and $20 to Richard C.
    Leinecker, 309 Irvin Street, Reidsville, NC 27320. You can send
    inquiries and comments to my address or leave mail on GEnie addressed
    to R.LEINECKER or CompuServe to user ID 74676,457.

    RUNNING TURBOPAINT

    To run TurboPaint, first make sure that all of the files are in the
    current directory. It would be a good idea to create a separate
    directory for the TurboPaint files. The files that you'll need are
    TP.EXE (the executable program), TPAINT.BAT (the batch file that runs
    the proper sequence of programs), SETMODE.COM (the mode selection pro-
    gram), and KMOUSE.COM (the memory resident keyboard driver).

    You must run TurboPaint from the batch file. One change you can make to
    the batch file is to take out the two lines that load KMOUSE, if you are
    using a real mouse. These two lines are only necessary if you don't have a
    mouse driver installed. Make sure, though, that if you're using the
    keyboard driver, BOTH lines remain. The first time it's called, KMOUSE
    loads the driver and the second time it removes the driver. If you take












    the KMOUSE reference out of the batch file then you can delete KMOUSE.COM
    from your TurboPaint directory.

    You can pass the video mode as a command line argument instead of using
    the SETMODE menu. To do this, just type TPAINT VIDEOMODE where
    VIDEOMODE can be HERCULES, CGALOW, CGAHIGH, EGALOW, EGAMED, EGAHIGH, or
    MCGA. Make sure that you don't delete the SETMODE line from the batch
    file or the SETMODE.COM file from the TurboPaint directory, even if you
    type the video mode on the command line when you run the TurboPaint.

    If the aspect ratio of your mouse is incorrect in low-resolution modes,
    add /M to the TP line in the batch file (TP /M). This is required if, for
    example, you are drawing a line across the screen and you discover that
    you have to move the mouse two pixels for every one pixel drawn.

    TurboPaint requires 512K of free memory.

    VIDEO MODES

    The video modes that TurboPaint supports are Hercules 720x348, CGA 4-
    color 320x200, CGA 2-color 640x200, EGA 16-color 320x200, EGA 16-color
    640x200, EGA 16-color 640x350, and MCGA 256-color 320x200.

    It's possible that some EGA cards will work in the lower two EGA
    resolutions and not the 640x350 EGA resolution. If you have a Hercules
    card and another graphics card installed simultaneously, you can't
    change video modes from one to the other while the program is running.
    You'll need to exit the program and restart it in the mode that you
    want to use. Systems that combine video equipment in nonstandard ways
    run an incompatiblity risk, too.

    If an error occurs during the initial program setup, the program will
    terminate with a line notifying you of the error. If it occurs during a
    video mode change after the program is up and running, an alert box will
    inform you of the problem and return you to the previously selected
    video mode.

    FILE FORMATS

    TurboPaint supports PCX, LBM (IFF), and GIF file formats. When loading
    PCX and IFF files, you must be in the same video mode as the picture
    file. It's not necessary to change modes yourself from the menus: the
    program will look at the file's video mode before loading it and ask
    you if you want to change to the correct video mode. If you answer no,
    the loading procedure is aborted. If you answer yes, the program will
    change the video mode and load the picture.

    You can load GIF graphics into the current video mode regardless of the
    mode in which it was created. The colors will require adjustment for EGA.
    Graphics changed to Mono and CGA modes will require touching up.

    THE KEYBOARD DRIVER

    The keyboard mouse driver is a direct replacement for Microsoft-












    compatible mouse drivers. It doesn't provide the complete gamut of
    mouse functions, but fills the bill for TurboPaint's needs.

    To move the mouse, press the cursor (arrow) keys. The driver is ballistic;
    the longer a key is pressed, the faster the mouse moves. If your keyboard
    has two right-arrow keys (one on the numeric keypad and one elsewhere) use
    the key on the numeric keypad. It performs better.

    The equivalent of the left mouse button is the 5 key. To press the
    left mouse button, press the 5 key. To unpress the left button, press the
    5 key again. It's not as easy to use as a real mouse because you have to
    remember to unpress the button. If the keyboard mouse driver doesn't seem
    to work correctly, try pressing the 5 key.

    The Delete key is equivalent to the right mouse button. It also needs to
    be unpressed just as the 5 key or keyboard left mouse button.

    If you're in the drawing window and press the Tab key, the mouse pointer
    will jump over to the toolbox. Another press of the Tab key and the mouse
    pointer will be back where it was.

    SELECTING A COLOR AND A DRAWING TOOL

    When the program first runs, you'll see a rectangle to the right side
    of the screen that contains icons and rectangles with the drawing
    colors. These are called the tool selector and the color palette and are
    used to select the drawing tool and color.

    To select a drawing tool, point to the desired tool and click the left
    mouse button. It will be highlighted so that you can see the currently
    selected tool.

    To select a drawing color, point to the desired color and click the
    left mouse button. You'll see a wide border around the currently
    selected drawing color.

    If you're in MCGA mode, only 16 colors are displayed but you can scroll
    through all 256 colors. Do this by clicking the right mouse button on
    either the right or the left side of the color palette. Clicking on the
    right side moves to the right through the palette; clicking on the left
    moves to the left through the palette.

    You can move the toolbox to the left side or remove it completely if
    you find this more convenient. To move or remove the tools, choose the
    'Desk' pulldown menu and select the appropriate entry for the desired
    action. The F10 key will turn the menus and toolbox on and off, too.

    LINES

    To draw lines, first select the tool at the top left corner of the tool
    selector. Once it's selected and you can see that it's highlighted,
    you're ready to draw lines.

    Begin by pointing the mouse at the starting point of your intended line












    and pressing the left mouse button. Make sure that you keep the left
    button pressed while you are drawing the line.

    Now, with the left button still pressed, move the mouse pointer to
    where you want the line to end. Release the left mouse button and your
    line becomes part of the picture.

    Choose the 'Set' pulldown to find the two line options. To set the line
    width, select the menu entry labeled 'Line Width.' A dialog box will
    appear that displays the current line width. To increase the width of the
    line, click the left button on the line. To decrease it, click the right
    button on the line. The maximum width is eight and if you exceed this
    amount, the program will return to a width of one. If you decrease the
    line width past one, the program will set the line width to eight.

    To set the line pattern, choose the entry in the 'Set' pulldown labeled
    'Line Style.' A Dialog box will appear with eight line patterns. To choose
    one of these, click the left mouse button on it. The line style affects
    all line and rectangle operations except the free-hand drawing tool.

    If you make a mistake while drawing, you can usually undo it, if you
    haven't done anything else. Undo your mistake by pressing Esc.

    Rectangles

    Drawing filled and unfilled rectangles follows a procedure similar to
    drawing lines. With the appropriate tool selected, move the mouse pointer
    to either the upper left or the lower right corner of the rectangle.
    While holding the left mouse button down, move the mouse pointer to where
    the opposite corner of the rectangle should be. Release the left mouse
    button to complete the rectangle.

    If you're drawing with a filled rectangle, you may want to change the
    fill pattern. To do this, choose the 'Set' pulldown and select the
    'Fill Style' entry. A dialog box will appear with eight choices. Choose
    one by clicking on it with the left mouse button. The fill pattern will
    apply to all filled tools.

    CIRCLES and ELLIPSES

    To draw a circle or an ellipse, first point to the center of the figure
    you want to draw, then press the left mouse button and stretch the shape
    to the desired dimension. Moving the mouse in the X and Y directions will
    stretch the ellipse in that dimension. Circles will remain perfectly round
    regardless of the position of the mouse pointer.

    RAYS AND POLYGONS

    To draw a set of rays, position the mouse at the origin. Hold down the
    left mouse button and move the pointer to the end of the first ray.
    Keeping the left button pressed, press the right button to place this ray
    in the picture. Now move to the endpoint of the next ray and click the
    right mouse button. Do this until all of the rays have been drawn then
    release the left mouse button. Only the last ray drawn can be undone.













    Drawing polygons is similar to drawing rays. Position the cursor, press
    the left mouse button, and move to the first vertex. Click the right mouse
    button while pressing the left button. Move to each vertex and press the
    right button. Only the last polygon side drawn can be undone.

    FILLING

    To use the fill tool, position the mouse pointer at the position where
    you want to fill. It will continue filling the screen until it meets the
    selected fill color. If you try to fill a shape that is not completely
    closed, the fill tool will fill the entire screen with the selected color.

    PIXELS

    There are two tools for drawing pixels. The second tool in the first
    column of the toolbox draws a single pixel. The third tool in the
    first column draws a set of pixels.

    To draw a single pixel, select the single pixel tool, position the mouse
    pointer, and click the left button.

    To draw a set of pixels, select the free-hand drawing tool, and position
    the mouse pointer. Hold the left button down as you move the mouse pointer
    wherever you want to draw. When you are done, release the left mouse
    button.

    THE AIRBRUSH

    The airbrush tool allows you to blend colors and soften edges. To
    use this tool, select the airbrush icon in the tool selector. Position
    the mouse cursor and hold down the left mouse button. The slower you
    move the brush, the thicker the texture appears.

    You can change the airbrush attributes. To do this, choose the 'Set'
    pulldown and select the 'Airbrush' entry. A dialog box will appear that
    will let you set the airbrush size and flow.

    CUT AND PASTE

    To cut a block, select the scissor tool icon. Position the mouse
    pointer at the upper left corner of the rectangle that you want to cut.
    Hold the left mouse button down and drag the box until the image you
    want to capture is framed by the rectangle. Release the left mouse
    button and it will be copied into the clipboard buffer.

    There are two options when you cut from the screen. You can copy from
    the screen (leaving the screen intact) or you can cut from the screen
    (removing the rectangle and the background from the screen). To change
    options, choose the 'Set' pulldown and select the 'Block' entry. If you
    have 'Copy only'set to yes, the screen won't change when you cut. If it's
    set to no,the portion of the screen that you cut will be removed.

    To save a block to disk, choose the 'Extra' pulldown and select the












    'Save Block' entry. Enter the filename and the program will save the
    block to disk. The blocks aren't compatible with any other formats. You
    can't use blocks from different video modes either.

    Once a section has been cut or loaded from disk, it can be pasted on
    the screen. Select the paste tool icon and position the cursor. Pressing
    the left mouse button will cause the tools to disappear. As long as you
    hold the left mouse button down, you can move the block. To place it in
    the picture, release the left mouse button.

    There is a limit due to memory considerations on the size of the image
    that you cut in the higher EGA modes and MCGA. If you cut an image that is
    larger than the available memory allows, you'll get a message to that
    effect.

    LOADING FONTS

    You can load any GEM font. To do this, choose the 'Extra' pulldown
    and select the 'Load Font' entry. Highlight the font you want to load
    in the file selector. The system font is resident when TurboPaint runs.
    Remember that loading fonts uses memory. You can't load an unlimited
    number of fonts. If your system is close to the memory limit, other
    operations might be affected if you load too many fonts.

    To set the font that you will use, choose the 'Set' pulldown and select
    the 'Text' entry. To cycle through the loaded fonts, click the left
    mouse button inside of the text box. You can select different styles of
    each font by clicking the right mouse button in the text box.

    ENTERING TEXT

    To put text in your picture, select the text tool icon. Position the
    mouse pointer and click the left button. The tools will then disappear.
    There are two ways that you can enter text, free form or formatted.

    To enter text in a free form manner, simply type the text. You can move
    the mouse anywhere on the screen and the text will follow. This method
    is good if you're trying to fit text into a picture.

    If you want to enter multiple lines of text, it's better to press the
    left mouse button once more where you want the text to start. The mouse
    will disappear and a text-type cursor will appear. Type your text and
    press Enter at the end of each line. The cursor will then go to the
    beginning of the next text line, ready for you to type it in. When you're
    finished typing, you can move the text anywhere on the screen. Click the
    left mouse button to place the text. Click the right mouse button to exit
    from text entry.

    ZOOM

    You can magnify by choosing the 'Extra' pulldown and then selecting the
    desired magnification factor, or you can press F1-F4. F1 gives you the
    greatest magnification and F4 the least.













    After you've selected one of the magnification factors, the tools will
    disappear and you'll see a rectangle appear on the screen. Position the
    rectangle so that it frames the region you want to magnify. Then click
    the left mouse button.

    At the far left side of the screen you'll see the chosen section of the
    picture in the actual size and to the right of that you'll see the
    magnified version. To draw, just click inside of the rectangle that
    contains the magnified version. You can pick different colors at the
    far right side of the screen. If you're drawing in MCGA mode, you can
    use the right mouse button to scroll through all 256 colors.

    To quit and go back to the full screen, press the right mouse button.
    The Esc key will undo any drawing while you're in magnify mode.

    SHADOWS

    You can shadow many of the drawing functions. Do this by choosing the
    'Set' pulldown and selecting the 'Shadow' entry. There is a color
    selector that lets you set the shadow color. The grid of nine squares
    is where you set the relative position for the shadow. The numbers (1-
    4) let you set the distance of the shadow from the original shape.
    Finally, you can turn the shadow on or off. The shadow attribute works
    with lines, rectangles, squares, circles, and ellipses.

    INVERTING AND REVERSING BLOCKS

    If you have a block in the clipboard, you can invert it vertically or
    reverse it horizontally. Choose the 'Extra' pulldown and select the
    'Invert Block' or the 'Reverse Block' entries. The screen will blank,
    then the image will be pasted on the screen, and you'll see the image
    being transformed. Once the procedure is finished, the screen will be
    restored and the new image will be in the clipboard. Select the paste tool
    to place the block on the screen.

    SETTING THE PALETTE

    You can set the color palette if you're in CGA, EGA, or MCGA mode. In
    EGA or MCA mode, choose the 'Set' pulldown and select the 'Colors' entry.
    Hold down the left mouse button and move the slider bars to the desired
    setting, or click on the arrows to incrementally change the value. In CGA,
    select a number from 1-4 in the 'Set' menu and 'Colors' entry.

    MIRROR

    You can cause TurboPaint to mirror all of your drawing in vertical,
    horizontal, or both vertical and horizontal directions. To do this,
    choose the 'Set' pulldown and select the 'Mirror' entry. You can set
    vertical, horizontal, or both. Most drawing operations will then be
    mirrored in the specified direction(s).

    CUSTOMER SUPPORT

    You can ask questions by leaving messages on GEnie addressed to












    R.LEINECKER or on CompuServe to user ID 74676,457. You can also write
    me with your questions. I'll reply in a week or less of receiving your
    question as long as you're a registered user.

    If you find bugs in the program, report them to me as soon as possible.
    I'll fix them and make the new verion available.

    If you have ideas for an upgrade, send those too. I'd like the program
    to be as good as possible.

    Site licences are available. Just write with the specifications and
    I'll get right back to you.

    Send inquiries, comments, and registrations (your name and address and
    $20) to: Richard C. Leinecker, 309 Irvin Street, Reidsville, NC 27320.





    TurboPaint Order Form






    Name________________________________________________________________



    Mailing Address_____________________________________________________



    City, State, and Zip________________________________________________



    Computer Type_______________________________________________________



    Amount of Memory___________   Video Type (CGA, EGA, etc)____________



    Remember to enclose the $20 registration fee

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

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