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1991-08-30
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VPIC USERS MANUAL
A Picture File Viewing/Conversion Program
(C) Copyright 1990 Bob Montgomery, All Rights Reserved
by Bob Montgomery
CIS 73357,3140
INTRODUCTION
Background
The original program was called VGIF, reflecting its ability to view only GIF
files. When the program evolved to include other paint file formats, its name
was changed to VPIC. VPIC ver 4.0 and up implements all of the GIF89a features.
See the revision history in Appendix A for latest additions and bug fixes.
Print VPIC.TXT at 17 chars/inch and 8 lines/inch for a handy reference card.
Look at the section titled 'How Vpic Operates' for an explanation of the
differences between VPIC and other viewers, and the advantages and
disadvantages of both types.
IMPORTANT: VPIC requires DOS 2.0 or up to run from current directory, or DOS 3.0
up to run from anywhere. You must configure VPIC for your graphics board using
CVPIC or CONFIG (unless you have an Orchid Designer VGA with 512 K). The WHICHVGA
program will try to identify your VGA chip and amount of display memory.
See CONFIG.DOC.
The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a Service Mark owned by Compuserve
Incorporated. For further information, please contact:
Compuserve incorporated, Graphics Technology Department,
5000 Arlington Center Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43220, USA
GENERAL FEATURES
VPIC is a file viewer for EGA, MCGA, VGA and SuperVGA, and has the following
features:
* Views the following file formats in EGA, MCGA, VGA, or SuperVGA:
1. Dr. Halo CUT files (with PAL if present). Not Dr. Halo PIC files, which
are display adapter specific.
2. GIF87a and GIF89a files; saves to GIF87a format only since GIF89a stuff
is mainly animation and text handling enhancements. Saves up to 2 pages
of comments for GIF89a files.
3. Deluxe Paint LBM (or IFF) files, regular and enhanced.
4. MAC files, display only.
5. Pictor/PC Paint PIC files.
6. ZSoft PCX files (including 256 color files).
7. ColorRIX/EGA Paint SCx files, uncompressed only. RIX wont tell anyone
his compression algorythm, so compressed files can't be done. Use
RIXLATE to uncompress SCx files that are compressed.
8. Targa 8 thru 32 TGA files, comressed or uncompressed. Also uncompresses
Targa files that are compressed (e option while viewing). Now supports
the Tseng ET-4000 HiColor card in 16 bit color, but file conversion
options don't work from viewing screen.
9. Binary Image Files (BIF) from B&W image capture boards.
10. Microsoft Windows 3.0 Bitmap BMP files, compressed or uncompressed. The
compression algorythm is inefficient, so for pictures without much
repetition, uncompressed files are generrally smaller than compressed
files.
* Saves current image to any of the above formats (except MAC, FRA, BIF, and
IFF) in the current mode (EGA, MCGA, or VGA). Also uncompresses TGA files,
and converts a color picture to a 64 grey shade image (in VGA mode).
* Saves current image to GIF in regular, interlaced, inverted, mirrored,
or rotated 90 degrees CW or CCW. Great for scans.
* Configurable for display boards using the Ahead, ATI, C&T, Everex, Genoa,
Headland, Oak, Paradise, Trident (TVGA8800BS/CS & TVGA8900), Tseng(ET-3000 &
ET-4000), Video 7, Western Digital, or Zymos VGA chips (see configuring
VPIC below). The CONFIG program semi-automates the configuration process.
If your display board implements the VESA standard (thru BIOS or a TSR),
this will be autodetected and used regardless of the configuration; the
only drawback to VESA is you can't scroll down quite as far.
* /R option allows an application program to show a file and regain control
without changing the screen mode.
* Viewing mode can be manually selected or auto selected from menu.
* Allows you to specifiy a new path from the menu with the [F9] key. Also
updates menu when files are added or deleted.
* Very fast GIF decoding.
MENU FEATURES:
* Mark/unmark files for viewing with [SPACEBAR].
* Menu text color setable in configuration file.
* [F1] gives help.
* [F2] shows marked files like a slideshow.
* [F3] gives file size and colors.
* [F4] toggles between EGA and VGA mode.
* [F5/F6] decrease/increase default resolution.
* [F7] Locks current resolution, or selects auto resolution mode.
* [F8] Makes multiple GIF images pause for a keypress.
* [F9] prompts for new path.
* [F10] shows current path for files.
* Shows marked files singly or like a slide show.
* Handles up to 500 files using mouse or keyboard.
MOUSE SUPPORT
* All the above functions are now controllable by the mouse. Click on the
resolution bar, bottom 2 lines of commands, or files. For the menu screen,
the left button is the same as enter, and the right button is the same as
the spacebar. While decoding, the right button aborts; while viewing, the
left button returns to the menu.
==============================================================================
VIEWING FEATURES
* Help while viewing with / or ? key.
* Shows filename while decoding, and [ESC] aborts decoding.
* Allows deleting a file (with query) with the [Alt-X] key.
* Allows adjustment of picture color and VGA contrast and brightness.
* Allows saving the current image as a GIF (many options), PC Paint or
Pictor, ZSoft PCX, ColoRIX or EGA Paint, Targa 16, Dr. Halo CUT, and
Deluxe Paint II formats in EGA, MCGA, or VGA.
=============================================================================
RUNNING VPIC
Command Format: vpic [[path]filespec][/a][/b][/c][/e][/h][/mN][/r][/v][/w]
[/xN][/yN][/z][/?].
* The default path is the current directory, and the default extensions are
CUT, GIF, IFF, LBM, MAC, PIC, PCX, SCx, and TGA.
* The /a option starts VPIC in Auto resolution select mode.
* The /b option causes VPIC to beep after displaying a file except in slide
mode or /r.
* The /c option gives the current configuration; see 6 below.
* The /e option forces EGA mode, to use extended 16 color modes; see 5 below.
* The /h option allows the viewing of hidden files.
* The /mN locks the video mode to N where N is defined when you run CONFIG,
and in 3 below.
* The /r option returns control to a calling program leaving picture on the
screen; see 4 below. Calling program must reset text mode (mode co80).
* The /v option disables the auto VESA detection and uses the config file
info.
* The /w option wait for a keypress after each image in a multi_image GIF
file.
* The /xN option gives a left margin of N pixels (ie /x20 gives a 20 pixel
left margin).
* The /yN option gives a top margin of N pixels.
* The /z option inhibits printing the filename of each file.
* The /? option gives a help screen.
* If filespec is a filename, the single file will be shown (the default
extension is GIF).
* If path\filespec is a directory, a menu of all viewable files in that
directory will appear. Otherwise all files meeting the filespec will
appear. For example, [vpic d:\pics\*.pcx] would give a menu of all PCX
files in the PICS directory of drive D, while [vpic d:\pics] would give a
menu of all viewable files in the PICS directory of drive D.
Options and filespec may be entered in any order. All options except /r, /c,
and /? work in menu and single file mode. The /r option only works in single
file mode.
EXAMPLES OF VPIC COMMANDS
1. VPIC [path\]filename[.ext] shows the file specified. The default path is
the current directory, and the default extension is GIF.
2. VPIC [path\][filespec] to get a menu of all files in the specified path
meeting filespec (may contain wildcards). The default path is the c