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Run Magazine ReRun 1989 Special Issue
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rerun-1989-special-issue.d64
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spr db.doc
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The Sprite Database
Program by David Darus & Lou Wallace
The Sprite Database is a special sprite editor for the C64 that is designed
to allow the easy creation and storage of sprites. You can store up to 1000
sprites on a single 1541 disk, where they can be recalled at anytime and
grouped into any combination you wish. These sprites can them be 'exported'
out of the sprite database as data statements for a basic program or as binary
files that can just be loaded into memory. Or you can, if you wish generate a
printout of the sprites using any printer you have hooked to your C64.
The sprite editor is very powerful, allowing you to create either high
resolution or multicolor sprites. Once created, you can modify a sprite by
rotation (full 360 degree rotation!), reverse or flip it. You can even add
existing sprites to the database by typing in the data statements.
To get started, load the sprite database and save it to a freshly formatted
blank disk. Only then should you run it (and NEVER run it with your RUN
Special Issue Disk in the drive!).
Once it has been started, the main screen appears, which is divided into
three areas. The upper left area is the sprite editing grid, which displays in
large format the sprite you are working on. The right side of the screen shows
the actual sprite in it's four possible sizes, along with its name and the
colors used. And the number of sprites in the current database is also
displayed here.
The bottom of the display contains the main menu itself. To choose an
option, use the left-right cursor keys to move the highlighted bar until it is
on the option you want, then press the RETURN key. Or, you can just press the
letter that corresponds to the option you want, and the highlight bar will
appear on that option.
The very first time you use the database, you must create the main
database file. (After this first time you will not need to do this, unless
you fill up the 1000 slots and create a new disk.) To do this, select the
NewDB (New dataBase) option, which will cause a second menu to be displayed.
There, select CreateDB to create the relative file on disk that will be used
in all future sessions. This will take a few minutes, and the disk drive will
run during this time. After it finishes you will be returned to the main menu.
From then on you start each session with the Sprite DataBase by choosing
NewDB, then selecting OpenDB from the secondary menu. When you open the
database it reads in the sprite index file, which tells the program how many
sprites are in it and what their names are.
Once this is done, you can create new sprites or edit or export old sprites,
depending on what you want to do. If you ever need to abort a function or
submenu, just press the STOP key, and you will be returned to the Main Menu.
The Sprite DataBase comes with a built-in help feature, available from the
main menu. This will supply you with information on any of the options should
you need help while using the program.