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README.1ST
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1994-01-06
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SCANRIP.EXE and DECRIP.EXE
Release 1 -- 05 January 1994
RIP Graphics Development Tools
by Merrick J. Stemen.
Copyright(c)1994. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------
Developed using Borland Turbo C/C++.
RIP is a (tm) of TeleGrafix Communications, Inc.
(makers of RIPaint, RIPterm, and RIPdraw!)
--------------------------------
Page 1
SCANRIP and DECRIP were both written out of frustration. The
frustration was born of a dissatisfaction with existing RIP-
compatible drawing/painting programs. There are many fine RIP
paint-style programs that do not include features like *copy*
and *move* that do not convert the screen region into a graphic
which must be downloaded by the remote user in order to display
it (i.e., a "icon"). SCANRIP.EXE and DECRIP.EXE were steps
taken to solve this problem.
I have found SCANRIP and DECRIP to be invaluable tools in my
quest to develop "excellent" RIP screens for my BBS. I am still
in the development stages of my RIP screens, because I like things
to be nearly perfect before I put them up for all the world to
see; in fact, that I even released this software at this time is
a deviation from my generally cautious nature. BUT I WANTED YOU
TO GAIN THE BENEFIT I HAVE GAINED FROM THESE EXCELLENT GRAPHICS
DEVELOPMENT TOOLS!
SCANRIP and DECRIP are not graphical in nature -- neither one
has a fancy graphical user interface. The programs are designed
to work TOGETHER to help you create PROFESSIONAL-LOOKING RIP
graphics screens for your BBS!
The general use of SCANRIP and DECRIP will follow this pattern:
(1) Develop a rough layout for your screen using your favorite
RIP graphic program.
(2) Run DECRIP.EXE against your rough RIP screen to create a
"decoded" RIP text file.
(3) Modify the decoded RIP file to enhance your RIP screen.
(4) Run SCANRIP.EXE against your newly modified text file to
turn it back into a RIP-compatible graphic!
THAT'S IT! IT CAN BE THAT EASY!
Page 2
But there's more!!
SCANRIP can also build RIP-compatible screens from files you
create yourself! Use your favorite text editor to type in
RIP-compatible commands, and build your own RIP screens from
scratch!
Wait! That's not all!
Another POWERFUL feature of SCANRIP is the command RIP.TRANSLATE!
RIP.TRANSLATE (xoff,yoff) allows you to MOVE a *group* of RIP
graphics commands according to the x-offset and y-offset specified.
The corresponding command RIP.TRANSOFF cancels the movement of
any subsequent graphics elements. For example:
RIP.TEXTXY (81,104),TAGGART TRANSGALACTIC BBS
RIP.COLOR (0)
RIP.TEXTXY (78,103),TAGGART TRANSGALACTIC BBS
RIP.FONT.STYLE (2,0,4,0)
RIP.TEXTXY (446,100),Fido 1:3612/312
RIP.FONT.STYLE (2,0,6,0)
RIP.COLOR (8)
RIP.TEXTXY (84,94),RBBS-PC v17.4
RIP.COLOR (4)
RIP.TEXTXY (82,94),RBBS-PC v17.4
could be written as:
RIP.TRANSLATE (100,50)
RIP.TEXTXY (81,104),TAGGART TRANSGALACTIC BBS
RIP.COLOR (0)
RIP.TEXTXY (78,103),TAGGART TRANSGALACTIC BBS
RIP.FONT.STYLE (2,0,4,0)
RIP.TEXTXY (446,100),Fido 1:3612/312
RIP.TRANSOFF
RIP.FONT.STYLE (2,0,6,0)
RIP.COLOR (8)
RIP.TEXTXY (84,94),RBBS-PC v17.4
RIP.COLOR (4)
RIP.TEXTXY (82,94),RBBS-PC v17.4
Notice the RIP.TRANSLATE right before the first line and the
RIP.TRANSOFF right after the line containing "Fido." This
arrangement would cause the lines between RIP.TRANSLATE and
RIP.TRANSOFF to be moved to the right 100 pixels and down
50 pixels. After the RIP.TRANSOFF command, the RBBS-PC lines
would not be moved!
Page 3
The RIP.TRANSLATE command can be "stacked" so that elements can
be moved over, and then other elements inside them may be moved
even further. You must be very careful to "unstack" the RIP.TRANS-
LATE commands with RIP.TRANSOFF, or the results will be unpredictable.
The best way to learn how to use DECRIP and SCANRIP is to use them.
Example files have been included with this archive to allow you
to experiment with the programs. Close examination of the .TXT
files will give you a good understanding of what SCANRIP compatible
commands look like. The .RIP and .SCN files are RIP-compatible
screens that may be viewed with a RIP viewer of some sort.
The syntax for DECRIP is:
DECRIP ripfile > textfile
This will take a RIP-compatible file and "decode" it into a text file.
If the "> textfile" part is left off, DECRIP will decode the file to
the screen.
The syntax for SCANRIP is:
SCANRIP textfile > ripfile
This will take a SCANRIP compatible text file, and generate a
RIP-compatible graphic from it. The RIP-compatible graphic can
then be viewed with a RIP graphic viewer or edited in a RIP-
compatible paint program!
By the way, an excellent resource to grab ahold of is a file
commonly called RIPSC154.ZIP. This file contains the specifi-
cations for the RIP graphics language and can shed great light
on the parameters of various RIP-compatible commands that SCANRIP
recognizes. If you really want to use these utilities to their
fullest extent, RIPSC154.ZIP is a must!
Page 4
LEGAL STUFF
Since SCANRIP and DECRIP are basically rough cuts (though really
GOOD rough cuts) at graphic development tools, the author of SCANRIP
and DECRIP cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience
resulting from the use of the SCANRIP and DECRIP utilities.
Guidelines for use of the utilities have been included in this
short document, but may not extend to the scope to which you
may try to stretch them. Since you are responsible for naming
the input and output files for both SCANRIP and DECRIP, use the
utmost care to ensure that no important files are named and
consequently overwritten by these utilities.
The author, Merrick J. Stemen, can be reached at:
Fidonet 1:3612/312
CServe 70670,2522
AOL MickStemen
My personal BBS: Taggart Transgalactic BBS
(14400 and down) 24hrs.
(904)494-2517
Pensacola, Florida
I really would like to get some money from all this work. If you
like SCANRIP and DECRIP and would like to encourage me to develop
more and better versions of the same, please drop me a line at
one of the above addresses, and let me know what you think they're
worth!
Taggart Transgalactic BBS is full, free access the first time on,
and if you have BWAVE or some other mail reader, I have a .QWK
door you could upload a message to. Or you could simply call my
BBS and leave a Comment to the Sysop!
Thank you for your support!