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PCXDUMP.MAN
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1991-11-28
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PCXDUMP VERSION 3.80
====================
WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER
The author make no warranties, expressed or implied,
as to the quality or performance of this program. The
author will not be held liable for any direct, indirect,
incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use
of these programs. Your use of this program constitute
your agreement to this disclaimer and your release of the
author from any form of liability or litigation.
If you are using PCXDUMP and find it of value a
contribution ($10.00) to the author is suggested. This
will enable and encourage the further development of PCXDUMP.
Jesper Frandsen
Skolebakken 11, st tv
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
Email address : jesperf@daimi.aau.dk
WHAT IS PCXDUMP
It's a memory-resident program to dump a graphic screen to a
disk file in the PCX-format. As this format is widely used (simple
and fast to code and decode), I have chosen this format.
The PCX-files will be put in the current directory, and named
DUMP_000.PCX, DUMP_001.PCX etc. (up to DUMP_999.PCX).
Since it's a resident program, it stays in memory when you run
it. This decreases the memory available for other applications by
6.4 Kb (about 2.4 Kb is used as an internal buffer, so disk writes
will be as few as possible).
If anyone wants the pictures in another format (eg. GIF), use a
converter program like the GRAPHIC WORKSHOP or VPIC.
(available from "wuarchive.wustl.edu" or "nic.funet.fi")
HOT-KEYS
When PCXDUMP is installed, you can use these hotkeys:
ALT+CTRL+N gives a 2 color PCX-file
ALT+CTRL+I gives a inverted 2 color PCX-file
ALT+CTRL+C gives a 256 color PCX-file
ALT+CTRL+R dumps the whole screen in 2 colors (mouse is NOT used!)
ALT+CTRL+E dumps the whole screen in 256 colors (mouse is NOT used!)
PCXDUMP will give a beep when activated and (a higher) one
when it has finished dumping graphics.
You can only use the C & E hotkeys when there's at least 16
colors on the screen.
WHAT CAN IT DO ?
Currently the program handles EGA, VGA and SVGA modes, that is:
no Hercules or CGA modes.
Owners of Hercules or CGA can't use this program, sorry!
But if you own an EGA or VGA-card, you will be able to install
PCXDUMP, and use it in these modes:
EGA-modes: VGA-modes:
320 x 200 x 16 colors 640 x 480 x 2 colors
640 x 200 x 16 colors 640 x 480 x 16 colors
640 x 350 x 2 colors 320 x 200 x 256 colors
640 x 350 x 16 colors
And if you have any of these SVGA-cards, you will be able
to use their SVGA-modes as well !!
- ATI-WONDER (up to 1024x768x256)
- TRIDENT (up to 1024x768x256)
- GENOA (up to 1024x768x16, 800x600x256)
- PARADISE (up to 1024x768x16, 800x600x256)
- TSENG ET 3000 (up to 1024x768x16, 800x600x256)
- TSENG ET 4000 (up to 1024x768x256)
- OAK-037C (up to 800x600x16)
- OAK-067 (up to 1024x768x16, 800x600x256)
- VIDEO-7 (up to 1024x768x16, 800x600x256)
(incl. 720x540x16, 720x540x256)
- CHIP & TECH. (up to 1024x768x16, 800x600x256)
MOUSE-CONTROL
If you own a mouse and have your mouse-driver installed,
you will be able to cut out part of the screen with a on-screen
frame, controlled by the mouse.
The size of the frame will be shown in upperleft corner.
Press RIGHT button and move mouse to control frame-size
Press LEFT button and move mouse to control frame-position
Press <Enter> to dump graphic within frame.
Press <ESC> to cancel
HOW FAST IS PCXDUMP ?
Good question.
Direct memory read/write will be performed in ALL modes,
2, 16 and 256 colors mode. So the program is pretty fast !!
I'm using a 386sx/20 Mhz system (and a Tseng ET4000 card),
and this is my measurements:
picture time (sec)
--------------------------------------------
320 x 200 x 256 1-1.5
640 x 480 x 256 9
800 x 600 x 256 10
1024 x 768 x 256 16
640 x 480 x 16 11
800 x 600 x 16 17
1024 x 768 x 16 27
In 16-colors mode, things take a little longer, cause it's more
complicated to read and write pixels than in 256 colors mode....
If it's a simple picture, things will go faster since PCXDUMP
don't have to write so much information to the disk.
WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.00-2.30 My own versions (not ready for release).
Version 3.00 Initial release on the net
Version 3.50 Framesize is now written on screen.
Hotkey ALT+CTRL+V is therefore removed.
Version 3.60 Dumping a 16-color screen on a "standard" card
is now MUCH faster.
Version 3.65 OAKTECH-67 chipset is now recognized.
Version 3.66 Corrected a stupid bug that caused the program
to crash, if it was activated in textmode!
Version 3.67-3.69 Some internal improvements.
Version 3.70 It is no longer possible to use PCXDUMP on a plain
EGA-card.
OAKTECH-37 chipset is now recognized.
Version 3.80 VIDEO-7 chipset is now recognized.
CHIPS & TECH chipset is now recognized.
The rutine to recognize TSENG ET3000 is improved.
EGA-card is now accepted again !!!
Eventually I got around the EGA-card palette pro-
blem. I am using a method to manipulate the
"Video Save Pointer Table". It seems to work
on GIF-pictures and all the programs I've tested
so far, allthough I can't guarantee it to work
in every program.
In 2 colors mode, pixels read/write is now direct
memory read/write. Dumping a picture i 2 colors
mode is now approx. 500 % faster !!
New HOTKEY: ALT+CTRL+R. This gives the ability to
dump the whole screen in 2 colors without any
mouse-support.
POSSIBLE BUGS (AND ADVICE)
- When using PCXDUMP in programs like VPIC and other
"plain show-picture" programs, I have met no problems.
But some games might not allow you to grap the graphics, 'cause
they take complete control over the INT 09h. If that's the case,
you can't use PCXDUMP in these programs.
- If you activate PCXDUMP in a graphical program THAT'S USING
THE MOUSE, then DON'T use the mouse-cut-out facilities of PCXDUMP,
but use the ALT+CTRL+E hotkey (or ALT+CTRL+R) instead to dump
screen. PCXDUMP will possible mess up the driver state and lock the
program (I will try to fix that later).