@database "TPD.doc"
@Node Main "Tron's PCX DataType"
	TPD - Tron's PCX DataType V39.7
	===============================
A PCX datatype for OS 3.0 or newer
	@{"Purpose" link "Purpose"}
	@{"Advantages" link "Advantages"}
	@{"History" link "History"}
	@{"Installation" link "Installation"}
	@{"Copyright" link "Copyright"}
	@{"Author" link "Author"}
@EndNode
@Node "Purpose" "Purpose of Tron's PCX DataType"
TPD is a @{"datatype" link "DataTypes"} for OS 3.0 or newer.
This datatypes enables your system to read PCX files.
PCX is a image file format invented by the programmes of the program
"PaintBrush" and one of the most common image formats on MS-DOS computers.
With this datatype you will be able to display such PCX files with
"MultiView" or load them as patterns or pictures with "WBPattern".
@EndNode
@Node "DataTypes" "What are datatypes ?"
Datatypes are a new feature of OS 3.0. They are BOOPSI classes which are
controlled via the new "datatypes.library".
With this library an application is able to load all files supported by one
of the datatypes and display them without knowing anything about the format
of the file.
Programs which support datatypes are e.g. "MultiView" or "WBPattern",
both part of Workbench 3.0.
@EndNode
@Node "Advantages" "Advantages"
What are the advantages of this PCX datatype ?
- fast:
  - chunky to planar conversion via WritePixelLine()
  - asynchronous I/O
- low memory usage
- supports:
  - CGA/EGA format (planar)
  - VGA format (chunky)
  - true color format (hybrid)
- converts true color into HAM/HAM8 on EGS/AGA machines
- screen mode selection via BestModeID()
@EndNode
@Node "History" "History"
39.1:
- first public release
39.2:
- improved description file
- added sanity check for DTA_SourceType
39.3:
- supports files with unaligned run-length compression
39.4:
- rewrote library initialisation
39.5:
- fixed bug with wrong window size (e.g. MultiView on Workbench)
39.6:
- fixed crash if "pcx.datatype" was flushed before ever being used
39.7:
- supports monochrom files with invalid color map
@EndNode
@Node "Installation"
The installation is quite easy:
	1.) Copy "PCX" and "PCX.info" to "DEVS:DataTypes".
	2.) Copy "pcx.datatype" to "SYS:Classes/DataTypes".
	3.) Type "AddDataTypes REFRESH" in a CLI or simply reboot.
Ok, now TPD is ready to be used.
@EndNode
@Node "Copyright" "Copyright"
Tron's PCX DataType (c) 1993-1995 by Matthias Scheler
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
preserved on all copies.
No guarantee of any kind is given that the program described in this
document is 100% reliable. You are using this material at your own risk.
The author *can not* be made responsible for any damage which is caused
by using these programs.
This package is freely distributable, but still copyright by
Matthias Scheler. This means that you can copy it freely as long as you
don't ask for a more than nominal copying fee.
Permission is granted to include this package in Public-Domain collections,
especially in Fred Fishs Amiga Disk Library (including CD ROM versions of
it) and one of the AmiNet CD ROMs. The distribution file may be uploaded
to Bulletin Board Systems or FTP servers. If you want to distribute this
program you *must* use the original distribution archive 'TPD.lha'.
TPD must NOT be included or used in commercial programs unless by written
permission from the author.
TPD must NOT be used on any machine which is used for the research,
development, construction, testing or production of weapons or other
military applications. This also includes any machine which is used for
training persons for *any* of the above mentioned purposes.
@EndNode
@Node "Author" "Author"
Matthias Scheler
tzenstra
D-33178 Borchen
E-Mail:
 tron@lyssa.owl.de
 tron@uni-paderborn.de (Files to this address, please)
 Matthias Scheler,2:243/6350.18@fidonet
@EndNode