_____________________________ Chapter 3 Vistapro User Manual _____________________________ VISTAPRO MENUS Vistapro's menus are accessed via the buttons at the top left of the main screen. To see the menus, place the mouse cursor over one of the buttons and press the left mouse button. A menu with several selections appears immediately below the button. This menu will remain on the screen as long as the left mouse button is held down. To select a menu item, move the mouse pointer down over the menu and release it when the cursor is over the desired item. For more general information on using the menus see the Graphical User Interface section located in Chapter 2 of the manual. There are five menus in Vistapro: * The Project Menu allows access to DOS, information about Vistapro, information about the currently loaded landscape, and the quit Vistapro function. * The Load Menu allows loading of landscapes, colormaps and pictures. * The Save Menu saves landscapes, colormaps and pictures. * The GrMode Menu is used for selecting graphics and animation modes. * The Script Menu is for creating and executing Scripts. Many of the Menu items involve the use of Vistapro's File Requestor. The File Requestor indicates file names for those functions which require file names - loading and saving files for example. The File Requestor allows easy navigation through drives and directories to find files. See the section titled Vistapro File Requestor for more details on how to use the File Requestor. Project Load Save GrMode Script ------- ---- ---- ------ ------ Spawn DOS Load DEM Save DEM VGA 320x200 Generate About Vista Load CMAP Save CMAP VANIM 320X200 Create About DEM Load PCX Save PCX VESA 640x400 Open Quit VESA 640X480 Add VESA 800X600 Preview VESA 1024x768 Execute PROJECT MENU ------------ The Project Menu allows temporary transfer to DOS, retrieves the information about the current landscape, and allows you to quit Vistapro. Spawn DOS --------- Spawn DOS temporarily transfers you to the DOS command line. Spawn DOS is useful to format a diskette, delete files, view an animation, or perform other DOS tasks. When Spawn DOS is requested, Vistapro returns the screen to the starting mode. It frees about 256K of memory and then attempts to run COMMAND.COM. If an attempt is made to run a program that requires more than 256K of memory, it may not succeed. After the DOS excursion is completed, type EXIT to exit DOS and return to Vistapro. Vistapro returns to the state that it was in when the DOS excursion was initiated. About Vista ----------- About Vista opens a window with information about Vistapro, its authors, and its publisher. While this window is visible, none of the other Vistapro menus and buttons will be active even though they are still visible. To shut this window click the button labeled OK at the top left corner of the window. About Landscape --------------- About Landscape opens a window with information about the current landscape. The file name of the landscape and other information from the landscape header file will appear. While this window is visible, none of the other Vistapro menus and buttons are active even though they are still visible. To shut this window click the button labeled OK at the top left corner of the window. Quit ---- Quit causes Vistapro to clean up after itself and return to DOS or the program from which you started Vistapro. Vistapro will delete all its temporary files, restore the screen to the mode that it was in when Vistapro was started, and free the memory it was using. LOAD MENU --------- Load Menu loads landscapes, colormaps, and picture (PCX format) files into Vistapro. The File Requestor is used for all these functions. See the File Requestor section for details on its use. Load DEM -------- DEM is an acronym for Digital Elevation Model - a format used to represent landscape data. Load DEM loads a landscape into Vista. Each Vistapro landscape has elevation data, color data, and usually, some textual information (which can be read via the About Landscape Menu item). All of this information is loaded by Load DEM. Many of the internal settings of Vistapro will be reset to some default values when a landscape is loaded - for instance, the camera is placed at the top center of the contour map and the target is placed at the bottom center. Vistapro recalculates all of its coloring and shading information when rendering starts. When installing Vistapro, all landscapes are placed in the DEM subdirectory in the Vistapro directory. For example, if Vistapro was installed in C:\VISTAPRO then all its landscapes will be found in C:\VISTAPRO\DEM. Load CMAP --------- The CMAP, or colormap, is the group of colors, contrast setting, and exposure setting used to color the landscape and render the picture. (You can see and alter these colors and settings by using the Color Control Panel.) After loading a new CMAP, Vistapro will need to recalculate the color palette used for drawing pictures, and the shading information. By default, when you install Vistapro, the CMAP files will be in a subdirectory called CMA located in your Vistapro directory. If Vistapro was installed in C:\VISTAPRO then all your CMAP files will be found in C:\VISTAPRO\CMA\. Colormap files are actually DEM files with elevation data for a flat landscape (flat landscapes compress very well and only require about 4K of disk space). Since each DEM file also has a colormap, you can load colormaps from other landscapes. To do this, simply look in the DEM directory instead of the CMA directory and select the DEM file. Only the colormap portion of the DEM file will be loaded. Load PCX -------- Vistapro can load and save pictures in PCX format. Use this menu item to view previously saved pictures. Use the File Requestor to select the desired PCX file. If the PCX image is a different size than the current GrMode, Vistapro gives you the option of changing the GrMode for displaying the image. If you don't change the GrMode and the picture is larger than the current GrMode setting loaded, you will see only the top left corner of the picture. If the picture is smaller than the current GrMode, the picture will be at the top left corner of the screen. Vistapro pictures are saved in the PCX subdirectory, in the Vistapro directory. This is C:\VISTAPRO\PCX. Vistapro only supports the 256 color PCX format. Pictures created by other programs in the 16 color PCX format (usually EGA programs) cannot be loaded. Vistapro continues to display a loaded PCX file until either mouse button is clicked or the ESCAPE key is pressed. SAVE MENU --------- Save Menu items are the opposite of the Load Menu items. They allow saving landscapes, colormaps, and pictures (PCX format) files from Vistapro. The File Requestor is used for all these functions. See the File Requestor section for details on its use. Save DEM -------- If a landscape has been modified, or a new fractal landscape created, it can be saved as a landscape file. The elevation data, textual information, and colormap (CMAP) are saved to the file. The color of each polygon is not saved - this means that rivers, lakes and seas will be lost. The DEM subdirectory is recommended for saving landscapes. Subdirectories should be made if a large number of landscapes are planned. Save CMAP --------- If you have modified a colormap and wish to save it for quick access later on (you may want to use the same colormap for another landscape) you should use this function. Each CMAP is about 5,000 bytes. You could also save the entire landscape and later load the CMAP from the landscape file, but this would create much larger files (usually about 60,000 bytes). We recommend that you save your CMAP files in the CMA subdirectory, especially since they have the same default filename extension as DEM files. Save PCX -------- Vistapro pictures may be saved with Save PCX. (Many other programs also use pictures in this format.) They may be viewed again using the Load PCX function of Vistapro. The picture is displayed on the screen as it is being saved. After the picture is saved the screen returns to the main control panel. The PCX subdirectory is recommended for saving picture files. Created when Vistapro was installed, the directory will usually be C:\VISTAPRO\PCX.. PCX files range in size from a few thousand to about 700,000 bytes depending on the amount of detail and the GrMode in which the picture was rendered. GRMODE MENU ----------- GrMode Menu selects the graphics mode for rendering pictures or viewing PCX files. Only one of the modes can be selected at a time and its selection is indicated by the "*" next to the menu item. Nothing is seen when one of these items is selected, but subsequent images are rendered in the selected GrMode. For VESA modes, a VESA driver must be installed before running Vistapro. Some Extended VGA (EVGA) or Super VGA (SVGA) cards have the VESA modes implemented in ROM. A VESA driver may have come with your VGA card. Note: You'll find VESA drivers for many common video cards in the \VISTAPRO\VESA directory. There is a text file that accompanies each of the drivers, explaining how to install the driver. Look in the directory that describes your graphics adapter. For example, if you have an ATI brand card, look in the VISTAPRO\VESA\ATI directory. For the most up-to-date drivers, contact the manufacturer of your card. Many on-line services (like CompuServe) have updated drivers available for downloading. Not all VESA drivers implement all the VESA modes. In particular, the drivers cannot produce modes which require more memory than is installed on the VGA card. Most 256K VGA cards can display up to 640x400 pixels in 256 colors; 512K cards can usually display up to 800x600 pixels, and 1024K (1M) cards can usually display 1024x768 pixels. Some drivers do not support certain modes even though there is sufficient memory. Finally, some drivers report to Vistapro that modes are supported even though the driver does not generate them properly. In this case a black or gray screen with vertical lines will appear when a picture is rendered or displayed. If this happens, select another mode. Not all VGA monitors can display all the VESA modes. If the picture appears to roll, try adjusting the vertical hold on your monitor. If the screen will not sync, the monitor probably can't support the high refresh and scan rates needed for those VESA modes. Vertical and horizontal size and position settings may require adjustment on older multi-sync monitors. IF A MONITOR DOES NOT SUPPORT THE HIGHER RESOLUTION MODES , DON'T USE THEM. DOING SO CAN DAMAGE THE MONITOR. Vistapro only renders images in the 256 color modes available on VGA and SVGA cards. VGA 320x200 ----------- VGA 320x200 is the 256 color mode available on all VGA adaptors. If a VGA card is present, this mode should work. If a Script is executed while in this mode, Vistapro will save a sequence of PCX files in 320x200 mode. VANIM 320x200 ------------- This is actually the same graphics mode as VGA 320x200 but is used to create animations in Vistapro's VANIM format. If a Script is executed while in this mode, Vistapro will save the animation in VANIM format (one large file). All VGA cards should be able to display this format. VESA 640x400 ------------ This is the 640x400 256 color VESA format available on many VGA and SVGA cards. This mode requires 256K of video memory to be installed on the VGA card. Some VESA drivers do not support this mode even though the VGA card has enough memory. VESA 640x480 ------------ VESA 640x480 allows use of the 640x480 256 color VESA format available on many VGA and SVGA cards. This mode requires 256K of video memory to be installed on your SVGA card. Most VESA drivers for SVGA cards with more than 512K or more of memory support this mode. VESA 800x600 ------------ This is the 800x600 256 color VESA format available on many VGA and SVGA cards. It requires 512K of video memory to be installed on the SVGA card. Most VESA drivers for SVGA cards with 512K or more of memory support this mode. The monitor must also be able to support VESA 800x600 mode. Some standard VGA monitors will not be able to sync to this mode. Try adjusting the vertical hold, vertical size, and horizontal size settings of your monitor if the screen appears to roll or if it isn't centered. Most Multi-sync or Multi-scan monitors support this resolution. VESA 1024x768 ------------- This is the 1024x768 256 color VESA format available on many VGA and SVGA cards with 1024K (1M) of video memory. Most VESA drivers for SVGA cards with 1024K (1M) of memory support this mode. A monitor capable of handling this mode is required. Standard VGA monitors do not support this mode. Many Multi-sync or Multi-scan monitors do not support this mode. SCRIPT MENU ----------- The Scripting functions allow generation of a series of images without having to attend to the computer for each image. There are two uses for Scripts. One generates a sequence of images unattended. The second generates animations. Actually both uses are the same except that the succession of camera positions is more ordered for animations. Vistapro Scripts can only control the camera location and direction. Lighting, or any of the other settings of Vistapro, can't be controlled from script functions. Vistapro Script files are plain ASCII text files. You can use any text editor that saves files in ASCII to change them. It is important the first line of the Script file be: Vista Script File. The text must appear exactly as depicted here with no leading or trailing spaces. The second line may have any text or may be left blank - when Vistapro creates a Script file the second line is just a reminder of the order of the data on each line of the Script CamX, CamY, CamZ, Bank, Hdng, Ptch,. The subsequent lines are a sequence of Camera X, Y, and Z coordinates and Banks, Headings, and Pitches. There is one line for each frame of the animation. The first value on the line is the Camera X position. The second value is the Camera Y position, and the third value is the Camera Z position. The following values are the Camera, Bank, Heading, and Pitch settings. These values are similar to the corresponding values that appear in Vistapro's Control Panel. Leading or trailing spaces are allowed on these lines. Each value must be separated by a comma. Text may be included after the six required values. The values may be either in integer or floating point format. For example, the following constitutes a valid Script file: Vista Script File CamX, CamY, CamZ, Bank, Hdng, Ptch, 0, 0, 1234, -20, +30, 17, 1000, 1000, 2000, 0, 0, 0 1234.56, -2345.67, .34, 0.27, -.123, 3, "Comment" Note that leading spaces are valid. The simplest way to start a new Vistapro Script file is to use Vistapro's Create Script function. This will create a Script file with the first two lines filled out. Append each of the camera positions to the file. Generate -------- This option creates a quick linear path from the current camera position to the current target position. Generate is most useful for generating simple straight-line paths for animations. When this option is selected, Vistapro asks for the name of the Script file to generate. Then it asks for the number of frames. If the camera is 1000 meters from the target and 100 frames are selected, the camera will be 10 meters closer to the target in each subsequent frame. The Bank, Heading, and Pitch will remain constant (the camera will continue to point at the target). If the name of an existing file is selected, Vistapro will ask you if you want to delete the file or abort the operation. Putting Script files in the SCRIPT subdirectory, usually C:\VISTAPRO\SCRIPT, is recommended. Create ------ Create is used to create a new Script file. The new file will have the appropriate first line to identify it as a valid Vistapro Script file. The second line shows the order of the arguments for the subsequent lines. If you select a file name that already exists, Vistapro will ask if you want to delete it or abort the operation. Putting Script files in the SCRIPT subdirectory, usually C:\VISTAPRO\SCRIPT, is recommended. Open ---- Open simply selects a file name for use with the Add function described below. Open a file when you want to append camera positions to an old Script file. If the name of a file that doesn't exist is selected, Vistapro will complain and then do nothing. Script files default to the C:\VISTAPRO\SCRIPT subdirectory. Add --- This function adds the current camera position, Bank, Heading, and Pitch to the current Script file. You must first select the script file with either the Generate, Create, or Open Script functions. Preview ------- Preview depicts the path specified by a Script file. It appears as a series of black dots on the contour map. Each dot represents one Camera position. Execute ------- This function executes a script. Vistapro asks for the name of the script to execute and the name of the image or animation file(s) to output. Vistapro has two Execute modes that are set by the GrMode (Graphics Mode) Menu items. If the graphics mode is VANIM 320x200 Vistapro will produce a VANIM animation file which can be viewed with the Viewer utility. In any other graphics mode Vistapro will produce a sequence of PCX files. The PCX files are named: ABCxxxxx.PCX where ABC is the filename that you supplied via the File Requestor, xxxxx is a five digit number indicating the frame number, and .PCX is the standard extension. For example, if you picked PIC as the filename the output files will be: PIC00000.PCX PIC00001.PCX PIC00002.PCX etc.... If you picked a filename longer than three characters only the first three characters will be used; if you selected PICTURE.XYZ the same sequence of picture names are generated as with PIC.If you select a name shorter than three characters Vistapro will just append the five digit value to the name you selected. A filename of P will generate the following output files: P00000.PCX P00001.PCX P00002.PCX etc.... If you are generating an animation in VANIM mode the output file name is exactly the name you specified with the exception that if you didn't supply an extension Vistapro will automatically append .VAN to the file name: PIC -> PIC.VAN ; no extension specified PIC. -> PIC. ; a blank extension specified PIC.VNM -> PIC.VNM ; a different extension specified We recommend that all your VANIM animations use the .VAN extension. *** End of Chapter Three ***