HHsFastUniversalGioModule 3.0
=============================

+++ including fast PhotoCD loading support (correct orientation) and support
    for over 20 other file formats and additionally DataTypes! +++
+++ new: now with TBCPlus frame and binary-EPS-Bitmap support +++

-> new: now with optional downscaled loading option... gets your "too large"
   pictures into Photogenics in reduced size... <-

-> new: create your own animations with Photogenics e.g. for CyberGraphX,
   EGS or OS3.x-Amigas with the included HHsYUVSq sequence saver module; see
   additional readme file for details!! <-

The fast universal loader module can be used with Photogenics (I have tried
it with Photogenics V1.2; it should also be usable partially with older
versions; it will probably NOT be usable with Photogenics Lite or Demo
versions, so better get the full version of Photogenics...; DataTypes option
and downscaled loading option are only usable with Photogenics V1.2 or higher).
It is shareware; without a keyfile which you get after registration,
it will load all pictures in greyscale, regardless if they are color or not,
but the speed and format support is the same, so that you can try if
the module fits your needs.

The loader module currently supports the following file formats:

* IFF-ILBM (all standard formats 1 to 8Bit, EHB, HAM6, HAM8, 24Bit)
* PhotoCD (Base format 768x512 or 512x768 (portrait); linear 24Bit colors)
* PPM/PGM/PBM (P1&P4 b&w, P5 grey, P6 color)
* QRT (also known as dump format by PD raytracers as POV-Ray)
* Targa (RLE compr.&uncompr. 1/8/15/16/24/32Bit;incl. interleaved)
* PCX (compr.&uncompr. EGA1-4Bit, VGA 8Bit grey/Colormap and 24Bit)
* MacPaint (b&w compressed 1Bit format; datafork only)
* BMP (uncompr. 24Bit RGB,1Bit,4Bit or 8Bit Colormap; RLE compressed 8Bit,1Bit)
* TIF (packbit-compr./uncompr. Motorola formats 24Bit RGB, 1-8Bit grey/Colormap)
* EGS7.x window iconification file format
* DEEP (compr.&uncompr. 24Bit and 32Bit)
* RGB formats (RGB8, RGBN, RGB5)
* ACBM formats (1 to 8Bit, incl. HAM6/HAM8)
* FBM formats (8Bit grey/color and 24Bit)
* IFF-PBM (DPII) format
* Sun raster (1Bit, 8Bit grey/color and 24Bit uncompressed)
* YUV (color 1:1:1, 2:1:1, 4:1:1 and greyscale)
* VLAB raw (color 1:1:1, 2:1:1, 4:1:1 and greyscale)
* HHsYUVSq sequence format (sequential or random access)
* HHsXRL formats (1-8Bit ColorMap incl. HAM6/8, 8Bit grey, 24Bit RGB compressed)
* binary-EPS bitmaps (RGB and CMYK; this function is experimental)
* TBCPlus frames (maybe also fields; this is untested)

* DataType (incl. first frame of animations with Anim-Datatypes)
  DataTypes are only used as option (if selected in the "Prefs" for
  the module; see below for details)

To install the modules, just copy the file ending with ".gio" to your
Photogenics:Data/Gio directory or use the install script.

The name of the loader .gio module starts with a "-" so that it appears
first in the list of loader modules (and usually will be tried first
for automatic format detection). This makes sure that the fast module
is used automatically instead of other modules if it can load a format.
This should make your loading of many formats much faster!

Preferences: Select Prefs button when the loader is selected in the loader
	     list; Preferences for GIO modules are only available with
	     Photogenics V1.2 and higher!
a) Datatype support: Select "On" if you want Datatypes to be used if the
 internal file formats of UniversalGIO fail; Please note that if this
 option is selected all files which are not supported internally by
 UniversalGIO will be tried by Datatypes which can take some additional
 time or lead to unwanted results (if you have a bad Datatype which
 then loads a picture instead of one of the original Photogenics GIOs).
b) Downscaling factor: Select a downscaling factor (greater 1) in the
 range 1..16 if you want to get pictures into Photogenics in downscaled
 form; useful if memory is insufficient to load big pictures in full size.
 Please note that some of the file formats (which can not be loaded line
 by line) may still need full memory during loading; most formats will
 only need memory for reduced size. Some file formats may also support
 only certain downscale factors. In this case the next higher available
 downscaling factor will be used.

About:	Select About button when the loader is selected in the loader
	list to get information about your keyfile (registered users)
	and the supported file formats; About for GIO modules is only
	availabe with Photogenics V1.2 and higher!

Example loading speed advantages on my configuration (see below):

ACBM: upto 2 times faster
BMP:  upto 2.3 times faster (in addition some OS2-styles supported)
DEEP: upto 1.3 times faster (in addition compressed images are supported)
IFF-EHB: upto 2.5 times faster
HAM6: upto 1.5 times faster (in addition colors can be better)
HAM8: upto 1.7 times faster (in addition colors at left border should be correct)
IFF-24Bit: upto 2.4 times faster
IFF-8Bit: upto 2.2 times faster
PPM-P6: upto 2.3 times faster
PPM-P5: upto 3.1 times faster
PCX: upto 3.8 times faster (in addition special EGA/VGA styles supported)
PhotoCD: upto 3 times faster (in addition horizontal images are usually
				loaded in correct orientation)
QRT: upto 1.3 times faster
Targa: upto 1.7 times faster (this test in RAM: due to loading problems with
    original loader from harddrive; in addition compressed images and other
    depths supported)
TIF: upto 3.3 times faster
(GIF: upto 2 times faster with DataType-Loading and a fast GIF datatype)

(only loading times compared, not displaying; my configuration: Amiga 3000;
 68030/25MHz;PiccoloSD64;Photogenics 1.2;loading from Quantum harddrive; PhotoCD
 loading from NEC2x; Please note that loading times can differ much on other
 configurations)

In addition to the speed advantages, many new formats are supported as
well (see above).

In addition now an animation sequence saver module for the
HHsYUVSq sequence format is available. It should be included in the
UniversalGIO archive (see separate readme for details). It uses the
same keyfile as the UniversalGIO module. To playback animations
in HHsYUVSq format you can use my freeware programs "CyberTVPlayer"
and "EGSTVPlayer" or my shareware program "EGS-TV Professional".

The fast loading functions have all been written by me in assembler and
optimized for fastest speed. I did this for my famous shareware programs
*** CyberShow Professional *** (universal viewer and slideshow program
for all OS3.x Amigas and esp. for Cybergraphics users),
*** EGSPhotoAlbum Professional *** (picture management and presentation
software for EGS) and
*** EGS-TV Professional *** (sequence/animation editing, framegrabber
(VLab/IV24/VideoCruncher) and Blue Screen Keying software for EGS).

When new formats are implemented for my other programs (or the speed is improved
further), I will usually also update the modules, which registered user can then
use due to the keyfile concept.

Registration
============

You can register for the modules at the small add-on price of only 8US$ or
10DM if you order one of my other shareware programs, e.g. CyberShow, the
universal viewer and slideshow program for all Amigas with at least OS3.0
(loading the same formats as the Fast Modules and additional JPeg and
offering True/HighColor support with Cybergraphics) or EGSPhotoAlbum or
EGS-TV. Just include the extra amount with your order for one of thoose programs
and specify your UniversalGIO order on the registration form. Demo versions
of the programs should be available at the same places where you got this demo.

Otherwise you should use the supplied registration form to register.

If you only want to register for the modules, the registration fee is
18US$ outside europe or 20DM in europe. You will also get the latest demo
versions of my other programs.

If you are already a registered user of one of my programs and now want to
register for the modules, the registration fee is 13US$ outside europe or
15DM (in europe). This includes the latest versions of my programs as update.

(Special note for users in germany only: Wenn Sie schon registrierter Benutzer
 eines meiner Shareware-Programme sind und sich Ihre Anschrift nicht
 geändert hat, können Sie die Module direkt per Überweisung bestellen.
 Als Verwendungszweck geben Sie bitte "PgsGIO für ...." an, wobei Sie
 das Programm was Sie schon haben und die Registriernummer angeben.
 Zusätzlich möglichst auch noch Name/Anschrift; die Bankverbindung:
 Konto-Nr. 5740147 BLZ 310 500 00 Stadtspark. Mönchengladbach)
 (No bank transfers from outside germany!)

Send your filled in registration form together with cheque, international
postal money order or banknotes to:

                        Helmut Hoffmann
			Rubensstrasse 4
			D-41063 Mönchengladbach

			Germany

You can currently also contact me by EMail (e.g. for suggestions):

		hhoff@pool.informatik.rwth-aachen.de

No registrations by EMail! If you want to register, please write by ordinary mail
to my address above.

Special Thanks
==============

My special thanks go to Mr. J. Ralph and Almathera for their kind support.

Disclaimer
----------

This software (program and documentation) is provided "as is" and
comes with no warranty, either expressed or implied.
The author is in no way responsible for any damage or loss that may
occur due to direct or indirect usage of this software. You use
this software entirely at your own risk.

Copyright and Distribution
--------------------------

HHsFastUniversalGioModule (module and documentation) is copyright by

                        Helmut Hoffmann
			Rubensstrasse 4
			D-41063 Mönchengladbach

			Germany

The demo version may be freely distributed and used as
long as the following conditions are met:

1) All files have to be kept together

2) No file may be modified or crunched/packed.

   The only official way to distribute the demo packed is the
   original universalgio.lha archive.
   The modules may not be disassembled or analysed. The limitations
   integrated in the demo version may under no circumstance be removed
   or bypassed.

3) Distributors may only charge for the duplication process (including media)
   and not for the software. Theese charges may not exceed the following
   limits: a) Demo on a PD-disk: 7$ (US-dollar) including
              postage&packing (in Germany: 10DM)
	   b) Demo on a PD-CD-ROM: 40$ (US-dollar) including
              postage&packing (in Germany: 60DM)
	   c) Demo on a BBS/Mailbox/ftp-site or other electronically
              callable system: Maximum charge 3$ (US-dollar) (in Germany: 5DM)
              for downloading
   Anyway, it must be made explictly clear to the buyer, that he does not
   pay for the modules (demo) itself but only for the duplication service.

4) It is not allowed to distribute this demo with any commercial product
   without a written permission by me. One exception is the distribution of
   the demo version with products not exceeding the above price limits (e.g.
   a cover-disk magazine for 7$ or less).

   The following companies have my explicit permission to distribute the
   demo with their products: Almathera, Ingenieurbüro Helfrich.

5) The registered version may not be redistributed. It may only run on one
   machine per registration. It is allowed to make a backup copy of the
   original disk.

Version history
---------------

V1.0 (5th aug. 95): Initial release supporting 20 file formats and DataTypes
V1.1 (21th aug. 95): First full version release (incl. revised documentation)
V2.0 (29th aug. 95): Support new file formats: binary-EPS bitmaps (RGB,CMYK)
		     and TBCPlus frames
V2.1 (20th sep. 95): Show Datatype specific ID string during Datatype loading
V3.0 (27th sep. 95): Support downscaled loading as option
		     Included GIO saver module to create HHsYUVSq animations
			(for playback you can use CyberTVPlayer or EGSTVPlayer)

