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-
- PC Rockland Graphics Base
-
- Un-Documentation
-
- Part 3
-
- The PC Rockland Graphics Base is an undocumented page setup
- program which is available through the PC-Rockland BBS (914)
- 353-2176. The program is placed on the BBS for the exclusive
- free use of the users of PC Rockland. It may not be sold or
- included in libraries or collections of software which are
- sold. The program may be distributed by users of PC Rockland
- and uploaded to other BBS's as long as no one charges any
- fee associated with the distribution of the program. I,
- Keith P. Graham retain exclusive rights to charge if and
- when I so desire for PCRGB or any derivative program. My
- intention on releasing PCRGB to the public is to receive
- feedback on the product so eventually I will be able to
- figure out how to make money writing programs.
-
- This is the last release of PCRGB (1.3, March 17, 1987). The
- next release will be a similar product called OPTIKS which
- will have gone through a major face lift. OPTIKS is due out
- May 1, 1987. If you can't wait you can send $10 for the most
- recent version, although I can't guarantee much before May.
- I will be adding several new printers such as Toshiba and
- OKI printers before then. Give me a call at (914) 623-4161
- before you send money to find out what it is you will get.
- $10 buys you the latest version plus a couple of disks of
- pictures off of PC Rockland., Be sure to tell me if you
- don't want nudes. Expect to wait 10-15 days, I am a busy
- guy.
-
- WHAT IS PCRGB?
-
- PCRGB is a program which allows you to manipulate graphics
- data from various sources much the same way a word processor
- allows you to process letters, words and sentences, or a
- spreadsheet allows you to process numbers and equations. I
- have purposely tried to follow the style of LOTUS 123 and
- other spreadsheets hoping that the familiar user interface
- will help people to use PCRGB.
-
- PCRGB supports files from: MAC PAINT, Microsoft Paint, PC
- Paint, Basic BLOAD and a half a dozen more formats. I have
- recently added Datacopy Wips files for all of those
- digitizing freaks. The program supports IBM color graphics,
- EGA, Hercules graphics and AT&T. The printers supported are
- IBM proprinter and FX type printers as well as Canon
- Laserbeam and HP LaserJet.
-
- PCRGB writes out files in PCR format which is a compressed
- file format very similar to ARC files. In fact when a PCR
- file is archived using ARC, it gets bigger. This compression
- allows you to store a million bytes of graphics data on a
- single floppy diskette. Each PCR picture expands in memory
- to as much as four times its compressed size.
-
- PCRGB provides for a graphics work space of 2048 by 2048
- pixels, although if you have limited memory, the program
- will use whatever you have. It is very easy to move around
- the work area using the cursor control keys. Graphics can be
- merged together and manipulated by shrinking and expanding
- the pictures as well as changing their orientation or
- location.
-
- A simple series of menus allows you to choose the PCRGB
- options. Each menu item is explained clearly. Menu movement
- can be one step at a time for a novice, but an expert can
- traverse the tree of menu items in minimal keystrokes.
- PCRGB is forgiving. Every menu item can always be backed out
- of with the escape key and Crtl-Break will always bring the
- user back to the beginning screen.
-
- STARTING PCRGB.
-
- PCRGB can be started very simply by typing at the DOS
- prompt: PCRGB and pressing carriage return. The PCRGB
- general help screen is displayed immediately along with the
- "root" menu. The cursor is positioned on the word "FILE" and
- PCRGB awaits your command. You can move the cursor on the
- command line to the left and to the right using the arrow
- keys on the numeric keypad. Each menu item can do something,
- but it won't do it until you move the cursor to that item
- and press the enter key. (You experts quickly figure out
- that you don't have to move the cursor, just typing the
- first letter of the menu item will save you time.)
-
- Each menu item will either bring you to a new menu or
- perform a function. Most menu items bring you to other menu
- items until you finally reach what you want to do.
-
- LOADING A FILE:
-
- Suppose there is MACPAINT picture called mellissa.mac that
- you would like to view. You know that you have to get that
- into PCRGB somehow so you look at the menu and choose "FILE"
- knowing that mellissa.mac is a file and you have to get
- PCRGB to "LOAD" the file. You can choose "FILE" by moving
- the cursor until "FILE" is highlighted and then press enter
- or simply press the "F" key. This will bring you to the
- "FILE" sub menu. Your cursor will be on "LOAD" which is
- convenient because that's what you want to do. You can press
- the enter key or the "L" for "LOAD". The load menu has you
- pointing to "READMAC" which is what MAC PAINT pictures are
- called on the PC. Press enter again and you are finally
- asked to type the name of the file you want to see. You type
- MELLISSA.MAC and press enter.
- If you make a mistake or change your mind you can always
- back out, one menu at a time by pressing the ESC key. (When
- doing a menu, the F10 key works the same way only all at
- once.)
-
- Hey! suppose there is no menu on the screen? Press the "/"
- key and the menu will appear. Press the F9 if you don't like
- the slash key or press Ctrl-Break if you are sadist. They
- will all bring up a menu when there isn't one.
-
- Other keys you should know about are the F1 key which gives
- you an explanation of what the other keys do. The numeric
- cursor pad will move you around in different ways inside of
- the picture.
-
- Well, you are dangerous now. You have enough ammunition to
- "hack" the rest of the program. There are older versions of
- the undocumentation around that talk about different
- features. I don't want to write down too much stuff because
- the program is changing so fast. OPTIKS will be out in MAY
- and that will have more complete coverage of its features,
- but for now, this will be on the BBS's and most of you just
- want enough to get started, so thats what you got.
-
- One last thing - TANSTAAFL - There ain't no such thing as a
- free lunch. Please pass PCRGB around. Tell people about it
- and create interest. Think of me out here on the porch in
- sub zero weather, my fingers freezing and my wife
- threatening divorce. I don't want you to pay, but I want
- eventually to make money off of this. I think I can do it if
- I can fill the need for a graphics and desk top publishing
- "home base". I am working on significant add ons for PCRGB
- and for these I will charge a fee, but the base unit, the
- picture viewer and printer, I promise will always be free
- and available in new and improved formats.
-
- I can be reached by mail at:
-
- Keith P. Graham
- 238 Germonds Road
- West Nyack, New York 10994
-