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1991-03-03
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GIFDESK.DOC - some notes on GIFDESK.EXE 4.0
(released March, 1991 - 25th anniversary of Beatles "Nowhere Man")
GIFDESK is a utility to view many of your GIFs at one time on a VGA system.
Examples of how to use GIFDESK:
GIFDESK *.gif
GIFDESK f:\pics\s*.gif p*.gif
Run GIFDESK alone to get a quick-reference to it's usage.
Remember, you need at least a VGA to use GIFDESK! All of the Super VGA
modes require at least 512k video memory. If you have only 256k, you
may need to override the autodetect by setting GIFDESK=VGA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW THIS VERSION:
- Full GIF89a support! Plain text, transparent, restore, etc
- printing to LaserJet compatible printer on LPT1 (F9 key)
- rewritten video drivers, better, faster
- VESA driver support
- Ahead A and Ahead B chipset support
- Genoa 6400/6600 chipset support
- Tecmar card support (no auto-detect)
- Trident 8900 chipset support (no auto-detect)
- Command file support (see SAMPLE.CMD)
- FILE driver for non-VGA or BBS systems
- better color selection per picture
- better alphabetic file sorting
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display: GIFs are displayed by GIFDESK in several arrangements. The
maximum number of GIFs shown at one time is 80 (if you have a 1024x768
mode on your SVGA). GIFDESK can also show 1 GIF at a time (in color if
you have a hi-res 256 color mode on your SVGA). The display layout can
be changed by hitting the SPACEBAR. This will cycle through the various
GIF arrangements. Also, the F1,F2,F3 and F4 keys will switch directly
to a particular layout. (Notice that F1=1x1, F2=2x2, etc). If you are
using an SVGA that supports an 640x480, 800x600 and/or 1024x768 mode you
can switch to a higher resolution using the + key. Switch to lower
resolution with the - key. The following table lists the various
configurations:
Video Mode GIF Arrangemant
F1 Key F2 Key F3 Key F4 Key
------------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- ------------
640x480x16 1x1 16-Grey 2x2 16-Grey 3x3 16-Grey 6x5 16-Grey
640x480x256 (SVGA) 1x1 256/64 2x2 256/64 3x3 256/64 6x5 256/64
800x600x16 (SVGA) 1x1 256/64 2x2 256/64 4x4 256/64 8x6 256/64
800x600x256 (SVGA) 1x1 256/64 2x2 256/64 4x4 256/64 8x6 256/64
1024x768x16 (SVGA) 1x1 256/64 2x2 256/64 5x5 256/64 10x8 256/64
1024x768x256(SVGA) 1x1 256/64 2x2 256/64 5x5 256/64 10x8 256/64
(256/64 is 256 colour or 64 grey - toggle between these with F10)
Notes:
1) GIFDESK should be able to handle GIF's up to 4096x4096 in size.
2) Writing a GIF file (via . key) may take a while. As it is being
done, a white dot will scan the screen for top to bottom. At
completion, a two tone sound will occur if successful.
3) Printing a screen (via F9 key) may take a while. At completion
a tone will occur.
Super VGA's:
If you have a super VGA that supports 640x480x256 or better (you need 512K),
GIFDESK should use the appropriate driver for your card. The signon screen
lists the type of card that GIFDESK detected. If this is incorrect, you can
override this autoselection with the environment variable GIFDESK. Set the
environment variable GIFDESK to the correct card name according to the following
table:
Card(s) GIFDESK Environment Variable
=====================================================================
ATI VGA Wonder ATI
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chips & Technologies, Cardinal C&T
Boca Research 1024 VGA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Everex Viewpoint EVEREX
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Paradise, AST, Compaq, Dell PARADISE
Western Digital
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tseng, Genoa, STB, Orchid TSENG
Quadram, Sota, Willow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Trident, Logix, ZyMOS TRIDENT
TrueTech
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Video 7, Headland VIDEO7
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Generic VGA VGA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tseng 4000, Sigma TSENG4K
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Genoa 6400/6600 GENOA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
V.E.S.A Driver VESA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahead Wizard Deluxe AHEADB (older cards AHEADA)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tecmar ADGM TECMAR (no auto-detect)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Trident 8900 TRIDENT89 (no auto-detect)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk File image GIFDESK.DAT FILE (no auto-detect)
Example:
If you have an AST VGA card (with 512k!) use the following command:
c:>SET GIFDESK=PARADISE
Notes: 1) The startup screen will notify you of the driver GIFDESK is using.
(the drivers are built into GIFDESK)
2) Several of the SVGA cards have not been tested...comments???
(Everex, Dell, Tecmar)
Keys in GIFDESK:
"PgDn/PgUp" . .Next/Previous screen
"Esc" . . . . .Exit to DOS
"Space" . . . .Toggle Resolution (2x2->1x1->6x5->3x3->2x2...)
"Tab" . . . . .Skip to Next Pic
"." . . . . . .Write screen to GIF file
"Home". . . . .Go to first screen
"End" . . . . .Go to last screen
"+" . . . . . .Increase Resolution (SVGA only) (640x480->800x600->1024x768)
"-" . . . . . .Decrease Resolution (SVGA only) (1024x768->800x600->640x480)
"F9". . . . . .Print to LaserJet on LPT1
"F10. . . . . .Toggle between grey and colour mode (SVGA only)
"F1,F2,F3,F4. .Change directly to 1x1,2x2 etc.
any other . . .Skip to GIF file with name starting with character
Examples:
Key Result
=== ===========================================
. Writes GIF file (named GIFDSKnn.GIF)
c Skips to first GIF file starting with c (e.g. CHEAPSEX.GIF)
7 " " " " " " " 7 (e.g. 7HEAVEN.GIF)
end Displays last set of GIF's (e.g ZAGNUT.GIF, ZIGGY.GIF, ...)
esc Exit the wonderful world of GIFDESK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMAND FILE:
If the file GIFDESK.CMD is present in the current directory,
GIFDESK will read its commands from it. The file contains ASCII
commands that tell GIFDESK what to do next. This may be useful
to someone incorporating GIFDESK into an automatic GIF catalog
generator for BBS use.
SAMPLE.CMD contains a sample of a command file, along with the
available commands. To use it:
1) copy SAMPLE.CMD to GIFDESK.CMD
2) run GIFDESK... GIFDESK *.gif
3) watch it happen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILE DRIVER:
This driver is activated by setting GIFDESK=FILE. No graphics
card is necessary; pixel operations are simulated by reading
and writing a disk file (GIFDESK.DAT). Printing is not
supported with this driver. Disk space of 768 kbytes is
required for the GIFDESK.DAT file. Normal keystrokes or Command
mode can be used (via the GIFDESK.CMD file, see SAMPLE.CMD).
Status information is directed to the screen during processing,
and can be redirected at command time:
C:>GIFDESK *.gif >lpt1
Note that this driver is slower than real hardware, and certain
operations (e.g. clearing the screen) may take a few seconds
and be disk intensive. GIF89a extensions are not supported for
this driver.
Version History:
1.0 - Initial release, worked...kinda slow...
1.1 - Faster.
Allows keys during GIF decode.
Shows resolution even in 6x5 format.
2.0 - Super VGA support, promo screen, 1x1,2x2 format, better sizing!,
Writes GIF's!, 1st character key->filename, much more!
3.0 - Autodetect of SVGA. Colour-colour-colour!!! (on SVGA, GIFDESK now
shows GIFs in colour in all modes. Can still force to grey with
F10). Fixed 640x480x256 for C&T, Paradise, Trident, & Video 7.
3.1 - Some intermediate beta releases
3.2 - Tseng 4000 support, clear screen routine changed, vertical
interrupt detection modified.
3.2a- GIF89a support, bank 0 preset fix for certain TSENG based
cards.
4.0 - Rewritten video drivers. Printing to LaserJet. VESA, Genoa,
Ahead, Tecmar, Trident 8900 added. Command file support. 16
color palette bug fix. FILE driver. More than 256 files quick
key bug fix. Better color selection per picture. Better
alphabetic file sorting. Full GIF89a support added.
GIF is a trademark of CompuServe Inc.
Have comments, suggestions, fan mail, hate mail, GIF pictures?
Jay Wherley
1006 Hidden Harbour Dr. #E2
Melbourne, FL 32935
(407) 242-5296 9-5 M-F
Finally, GIFDESK Was free, Is free, Always free.