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1988-08-12
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Capture VGA screens to .GIF files
(C)1988 Laurie and Bill Fleisher
4680 Carrick SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
(616)531-2776
This program consists of two modules. The first on, VGACAP, is a
TSR (memory resident program) which captures the 320x200x256
(mode 13H) screen and palette to a disk file. The second module,
SCR2GIF.EXE, converts this file into a .GIF file, which can be
displayed with programs like PICEM or VGAGIF. The reason for
the split modules is to keep the size of the memory resident
program small. This prevents competition for memory space with
your graphics editor of display program. Some of these programs
tend to be memory hogs when displaying mode 13H. The VGACAP uses
only 2k of memory. This should not interfere with memory usage
very much.
To install the capture program, simply type VGACAP. It will check
your video adapter, and install itself if it finds a compatible
adapter. Otherwise it simply aborts. In order to invoke it,
display the image you want to capture. Then press ALT and C at
the same time. After a few seconds of disk activity, a BEEP will
sound to indicate a successful capture. VGACAP will check video
modes to see of 320x200x256 mode is active. If not, it will exit
without capture.
The file created will have a name of VGA-xxx.SCR, where xxx is a
three digit decimal number. The program checks the directory,
and will use the lowest number not already in use. You can write
999 files to a directory this way (if you don't run out of disk
space).
If you delete any .SCR files, VGACAP will fill the blank spaces
on the next capture before adding to the end of the list.
Each file consists simply of a 768 byte area containing palette
data (256x3), followed by 64000 bytes of screen dump. The total
size is therfore 64768 bytes.
It is recommended you rename the files to something descriptive
when you return to DOS unless you are going to convert them
immediately.
The SCR2GIF file is very simple to use. There are three modes
for using it. The modes are determined by whether no, one, or two
file names are entered on the command line when SCR2GIF is
invoked.
SCR2GIF or
SCR2GIF inputfilename or
SCR2GIF inputfilename outputfilename
MODE 1
C:>SCR2GIF
The first way of using it requires that you enter only VGA2GIF on
the command line. It will prompt for both file names. It will
fill in the suggested input file extension of .SCR. You need not
enter the extension if .SCR is okay. Otherwise, as soon as you
type the "." the SCR extension will vanish so you can enter your
own extension. If it cannot find your input file name it will ask
you to reenter.
The output file name will then be requested. It will present your
input file name with the extension changed to "GIF". If this is
okay, just hit the ENTER key. Otherwise, start entering the
filename you want. The extension will behave as in entering the
input file name described above. If the output file already
exists, it will ask permission to overwrite it. The default
(ENTER) is "No, don't overwrite" It will then ask for a new
file name.
MODE 2
C:>SCR2GIF filename.SCR
or
C:>SCR2GIF *.SCR
This mode will accept wildcards. The output file names will be
the same as the input file names except that the extension is
changed to .GIF.
It will accept the same wildcards as DOS (? or *). You will be
asked ONCE whether it should overwrite a .GIF if the name happens
to be the same as the output file. This will apply to all
conversions if a wildcard is used. For instance, if the input
file is VGA-000.SCR and it finds a file named VGA-000.GIF it
will overwrite it if you answer Y. If, however, VGA-000.GIF is
protected (Read only attribute set) it will refuse to over-write
it and "Permission denied" will be displayed.
MODE 3
C:>SCR2GIF inputname.SCR outputname.GIF
The third mode is intended for running from batch files and
accepts
both input and output file names on the command line as:
SCR2GIF myinput.pic myoutput.mac
An error message is generated if it cannot open the input file
(if it can't find it for instance) or if it cannot open the
output file (if the output file already exists).
In any case, the program will request whatever information it
requires. If the output file exists already, you will be asked
if you want to overwrite it. We may provide a similar package
for other screen modes if people are interested and if no one
else provides one first. If you like the program or find it
useful, you don't have to send money, although it might be nice.
But at least write and let us know you like it, don't like it,
and let us know we did something useful.