home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
DP Tool Club 31
/
CDASC_31_1996_juillet_aout.iso
/
vrac
/
multikit.zip
/
TOOLS.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1996-03-01
|
8KB
|
168 lines
Documentation ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Tool Programs │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── MULTIKIT v1.0
1. ARCHIVER
───────────
This program archives your files. It puts them together into one big file
and returns a PASCAL script file containing the start of each single file
in the archive. You can include this file into your program and use the
defined constants together with the SEEK function. And each loading pro-
cedure of the MULTIKIT supports a seek parameter. Why this you might ask.
Well that has something to do with the art of coding: a program consis-
ting of hundreds and hundreds of files looks very poor and is hardly to
handle by the user. The possibility of errors in the directory structure
increases rapidly, you must wait minutes when deleting so much files, ...
At least the number of files per directory is limited. Use the ARCHIVER
to solute this problems.
Functions: Cursor Keys - Move the selector bar
INS - Mark/Unmark a single file
+ - Mark all files
- - Unmark all files
ENTER - change to selected directory
TAB - change between file display and options
Copy option - Copies the marked files into an archive
and returns a script file
Move option - Like the copy options but deletes the
source files
Quit - Change back to default directory and quit
Limitations: Read-only files are not supported
Drive can not be changed
Very less error checking
Suggestions: Don't use an archive name with the extension 'PAS' because
the script file uses this extension: <archive name>.PAS
Assure that no error may occur during the archiving pro-
cess like less disk space, bad sector error or anything
else. The archiving would be terminated at once.
2. COMPRESS
───────────
MULTIKIT v1.0 supports only compressed data files. So all image and sound
data must be compressed by using the PKWare algorithm. Use COMPRESS to
shrink modules and samples you want to use in context with SOUND.TPU.
Image data is automaticly compressed by XMDETOOL (s.b.), so don't try to
shrink these data by using COMPRESS.
Functions: Command line parameter structure is
< COMPRESS InFile OutFile >
InFile - file you want to compress
OutFile - name of file containing the compressed data
Limitations: Less error checking
Suggestions: Of course InFile and OutFile shouldn't have the same name,
the program won't check this.
3. FONTEDIT
───────────
You might have asked yourself how to create MULTIKIT compatible fonts for
XMODE.TPU which can be loaded via XLOADFNT and used within your program.
Well thats what FONTEDIT is for. Creating and modifying fonts and saving
them in MULTIKIT font file format in the easiest way.
Functions: New - Clear all data
Load - Load the specified font file
ROM8 - Load ROM 8x8 font
ROM14 - Load ROM 8x14 font
Save - Save the data refering to the specifications
given in the Font/File Data Field.
Quit - Quit the program immediately
Alphabet - Select the letter to edit
Magnification - Set/Clear single pixels
Font/File Data - Setup file specifications
FileName: Is neccessary for load and save
functions. (If you load a file,
the other data will be ignored)
Font/Mouse: If you select MOUSE then the
current char will be saved as a
pascal file which you can in-
clude in your program and use
in connection with MOUSEDEFINE.
First Char: ASCII-Code of the first charac-
ter in the font.
Last Char: ASCII-Code of the last char.
Width: Width of the chars. You can on-
ly enter 8 or 0 (zero means
variable width).
Height: Height of a char (1 <= X <= 14)
Limitations: Supports only char heights up to 14
Supports only char widths 0 (variable) and 8
Less error checking (as usual)
Suggestions: If an error occurs during the load/save operations you'll
hear some noise. Else the operation has been successful.
Remember: Everything will be executed immediately. That
means you'll get no questions like "DO YOU REALLY WANNA
DO THAT ?". Be careful to aviod data loss.
4. XMDETOOL
───────────
XMDETOOL converts images into XMODE.TPU compatible sprites. You can load
GIF files of version 87a/89a in resolution 320x200x256 and unpacked BMP
images using the same resolution and save them as XMODE.TPU compatible
sprites. The palette can also be saved.
Functions: Mouse move - Mark sprite
Load GIF - Loads a GIF file from the disk into memory
Load BMP - Loads a BMP file
Save Sprite - Saves a part of the loaded image to a file
Save Screen - Saves the entire image
Message Box - Used for message output (errors,information)
Save Pal - Saves the color palette of the current image
Quit - Quits the program immediately
Limitations: Supports only 320x200x256 GIF/BMP images
Less error checking
Suggestions: Don't try to load GIF/BMP files with any other resolution
than 320x200x256 or your computer may hang.
Install your VESA driver before executing the program, be-
cause XMDETOOL needs a VESA compatible SVGA card
Remember that XMODE.TPU does only support sprites whose
widths are multiple of four pixel. The program checks it
automaticly and displays the current coordinates in the
message box when you are marking a sprite.
Disclaimer
──────────
All MULTIKIT tools are FREEWARE. They can be copied and used without any
restrictions. EXCEPTION: YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING WITH THIS PRO-
GRAM IF THERE IS ANY COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND. This includes i.e. the follo-
wing: charging a fee for copying, creating shareware or commercial soft-
ware using these tools
Additional coders in alphabetical order: Every source code or
PKWare Inc. (Data compression) library used here is
Tristian Tarrant (GIF/BMP loading procedures) FREEWARE.
(C) Copyright by TSC-Software, 1995-96.