home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The World of Computer Software
/
World_Of_Computer_Software-02-385-Vol-1of3.iso
/
p
/
prbgi097.zip
/
INTRO.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-12-15
|
5KB
|
110 lines
WHAT PRINTBGI package IS ?
PRINTBGI is an excellent package for printing graphics on bit image
devices.
It is addressed to programmers using BORLAND languages
and BGI drivers for drawing graphics output. It is not for end-users.
Currently it supports all standard 9 pins, 24 pins and HP
LaserJet II compatible printers. In the future it will support other
printers (especially color ones), some plotters and other devices
(not necessary bit image ones, of course) accordingly to user signals
and needs.
SINCE NOW YOU CAN PRINT YOUR PICTURES ON VARIETY OF PRINTERS
AT ANY SIZE AND RESOLUTION ! NOT JUST BEING DEPENDED ON PRINT SCREEN
IMAGES THAT SOMETIMES LEAVE MUCH TO BE DESIRED.
HOW YOU USE PRINTBGI ?
The usage of my PRINTBGI package is very simple. THE SAME CODE YOU
ARE USING TO DRAW PICTURE ON THE SCREEN MAY PRINT IT OUT ON YOUR
PRINTER! No additional coding needed. Just add few lines to inform
the package about printer being used, desired picture sizes and
resolution and you are ready to print.
So the same procedure may draw picture on the screen or print it out
on your printer. Only one place to correct your code in the future,
no additional space occupied by compiled code, no additional work to
write "printing" functions.
And you still have the possibility to press Print Screen and make fast
screen copy on the printer.
HOW IT WORKS ?
PRINTBGI contains Borland BGI compatible driver called BITIMAGE BGI
driver. This driver, when used, instead of drawing the picture on the
screen creates bit image map of the picture in the memory.
Next functions included in the library print it out.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST ?
In the term of money it may be so cheap as 15$ (see REGISTER.DOC for
details). In the term of your effort you must write procedures in the
way independent of BGI driver being used. In particular you should
compute all figures positions and sizes at run time according to "screen"
size (using for example getmaxx and getmaxy functions) or according to
DPI resolution. That's all. So little and so much at the same time.
LIMITATIONS
To tell you the truth there are some disadvantages of using
PRINTBGI package.
In the current version my BITIMAGE BGI driver is unfortunately
perceptible slower than the original Borland's drivers (but it can
use EMS memory for its usually large buffers just not stealing you
conventional memory). In addition to higher resolution
that printers have over the screen, quite slow DOS output procedures used,
it gives quite a big difference in the execution time.
Second the images printed on the printer may differ from
what may be seen on the screen. This is due to two reasons. First
you must be very careful about rescaling all output. Second my algorithms
are likely different from that Borland was used and may produce
slightly different results. But the difference should not increase
one pixel except cases described particular in PRINTBGI.DOC.
Another disadvantage is that you cannot use (in current Borland
products) two BGI drivers at the same time. So when you want to
print something using PRINTBGI package you must close down any BGI
driver being used (using closegraph not restorecrtmode function).
This consequently means that the screen must be in text mode during
printing.
That's all disadvantages I know. You can give me a note if
you find some others.
SOURCES
Full sources are available. See REGISTER.DOC for details.
FILES INCLUDED
Following files are included in the current release of this PRINTBGI package.
BITIMAGE BGI - BGI driver.
REGISTER DOC - Contains information about registration.
PRINTBGI DOC - Main documentation file.
INTRO DOC - Explains what this package is for.
REGISTER FRM - Registering form.
BGIDEMO EXE - Demo program.
DRIVERS ASM - Contains drivers definitions.
DRIVERS INC - Needed to compile DRIVERS.ASM
Files for C version:
BGIDEMO C - C Sources for BGIDEMO.EXE.
PRTGRAPH LIB - Library containing all package functions.
PRTGRAPH H - Include file needed to use PRTGRAPH.LIB.
BGIDEMO PRJ - PRJ file used to compile BGIDEMO.C (created by BC++ 3.0).
Files for Pascal version:
BGIDEMO PAS - Pascal Sources for BGIDEMO.EXE.
PRTGRAPH INT - Interface part of PRTGRAPH.PAS
* TPU - Turbo Pascal 6.0 units used by BGIDEMO.PAS
Any comments, suggestions, questions and other messages send to the
author at the following addresses
email address: RESZTAK@PLUMCS11.bitnet
mail address: Andrzej Resztak
20-607 Lublin
ul. K.Wallenroda 2c/18
POLAND