PicIcon takes an IFF image file, both ILBM and ANIM formats are supported,
and creates an icon image showing the contents of the file. This allows
images to be more easily recognised from the Amiga Workbench.
PicIcon be used from both the CLI and Workbench, although it is more suited
to the Workbench environment with some functions only being available via
Workbench.
PicIcon is distributed as shareware. This version is fully functional
however a requester saying that is not registered will appear after
a number of files have been processed. See the copyright section for
details on how to register.
PicIcon requires AmigaDOS 2.04 (V37) or later to run.
@endnode
@node Copyright "PicIcon: Copyright"
@next Operation
@prev Introduction
PicIcon release 1.03
PicIcon 1.03 and PicIcon project icon (hereinafter "Files") and
their related documentation and examples
(c) Copyright 1994 Michael J. Sheppard. All Rights Reserved.
This version of PicIcon is shareware. Permission is given to distribute
these Files freely via any means which preserves its copyrights. The
Files may not be sold for profit. Any distribution must include both
the PicIcon License file and the PicIcon documentation drawer complete
with contents.
The registered version of PicIcon contains the full source code and
removes the shareware message from it's operation. To register send
10 UK pounds, or $15 US, to ;
PicIcon Registration.
M.J.Sheppard
163, Sapgate Lane,
Thornton
Bradford
BD13 3DY
If you include an Internet email address with your registration then I
will keep you informed of updates to PicIcon and their availability.
These Files and their related documentation and examples are provided
"AS-IS" and subject to change without notice; no warranties are made.
All use is at your own risk. No liability or responsibility is
assumed.
@endnode
@node Operation "Using PicIcon"
@prev Copyright
@next hints
PicIcon can be started from either the @{"Workbench" link WBStart} or @{"CLI" link CLIStart}.
PicIcon has two modes of operation. It can either try and match the colours
in the file with those currently in use by Workbench, or just assign colours
on a modular basis i.e. Areas in colour 1 in the file appear as colour 1 in
the icon. For any file whose image has greater than 256 colours PicIcon will
always try to match the colours. For images with fewer than 256 colours the
method used can be set by the user via the @{"match colours" link sw_match } checkbox
on the @{"settings window" link set_window}.
When matching colours PicIcon looks for the nearest colour based on colour
intensity. This can result is some unexpected colour choices. For example
for a greyscale image PicIcon may introduce some colour in the icon this is
because there aren't enough greys in the Workbench palette to match all of
the colours to a grey. More information about PicIcons colour matching can
be found in the @{"Hints and Tips" link hints} section of this document.
@endnode
@node WBStart "PicIcon: Workbench Startup"
To start PicIcon from Workbench double-click on the PicIcon icon with the
left mouse button. After a few seconds an application icon will appear on
the Workbench.
PicIcon recognises an number of tooltypes to modify it's operation:
@{"SETTINGS" link wb_settings }
@{"WIDTH" link wb_width }
@{"HEIGHT" link wb_height }
@{"DEPTH" link wb_depth }
@{"QUIET" link wb_quiet }
@{"FONT" link wb_font }
@{"FONTSIZE" link wb_fontsize }
To create an image drag the icon of a file onto the application icon and
release the mouse button. PicIcon will then process the file and create
an icon image.
If you double-click on the application icon a @{"window" link set_window} is displayed allowing
you to change the current settings used to create icons.
To stop PicIcon either double-click on the PicIcon disk icon, or select the
@{"quit" link sm_quit} item on the @{"settings menu bar" link set_menu}.
@endnode
@node wb_settings "PicIcon: Settings tooltype"
@prev Operation
@next wb_width
SETTINGS=<filename>
This is the name of a file containing PicIcon settings to use
when processing the files. New settings files can be created
using the @{"Settings window" link set_window}.
If this parameter is not present then PicIcon will load the
default settings file, S:PicIcon.config.
@endnode
@node wb_width "PicIcon: Width tooltype"
@prev wb_settings
@next wb_height
WIDTH=<pixels>
This is the width, in pixels, of the icons created by PicIcon.
This value overrides the value stored in the settings file.
Default = 48
@endnode
@node wb_height "PicIcon: Height tooltype"
@prev wb_width
@next wb_depth
HEIGHT=<pixels>
This is the height, in pixels, of the icons created by PicIcon.
This value overrides the value stored in the settings file.
Default = 20
@endnode
@node wb_depth "PicIcon: Depth tooltype"
@prev wb_height
@next wb_quiet
DEPTH=<planes>
This is the depth, in planes, of the icons created by PicIcon.
This value overrides the value stored in the settings file.
This effects the number of colours used in the icons and can
be 2, 3 or 4 for 4, 8 or 16 colours respectively.
Default = 3 ( 8 colours ).
@endnode
@node wb_quiet "PicIcon: Quiet tooltype"
@prev wb_depth
@next wb_font
QUIET
By default PicIcon displays a window showing the progress is it
making processing each file. This option stops this window appearing.
This can be overridden using the Quiet option on the Settings menu.
@endnode
@node wb_font "PicIcon: Font tooltype"
@prev wb_quiet
@next wb_fontsize
FONT <name>
PicIcon uses the system default font for all windows. This option
allows you to specify a particular font to use for the windows.
The @{"FONTSIZE" link wb_fontsize} tooltype should be used to set the
size of the font.
@endnode
@node wb_fontsize "Picicon: Fontsize tooltype"
@next CLIStart
@prev wb_font
FONTSIZE <pixels>
This tooltype allows you to set the size of the font given in the
@{"FONT" link wb_font} tooltype.
@endnode
@node CLIStart "PicIcon: CLI Startup"
PicIcon processes all of the files listed on the command line and exits.
If an error is detected when processing a file then PicIcon will continue
to the next file if possible.
The command template for PicIcon is as follows;
PicIcon @{"FILES/M" link cli_files},@{"SETTINGS/K" link cli_settings},@{"WIDTH/K/N" link cli_width},@{"HEIGHT/K/N" link cli_height},@{"DEPTH/K/N" link cli_depth},@{"QUIET/S" link cli_quiet},@{"ALL/S" link cli_all}
@endnode
@node cli_files "PicIcon: Files parameter"
@next cli_settings
@prev CLIStart
FILES/M
A list of files to create icon images for. if this is an AmigaDOS pattern
PicIcon will process all files that match the pattern.
PicIcon #?.ham
Will create icon images for all files in the current drawer having
names ending in '.ham'.
@endnode
@node cli_settings "PicIcon: Settings parameter"
@prev cli_files
@next cli_width
SETTINGS/K
This is the name of a file containing PicIcon settings to use
when processing the files. New settings files can be created
using the @{"Settings window" link set_window}.
If this parameter is not present then PicIcon will load the
default settings file, S:PicIcon.config.
@endnode
@node cli_width "PicIcon: Width parameter"
@prev cli_settings
@next cli_height
WIDTH/K/N
This is the width, in pixels, of the icons created by PicIcon.
This value overrides the value stored in the settings file.
Default = 48
@endnode
@node cli_height "PicIcon: Height parameter"
@prev cli_width
@next cli_depth
HEIGHT/K/N
This is the height, in pixels, of the icons created by PicIcon.
This value overrides the value stored in the settings file.
Default = 20
@endnode
@node cli_depth "PicIcon: Depth parameter"
@prev cli_height
@next cli_quiet
DEPTH/K/N
This is the depth, in planes, of the icons created by PicIcon.
This value overrides the value stored in the settings file.
This effects the number of colours used in the icons and can
be 2, 3 or 4 for 4, 8 or 16 colours respectively.
Default = 3 ( 8 colours ).
Note: Under Workbench 3.0 the choice of icon depth is limited
to 2 or 3 giving 4 or 8 colours only. This is due to the
change in colour handling introduced for Workbench 3.0.
@endnode
@node cli_quiet "PicIcon: Quiet parameter"
@next cli_all
@prev cli_depth
QUIET
By default PicIcon displays the names of the files as it processes them.
Setting this flag stops PicIcon from displaying this information.
@endnode
@node cli_all "PicIcon: All parameter"
@next hints
@prev cli_quiet
This flag causes PicIcon to process all of the files in the directories
specified in the @{"FILES" link cli_files} argument, including any subdirectories that
they might have.
@endnode
@node set_window "PicIcon: Settings Window"
@prev WBStart
@next set_menu
The settings window allows you to modify the current settings used to create
icon images. It is activated by double-clicking on the PicIcon application
icon. The effects of the changes are controlled by the three buttons at the
bottom of the window, @{ "Save" link sw_save }, @{ "Use" link sw_use }, and @{ "Cancel" link sw_cancel }. No changes made to the window
will have any effect on the creation of images until one of these three
buttons is pressed.
The settings that can be changed from this window are ;
@{"Width" link sw_width } The width of the icon in pixels
@{"Height" link sw_height } The height of the icon in pixels
@{"Colours" link sw_colour } The number of colours in the icon
@{"Border" link sw_border } Whether the icon should have a border
@{"Match Colours" link sw_match } Whether PicIcon should match image/workbench colours
@{"Free Position" link sw_free } Whether PicIcon should free the icon position
@{"Replace Tool" link sw_free } Whether PicIcon should set the icon default tool
@{"Default Tool" link sw_deftool } The default tool PicIcon should give icons
@{"Tool types" link sw_tool } The Tool types to use with the default tool
As well as displaying the window a @{"menu bar" link set_menu } is installed allowing you
to load and save settings and quit PicIcon.
@endnode
@node sw_width "PicIcon: Settings window - Width"
@prev set_window
@next sw_height
Gadget Type : Slider
Value range : 20 - 80 pixels
Shortcut key : w
This gadget allows you to change the width of the icons produced. When making
changes to the dimensions of the icon you should consider the dimensions of
the original image to limit to amount of distortion in the resultant icon.
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