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- VBBS 6.12 Documentation-- 13-1
- .TOPIC:
- R.I.P. Graphics
-
- ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
- ║ CHAPTER 13 R.I.P. GRAPHICS ║
- ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
-
- VBBS now supports RIP graphics. RIP stands for Remote Imaging
- Protocol, a relatively new graphical interface standard for the
- online world. RIP was created by the Telegrafix Corporation.
- RIP describes both a specification and a classificaton of
- software programs that use the specification. RIP compatible
- programs use RIPscrip, the RIP programming language.
-
- RIPscript
- ═════════
- RIPscrip is a concise, text-based language for instructing
- compatible terminal programs to display graphics. The RIP
- scrip language is Ascii text based and is compatible with
- virtually every host. RIPscrip files are used by VBBS in place
- of the normal Ascii/Ansi text menus.
-
- RIPscrip has many graphic commands for presenting information
- to the user in an eye-pleasing manner. The RIPscrip language
- offers a rich command set, including:
-
- . A full set of basic graphic commands
- (box, circle, curves,line,etc.)
- . Specialized fill patterns.
- . Color manipulation commands.
- . Multiple fonts, that are scalable.
- . Text and graphic windows on screen simultaneously. This
- allows the user to view graphics and text at the same time.
- . Full mouse support for point-and-click operation.
- . Terminal-based bit-map icons for detailed, high-speed
- graphics.
- . Full clipboard copy and paste ability.
- . Custom defined lines and styles for technical drawings,etc.
-
- RIPterm
- ═══════
- To use RIP, the user needs a RIP-compatible terminal program
- such as RIPterm. RIPterm is Telegrafix's RIPscrip-compatible
- terminal program. The current revision is named RIPTRM154.ZIP
- and is available on most of the VBBS support boards. RIPterm
- is a freeware program, meaning that it may be freely
- distributed. Besides supporting RIP graphics, RIPterm includes
- all the basic terminal capabilities.
-
- RIPaint
- ═══════
- RIPaint is an object-oriented "What You See Is What You Get"
- Graphical User Interface (GUI) designer, implemented as a paint
- program. It reads and writes text-based RIPscrip graphical
- script files.
- VBBS 6.12 Documentation-- 13-2
-
- RIPaint is a Fourth Generation Language applicaton. A 4GL
- application lets you generate code by using a screen designer,
- rather than by typing in code with a text editor. RIPaint
- genreates the RIPscrip codes for you. You don't need to edit a
- single line.
-
- Choosing the (Save) option records your paint/draw actions to a
- .RIP "scene" file. These scene files can be played back on any
- RIPscrip-compatible software package. RIP scene files can also
- be created with other RIPscip paint programs such as DeadPaint,
- Tombstone Artist, etc.
-
- More about RIPscrip
- ═══════════════════
- RIPscrip is small, efficent and fast. It is entirely
- text-based, allowing it to be installed on almost any host
- system. RIPscrip is composed of 7-bit Ascii text, which can be
- transmitted over either 8-N-1 or 7-E-1 hosts.
-
- RIPscrip is a complex scripting language and RIP files are
- cryptic looking when viewed. RIPaint was designed with the
- intention that nobody would every have to touch a line of
- RIPscrip code. Designing a graphical user interface by editing
- text files is not intuitive at all, and goes against the
- concept of GUI systems.
-
- Meganums
- ════════
- Part of the complexity of RIPscrip files is due to the special
- numbering used to save space. RIP files do not use the common
- decimal number system. The decimal uses digits 0 through 9.
- RIPscript fields do not use the hexadecimal number system (O-F)
- either.
-
- RIPscrip uses a numbering system with 36 digits. (0-9, A-Z).
- This is called Hexa-Tri-Decimal, which was affectionately
- dubbed 'meganums'. This numbering system is used because it
- stores numbers very efficently, thus saivng space and reducing
- transmission time.
-
- VBBS and RIP
- ════════════
- RIPscrip graphics, when combined with VBBS, provide visually
- stunning graphics and offers point-and-click navigation. In
- many cases, RIP improves the speed at which meus are refreshed.
- To use RIP with VBBS, pre-designed *.RIP menus are made
- available, and should be placed in the VBBS TXT subdirectory
- along with your other menus. Using one of the programs
- previously mentioned, however, you may design and paint your
- own menus to customize your bbs as you desire.
-
- Denny Costello - The Loft BBS
-
-