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- Capture VGA screens to .GIF files
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- (C)1988 Laurie and Bill Fleisher
-
- 4680 Carrick SE
- Kentwood, MI 49508
- (616)531-2776
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- 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.
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