Crawly Crypt Collection 2/crawlyvol2.bin/graphics/imgindx2/img_indx.txt

Text File | 1989-11-15 | 11KB | 191 lines

IMG INDX  copyright 1989 Chet Walters

IMG INDX is in the public domain and can be distributed freely so long
as this document accompanies the program file.

UPDATE INFO  11/15/89
Since there are several bad IMG's out there floating around and since
the GDOS printer drivers require much babysitting so that they don't
crash when they encounter one, both IMG CAT and IMG INDX have undergone
some changes to allow for the wimpy drivers.  Here's what IMG INDX can
do to help you weed out the BAD IMG files from your library.  When you
click on INDEX, you will be asked if you want to just CHECK for bad
files, or INDEX as usual.  Subsequently, when searching the drives, if
IMG INDX encounters an IMG file whose header simply makes no sense at
all, it will flag that file and note it on the screen.  At the end of
each run, if you are INDEXing, IMG INDX will print your normal list of
IMG files in two columns but will print suspected bad IMG's with
lowercase letters and negative values for the sizes.  If you are simply
CHECKING, then you will be asked if you want to print a list of the bad
ones found if any.  It is recommended that you remove any IMG files
that are suspect from your library, segregating them into one path and
then try to salvage them by loading them into Touch Up, MVG or
SuperCharger and re-saving them.  This 'fix' is not guaranteed to weed
out ALL bad IMG files since we only check the headers, but it sure
helps.  See the IMG CAT dox at the end for more info.


IMG INDX was designed to work in conjunction with IMG CAT to provide an
index page (or pages) for the graphics printouts obtained with IMG CAT.
The index is a quick reference sheet which lets you locate images by
name quickly.  In addition to the name of each IMG found in the path
chosen, the pixel width and height of each image is shown along with
the actual printed size of the image in centimeters or inches
according to the printer resolution you have set.  Print an index of
each path you have catalogued with IMG CAT and place the index as a
preface to the catalogue in your ring binder.

IMG INDX does not require GDOS nor any special drivers.  It performs
its duties with an ASCII output to the printer so it should work with
all configurations of printers.

The first time you run IMG INDX you should set the SCALE buttons to the
resolution of your printer according to the following:
     120/72     =     9 pin printers in draft mode
     120/144    =     9 pin printers in normal mode
     180/180    =    24 pin printers in normal mode
     300/300    =    laser printers in high resolution
     150/150    =    laser printers in draft mode

Next, hold the shift key and click on the desired measurement system of
either INCHES or CENTIMETERS.  You will be asked if you wish to save
the printer config.  Do so.  These settings will then be the defaults
next time you run IMG INDX saving you the trouble of always having to
set it up the way you like it.  These are the important settings in
that they effect the final data of the index.  The actual final print
size in inches or centimeters of each image is indexed according to the
above settings.

INDEX ONLY A PATH

IMG INDX prints a list of IMG files in columnar form sorted
alphabetically.  The delimiter for each list is the path in which the
image files reside.  To index a single path only, highlight the INDEX
PATH button (always the default when the program is run) then click on
the INDEX button or press <RETURN>.  The fileselector will appear for
you to choose the path to print.  Select the desired directory and
click on the OK button or press <RETURN>.  Here, please note:  though
IMG INDX ignores anything that might appear on the 'Selection:' line of
the FSEL, it is important that something be there.  IMG INDX sends the
name "*.IMG" each time the FSEL is called.  Don't clear the line or
edit it.  Just select with the mouse the desired directory and click on
OK.

INDEX ONE to SIXTEEN entire drives or partitions

IMG INDX can also print all directories found on selected drives. Click
on the INDEX DRIVE(s) button and a selectable button will appear for
every drive that is currently recognized by GEM DOS.  Select or De-
select the desired drives by clicking on its respective button
(unavailable drives are shaded).  Once you're satisfied, click on the
INDEX button and IMG INDX will proceed to scour all selected drives and
the directories thereon for IMG files.  Those it finds, it will sort
and print without any further ado.  Here, you may only wish to index
Drive A and B so select only A and B, insert the desired disks and
click on INDEX.  Once the print run is done, insert two more disks and
click on INDEX again. Continue the process until you've indexed your
entire floppy library of images!

THE ALL IMPORTANT FF button

There are two types of formatting available for the INDEX and this
choice is toggled by the FF button (FF meaning Form Feed).  IMG INDX
can print up to 500 image names and sizes per directory.  Of course,
paper is only so big so each page will fit only 110 image names. The FF
button will affect the printout in the following manner:

If the FF button is darkened (default), IMG INDX will print a header
for each path, squeeze up to 55 names in the first column then put any
remaining names (up to 55) in the second column on each page.  Once
those are printed paper is advanced to the second page and the process
is repeated until all images of a single path are printed at which time
the paper is advanced to the next page and printing begins with the
next directory.  (Note, if there are only one or two images in several
paths, this can eat up paper rather quickly.)  When the FF button is
active, before each print run you'll be asked to ensure that your paper
is set to top of form so the subsequent pages will print correctly.
It's a good idea to shut off your printer and set the first page about
1/4 inch into the paper and turn on your printer. This gets TOF to the
proper setting.  If you plan to print several indexes and don't wish to
confirm TOF each and every time, click on the DON'T ASK button and the
confirm alert will never again appear during that session with IMG INDX
making it your responsibility to remember that TOF should be set before
printing the first page in a series.

If the FF button is light (de-selected) then IMG INDX assumes that your
paper is of infinite length (or at least long enough to print 250 names
per column).  The columns are then formatted according to the number of
images found in the path being printed and each is balanced with the
other.  If there are only 20 images, then each column will contain 10
images and after the print the paper is _NOT_ advanced to the next
page.  Printing of subsequent paths will begin where the last left off
though a header is printed for each path.  This is a good way to index
a set of floppies which contain only a few images each while keeping
the process from eating up lots and lots of paper.  Just print a few
and when you start getting close to the end of the page, advance the
paper manually to the next page for the next disk.  If you wish, you
can set the skip over perf switch on your printer to avoid printing on
the perf (this is almost mandatory for folks who own an HP DeskJet
printer).

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Once any of the above processes are underway, you can
ABORT the procedure by pressing the SPACE KEY anytime.  This is
especially useful if you've set up to dump your entire harddrive and
your printer runs out of paper!

The Advertisement section....

As mentioned, this is a companion program for IMG CAT though it's a
useful little critter all on its own.  If you don't know what IMG CAT
is, IMG CAT is also an IMG "indexer" but it accomplishes the task by
printing an actual graphic representation of each image found in a
selected path.  With the advent of Touch Up, scanners, Dr. Bob's MVG
and the like, many folks have opted to store their bit graphics in DRI
IMG format.  This is nice.  It makes it possible to store graphics in
compressed form and let's one work with images larger than the actual
display screen. Ideal for DTP applications.  However, up 'til now,
there has been a real vacuum in the Atari community.  That is, a way to
effectively catalogue and easily reference those very bit images.
There are currently no real slide shows which will let you quickly page
through a set of IMG's so you know what's there (though Dr. Bob's MVG
comes real close with it's QWIKKIES feature).  It was really up to your
failing memory (grey type) to know whether that XMAS01.IMG file was the
one of the wreath or the one of the Christmas tree ...  or was it the
one of the Courier and Ives winter scene that you liked so well???
Yeah, yeah, I know, you have it all printed out with IMG INDX, but,
geez, here it says WINTER01.IMG but which one?  I had three...  Was
this the sleigh? Or the mountain?  or ???  A picture is worth a
thousand words they say....

Well, wonder no more. IMG CAT to the rescue.  Before IMG CAT, if you
wanted a hardcopy of a set of IMG files, you were forced to drag out
Easy Draw, PageStream, Calamus or other DTP packages and laboriously
lay out a page of IMG's, name them, title them and then print them.  A
tough and time consuming job.  After you finished the job, you were
likely pretty sick of DTP for a while anyway.  No longer!  IMG CAT will
print in various configurations page after page of IMG files nicely
laid out in alphabetical order with sizes and names ready for your
perusal.  Next time you're stuck for a nice graphic to go with that
newsletter article about Christmas, just pull out your catalogue and
look under 'W' for winter.  Since you can put up to 15 images per page,
you might even find one that suit's your needs better than the one you
were looking for in the first place.  And it's all without any hard
work on your part.  Just run IMG CAT, smack the return key, select a
path, and smack the return key again. While your catalogue prints,
you're free to pursue other interests.... (a candlelight dinner with
that 'special someone' perhaps....)

A demo version of IMG CAT is available on GEnie in the ST GRAPHICS
library as file #12209 (IMG_CATF.ARC) or can be found on CHQ BBS at
[phone].  There is a discussion topic on GEnie dedicated to IMG
CAT in Category 7 Topic 13.  Join us!

Oh, and lest we forget, a fully implemented working version of IMG CAT
can be had for a mere $10 donation to:

              Chet Walters
              PO Box 45
              Girard, OH 44420

......................ENJOY!