Fritz: All Fritz/All Fritz.zip/All Fritz/FILES/DEMO_VGA/PYRO.LZH/PYRO.DOC

Text File | 1988-09-27 | 18KB | 401 lines

                    PYRO - A Simulated Pyrotechnics Display
                    ---------------------------------------

                          Version 2.03  (August 1988)

                            (c) 1988  K.G. Shields
                            (c) 1987  K.G. Shields


PYRO Version 1.00 was a program designed to produce a realistic simulation of a
Pyrotechnics (fireworks) display utilising the power of an IBM AT compatible
and the colour graphics capability of an EGA display.  It was written as an
entry in the 1987 "Your Computer" Microsoft Computer Program Art Competition,
of which it was subsequently declared the winner.  ("Your Computer" is a
computing magazine published in Australia.  The competition results were
announced on page 34 of the January 1988 edition.)

The prize in the competition was an "Earth Computer System" with a 10 MHz,
0-wait state 80286 CPU with 2 Mbyte of memory, a 1.44 Mbyte floppy drive and a
40 Mbyte voice coil hard drive plus an NEC Multisync Monitor; an Epson LQ2500
Colour Printer; and $2000 worth of Microsoft Software.  (At least that is what
was advertised when the competition was announced.)

The current version of PYRO represents a major revision of the original
program.  A number of features have been added, most of which were not possible
in PYRO Version 1.00 because of the length limit of 199 lines imposed by the
competition.

Additions include:

. An opening screen.

. A new effect - Catherine wheels.

. CGA, Hercules and text-only displays are supported.  The program now
  identifies the type of display adapter in use.  VGA displays should be
  detected correctly and driven in EGA mode, but this has not yet been tested.

. The program detects processor speed and adjusts delay loops to compensate.
  It also synchronizes itself with the timer tick of the machine.  Both these
  actions are necessary to generate a smooth display and reasonable sound
  effects.  The maximum number of points used may also be reduced
  automatically, from a maximum of 60 down as far as about 24 if necessary.  If
  the processor speed is too slow on an EGA-equipped machine, the program will
  automatically switch to CGA mode.

. The program has been optimized considerably including trade-offs of size for
  speed, and can now run on a much wider range of machines.  On very slow
  machines it switches to a simplified script which limits the amount of
  simultaneous screen activity that can occur.  While permitting a usable
  presentation on slow machines, this very basic script gives only a taste of
  what is possible when PYRO is run on a good fast processor.

. The source code is now compatible with Microsoft QuickC and Microsoft C
  Optimizing Compiler as well as Turbo C which was originally used.  I now use
  QuickC as my development environment for C programming, and use the
  Optimizing Compiler when development is complete.  For PYRO, QuickC generates
  object code that is somewhat slower than that from Turbo C, however the
  Microsoft C Optimizing Compiler generates code that is a few percent faster
  than that from Turbo C.  (These results should not be taken as a general
  indication of the relative performance of these compilers, as PYRO is not a
  'typical' program.  See 'important note' below.)


Requirements
------------
. A fast IBM compatible such as a turbo XT or an AT
. An EGA or CGA compatible display card, or Hercules monochrome.  VGA should
  work in EGA mode (untested).
. A colour display (preferably) if using EGA, CGA or VGA.

The configuration of choice is still an 8MHz or faster AT with an EGA card and
a colour display.

When running at the correct speed one complete Pyrotechnics show, excluding the
opening screen and end titles, will take about three to four minutes, or 180 to
240 seconds, to execute.  If it takes longer than this, your machine is not
fast enough to run PYRO at the correct speed.  (The actual elapsed time and
'ideal' time in seconds are shown on the screen after PYRO terminates.)  If the
EGA mode runs too slowly then try the CGA option, and similarly try the TEXT
mode if CGA is too slow.


Method of Use
-------------
Like a real fireworks display, PYRO is really meant to be viewed in the dark.
For the most realistic effect, first darken the room as much as possible and
cover or turn off any LEDs or pilot lights on the computer and keyboard.  If
darkening the room is too difficult PYRO will still give a convincing display
by normal room lighting, but I recommend viewing it in the dark at least once
to experience the full impact.

Put the PYRO disk in your A drive and make A: the default drive.  To execute
PYRO to produce one complete Pyrotechnics presentation, enter

               pyro

at the DOS prompt.  Alternatively parameters may be specified which turn off
sound effects, select the type of presentation (EGA, CGA or TEXT), or select
continuous running.  For example the following command will produce a
continuous show without sound effects, in CGA mode

               pyro c q cga

To terminate the show immediately at any time hit the escape key. For a more
graceful exit press any other key and the program will stop after completing
all currently active sequences.


Parameters
----------
C         Causes PYRO to run continuously until stopped by pressing a key.  Use
          for a continuously running demo, or as a screen saver (but be warned:
          visitors to your office may find it distracting).

Q         Runs in quiet mode, without explosion sound effects

EGA       Forces the program to run in EGA mode

CGA       Forces the program to run in CGA mode

HERC      Forces the program to run in Hercules mode

TEXT      Forces the program to run in TEXT mode.  This is experimental and is
          only intended to be used on machines with no graphics capability or
          which are too slow to run in graphics mode.  Produces severe 'snow'
          on some video adapters.

R         Causes PYRO to report its assessment of display adapter type and
          machine speed rating before starting the presentation.

F         Causes PYRO to execute at full speed, instead of attempting to
          synchronise with the timer tick of the machine.  This option is used
          only for checking the results of attempts to optimize the program.


Test Results
------------
PYRO has been tested on a number of machines of different speeds and with
various different types of displays.  The results are summarised below.  These
measurements were performed using the Turbo C version and the results when
other compilers are used will vary slightly.


Machine         Speed rating   Display mode  Time (secs)   Comments

NEC Powermate 1     337            EGA          204
Cleveland AT        330            EGA          208
Sperry              116            TEXT         179
Olivetti M24        172            CGA          227
Sharp PC7000        100            CGA          331        Slightly slow
Cleveland XT         81            CGA          473        Slow
Toshiba T1200       213            CGA          207
NEC Powermate 386   474            EGA          183
CCS XT (turbo)      173            CGA          254
Earth 286 (10 MHz)  427            EGA          197


IMPORTANT NOTE
--------------
Some people have tried to use PYRO as a benchmark test.  This is unsound as the
program attempts to compensate for differences in speed between different
machines.  I do not recommend the use of PYRO as a test for compiler speed,
speed of generated object code, or machine speed.  The mix of instructions used
in PYRO is probably very different from that of most other applications.


Technical Details
-----------------
The program is written in the C programming language.  To achieve the required
speed, the display registers and memory are accessed directly.  At the time
PYRO was originally written, it was fairly difficult to find information about
doing this.  However Microsoft Press have now published a book called
"Programmer's Guide to PC & PS/2 Video Systems" by Richard Wilton, which I
recommend to anyone wanting to use these techniques.

In general, PYRO works by generating points and allowing them to continue in
motion under the effect of simulated gravity.  The attributes of a point
include position, velocity, size, colour, lifetime, and rate of fade at the end
of its life.  Most attributes are generated randomly for each point, but the
various effects are achieved mainly by manipulating the limits within which
each attribute may lie.

There are six different effects currently programmed:

Spurt            Produces intermittent eruptions of coloured sparks which fill
                 the sky then fall gently to earth

Flare            A continuous stream of sparks emitted at high speed which fade
                 quickly before they begin to fall

Burst            A starburst of brightly coloured points complete with sound
                 effects

Rocket           A skyrocket which leaves behind a diffuse trail.  Most end in
                 a starburst but for realism a percentage of 'fizzlers' simply
                 fade away to nothing.

Roman Candle     A large fiery ball shoots skyward, leaving a short, quickly
                 fading trail.  The ball explodes in a large burst that
                 sometimes seems to fill the entire sky.

Catherine Wheel  A rotating catherine wheel emits streams of sparks in a spiral
                 pattern.


Files on the PYRO Disk
----------------------
PYRO.C           The complete source code of the program written in Turbo C.
PYRO.EXE         The program in executable form.
PYRO.DOC         This file, the documentation of PYRO.
PYRO1.C          The complete source code of PYRO 1.00, the original version.
PYRO1.EXE        PYRO 1.00 in executable form.  Requires an AT with EGA
                 graphics.
PYRO1.DOC        The documentation of PYRO 1.00.
PYROLAB.PCX      'Paintbrush' file to produce a colorful floppy disc label, if
                 you have the means to print it.
PYRO.MAK         'Make' file for use with QuickC.
OPTPYRO.BAT      Batch file to compile PYRO with Optimizing C, using the
                 options that result in the fastest object code.


Future Plans
------------
The initial version of PYRO was produced as an entry in the 'Your Computer'
Microsoft Computer Program Art Exhibition.  The current version implements most
of the 'wish list' items of the original.

Version 3.00 will be another major revision, the main new feature being that it
will be programmable.  The language being planned is PyroScript, a PDL
(Pyrotechnics Description Language).  This next version is probably a long way
off, both because my ideas are fairly ambitious, and because I am now operating
a full time computer consulting business which makes considerable demands on my
time.


Availability
------------
PYRO 2.03 (along with all earlier versions) is in the public domain and may be
copied and distributed freely.

Unless the written permission of the author is obtained beforehand, program
PYRO may not be sold for any sum in excess of the normally accepted charges for
copying and distributing public domain software, nor may it be used in any
other manner for direct commercial gain.  However it may be used as a
demonstration at trade shows, on dealers premises, etc, either alone or in
combination with other programs.  The 'continuous' option is useful for this
purpose.

Unless the written permission of the author is obtained beforehand, the whole
or any part of PYRO may not be incorporated into any other item of computer
software.



Please direct any comments, enquiries or suggestions to

                              Mr Kelvin G. Shields,
                              Dimension 88,
                              P.O. Box 202,
                              Mount Ommaney,
                              Queensland  4074,
                              AUSTRALIA.

                              Phone:  [phone]





                                                       K.G. Shields.

                                                         08/08/88




Footnote
--------
I am grateful for the encouraging comments I have received about PYRO, both
from within Australia and from overseas, and I am keen to receive any further
communications.

Thank you also to those who expressed concern about the trouble I have
experienced in collecting my prizes from the competition, and asked to be kept
informed of developments.  For you, and as a caution to others who may be
interested in entering competitions, I include the summary below.  The full
diary of events stretches for five pages, and a satisfactory conclusion has not
yet been reached.  However both Microsoft and Epson were very cooperative when
I eventually contacted them directly, and I do not believe any blame for my
problems rests with them.

I am told it is not unusual for organisers and/or sponsers to lose interest in
delivering prizes once a competition is completed, and this certainly seems to
have happened here.  My colleagues tell me I have expended more effort in
attempts to collect the prizes than I put into producing the original entry.


Diary Summary
-------------

16/11/87  Received telegram from the magazine notifying me of my win.  Letters
          and phone calls back and forth followed, and I was informed the prize
          would be shipped without delay.  (Competition conditions specified
          prizes would be delivered within 1 month of winners being notified.)

08/01/88  After many phone calls which were not returned, I was told the prize
          was already on its way and would arrive within a few days.

01/02/88  After several more phone calls, demanded a report of current status.
          Was eventually told that the prize was shipped last week.  Suggested
          I call back in a week's time if it had not arrived.

11/02/88  After several more phone calls about non-arrival of prize, was told
          to contact Epson (Sydney) as all parts of prize had been sent to them
          for shipping.  Called Epson.  They were ready to send me the printer
          but they knew nothing about the other components of the prize.

25/02/88  Printer arrived from Epson.

09/03/88  Was told by magazine that both software and computer had just arrived
          in Australia and were both held up in Customs.  Suggested I call back
          next Monday if not received by then.

23/03/88  Spoke to local agents for the computer company and was given name and
          phone number of a contact in Melbourne.  Called him and was told that
          the machine offered as the prize had not yet been manufactured
          because of delays overseas.  He was willing to give me a substitute
          machine with equivalent specifications from their current product
          line.  However he had not yet been informed by the magazine of the
          outcome of the competition or the name of the winner, so would have
          to contact them first.

11/04/88  Spoke to local agents for Microsoft.  They promised to investigate
          with Microsoft (Sydney) on my behalf.

27/04/88  Microsoft called, recorded my list of selected software, and promised
          to organize shipment as soon as posible.  Said they had not yet been
          requested by the magazine to ship the prizes.  One of the other
          prizewinners had had similar problems to my own and had also just
          contacted Microsoft directly.

28/04/88  Software arrived.

02/05/88  Microsoft called to verify that shipment had arrived and was all in
          order.

27/05/88  After repeated calls to the computer company since first contact,
          computer was finally shipped on this date.

30/05/88  Computer arrived but is unsatisfactory in a number of ways:

          . The monitor is an EGA ECM-5400 made in Taiwan rather than the NEC
            Multisync.  Furthermore the display adapter in the machine supports
            enhanced modes I would like to use, but which cannot be used
            without a multisync monitor.

          . An old-style keyboard was supplied rather than the 101 key type I
            was assured would be provided.

          . Memory is only 640K.

          . Hard disk is only 20Mbyte.

          . The monitor power cable has a foreign (round pin) plug.

          . No printer cable.

          . MS-Dos and GW-Basic supplied on the hard disk but no floppy disks
            supplied.  A Dos manual was supplied but no GW-Basic manual and no
            User Manual for the machine.

          . A number of Norton programs supplied on the hard disk but no floppy
            disks or manuals.  No indication whether I am legally entitled to
            these.

          . No SETUP program supplied and it was needed because the CMOS
            information was incorrect.

          . The machine fails to boot up when turned on, and has to be reset up
            to a dozen or more times before it successfully boots.  During this
            process keyboard and memory diagnostics may be produced.

          . The second serial port does not work.

02/06/88  Sent a letter listing problems and asking for remedial action.

16/06/88  No response yet, so phoned to verify that letter had been received.

18/07/88  Sent second letter requesting action on previous letter.


At this stage I have allowed a further two months for action, which I think is
more than fair.  In that time I have received absolutely no communication from
the computer company.  I now intend to enlist outside help to try to resolve
the remaining problems.



                                                         27/09/88