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- Manual MAKECPX version 1.02 (C) Noud van Kruysbergen 18/05/92
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-
- 1. Introduction
-
- Atari's with a new TOS version do not use the old Control Panel any more,
- but XCONTROL is delivered with the ST/TT. This accessory can start
- Control Panel modules, known as CPX files. These CPX files have to use a
- special format, and one of the things they need to have is a header with
- information that XCONTROL uses to show the CPX module in its selectbox.
- This header information can not easily be created by a compiler and/or
- linker, but has to be build up 'manually', and afterwards concatenated to
- the program (or actually, the program has to be concatenated to the
- header). Still makes sense? Information about how to create a CPX module
- can be obtained from different sources, which do not make sense on their
- own, but do provide all the necessary information when combined together.
- The Atari ST-STE-TT Profibuch (Jankowski, Rabich & Reschke) and some
- articles in the German ST-Computer magazin did the trick for me.
-
- 1.1 Texts
-
- XCONTROL wants from the CPX module the following information:
- - The name of the CPX module ('CPX Name').
- - The text underneath the icon ('Icon Text')
- - The CPX identification ('CPX ID')
- - The version of the CPX module ('Version')
-
- 1.2 Graphics
-
- XCONTROL wants the following information concerning the icon:
- - The color of the 'CPX Name' text
- - The color of the 'Icon Text' text and the icon
- - The bitmap of the icon (32*24 pixels)
-
- 1.3 Variables
-
- XCONTROL finally needs information about the status of the CPX module
- ('Flags'):
- - This CPX module only sets variables once ('Set-Only')
- - Execute this CPX module at booting time ('BootInit')
- - Load this CPX module into memory ('Resident')
-
- 1.4 Definitions
-
- Please note the following definitions: a CPX module is a module that can
- be used right away by XCONTROL. a CPZ module is a CPX module that is
- inactivated, and therefore not loaded by XCONTROL. A CP module does not
- contain the header information (yet). A HDR file at last contains the
- header information and nothing else. Summary: HDR + CP = CPX. I will not
- go into detail about what all the information means and where it can be
- used for, because you have to know that yourself or otherwise this
- program is of no use to you!
-
- 2. The program.
-
- MAKECPX creates all this information and allows different types of
- storage. It is now time to start the program. All the words introduced
- between quote-marks in the Introduction section do appear in the dialog.
- The CPX Name, Icon Text, CPX ID and Version number are editable in a
- normal way. The color numbers can be changed by clicking on the arrows.
- Remember that not all possible 16 colors do make sense in all resolu-
- tions! The Flags can be set by clicking on the button after the text or
- by simply clicking on the text itself. If you want to edit the icon click
- on the 'Edit' button. A new dialog will appear with a 32*24 bitmap.
- Drawing the icon is rather straightforward. The color you are drawing
- with can be seen in the 'Operators' box. You can shift the icon up, down,
- left or right, flip it horizontal or vertical, invert or clear it by
- selecting the proper buttons. The color can be changed by pushing the
- rigth mouse button. You can also load or save the icon (as a ICN define
- file, which is supported by RCS2.PRG and Degas Elite for instance). In
- this dialog the buttons are also selectable by pressing a key:
-
- Load : 'L' |Save : 'S' |X : 'X |Y : 'Y'
- Up : Up arrow |Down : Down arrow|Left : Left arrow|Right : Right arrow
- Color : C |Invert : I |Erase : 0 |Cancel : Undo
-
- 'Cancel' will undo all the drawing done and return to the first dialog,
- 'Main' will keep the changes (if any) made to the icon.
-
- You can load the header information from a separate header ('HDR') or
- extract it from a CPX module ('CPX'). All the information will be shown
- and is ready for changes. After the changes are made or a new header is
- created it can be saved as a header only ('HDR'), it can be stored to a
- CPX module ('CPX') or a new CPX module can be created out of a CP file
- ('PRG -> CPX'). Note that in the latter case the program asks for a PRG
- file and not for a CP file as one would expect. This is mainly because
- compilers and/or linkers don't know about CP(X)s. Just create a PRG and
- MAKECPX will add the header and change the name to CPX. A new CPX module
- is then born.
- Note: N_PCSHEL.PRG is a GEM shell for Pure C which offers the possibility
- to use other editors (like TEMPUS) with Pure C, and also supports CPX
- modules.
-
- 3. About the program
-
- MAKECPX is written in (Pure) C, and is independent of resolution
- (although you'll have a problem with the ST low resolution) and
- independent of processor. The version 1.02 is the first official release;
- version 1.01 is the same except it uses a separate resource file.
-
- As far as I know there are no bugs; the program is programmed in a very
- neat way using GEM conventions where necessary. I can not accept any
- responsibility for the (mis)use of this program however.
-
- MAKECPX is a Public Domain program, meaning that you may copy it and use
- it for free. If you actually use and like it I would like some reward in
- the form of a postcard (I will not ask for shareware fees or money for
- sources and the like since I gave up getting rich a long time ago). If
- there are any wishes, complaints or remarks please let me know.
-
- Have fun.
-
- Noud van Kruysbergen
- Nijmegen Institute for Cognition and Information
- University of Nijmegen
- PO Box 9104
- 6500 HE Nijmegen
- the Netherlands
- email:kruysbergen@nici.kun.nl
-
-