Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/genapps/bk5pcx.exe/BK5PCX.DOC

Text File | 1992-04-18 | 6KB | 111 lines

    Version 5.0b of Brother's Keeper has a new feature that lets you display
    graphics.  It will display PCX files on a computer with a VGA monitor.
    You may use your scanner to scan pictures, documents, maps, etc.  Save the
    graphics file as a PCX file.  If your scanner does not save in the PCX
    format, read your graphics file with a program such as PC Paintbrush and
    then convert it to a PCX file.  In fact, even if your scanner does save
    files as PCX files, you will probably have to read the file with a program
    such as PC Paintbrush and then save the file.  This will place the correct
    information in the file as to your screen size.

    After you have created the PCX files, start Brother's Keeper and use the
    modify routine to call up the person you want to attach the files to.  You
    attach PCX files the same way you attach word processing files.  While on
    the modify screen with the person showing, press F5 to go to the message
    line area.  On any message line, type $$ and then the name of the PCX
    file.  For example you could type $$MYFILE.PCX if the file is in the same
    directory as the BK5 programs.  If the PCX file is in different directory,
    then type the directory name also, such as $$C:\DESKSCAN\MYFILE.PCX.  After
    the file name has been typed on a message line, then press F5 again to
    display the file.  You can have up to seven PCX files for each person.
    (One file name on each line.)  If you have more than one PCX file for the
    same person, use the arrow keys to highlight the file desired and press F5
    while on that line.  You must have the extension of PCX on the file name.
    (If you don't have .PCX at the end of the file name, the program will
    assume that it is a word processing text file and will try to read it as a
    text file.)

    In my testing so far, I have used an HP ScanJet IIc to scan in the
    photographs and maps.  I have found that a black and white photograph
    looks almost the same in 16 shades of gray as it does in 256 shades of
    gray.  The file is about 1/2 or 1/3 the size when saved as 16 shades of
    gray.  If the BK program is not able to read the file you scanned, then
    use a paint program to read the file and then save it again.  Note,
    however, that if your video card is capable of 256 colors, the paint
    program may convert the file to 256 colors or shades of gray (and
    therefore make the file much larger.)  To avoid this, you can temporarily
    set up Windows to VGA 16 color and then read and save the file.  I
    normally have Windows set up for 640 by 480 with 256 colors.  There are
    some programs, such as the shareware program Paint Shop, which will read
    your scanned file and save it with the same 16 shades of gray even if
    Windows is set up for more than 16 colors.

    If you have a color scanner, you will want to scan a color photograph as
    256 colors.  If you have lots of disk space and a super VGA card capable
    of 1024 by 768 by 256 colors, that will give the best results (but the
    file will be huge.)  In order to save the file in that format, I had to
    change my Windows setup to that type of graphics and then read and save
    the file with either PC Paintbrush or Publisher's Paintbrush.

    My scanner uses a scanning program called Deskscan.  When I select to scan
    a black and white photograph, it uses the 256 shades of gray format.  But
    when I select Custom from the menu, and then select image type, I can
    change it to 16 shades of gray in order to save disk space.  When using
    Deskscan it shows the size of the picture in inches.  I changed the
    default (select custom, then image size, then units) to show it in pixels
    (dots) so that I could adjust the picture to the size I wanted (such as
    640 by 480).  Normally it won't come out exactly to 640 by 480, so I make
    sure neither dimension exceeds the screen limits.


    Brother's Keeper should be able to display PCX files if you have one of
    the following types of VGA cards.  If you have a super VGA card, you will
    need at least 512K RAM or up to 1 meg RAM for the highest resolutions.

    Normal VGA    640x480x16      width x height x colors
    Normal VGA    320x200x256
    Paradise      800x600x16
    Paradise      640x400x256
    Paradise      640x480x256
    Video 7       800x600x16
    Video 7       640x400x16
    Video 7       640x480x16
    Video 7       640x480x256
    ATI           800x600x16
    ATI           640x400x256
    ATI           640x480x256
    Tseng         800x600x16
    Tseng         640x350x256
    Tseng         640x480x256
    Tseng         800x600x256
    Tseng4        1024x768x256    (SpeedStar with 1 meg)


    If you have a problem displaying a picture file:

    1. If you hear a beep when you press F5, the file can not be found.  Check
    the file name to be sure it is spelled correctly, and include the
    directory name also, such as $$C:\WINDOWS\MYFILE.PCX

    2. If the screen goes blank when you press F5, the file may be in an
    improper format.  Use a paint program such as PC Paintbrush, Publisher's
    Paintbrush, or Paint Shop and read the file and then save the file.

    3. If all else fails, call John Steed at [phone] evenings 8pm to
    10pm Eastern time and describe the problem.  Tell me what brand of VGA
    card you have (if you know.)

    I will put a file called STEED16.EXE on my BBS which is a scanned
    photograph of my grand-parents and family.  It is 640 x 480 in 16 shades
    of gray, and you should be able to display it on any VGA monitor.  After
    you download STEED16.EXE, type STEED16 and enter and it will create the
    file STEED16.PCX.  My BBS number is [phone] (any baud rate).

    Currently, the program does not print pictures.  You can use PC Paintbrush
    or another program to print the pictures.

    The graphics routines are from Genus Microprogramming, Inc.  Portions
    Copyright Genus Microprogramming, Inc. 1988-1991.