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1992-11-26
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GRABBER(tm)
8514/A Adapter Interface Version
Shareware Release 0.50
-----------------------------
The Screen Capture Program
for MS-DOS and 8514/A-Compatible
Video Graphics
DOCUMENTATION AND TECHNICAL NOTES
November 26, 1992
Copyright 1991, 1992 by
Gerald A. Monroe
All rights reserved.
YOUR LICENSE TO USE THIS SOFTWARE:
-----------------------------------
This documentation file and the GR4AI.EXE program are Copyright
1992 by Gerald A. Monroe. All rights are reserved except as
expressly provided here.
These files have been distributed as part of the GRABBER(tm)
screen capture package, under the terms of a shareware license
that is fully set forth in the file GRABBER.DOC. (GRABBER.DOC is
the reference manual for GRABBER.EXE, which is the main program
module in the package.)
The shareware license terms on the last page of the GRABBER.DOC
file are incorporated here by reference. This license permits
you to freely copy and distribute this documentation and
GR4AI.EXE, provided that: these files are always distributed
together with each other and with all the other files in the
GRABBER package; none of the files is modified in any way; and no
fee, premium or donation of any kind is charged or requested for
their distribution except as permitted on the terms described in
the GRABBER.DOC file.
Continued use of any of these programs for more than a 10-day
trial period requires you to register your use of the software
with the author. For more information about the benefits of
registration and how to go about registering, please refer to the
full licensing and ordering information in the GRABBER.DOC file.
Table of Contents
Shareware License Terms ............................ 1
Overview of GR4AI.EXE .............................. 3
About this documentation ........................... 4
Using GRABBER and GR4AI simultaneously ............. 4
Modifying the GR4AI hotkey ......................... 4
GR4AI's audible error indicators ................... 5
Features not available with GR4AI .................. 5
GR4AI installation options ......................... 5
DEFAULTDRIVE .................................. 6
MOUSE and NOMOUSE ............................. 6
UNLOAD ........................................ 6
SOUND and NOSOUND ............................. 6
PROMPT and NOPROMPT ........................... 7
SWAPMODE ...................................... 7
"Thanks for trying GRABBER" messages ............... 7
Offspring file compatibility with other systems .... 8
Offspring file command-line options ................ 8
Converting GR4AI offspring to PCX and GIF formats .. 9
GR4AI(tm) Documentation & Technical Notes Page 3 of 9
OVERVIEW OF GR4AI.EXE
----------------------
GR4AI(tm) is an alternative version of the GRABBER screen capture
program. It is designed exclusively for capturing high-resolu-
tion 640 x 480 and 1024 x 768 graphic images from PC systems that
are compatible with the IBM 8514/A Adapter Interface, and which
are running in "real mode" under MS-DOS. (GR4AI, like GRAB-
BER.EXE, does not capture screens from Microsoft Windows or
Windows applications.)
The Adapter Interface, or "AI," is a programming interface that
lets application programs work with your high-resolution video
adapter. Usually, the AI is loaded as a memory-resident (TSR)
program in your computer's memory. When it is present, it allows
GR4AI to capture certain types of high-resolution graphics.
GR4AI can only capture a screen if the foreground program that is
generating the image is actually using the AI to do its screen
work. Note that this is not always the case. For example, if
you have an IBM 8514/A adapter, or another manufacturer's card
that is compatible with IBM's 8514/A at the register level (such
as an ATI 8514/Ultra, Graphics Ultra or Graphics Vantage card),
then it is possible for some application programs to work with
the screen by writing directly to the adapter's hardware regis-
ters and ignoring the AI completely. GR4AI cannot capture any
screens from such applications, because unless the AI is being
used for screen output, GR4AI has no way of knowing that the
adapter is in use at all.
Therefore, if you have an application from which you want to
capture screens, and the application's installation or setup
allows you to choose between AI-compatible and 8514/A register-
level compatible video, then you should choose the AI-compatible
option.
Whatever kind of video hardware is installed, GR4AI expects to
find an AI driver resident in memory when you install it, and
when you ask it to capture a screen. If an AI driver is not
present, GR4AI will not capture the screen. (With the IBM 8514/A
and the ATI 8514/A-compatibles mentioned above, the AI driver is
called HDILOAD.EXE. If you have a different brand of adapter,
the driver file may be called by a different name.)
Note that you do not have to have an adapter that is register-
level compatible with the 8514/A in order to use GR4AI. All you
need is an adapter that comes supplied with an AI driver, and an
application program that uses the AI for its screen output.
GR4AI(tm) Documentation & Technical Notes Page 4 of 9
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTATION
-------------------------
GR4AI can be installed in memory and operated in much the same
way as GRABBER.EXE, and the two programs have a very similar look
and feel. For the most part, this documentation for GR4AI covers
only the aspects of GR4AI which differ from GRABBER.EXE. To use
GR4AI effectively, you should read the GRABBER program documenta-
tion and become familiar with GRABBER's operation.
USING GRABBER and GR4AI SIMULTANEOUSLY
---------------------------------------
GR4AI is designed to be compatible with GRABBER. Both programs
can be installed in memory at the same time.
The default "hotkey" sequence for GR4AI is [Ctrl Alt F10]. That
is, you hold down the [Ctrl] key and the [Alt] key at the same
time, then press the [F10] key, then release all three keys.
MODIFYING THE GR4AI HOTKEY
---------------------------
GR4AI allows you to modify your hotkey sequence from the default
[Ctrl Alt F10] to practically any other key sequence you choose.
In this respect, GR4AI is exactly like GRABBER. There is no
separate documentation here which covers the procedure for
changing your GR4AI hotkey. GR4AI