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1992-09-21
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The Graphics Factory
Copyright (C) 1992 James A. Sausville
All Rights Reserved
I. INTRODUCTION
---------------
The Graphics Factory is a utility that allows you to create sets
of graphics for use in your own basic programs. While intended for
use with Quick Basic V4.5 , the graphics created by this program
can be used by any version of basic that supports Microsoft
compatible BLOAD and PUT graphics commands. To start the Graphics
Factory, type GFACTORY at the DOS prompt.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
The recommended minimum hardware configuration for the graphics
factory is an IBM compatible with a 286 microprocessor and 640k
of RAM. The program will run on XT compatibles, albeit rather
slowly. The amount of free RAM required is approximately 571,648
bytes. Please note that free RAM is the amount of memory available
to a program after DOS, device drivers and TSR programs are loaded.
You can check the amount of free RAM you have available by running
the DOS check disk program. Type "CHKDSK" at the DOS prompt when
you have your DOS disk in drive A:, or when you are logged into the
DOS directory on your hard disk, to run this DOS program.
SCREEN DESCRIPTION
The large rectangle in the upper left corner of the screen is the
editing window. All drawing and editing of the current image is
performed in this window. The image in the editing window is a 6X
magnification of the current image.
The small rectangle in the center of the screen is the active frame.
The current image is displayed normal size in the active frame. All
changes made in the editing window are immediatly shown in the
active frame.
There are 48 storage frames located at the bottom of the screen.
Graphic images you create can be stored in these frames. There are
six pages of storage frames, only one of which is displayed on
screen at a time.
The line of text at the top left of the screen is the mode and
message line. It displays the current drawing mode (dot,line,etc.)
or the current active funtion (circle,box,etc.), along with
instructions on what input may be required. Any text that appears
in a window at the center of the screen supercedes any text that
is on the mode line.
Immediately below the mode line is the main menu. There are two
columns of commands, each command preceded by a letter in brackets.
Pressing the letter key indicated in brackets will activate the
command (or function). Pressing the escape key [Esc] will cancel
(abort) a function in progress and return you to the main menu.
Mouse users may simply move the mouse cusor over the desired command
and press the left mouse button to activate it.
Below the menu is a status line that informs you of the current
frame size and which page of graphics is currently diplayed (Active
Page). Below the status line and above the active frame the current
X and Y locations of the drawing cursor are displayed. This display
allows more accurate placement of circles and other graphics.
Below the status line and to the right of the active frame is the
color palette. An arrow above the colors indicates the current
drawing color. Keyboard users should press the [<] and [>] keys
to change the drawing color. Mouse users should move the mouse cursor
over the desired color and press the left mouse button to select it.
II. SUMMARY OF COMMANDS
-----------------------
The commands are presented in the order they appear on the screen.
Where necessary, separate instructions are provided for keyboard and
Mouse users.
[A] Animate Frames - This function allows you to define a series
of frames as an animation sequence. The program displays the maximum
number of frames you may include in the sequence on the mode line
and prompts you to select the first frame. Keyboard users should
use the cusor keys to move the flashing frame border to indicate
the first frame, pressing [Enter] to select the frame. You may select
a frame on a different storage page by pressing the [Tab] key to
cycle through the storage pages.
Mouse users should move the mouse cursor over the desired frame and
press the left mouse button to select it. The storage pages may be
cycled through by moving the mouse cursor over the "[Tab] Next Page"
portion of the menu and pressing the left mouse button.
The frame selected should appear in the active frame. The program
will then prompt you for the next frame in the animation sequence.
The same frame may be used as many times as desired in the sequence.
Press [Esc] when you have finished selecting frames for the animation
sequence. Mouse users may move the mouse cusor outside of the storage
frames and press the left mouse button to end the selection.
The animation sequence will now be displayed in the active frame.
Press the [<] key to decrease the display rate and the [>] key to
increase the display rate. Mouse users should move the mouse cursor
over the "[<]" and "[>]" symbols above the color palette and press
the left mouse button to change the display rate. Pressing the left
mouse button when the cursor is anywhere else will end the display,
as will pressing the [Esc] key.
Next the program will ask if you want to save the animation sequence
as a frame set. This allows the use of simple (but memory inefficient)
animation, instead of the type shown in the example program
"JACKDEMO.BAS". If you choose to save the sequence you will be
prompted to enter the path (drive & directory) and file name you
desire.
[B] Frame Boundaries - Allows you to change the maximum width and
height of your graphics. Any graphic in the active frame will be
cropped (if necessary) to fit the new dimensions. A new right and
bottom margin are set up inside of the editing window. No drawing
or editing can take place outside these boundaries. You should
normally set the size of your frames before you start drawing. When
you load two sets of frames of different size the boundaries should
be set to accomodate the larger frames.
[C] Clear Active Page - Erases all of the graphics in the storage
page currently displayed at the bottom of the screen.
[D] Duplicate Frame - Will make an exact copy of one storage frame
appear in another storage frame. Very useful for "experimenting" on
a graphic without destroying the original. Simply select the frame
to duplicate, and then select the frame to copy it to. Mouse users
should select a frame by moving the mouse cursor over the desired
frame and pressing the left mouse button. Keyboard users should
use the cusor keys to move the flashing frame border to indicate
the desired frame, pressing [Enter] to select it.
[E] Erase Frame - Will erase the contents of the active frame.
[F] Fill Area - Works just like the Quick Basic PAINT command. You
are prompted to select a color to fill with. Mouse users should
move the mouse cursor over the desired color and press the left
mouse button. Keyboard users should press the [<] and [>] keys to
move the indicator arrow to the desired color and press [Enter].
Next you are asked to select the color the fill will terminate at.
If, for example, you wanted to fill a red circle, red should be
chosen as the color the fill should stop at. Choose this color in
the same manner as you did before.
Finally you will be asked to indicate where the fill will start.
Move the mouse cursor to the desired area of the editing window
and press the left mouse button, or use the cursor keys to move
the editing cursor to the desired area and press [Enter].
[G] Get Frame - Allows you to retrieve an image from the storage
frames at the bottom of the screen and place it in the active frame.
After pressing [G] to activate the command, keyboard users should
use the cursor keys to move the flashing frame border to the desired
frame, pressing [Enter] to select it.
Mouse users can retrieve a frame by moving the mouse cursor over
the storage frames and pressing the left mouse button, then by moving
the mouse cursor to the specific frame and pressing the left mouse
button again. (There is no need to press the [G] key or to "click"
on the main