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1991-04-16
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PCX SHOW
A Presentation Software System
This documentation explains how to use the PCX-Show Software System on MS-DOS
microcomputers. PCX-Show is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties
ofmerchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
DECISIONS Software and it's officers and employees shall have no responsibility
or liability to you or any other person, persons, or entity with respect to loss
or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by use of
PCX-Show and/or its documentation.
The computer files and this book are protected by United States Copyright law.
Copyright 1990/91, DECISIONS Software Music Research Incorporated
Published by: DECISIONS Software
P.O. Box 31418
Phoenix, AZ 85046
All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION
PCX-SHOW is a highly stylized screen presentation program from DECISIONS
Software of Phoenix, Arizona. The program allows the user to create customized
screen presentations using pictures/screens saved or captured in the PCX file
format. PCX-SHOW features include multiple screen fades and segues, kaleidoscope
screen effects, text display using customized and computer fonts, border and
screen clearing effects and more.
The PCX file format is one of the single most used graphics file formats in the
DOS world. It is the native format of the PC Paintbrush series of programs and
was developed by ZSoft Corporation. Most of the major graphics programs allow
the importing and/or exporting of graphics screens in this format.
The files included in this version are:
PCXSHO.EXE - PCX-Show program
PCXSHOW.SPT - Demonstration Script File for VGA systems
HELV12.FNT - 12pt Helvetica Custom Font
*.PCX - Various PCX Screen files for demo
PCXSHO.DOC - This documentation file
ORDER.FRM - PCX-SHOW Order form
WMTELL*.COM - Music Interludes for PCX-SHOW
PCX-SHOW Demonstration Show
A demonstration of many of the features of PCX-SHOW is included in this version.
To view the demo, change to the directory where the PCX-SHOW files are stored.
From that directory type PCXSHO at the DOS prompt and press the Enter key.
In a few seconds, the demonstration program will begin. If you haven't viewed
the demonstration of PCX-SHOW yet, we suggest you do so after following the
installation procedures outlined in the next chapter. The demo will give you a
good overview of the capabilities of the program. To see the demo show, change
to the directory where you have installed your PCX-SHOW files. At the prompt
type:
PCXSHO PCXSHOW.SPT
and press the Enter key. The program will load and run the demonstration files.
All orders and inquiries should be directed to:
DECISIONS Software
P.O. Box 31418
Phoenix, AZ 85046
(602)-992-0310
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum hardware requirements for using PCX-SHOW are an IBM computer (PC, XT,
AT, PS/2) or compatible, DOS 2.xx or higher, 348K RAM memory and a EGA, VGA or
SVGA graphics card with 256K Video Memory.
A printer and color monitor are desirable but not required.
PCX-SHOW uses the 640 x 350 resolution EGA screen for it's display screen by
default. This means that presentations may be viewed on systems that contain
EGA, VGA and Super VGA graphics cards. You may change to a VGA screen by using
the VGA16 and VGA256 script commands. It is important to have an understanding
of how PCX-SHOW stores and displays PCX files.
To accomplish the nifty screen fades and segues, PCX-SHOW must store at least
one screen file in background screen memory while displaying another visual (or
foreground) screen. The number of screens you store in the background at any
one time depends on the memory available to your system. To use the features of
the program, you only need memory for two screens. . . the foreground, visible
screen and one background screen.
Some graphics modes have the ability to store more than one complete graphics
screen in memory. One screen is the foreground screen. . . that is the visible
screen. The others are considered background screens. When PCX-SHOW loads a
PCX file, it stores it in memory as a background screen. With an EGA graphic
adapter, there is sufficient memory to store at least two EGA graphic screens.
Many VGA graphics adapters had only 256K of memory. This is not enough memory
to store two of it's high resolution screens. One VGA screen (640x480) requires
132K. Two screens require 264K. That exceeds the video memory the VGA adapter
has to work with. Consequently we chose the most universally compatible video
mode available. This means that any system equipped with a EGA graphics card
and monitor or higher may use PCX-SHOW. In VGA mode you may display any 650 x
480 screens but you will only be able to use the FADES 20 or VGA256 [Filename]
script command.
There is NO limit to the total number of PCX screen files you may use in a
presentation. For those with limited memory, we have included a CLEAR command.
When you have displayed a screen you may clear the memory that was required for
its display and then load a new screen file. You will notice in the demo that
we seldom load more than two screens at any one time. The maximum size of a
single PCX file to be loaded with PCX-SHOW is 128K.
USING PCX-SHOW
You interface your PCX formatted screens with PCX-SHOW using a proprietary
Script format. The Script format is simply a set of one or two word commands
that tells PCX-SHOW what you want to do. An example of a Script file is the
demonstration file PCXSHOW.SPT. Take a look at this file in the Show Editor or
any editor/word processor that is able to load and read ASCII based text files.
Once you have created or captured the PCX screens you wish to include, you need
to tell PCX-SHOW when and how you want them displayed. You may also use the
Script to display text (using custom or computer fonts), pop-up window boxes,
create kaleidoscope screens, clear screens, draw screen borders and more.
You may create the Script in SHOWEDIT.EXE or any editor/word processor that can
save a file in standard ASCII format. Once you've completed your Script you can
name it using any conventional DOS characters. To see the show at the DOS
prompt you would type:
PCXSHO [Filename.Ext]
and then press the Enter key. The Script file and PCXSHO.EXE file must be in
the same drive/directory. If no file name is given when PCXSHO is entered at
the DOS prompt, the program looks for a default file named PCXSHOW.SPT. That's
what we named our demo Script. If PCX-SHOW can't find the Script file it will
tell you.
Let's say you created a Script file named MYSHOW.SHW and you want to view the
show. From the DOS prompt you type:
PCXSHO MYSHOW.SHW
and press the Enter key. Be sure there is a space between PCXSHO and your
Script file name. You may, of course, add to, change or delete lines/commands
in your Script file at any time.
SCRIPT COMMANDS
The following is a review of all the Script commands available in PCX-SHOW.
Script files may be prepared in any editor/word processor that is able to save
files in the ASCII format. Each Script command must be on a separate line. Any
combination of upper and lower case letters are allowed. The proper syntax
outlined below must be followed.
We have grouped the commands in six main categories. They are:
1. File Commands
2. Fades/Segues & Special Effects