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*********************** IFFCHR 1.1 ***********************
Copyright (c) 1992 by David Hopwood. All Rights Reserved.
****************************************************************
Files included in this archive are:
IFFCHR-u -unregistered version of IFFCHR v1.1
IFFCHR-u.info -icon
IFFCHR.doc -documentation for IFFCHR (this file)
IFFCHR.doc.info -icon (default tool = C:more)
Update.notes -what's new in this version
Update.notes.info -icon (default tool = C:more)
ReadCHR -limited ANSI viewer for examples (CLI only)
BWorb.ilbm -IFF screen from which ASCIIorb.asc and
ANSIorb.ans were made.
ASCIIorb.asc -example of plain ASCII output
ASCIIorb -IconX script for viewing example
ASCIIorb.info -icon
ANSIorb.ans -example of black and white ANSI output
ANSIorb -IconX script for viewing example
ANSIorb.info -icon
COLORorb.ilbm -IFF screen from which COLORorb.ans was made.
COLORorb.ans -example of color ANSI output
COLORorb -IconX script for viewing example
COLORorb.info -icon
.info -placement data for icons
****************************************************************
This program is dedicated to the memory of Jamie Main, my
best friend, co-worker, and fellow Amigoid who left this life
behind quite abruptly on August 15th, 1990.
****************************************************************
IFFCHR is an Amiga graphics utility that will translate
non-HAM IFF screens into character graphics text files that
approximate the same shapes and colors as in the original
screen.
IFFCHR is primarily targeted for BBS users who want to
participate in "ANSI artwork" message bases. These sections
of the BBS will allow color changes and other text screen
functions through the use of ANSI control characters.
Although nothing is implied in the ANSI standard, the use
and proper viewing of BBS-style ANSI usually requires both a
standard 8-color palette and the IBM extended ASCII
character set to be present. This can be achieved through
use of "colorbench" and Preferences to achieve the proper
colors, while the IBM extended ASCII can be found in the
Amiga font "ibm5.font". Use FED to change this font to
non-proportional, if necessary, and then use FF to install
the font globally.
As an alternative, a limited ANSI viewer is included for
viewing IFFCHR examples. The viewer is called "ReadCHR"
and is restricted to color changes only. No cursor
movements, bold colors, etc, are supported by ReadCHR at
this time.
Many of you may be familiar with various "ANSI paint"
programs used to create ANSI artwork. While IFFCHR will
produce ANSI text, it does so in a very different way.
Rather than trying to create a graphic in low resolution
ANSI character graphics, IFFCHR allows you to use the IFF
format to create your art first in high resolution. It then
translates that directly into ANSI text.
IFFCHR also produces black and white ANSI, and "plain
vanilla" ASCII graphics. The ASCII can be loaded into a
word processor for editing.
****************************************************************
Here is a brief rundown of the options you'll be
presented with...
Read from... Enter the file name of the non-HAM IFF
screen you wish to convert here.
Save as... File name to save by.
Color When set to "Color", ANSI color control
(toggle) characters will be used. The IFF screen
will be re-mapped to the target palette.
When set to "No Color", only black and
white colors are used for ANSI. The IFF
screen will be re-mapped using dot-densities
to a 2-color palette. If "ASCII only" is
selected (see next menu), no color control
characters will be output.
Graphic Font When set to "Graphic Font", the IBM
(toggle) extended ASCII character set will be used
in the output. This allows several extra
characters to be used in the translation,
providing greater detail. An IBM 8 type of
font is required for viewing the results.
When set to "ASCII only", plain vanilla
ASCII text is used in the output. Also,
various characters such as "." and "\"
will be excluded to avoid popular control
characters used on several ASCII-only BBS
programs. The resulting file can also be
edited in a word processor.
Line Feeds This toggle selects between two
only end-of-line combinations. Either
(toggle) line feeds only can be selected, or
carriage returns in combination with
line feeds.
About Credits and information.
Line Length Length of lines in final text output.
Although most BBS programs are 80 column,
there is often a prompt of one of more
characters at the beginning of each line.
Line lengths of 77 will usually get around
this problem.
Gray Level IFFCHR uses this value to determine cutoff
levels in palette conversion. This value
is used in both Color and No Color modes.
A higher setting here will increase
contrast, but will also limit the number
of colors used.
Start Activates conversion routine. During
conversion, work can be viewed and aborted
early with a left-mouse-button click.
The abort option is active when the mouse
pointer changes to an EXIT sign.
Window Close This standard window gadget in the upper
left corner of the options screen will
terminate the session.
****************************************************************
IFFCHR performs approximately 12,160 comparison tests per
character output. This amounts to over 24 million
comparisons on a 80x25 character screen in which there are
no solid areas of color. In solid patches, IFFCHR
immediately outputs a blank space to save time.
The results you get from IFFCHR correspond directly to
the quality of the IFF screen that is input. This is
especially true when it comes to palette decisions and the
level of detail contained in the graphic. These factors are
altered to a degree by the "gray level" setting in IFFCHR
options gadget window, but are better off determined while
in the process of creating the IFF itself.
Using a paint program or other graphic utility will
allow you to condition the screen for optimum conversion
characteristics.
Included with IFFCHR are some examples of its output.
Icons are provided for Workbench use with IconX in the C:
directory, or "ReadCHR" can be used from CLI to view the
examples in the following format:
ReadCHR filename
The examples provided here with extensions of ".ans" or
".asc" can be viewed with this utility.
****************************************************************
Unregistered versions of IFFCHR will insert a small ad
in the output of the program. Registered versions will
have this hindrance removed. The unregistered version is
freely redistributable. The registered version is NOT. To
register, send your name, address, and a check or money
order for $12 (US) to:
David Hopwood
P.O. Box 4485
Dearborn, MI
48126-0485
****************************************************************
No warranties are implied or expressed with regard to the
fitness or merchantability of this material for any particular
purpose. All risks and damages, incidental or otherwise,
arising through the use or misuse of this material are entirely
at the responsibility of the user.