[ql-users] PIC File Format and GD2 Continued

[RWAPSoftware]

Whilst on this subject, it seems very hard to write a PIC file viewer which can handle all of the different display modes.

1) What is the best way of detecting whether GD2 drivers are present and in use??

2) MODE 0 on the GD2 is monochrome.  However, the system call to return the mode, will return 0 for standard QL MODE 4 - how do we know which is which.

3) At present, there is no way of differentiating when a PIC file has been saved using a GD2 colour scheme and when it has not.  This causes problems with the GD2 modes 0, 4 and 8.  I would suggest that the unused byte at offset 7 in the PIC file header is set to signify GD2 mode used.

4) I presume that even if a palette mapped screen mode is used (7,15 or 31), the program to create the PIC file does not need to concern itself, as it is storing the pixel information PEEKed from the actual screen memory.  Is this correct, or should the PIC file be able to store the palette mapping information??
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Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
35 Chantry Croft, Kinsley, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 5JH
TEL: 01977 610509
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware