Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics
- Original Message - From: Rich Mellor To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 7:53 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics Start QPC2 in QL colour mode. Start Xchange and Easel. Press F3 D(efault) and 4 for a 40 column display. This is then mode 8, Yes it is MODE 8 - but it still only handles 4 colours does it not?? Try it for yourself. Set up a bar graph in Easel, which in my case gave a default colour of green. Now modify that colour and one of the choices is yellow. If I remember rightly not all the mode 8 colours are used, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Easel graphics
Based on feedback received about my BMP program so far, can anyone help me with information about Easel graphics? Easel has a screen dump facility and can generate saved pictures using the PRINT command, option S for save image to file and the file generated seems to depend on what filename extension you give it: PIC or SCR seems to generate a 32K screen file CUT seems to generate a pointer environment area save file 10 bytes longer than a screen file (that is, a screen with a 10 byte header at the start of the file). It only seems to work in mode 4 though. If I save a CUT in mode 32 on QPC2 from Xchange Easel it seems to generate a header of a mode 32 file, but then proceeds to put a mode 4 picture after it, which confuses graphics programs because they see the header, try to load it as a mode 32 and it all goes belly up. I'm not sure if I'm going about this correctly since I've never really tried saving Easel graphics before! So, what (if anything) am I doing wrong, or is just that Easel doesn't really know how to handle correctly anything other than mode 4 and mode 8? -- Dilwyn Jones -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.5/406 - Release Date: 02/08/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics
Rich Mellor wrote: I would presume that Easel just stores the graphics in mode 4 format by default, but when creating the pointer environment area save file, it looks up the current mode - finds it is mode 32 and puts that in the header. However, as it does not recognise mode 32, it still stores a mode 4 file. I am surprised it manages to handle mode 8 to tell you the truth, as does it not only support the 4 colours anyway?? Actually, I didn't check that. I think you're right, it only does mode 4. As far as I can see it seems to send the current mode number to file, then saves 32768 bytes of graphics. BTW, these CUT files are only available in Xchange Easel, not standard QL Easel. Having just spent half an hour tinkering with these, I think I understand what's going on now. It's not too difficult to detect and trap: IF mode_byte=16 THEN IF file_length=32778 THEN mode_byte=0 : REMark handle as mode 4 END IF -- Dilwyn Jones -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.5/406 - Release Date: 02/08/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 19:40:40 +0100, gwicks [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: - Original Message - From: Rich Mellor To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 4:42 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics I would presume that Easel just stores the graphics in mode 4 format by default, but when creating the pointer environment area save file, it looks up the current mode - finds it is mode 32 and puts that in the header. However, as it does not recognise mode 32, it still stores a mode 4 file. I am surprised it manages to handle mode 8 to tell you the truth, as does it not only support the 4 colours anyway?? Start QPC2 in QL colour mode. Start Xchange and Easel. Press F3 D(efault) and 4 for a 40 column display. This is then mode 8, Yes it is MODE 8 - but it still only handles 4 colours does it not?? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services URL:http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk URL:http://www.rwapadventures.com URL:http://www.rwapservices.co.uk URL:http://www.internetbusinessangels.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics
IF mode_byte=16 THEN IF file_length=32778 THEN mode_byte=0 : REMark handle as mode 4 END IF Now now Dilwyn, not so fast !! 1) You cannot presume that if the file length is 32768 that it is mode 4 (you are forgetting about the header in the file length btw - so should be testing 32778). Also, as it is a cut area, it is possible that another program could provide an area which actually is in mode 32 and just happens to be 32768 (or 32778) bytes OK then, if mode_byte 8 and width=512 and height=256 and filelength=(10+32768) then mode_byte=0 2) Now that Xchange can work with bigger screens - can it actually display Easel in more than 256x256 pixels and save the larger screen area?? Yes, it can display more screen area, no it can't save it. You get the top 32K as far as I can tell. Certainly, it remains a 32K file with bottom of the graph missing. If you are in a mode 4 hires screen, xchange 3.90L seems to cope (but not in anything other than mode 4). If in high colour modes, the graphs don't always display correctly, sometimes not at all. Marcel's hacked version seems to work in mode 32 at least, though I haven't tried all the possible graph variations. I should have mentioned that only Xchange Easel can save the CUT file format. Standard QL Easel can only save ordinary 32K screens. -- Dilwyn Jones -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.5/406 - Release Date: 02/08/2006 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Easel graphics
Dilwyn Jones wrote: Yes, it can display more screen area, no it can't save it. You get the top 32K as far as I can tell. Certainly, it remains a 32K file with bottom of the graph missing. Yes, I didn't change that part of the code. It's possible to do, but oh well, one could also just use any other screenshot utility to do so. If anybody wants it badly enough to sponsor the development we can talk again, but I don't suppose that is the case ;-) If in high colour modes, the graphs don't always display correctly, sometimes not at all. Marcel's hacked version seems to work in mode 32 at least, though I haven't tried all the possible graph variations. As per documentation, pies don't work, the rest is flawless as far as I know. I should have mentioned that only Xchange Easel can save the CUT file format. Standard QL Easel can only save ordinary 32K screens. That is because this was not done by Psion but by Erling. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
