1STGUIDE Release Notes Halle, Apr 20 1996
Copyright (C) 1990-1996 Guido Vollbeding
Introduction:
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1stGuide is a program/accessory to view/play the following standard
file formats in GEM windows on all Atari machines, all system
configurations, in all screen resolutions and color depths
(1 Bit Monochrome up to 32 Bit TrueColor):
.IMG GEM-(X/T)-Image picture files, Level-1/2/3
(1 Bit Monochrome up to 12 Bit RGB XIMG Colormap,
RGB-TrueColor/Gray/Alpha TIMG direct pixel)
.IFF Interchange File Format: ILBM - Interleaved Bitmaps
(1 Bit Monochrome up to 12 Bit RGB Colormap)
.GEM GEM-Metafiles (including bezier curves under
appropriate VDI, e.g. NVDI >= 2.12)
.RSC GEM-Resource files
(simple up to 64 K and extended > 64 K)
.PNG Portable Network Graphics, all 'flavors'
according to the current specification
.JPG
.JPE
.JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group - pictures:
JPEG/JFIF-Standard (24 Bit TrueColor, 8 Bit Gray),
Baseline/Multiscan/Progressive Support
.MPG
.MPE
.MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group - movies:
MPEG-1-Video-Standard (24 Bit TrueColor),
MPEG-1-System (Video+Audio interleaved)
.SAM
.SND
.AVR Sound-Sample files
(8 Bit Mono only at the moment)
.DOC
.OUT
* Textfiles (including attributes)
Furthermore, hypertext-like links can be defined between files in
a simple manner, which provides the possibility to create large
information systems to be used interactively with 1stGuide.
See in the program description for details.
Note: By pressing Control-A (or holding down the right mouse key by
clicking in the Acc-Menu) you get a configuration dialog to set your
preferences.
Here is a short description of the "Image-Dithering" option:
With "Niemals" (Never) dithering is 'normally' (see below) not used.
At "Bedarf" (Need) images are only dithered if containing more colors
than are available in the current screen resolution. Otherwise, the
color palette must be changed by hand (Popup/Shortcuts ^E, ^S).
If you select "Immer" (Always), images containing a color palette
will always be dithered (except in High-/True-Color modes).
Advantages:
- no need to change the hardware palette;
- multiple pictures are displayed in right colors
at the same time.
Disadvantages:
- not optimal display (dithering to a fix palette);
- higher computing costs -> longer waiting time
at loading.
Simply try this out! This option is not used in High-/True-Color
modes and is only used for XIMG/IFF-pictures, not for JPG/PNG/TIMG.
Installation for Atari ST(E)/TT/Falcon etc.:
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1. Copy the file 1STGUIDE.ACC into your Boot-Directory. If you want
to print with 1stGuide, an appropriate version of GDOS must be
installed.
The following steps apply only for installing the full package:
2. Create a new folder (e.g. "1STGUIDE") on your harddisk, and copy
or decompress the disk contents into that folder.
3. Reboot the system, click in the Desk-Menu on the entry "1st Guide"
and choose the file "1STGUIDE.HLP" with the upcoming file-selector
in your installation directory. There you will get further
instructions.
Additionaly you can insert the following line in your DESKTOP.INF or
NEWDESK.INF file to avoid getting the alert "Show/Print/Cancel" by
the desktop:
#G 03 04 C:\1STGUIDE.ACC@ *.*@
respectively
#G 03 04 000 C:\1STGUIDE.ACC@ *.*@ @
If you insert the following line after this, you can start 1STGUIDE
(and certain other, also inactive, accessories) immediately as a
program:
#G 03 FF *.AC*@ @
respectively
#G 03 FF 000 *.AC*@ @ @
Alternatively, you can rename 1STGUIDE into .PRG, .APP, or .GTP for
use as a program.
Contents of the package:
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The 1stGuide full package contains the following parts:
- 1STGUIDE.ZIP, containing the program file 1STGUIDE.ACC,
this english textfile 1STGUIDE.ENG, and
the german description 1STGUIDE.GER;
- GUIDHELP.ZIP, containing detailed program description
and TOS/GEM-System-Documentation in
hypertext form;
- GUIDTOOL.ZIP, containing utility programs for use with
1stGuide, a printable description in TeX as
DVI-file, and 1stView including sources;
- GUIDDOSE.ZIP, containing program versions for the PC-GEM.
Furthermore, the following packages are available:
- JPEG_DSP: contains DSP-JPEG-Decode-Driver for the Falcon;
- JPEG_GVS: contains the JPEG-Save-Module for GEM-View 3.x;
- MPEGDSP.TTP: DSP-MPEG-Player-Demoprogram for the Falcon;
- MPEG_SYS: contains a tool for MPEG-1-System-Layer-Streams;
- XIMGTOOL: sources/tool/modules for (X/T)IMG-Level-1/2/3.
For distribution AT LEAST the archive 1STGUIDE.ZIP or it contents
(1STGUIDE.ACC, 1STGUIDE.ENG, 1STGUIDE.GER) is necessary, other parts
are OPTIONAL!
The full package is available automatically after registration.
If you are NOT able to deal with HD-disks, please note this at
registration. In this case some optional parts must be left.
Normally I send HD-disks!
Registration:
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1stGuide is SHAREWARE!! This means, that a registration by sending
the shareware fee to the author is necessary, if you decide to use
the program regularly, and if you are interested in further
extensions and enhancements.
The shareware fee for 1stGuide is 50,- DM (Deutsche Mark). Please
send this fee to the following address:
Guido Vollbeding
Turmstrasse 61
D-06110 Halle (Saale)
Germany
After receiving the money I will send you a master disk containing
the current packages, and you can feel free to order actual versions
later by sending a letter with disk and return portage.
If somebody uses 1stGuide without paying the fee, she/he should keep
in mind that she/he violates rights and rules of well behavior.
Declaration:
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1stGuide is a shareware program package from:
Guido Vollbeding
Turmstrasse 61
D-06110 Halle (Saale)
Germany
All rights reserved. I accept NO LIABILITY for damages of any kind.
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG
Group, Copyright (C) 1991-1996, Thomas G. Lane. All Rights Reserved.
The authors accept NO LIABILITY for damages of any kind.
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~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
This software supports the DSP-JPEG-Decoder from Brainstorm, France,
for Atari Falcon computers, which is copyright (C) 1992-1993 by
Brainstorm & Atari Corporation.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
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The MPEG part of this software is based in part on the work of
Lawrence A. Rowe, Ketan Patel, and Brian Smith
Computer Science Division-EECS, Univ. of Calif. at Berkeley
Copyright (C) 1995 The Regents of the University of California.
All rights reserved.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY
FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS DOCUMENTATION, EVEN
IF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGE.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE SOFTWARE
PROVIDED HEREUNDER IS ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA HAS NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT,
UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS.
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The PNG part of this software is based in part on the work of
Guy Eric Schalnat, Group 42, Inc., Copyright (c) 1995-1996
Contributing Authors:
Guy Eric Schalnat
The PNG Reference Library is supplied "AS IS". The Contributing
Authors and Group 42, Inc. disclaim all warranties, expressed or
implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of
merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The Contributing
Authors and Group 42, Inc. assume no liability for damages,
direct or consequential, which may result from the use of
the PNG Reference Library.
and the 'zlib' general purpose compression library:
Copyright (C) 1995-1996 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler
This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
warranty. In no event will the authors be held liable for any
damages arising from the use of this software.
PNG Spec. 1995 by Thomas Boutell, Mark Adler, and Lee Daniel Crocker.
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The software may be freely distributed, as long as all files of a
single package remain together and unchanged.
Any commercial distribution (including PD-Series or so) is strictly
excluded, unless given my written agreement. Appropriate conditions
can be asked from the author AFTER registration!
Now I wish you much fun with 1stGuide, and may the Atari always be
with you!