--- Program Documention ----
DL Viewer
Version 1.20
by Lonny L Pursell
(C)1994 by Lonny L Pursell and ENCOM
All rights reserved.
Released: May 25th, 1994
Note: Skip to revision history for a complete list of changes from
previous versions.
---- Disclaimer ----
Use completely at your own risk.
I (the author) will not be held responsible for any damage
(be it hardware or software related) to your system do to the
use or misuse of this program.
The package may be freely distributed as long as the program and this
doc file remain unchanged.
By storing this package on your system you agree to all the above
terms and conditions.
---- Purpose ----
This utility will play back DL animations. Simply known as DL animations
this file format originated from the PC platform. Many PC CD-ROMS and
Bulletin Boards contain DL files and now you can view them on your Atari.
This program was designed for my own use since having recently entered the
CD-ROM craze I discovered a whole subdirectory of these DL files on one of
my CD-ROMs. The end result being this DL player after many hours
searching through the DL files with a file editor. I decided to clean up
the program and release it so others my enjoy the many DL files floating
around. I've also encountered other Atari users looking for such a
player, not to mention it gives me yet another reason not to use a PC!
Need I say more?
---- Requirements ----
Any Atari ST compatible machine.
Memory requirements are based on the DL files you attempt to load.
Runs in any resolution greater than 320x200x16.
This means the pixel resolution must be at least 320x200 minimum,
with a minimum of 16 colors. Tested on the Nova in 24-bit mode!
Remove any TSR or desk accessories to free up more memory.
The player allocates all free ram when loaded.
Incompatible with MultiTOS!
---- Usage ----
Simply run the program from the Desktop or whatever shell you use. The
file selector will appear. Select the DL file you wish to play. After
the DL file is loaded you may be prompted for some further options. DL
files come in several sizes so you may get an alert box with an option to
play back in double height. This option was added for TT users beacuse TT
low has a strange aspect ratio, thus squashing the play back. Gray scales
are used in all modes with less than 256 colors due to obvious
limitations. If you have 256 colors or more you are prompted for the
color format during playback.
Once the animation is running you can use the mouse to alter the play
back speed in real-time. Left to right controls the speed, where left
is fast and right is slow. Move the mouse real slow as it's sort of
touchy.
To exit press the right mouse button. Pressing ESCape, or the the SPACE
bar will also exit.
Selecting 'Cancel' in the file selector when prompted for the DL file
exits the player.
You can also pass the player a command line by dropping DL files on top of
it from the Desktop. That is, if your Desktop supports this feature. If
activated this way the DL file is read, and played back as if you loaded
it from the file selector as described above.
The utility uses the file extender to determine what type of file it is
loading, so selecting files with invalid (non-DL) extenders will be
rejected.
---- Notes ----
Should any errors be detected, the program closes all open files and
exits.
The entire DL file is loaded and converted to a playable form from ram, so
lots of ram is a plus when using this player. Currently the player does
not support disk viewing, future version may or may not. If you have a
256 color mode use it, a 24-bit mode only eats more memory per frame!
All screen access is handled through the VDI, even play back, with the
hope that it will work on all ST compatible systems. I have a TT and
without feedback there's no way for me to resolve any possible problems on
non-TT systems.
If you find a problem with the player or a specific DL file that won't
play back properly you should send it to me for inspection.
The DL player was developed from scratch with _no_ documentaion on the DL
file format, and all I had was a file editor. I have no idea how they are
created, but I do know that there is an older version of the format. My
player loads version '2' DL files since that's all I have to go by at this
time. If you have any scraps of info on the DL file format please send it
to me.
---- Support ----
This program is released as PostCardWare.
What this means is that all I want in return for it's use is simply a
postcard. The postcard lets me know that there are users out there using
the program. Just knowing that the program is being used is reward enough
and it also tells me that my effort was not wasted.
So for the cost of one mere stamp, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing
that you brightened someone else's day.
Do the right thing, mail your postcard today to:
Lonny L Pursell
101 1/2 S High St Apt C
Columbus Grove OH 45830
USA
Tel: (419)-659-5725 [after 4pm EST]
E-Mail: lpursell@bright.net
If it's not too much trouble, it would be nice if you listed the name and
version of the program you are responding to and the details of the
machine you are running it on.
Thanks for being an Atari user!
---- Credits ----
Roger Burrows for writing and releasing ExtenDOS and opening up the world
of CD-ROM to the Atari.
Christopher Hinds was kind enough to send me some information he found
on the DL file format as well as some sample DL files. Thanks!
Mathieu Avard for sending me several sample DL files. Thanks MaTT030!
Thanks to those who have sent postcards!!
>> Your name could be listed here too. <<
Anyone who sends me some DL documentaion will be listed here!
---- Revision History ----
v0.01b First release, basically a beta version.
v1.00 The entire DL file is no longer buffered, instead at most a
64K buffer is used to read and convert the images. This
change should allow machines with very little ram to view
larger DL files. Some minor internal changes took place.
v1.10 Thanks to Christopher Hinds the viewer now loads another
variant of the DL file format. It looks like version 3 of the
format and since I only had sample files to go on it may not
load every version 3 file. Version 3 files are constructed
in such a way that they could easily contain frames larger than
320x200 so if you find one please send it to me. Minor
documentation changes also too place.
v1.20 Now loads yet another variant of the DL format. Seems to be
version 1 of the DL format. This version has a fixed frame size
of 320x200 with 256 colors. I'd like to thank Mathieu Avard
for sending me several sample DL files via e-mail. Some more
minor documention changes. (3-28-1996)
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