1STGUIDE Release Notes Halle, Jun 10 1997 Copyright (C) 1990-1997 Guido Vollbeding Introduction: ------------- 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.: -------------------------------------------- 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: ------------------------ 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: ------------- 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: ------------ 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. -!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!- ~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~ This software supports the DSP-JPEG-Decoder from Brainstorm, France, for Atari Falcon computers, which is copyright (C) 1992-1993 by Brainstorm & Atari Corporation. ~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~ -#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#- 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. -#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- 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. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- 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!