Whats new in GView (gv v0.25c). ------------------------------- - Fixed a bug in the 640 x 480 8 bit mode. It now displays in 640x480 instead of 640x400 for SVGA monitors. 640x400 will still be displayed on an Apple RGB monitor. - SVGA monitor problems seem to be fixed for now! :-) As always I'm looking for comments and suggestions on how to make this a better viewer. Whats new in GView (gv v0.25b). ------------------------------- - Fixed a bug in the gif routines that caused the system to hang when displaying an image that was 640x1000+. - Fixed the 640 mode SHR $C1 file. Theses are now displayed in there correct resolution (640x200). - Added in BMP and Sun Rast. (Please don't use just yet.) I think you'll pull a memory error anyways. Graphic Viewer (gv v0.25) Notes. -------------------------------- Well I didn't really mean for anyone to see this just yet, but since support for the SecondSight seems to be at an all time low right now, I'll release my graphic viewer as SHAREWARE. (see the end of this file for more details) This was intended to be a commercial product, who knows, it may still go that route, or I might just abandon this project altogether if the support just isn't there. I decided to write yet another graphic viewer since I was quite displeased with SSView and its weird crashing problems. I can't comment on SSView Pro since I haven't seen it, but I've only heard negative reports about it. (not ment as a slam on ssview, in fact I still use it occasionally) Anyways, this program is still in its early stages of development so don't expect too much. Also, not too many image formats are supported at this time. See the section on "Graphic Formats Supported" for a full list of what image formats are supported. (and which ones work) :-) Some work has already begun on many of the other formats, but they had to be removed for this version due to lack of time to complete them. Please note, this program is still unoptimized and not fully debugged. (so don't expect ripping speeds outta, and don't expect it to never crash) System Requirements. -------------------- - a Second Sight with Roms v1.1 or greater. (trying to view 24bit images using 3200 mode is quite a painful act I find) - plenty of free memory. (lets face it, a 640x480x32k picture requires ~620k of memory) - a shell of some sort. (orca or gno) ** This is only for the gv shell utility. GView is a desktop application and ** does not require a shell. How to use GView. ----------------- Just double click on it. Its a System 6 application, so I can't guarantee that it will work with System 5.04. How to use GV. -------------- Installation of GV should be fairly straight forward. For those who don't have a clue, you should check your manuals on how to install a new utility. To use gv, is quite simple. Just type gv and you'll be shown a list of options you can pass to gv. I won't go into it since it is explained quite nicely in the program. Only thing left to mention is that you are able to view multiple images by just passing all the filenames to gv. For GNO users this is a blessing, you can view a batch of pics by just passing the wildcard. ie. gv pic*.gif For Orca users, you'll just have to type all the names in yourself. ie. gv pic1.gif pic2.gif pic3.gif (etc...) ** NOTE ** gv is not included in this archive. See the shareware section for details on how to obtain it. Special Keys used when viewing a picture. ----------------------------------------- You can used the "1" and "2" keys to switch the resolution, when viewing a picture. The "1" key will switch to 320x200 mode, and the "2" key will switch to 640x480 mode (or 640x400 with the Apple RGB monitor). The ESC key can be used to quit a batch view process in the middle of it. (so will the Ctrl-C key) ** The ESC and Ctrl-C key are not used in GView (the desktop version). The debugging keys "4", "6" have been removed for this release. The only key left active is the "5" key. Sometimes the SecondSight gets confused as to what mode it should be in. The "5" key will just set the mode again. (This maybe removed in future versions since, you could just reset the mode again by using the "1" and "2" keys to redraw the whole image again) Any other key will move to the next picture. A mouse click will also move to the next picture. Scrolling of a picture larger than the screen is supported by moving the mouse. ** NOTE ** batch viewing is only allowed with the gv shell utility and not with the desktop version. Graphic Formats Supported. -------------------------- Heres a list of graphic fomats which are supported, and whether they have been tested or not. If you are able to test one of the formats which hasn't been tested yet, please inform me as to whether it worked or not. (extensive testing was not done on all formats, errors may still exist in some routines) Format Tested Super HiRes ($C1) 16/256/3200 color Yes AST Raw Image Files Yes Computer Eyes Raw Image Files No Gif (87a and 89a) Yes (just added) Targa 15/16 Bit Images (Type 2) Yes Targa 24/32 Bit Images (Type 2) Yes Targa 15/16 Bit Images RLE (Type 10) No Targa 24/32 Bit Images RLE (Type 10) No PPM 15/16/24 Bit Images (Type P6) Yes PGM 15/16/24 Bit Images (Type P5) Yes PBM Bitmap Images (Type P4) No (just added) Formats under construction Sun Raster Image Removed PPM 15/16/24 Bit Images (Type P3) PGM 15/16/24 Bit Images (Type P2) PBM Bit Images (Type P1) Windows - OS/2 BMP Removed IFF/ILBM Jpeg PCX Removed Known Errors. ------------- 320x200x256 does not work, therefore all 8-bit pics must be viewed in the 640x480 (or 640x400 when hooked to and Apple RGB monitor) resolution. High resolutions (ex. 1024+ x 1024+) may crash or hang the system. The program truncates the picture, but the SecondSight still seems to hang sometimes. If there are any other errors, please let me know, by emailing me at one of the address below. Where to reach me at. --------------------- If you wish to contant me, or wish to send me a bug report, anyone of these accounts will reach me; rmcsearl@acs.ucalgary.ca searl@cpsc.ucalgary.ca cmoore@acs.ucalgary.ca Credit and Thanks. ------------------ I would like to thank Jawaid Bazyar for all his help, and also for taking the time to answer most of my stupid questions on the SecondSight. Whats this about SHAREWARE? --------------------------- Yes this program is shareware, $15(US). I don't think that $15 is too much to ask for, so hopefully everyone will pay! :-) (it'll give me a reason to continue working on it) As you can tell, I'm not an optimist and have severly crippled GView. Those blatant shareware screens and the fixed number of loads, can be quite annoying at times. But why complain, at least its somewhat useable, and not just some useless screen shots. If you don't feel that GView is worth $15 then thats fine, you may continue to use the crippled version for as long as you like, but for those that do pay, you will receive a non-crippled version and the shell utility (gv) if you so wish at an extra $5. Anyways, here's the revelant information. Please send your payments to; Michael Searl 4504 Vegas Road NW Calgary, AB T3A 0N1 I would much perfer sending out copies thru email, but if you wish for a diskette to be mailed to you, please add an extra $4 for shipping and handling.