CyberGraphX 24 Bit Graphics Picture Datatype

Overview

picture.datatype V43
Copyright 1995-96 by Ralph Schmidt
Additional libs/tools/changes by F.Mariak/M.Scheler
All sub datatypes by Matthias Scheler

The 24Bit picture.datatype was developed to get adequate OS support for the CyberGraphX RTG standard. The old picture.datatype was only able to handle 8Bit data and that in planar format. At first the 8bit is a serious drawback while a 24bit interface standard already exists and another problem was the planar format of the picture.datatype that was responsible for slow planar->chunky conversions on CyberGraphX graphics cards. Furthermore max, 2MB chipram wasn't always enough for certain sub datatypes like jfif or gif.

Some of the major features include: compatible to the old interface, support for truecolour data, support for chunky bitmaps, a lot faster than the old picture.datatype on gfxcards, a better OO interface, support for multi-bitmap gfx formats, no chipram need anymore, 24bit iff save, 24Bit iff.datatype, gif.datatype, pbm.datatype ,jfif.datatype, tiff.datatype, png.datatype

NOTE: It seems that some people are not reading the Readme file with the V43DT archive. As of 43.755 "cyberncg.library support for non CyberGraphX machines has been dropped." This means that the V43DT will not be suppported on OCS/ECS/AGA only machines. You must have CyberGraphX installed and running to use the V43DT.


About V43DT

This version is a freely available picture.datatype that MUST ONLY be used with a licenced CyberGraphX(TM) software package when using non 8 bit screenmodes. You aren't allowed to use this software with any non licenced CyberGraphX(TM) "emulation" in these modes. You are allowed to use it on ECS/AGA only machines with the freely available cyberncg.library included.

NOTE: THE DATE EXPIRATION CODE HAS BEEN REMOVED. IT DOES NOT EXPIRE AFTER 4 MONTHS ANYMORE. cyberncg.library support for non CyberGraphX machines has been dropped.

IF YOU CANīT ACCEPT THAT BEHAVIOUR DO NOT INSTALL THEN. PLEASE AVOID BUGGING THE AUTHORS FOR NEW VERSIONS.


Where to get it (Have you read above & below and understand?)


PCDT - Prefs

GIF of pcdt Window Although the V43 picture.datatype is compatible to the old picture.datatype interface, there are many applications around which rely on certain features/structures which are not available with the new version anymore. That's why the V43 PCDT preferences program has a compatibility list where you can add applications/tasks which you think are compatible with the v43 picture.datatype. Certain applications like Multiview and Amigaguide are in this list automatically and have been tested successfully. Other applications that do not officially support the v43 picture.datatype already, have to be added manually. Latest PCDT Prefs -> WWW: PictDT43-3.lha

Reporting Bugs

If   you   find   any   bugs   in   this  software,  please  send  them  to
cybergfx.dtbugs@vgr.com.   Since  this  software is unsupported, we make no
guarantees  about  how  long  it will take to fix the bug, or if it will be
fixed  at  all.   Bug fixes will be cheerfully accepted.  Please include as
much detailed information as possible, including:

	1) the version numbers of the related libraries/datatypes you are
	   using
	2) the data file that caused the bug (if its not too big)
	3) the OS version and machine type you ran the program on

Questions & Bugreports - Don't expect fast response.

Important Information

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU'RE USING THE APPS THAT ARE IN THE COMPATIBILITY LIST( CHECK OUT SOME
LINES  BELOW)  YOU  HAVE  TO NAME YOUR APPLICATION EXACTLY LIKE IN THE LIST
OTHERWISE WON'T RECOGNIZE IT.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The  Aminet  release  of the png.datatype supports the V43 picture.datatype
but  because  of  a  late change to the API(DTA_ErrorLevel,DTA_ErrorNumber)
these  don't  support  these  tags.   I  hope  that  the authors of these 2
datatype update their datatypes in the next time.
 The  tags  are VERY important in a low memory situation.

 A  V43  compatible tiff.datatype as well as an bmp.datatype have also been
released so far.

Problems
o PPaint doesn't load 24bit images. Well..PPaint checks the BMHD.depth of
  the raw data for >8...too bad

o Picview outputs "not a standard bitmap or something like that". This
  is caused by the cgfx "PLANESTOFAST" option.

The following functions aren't implemented yet.

o 24bit dithering to a very small depth planar bitmap may cause
  "problems". No time to test this out.
o Sorry...also no time(lazyness) to test out PixMap support. I hope
  it works as defined.
o Right now it also doesn't really care for Ham6/8 and Halfbright.
o DTM_Print for truecolour pictures should differ the picture to 256 colours
  and then print it.
o Make a Gauge interface so it may be controlled by tags(but does that
  really make sense ? imagine a gauge popping up when iprefs is loading
  your background)
o scrollable transparent picture handling should be improved.
  Now it only switches back in nonmask mode.
o ******* AMosaic crashes ******* in 16Bit mode...i don't know why
  yet(it worked in that mode in summer of 95 ......).

The jfif.datatype is using the "jpeg.codec"

The JPEG codec is Copyright Đ 1994 Christoph Feck, TowerSystems.
All Rights Reserved.  It is based in part on the work of the
Independent JPEG Group.

ATTENTION:
YOU  NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST VERSION 40.66 OF CYBERGRAPHICS.LIBRARY INSTALLED
TO  USE THIS RELEASE OF PICTURE.DATATYPE V43 IN CONJUNCTION WITH A GRAPHICS
CARD !

IF YOU INSTALL THIS ARCHIVE ON A DRACO BASED SYSTEM PLEASE MAKE SURE NOT TO
INSTALL THE CYBERGRAPHICS.LIBRARY COMING WITH THIS ARCHIVE !

Release Notes

V43.757

 o fixes some trouble with crashes on certain machines

V43.755

 o new pcdt prefs program v43.3 included. It also works now when the v43
   picture.datatype is actually not running
 o new sub classes included
 o added stack swapping code to picture.datatype dispatcher in order to fix
   stack overflow related problems with applications which do not allocate
   enough stack space

V43.754

 o fixed some bugs in method DTM_DRAW
 o fixed some problems in conjunction with halfbrite source data
 o new gif.datatype 43.14 included

V43.753

 o new pcdt prefs program v43.2 included
 o the preferences file now has moved to env:sys
 o new gif.datatype 43.13 included which fixes some strange crash problems
 o fixed some problems in conjunction with planar graphic formats which
   occasionally led to strange looking mwb-patterns

V43.751

 o the public semaphore is now available even if the picture.datatype is
   expunged. This fixes a severe crash when the library is expunged

V43.750
 o fixed a BYTE-READ from $0 when non v43 compatible applications called the 
   picture.datatype

Complete History


As of September 26th, 1996 this is the 2,013th hit to this page. If you have any questions you can email vgr@best.com