TopWare 18: Liquid/Image.iso/liquid/top1125/povcomm.doc

Text File | 1994-01-25 | 17KB | 362 lines

+++++++++++++++++++++ POV COMMANDER (ver 1.3) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NEW THIS VERSION :
    -Various minor bugs fixed.
    -The ability to choose your output path for the picture being traced
         by dragging a path from the file window,  or choose one from a
                 selection of defaults.
            -A view last output options for those times when there is an error
                 when POV tried to parse your file. Very handy.

This program is designed to make the use of the POV raytracing program
easier. The documentation assumes that you have a basic knowledge of
how either POV 1.0 or 2.0 works. POV Commander also allows you to assign
other programs, 3D modellers, and ray-tracing utilities to User Configurable
buttons - and the ability to run all of these and POV with a click of the
mouse. There is even a built in on-screen file manager with a drag-and-drop
style interface to make assigning of directories, files and user
configurable buttons quick and easy! Advanced options include the ability
to edit your POV text files, multiple traces of different POV files with
one click of the mouse, the ability to save your favorite library paths,and a
view include file option that allows you to see which files are being included in
a graphical display. All POV options are assignable as easy as clicking your mouse!


REQUIREMENTS : DOS 5.0 and a Microsoft compatible mouse. (And the POV
        Raytracing program, of course!)

THIS PROGRAM IS SHAREWARE. YOU MAY USE THIS PROGRAM FOR A TRIAL PERIOD
OF 30 DAYS, AFTER WHICH TIME YOU MUST REGISTER IT IF YOU INTEND TO
CONTINUE USING IT. BY REGISTERING THIS PROGRAM, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE
LATEST VERSION OF POV COMMANDER WITH ALL OF THE ADVANCED OPTIONS THAT
WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SHAREWARE VERSION. YOU WILL ALSO BE GIVEN
FUTURE UPGRADES OF VERSIONS 1.x of THE PROGRAM FREE. SEE "ORDER.DOC" FOR
ORDERING INFORMATION. THE PRICE IS $10.
THIS  PROGRAM IS A WORKING COPY - ONLY A FEW OF THE ADVANCED FEATURES
ARE DISABLED IN THE SHAREWARE VERSION.

THE AUTHOR RESERVES ALL RIGHTS TO THIS PROGRAM. THE AUTHOR DOES NOT
WARRANT THIS PROGRAM'S FITNESS OR SUITABILITY FOR ANY PURPOSE. ALL
USERS SHOULD USE IT AT THEIR OWN RISK. THE ONLY THING THAT IS GUARANTEED
IS THAT IT WILL TAKE UP A LITTLE HARD DRIVE SPACE.

The author will make a reasonable effort to correct problems and software
bugs relating to documented features of the program for registered users.
The author intends to make continuing improvements to the program. To this
end, comments and suggestions are welcomed. (Even from non-registered users.)

Users may contact the author, Matthew O. Alvey on America Online under
user name NIHIL777, or in writing at:

        3436 Kendale Dr.
        Ft. Wayne, IN. 46835

or over Internet at address:  [e-mail]

*************************************************************************
1.0     THE POV COMMANDER ENVIRONMENT

**IMPORTANT!!** The first time you start POV COMMANDER change to the directory
that contains POV COMMANDER and type "START". Otherwise the program
will not function properly. Always use 'START' each time you run the program.
You must also know in advance where the POV raytracing program is on your hard drive.

The POV Commander environment is based on a point-and-click concept.
It is completely mouse driven. All options are chosen by left clicking on them.
Some items are even assigned by clicking and dragging, so that there is a minimal
amount of keyboard use.

The left side of the screen is devoted to the File Commander. This lets
you browse through your drives and find files with the ease of the mouse.
From here you will drag-and-drop the files and directories you want, as
well as assign your user configurable buttons.
At the bottom of the file window are eight buttons that allow you to
save, load, run POV ect.
There is also a file mask selector, accessed by clicking on the line that
displays the current directory.

The right half of the screen contains all of your POV options. These are
all set with the click of the mouse. The bottom right half of the screen
contains more large buttons to view the include chain, trace multiple POV
files, and four other buttons which you can assign to run any other
programs you want (3d modellers, ect.).

There is a menu bar at the top of the screen, and a status line bar at the
bottom of the screen. Keep an eye on the Status bar, as it will let you
know what you can do in any given situation.

1.1  DEF Files

POV Commander works with .DEF files. These files contain all of the
POV options that you set - anti-aliasing values, include directories, ect.
This is the file that POV will use to trace your picture. All your work
will be saved in a file with an extension of .DEF. POV COMMANDER
automatically loads the last .DEF file you used in your last POV COMMANDER
session.

**************************************************************************
2.0     THE MENUS
**************************************************************************

2.1  The FILE menu.

NEW     The new option resets all of the POV options to their defaults,
        if you were previously working on a file, you are first asked
        if you want to save it.

LOAD    This option loads the currently highlighted DEF file in the File
        Commander area. If no DEF file is highlighted, this command is
        ignored. See the File Commander section for an easier way of
        loading DEF files. This option is only here for menu-heads.

SAVE    This option will save the currently loaded DEF file to the POV
        directory. This is where it needs to be for POV to use it.

SAVE AS This allows you to save the current DEF file under a new name.

EXIT    This option allows you to exit the POV COMMANDER back to DOS.

LAST 5 DEF FILES WORKED ON.
        Under the EXIT option will be listed the last 5 DEF files that
        you have worked on. This is a quick-load option for files that
        you work on often. Just click on the name and the file will be
        loaded!


2.2 The OPTIONS menu

RUN POV This option saves your current DEF file if it needs saving and
        runs POV using that file as its definition. When POV is finished
        you will return to the COMMANDER.

EDIT    This allows you to see your POV file as text and edit it.
    Files other than your currently selected .POV file may be viewed
    by double-clicking on them in the File Commander window.
        **REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**

VIEW INCLUDE CHAIN  This allows you to view graphically the other files
        that are being included in your POV file. Any files that cannot
    be found in the paths listed in your Library Paths are marked
    as such.

BATCH RUNNER  This brings up a window which allows you to trace more than
        one POV file at a time in succession. While this window is up, the
    File Commander is still active, so that you can drag and drop up
    to 50 .DEF files to be traced in a row. If you don't like the order
    that you have put the .DEF files in, just drag and drop the out of
    place files to whichever of the 50 positions you want it to be at.
    Unwanted files can be deleted by double-clicking on them. To start
    completely fresh, hit the clear button. When you are ready to trace
    all of the .DEF files you have listed, hit the RUN POV button. Be
    sure that you have the 'Abort with a keypress' option turned on for
    each of those .DEF files, otherwise you will be tracing pictures for
    a long time with no way to abort them! (Except mabey ctrl-C, I haven't
    tried.)
        **THE RUN POV BUTTON IN THE BATCH FILE RUNNER WORKS IN THE REGISTERED
    VERSION ONLY**

HEIGHT & WIDTH  This pop-up window contains many height and width values
        that you may choose by clicking on them with the left mouse
        button. If you have an odd size that you use frequently, you can
        enter up to three of these, by clicking in the box and entering
        your custom height and width values. The change start and end values
    checkbox will automatically update the start row, start column, ect.
    values after you hit O.K., if you have these items turned on.

PALLET TYPE  This allows you to choose the appropriate pallet type for your
        video card.

BUFFER SIZE  This allows you to enter how you want POV to write its image file
    to disk. You can set it to write after each line is rendered, or set it
    to write after so many Kilobytes. As with many of these options, see
    the POV documentation.

OUTPUT FILE NAME  This allows you to choose what file format POV uses
        when writing image files to disk.

OUTPUT FILE PATH  This is where you can choose one of the default paths for
        you output picture.  You can also assign an output file path by dragging one
        from the file window and dropping it in the file output path display box, right
        below your output file name on the main screen.

NUMBER OF SYMBOLS  This allows you to change the number of symbols value
        that POV uses when reading POV files. Large POV files may need a high
        value here. See POV Documentation.

CHANGE POV VERSION  This option toggles the screen between options from
        POV version 1.0 and 2.0.  The options from ver. 2.0 that aren't
        available in 1.0 will be grayed out.

VIEW LAST OUTPUT  This option will flip you back to dos to see what happened with
        POV, if there was an error.  When you are finished, hit a key to return.


2.3 The CONFIG Menu

PROGRAM LOCATIONS  This brings up a window that allows you to enter or
        change the locations you have assigned for POVRAY.EXE and
        POVCOMM.EXE.

SAVE CONFIGURATION  This allows you to save any changes you have made
        to the POV COMMANDER configuration, which includes: custom heights,
        program locations, user configurable buttons, custom colors, all the
    files you have assigned in the batch runner, and the POV version you
    are using. You will be prompted before exiting the program if the config
    needs saving

POV VERSION  This allows you to set up POV Commander to use the appropriate
    version of POV. Choose 1.0 if you are using POV version 1.0, and 2.0
    for POV version 2.0. This option is automatically set to 2.0, unless
    you change it at some point.

SAVE LIBRARY PATHS  This option allows you to save you current library paths  *NEW*
    in a file for quick loading later. All files are saved with a *.PTH
    in the same directory where POV Commander is. You can click on O.K.
    to save under the current *.PTH name listed, or enter a new name.

LOAD LIBRARY PATHS  This option aloows you to load the currently highlighted  *NEW*
    file in the File Commander with a .PTH extension.  An easier way is
    to drag a .PTH file onto the Library Paths display box in the middle
    bottom of the screen.

COLORS  This allows you to change the colors as they appear in POV COMMANDER.
    Some combinations can be quite loud (and hurt your eyes!).



**************************************************************************
3.0  THE FILE COMMANDER

3.1 Changing directories and drives

All files and directories are displayed within the File Commander Window.
Directories are shown enclosed in <> signs. To change to that directory
DOUBLE CLICK on the directory name. The symbol <.\> will take you back to
the root of the current drive, and <..\> will take you back one directory
in the current drive. These symbols will always be the first two listed in
the File Commander window. (Unless you are in the root drive.
To change to a new drive, simply click on the drive letter, A:, B:, ect.,
located at the top of the file commander.

To change which files are seen, click on the bar near the top of the File
Commander that contains the path name. A popup window will appear that will
allow you to choose a pre-defined file mask, or to enter one of your own.
You may use any normal DOS wildcards. i.e. if you enter *.INC, only files
with a .INC extion will be shown from then on in the File Commander window.

To highlight a file, click on it with the left mouse button. To load a
DEF file, click and hold it until the cursor changes to a hand. Drag it
down to the bottom left hand corner of the status bar and release it on
top of the old DEF file name displayed there. This is the quick way to
load a DEF file.
The same method is used when assigning directories to library paths and
assigning programs to the user configurable buttons. (see later)

The Buttons across the bottom of the file commander work much the same
as their menu counterparts, except for the help button.
This button changes the mouse cursor into a question mark. You may then
click on any item and receive help on it. Only information about the item
as it relates to POV Commander is given. For information on a direct POV
topic, see you POV documentation.


**************************************************************************
4.0 POV OPTIONS AND USER BUTTONS - right half of screen

4.1 POV OPTIONS

POV VERSION this area shows which version of POV the commander is set up for.
        See menu section.

HEIGHT  Click here to enter a new height value.
WIDTH   Click here to enter a new width value.

DISPLAY TYPE  Click the checkbox to see the picture as it is being
        rendered, and click within the display box to choose your
        display card from the list presented.
STATISTIC DISPLAY  Click this checkbox if you wish to see only the
        statistics of your picture as it is being rendered.

ABORT WITH KEYPRESS  Allows you to abort the rendering image at any time.
    (You might as well keep this turned on at all times, especially if
    you are doing many POV files at once. Its the only easy way to get
    out of a render, once its started!)

CONTINUE ABORTED IMAGE  Allows you to continue an aborted render.

PAUSE AFTER TRACE  This will pause POV after it is finished tracing a
        picture to allow you to see it until a key is pressed.

CLOCK VALUE  Click the check box and enter the clock value for the
        current trace when doing animation scenes.

INPUT FILE NAME  This box displays the POV file name that will be traced.
        To assign a file to this box, just find it in the File Commander
        window, click and drag it to the Input File Name Box. Drag and
        drop - its that simple!

OUTPUT FILE NAME  Click the checkbox if you want your image saved to a
        file, and enter a file name in the box.

OUTPUT FILE PATH  Drag a directory from the file window to assign a path
        here, or click in this box to bring up a window where you can choose
        various default paths.

RENDER QUALITY  This allows you to choose the quality of render you want.
        Valid values are from 1 to 9.

ANTI-ALIASING  Click the checkbox and enter the values for these options
NUMBER OF RAYS  if desired.
JITTER

BOUNDING SLABS  Enter the minimum number of objects needed before boundings
        are used.

START LINE  These values are used for tracing only a portion of the image.
END LINE
   or
START ROW
END ROW
START COLUMN
END COLUMN

LIBRARY PATHS  These are assigned by dragging and dropping the desired
        path names from the File Commander to any on of the Library Path
        positions. You may delete an undesired library path by double
    clicking on it.

VIEW INCLUDE CHAIN BUTTON See section 2.2.

POV BATCH RUNNER See section 2.2.

USER CONFIGURABLE BUTTONS  These buttons can be assigned to run any program
        on your hard drive. Simply find the program you want to run in
        the file commander, and drag it with the mouse to one of the
        user configurable buttons, and release your mouse button. A window
    will appear that will allow you to enter a title for the button, and any
    command line parameters that the program may need. If you include the
    symbol @POV anywhere in the command line box, the current POV file name
    that is on-screen will be substituted whenever you run this program. This
    is useful for POV utilities that require a POV file in its command line
    arguments.
    These buttons can be edited at any time by double clicking on them. The
    Clear option in the displayed window will erase whatever you have assigned
    to that button.
        These buttons are useful for running 3D Modellers and the like
        directly from POV Commander. Once a button is assigned and given a new title,
    just click on it, and the program will be run. When the program is finished
    running, you will be returned to POV Commander!
    **NOTE** Any time that POV Commander runs another program or runs POV itself,
    no memory is used, because instead of using a TSR to track those programs, POV
    Commander uses recursive batch files. That is why it is important to start
    POV Commander with 'START.BAT'.


Special Thanx to BETA testers Chris Dhoerman, Jim Babcock, and Timothy Bearmen!

Compiled with Borland Turbo C++ for DOS 3.0.


THELEMA - AGAPE - 93!