TopWare 18: Liquid/Image.iso/liquid/top1150/tv.doc

Text File | 1994-03-29 | 23KB | 458 lines

DOCUMENTATION FILE FOR TagVue.EXE    Ver. 1.34        Mar. 29, 1994

This copy of TagVue is a Shareware Program and may be freely copied and passed
on to friends or put on your favorite BBS.  Have Fun!  If you use it, please
register it!

WE BELIEVE IN EASY!  EASY TO INSTALL!  EASY TO USE!  EASY TO UNDERSTAND!

TagVue is a VGA file management program with built in VESA MODE graphic
routines which will display .PCX, .BMP, TGA and .GIF image files from 320 x
200 16 colors up thru 1024 x 768 16.7M colors.  Once the file is displayed on
the screen, the user can Zoom in and out of the image and walk around the image
from left to right and top to bottom.  TagVue will load the image in it's
original size and then allow manual zooming in and out and panning around the
image.  Conversion from one format to another is now provided for.

ORIGIN & PURPOSE

Managing, cataloging, sorting out and storing Image files can be a very time
consuming and tedious job!  Often times, I receive a CD ROM full of images
which take forever to view when loaded directly from the CD ROM.  A method
I often use is to make a sub-directory on my much faster hard disk drive
and copy many files from the CD ROM into that directory before I view them.
After I view them, I usually want to erase many of them and then move the
ones I like into other sub directories.  And, of course, the process starts
over again with the arrival of the next batch of images.

Sometimes, when I receive a new image, something within the image deserves
a little closer examination.  I like to be able to Zoom in to see if I can
see what it is a little better!  TagVue is perfect for these tasks!

TagVue is an easy way to select a group of images and copy them to a floppy
without worrying about whether there is going to be enough space on the
floppy for them.  TagVue will simply ask for another disk...as many as it
needs to hold the files.  It will even detect an unformatted disk and give
you the chance to insert another one without aborting the copy operation!

TagVue is designed to do just these things.....and More!  Easy to use??
.....This Read Me file is the only manual you will need!   Many long,
late hours have gone into making TagVue operation very easy and intuitive.
When in doubt, play with it a bit!  You'll catch on very quickly!

THE EMPHASIS IS ON EASY!  EASY TO INSTALL!  EASY TO USE!  EASY TO UNDERSTAND!


SYSTEM HARDWARE & SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

VIDEO

TagVue, Ver 1.34, has been designed to be used with a SVGA Video card and
Monitor.  TagVue will not function with an EGA or CGA video card. Resolutions
from 640 x 480 16 colors up thru 1024 x 768 16.7M colors are supported.
Consult your video card's manual to determine if your card is VESA compatible
and whether you need to load a VESA driver prior to running TagVue to attain
the Super VGA resolution modes.  TagVue will autodetect the maximum resolution
available on start-up.

Version 1.34 now supports 15, 16 and 24 bit High Color and True Color (16.7M)
file formats.  This version will also attempt to automatically detect and use
the Video Card's chipset to determine if a VESA driver is actually needed.
Also, special support has been added for the Diamond Speedstar 24 video card.

MEMORY

TagVue needs either XMS or EMS memory to display the image files.  If
you do not have enough memory to display a particular image, TagVue will
make you aware of the shortage.  4 megabytes of either XMS or EMS will usually
be enough for average drawings.  If you arn't sure, give it a try...TagVue
will let you know.  When you are Zooming in and run out of memory, TagVue
will overflow the zoomed image to your hard disk drive should the zoomed image
become too large.  Just before TagVue begins using the hard drive instead of
RAM  memory, a warning beep will sound to give you the opportunity to avoid
zooming in further (and having to wait for the slow drive to catch up).


MSDOS

MSDOS Version 3.3 or above is required for TagVue.  DOS 5.0 with a 1 Meg
or larger SMARTDRV really makes file and viewing operations fly!  For very
large directories (600 + files), a BUFFERS=35 statememt in your CONFIG.SYS
file will help a lot.  If you are viewing images from a CDROM drive,
upgrading to DOS 6.2 and the Smartdrive which caches the CDROM will greatly
speed up viewing images.  Our tests with the new Smartdrive on a CDROM showed
an improvement well worth the upgrade!

WINDOWS USERS

TagVue Ver. 1.34 was designed with MSDOS usage in mind.  However, our testing
under WINDOWS 3.1 did not turn up any significant difficulties when viewing
up to 256 color .GIF, .PCX & .BMP images.  Viewing files worked flawlessly
as well as did video mode switching.  However, viewing High Color and True
Color Images under windows produced varying results.  We suspect that the
Windows video drivers for the higher color video cards may be at fault.
Copy the files TAGVUE.PIF, TAGVUE.ICO & MONUMENT.GRP to your C:\WINDOWS
directory to use TagVue under Windows.

INSTALLATION

For New Users:

    1.  Confirm that you have 360K of free space on your C: drive:

        a.  At your DOS prompt, type C: (return)
        b.  Type DIR (return)
        c.  If the Bytes Free number shown is greater then
            350,000 bytes free, then you have enough room.
        d.  If you don't have enough room, erase some un-needed
            files to make room.


    2.  Insert the disk containing TagVue.EXE, TagVue.DOC and
        INSTALL.BAT into your A: floppy drive and close the door.

    3.  Type A: (return)

    4.  When the A> prompt appears, type install (return).

    5.  The installation will create a sub directory on your C:
        drive named TagVue and uncompress the necessary files
        and place them in the sub directory.

    6.  Upon completion of the installation, you will be logged
        into the C:\TagVue directory.  To Run TagVue, just
        type TV (return).  That's all!


For Advanced Users:

TagVue is distributed in a self decompressing .EXE format.  Simply
copy the file TagVue.EXE into the sub directory in which you wish to
run the program from.  Then, type TagVue (return).  The program will
decompress itself.  Finally, type TV (return) to run TagVue.  (If you
are a new PC user and unfamiliar with DOS, read the step by step install
instructions which follow at the end of this file).


PROGRAM LIMITATIONS

TagVue is quite complete for a Ver. 1 program.  However, some features still
need to be added.  The current version allows viewing of .PCX .BMP, TGA and
.GIF images.  Plans for the future versions call for adding .TIF, .JPG, .WPG
and other image formats.  Only uncompressed TGA formats are supported in this
version.


SALES PITCH!!

Many image viewing enthusiasts have said that they have wanted a program like
TagVue for a long time but refuse to spend $50.00 or more for just a GIF
viewer!  That puts the programmer in a difficult position because a viewer
takes many, many hours to develop and is a serious investment!  However, here
it is at $19.95!  And that includes all future updates under the 1.?? version
designation!  In future versions, we intend to add many other bitmap file
formats, file conversion, image modification and incorporate as many features
from our customer's "wish lists" as possible.  We have many ideas for additional
improvements and several products in the wings.  We hope you will like
TagVue!


          If you enjoy using TagVue, please register it...$19.95


    ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
    │                                                               │
    │         To Register this Copy of TagVue, write or call:       │
    │                                                               │
    │              Monumental Computer Applications, Inc.           │
    │            9 Genesee Street                        │
    │            Cherry Valley, N. Y. 13320                  │
    │                                                               │
    │     Phone  [phone]                FAX [phone]    │
    │                                                               │
    │              Master Card      Visa       Prepaid              │
    │                                                               │
    └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


NOTICE!!

This "Shareware" version of TagVue is actually the full function version in
which there is a flashing "REGISTER" messages.  When you register your copy
with a credit card, we can turn off the messages right while you are speaking
with us on the phone!  The PASSWORD you will receive will work on all future
versions of TagVue below version 2.0.  This documentation is all you will need
to operate TagVue.

FUTURE FEATURES

We are continually improving and expanding TagVue with the goal of making it
the most widely used and easiest to operate image file viewer.  A future
version will include JPEG viewing and conversion, detailed Gamma Correction
at all color levels, slide show viewing, a Windows version, improved GUI
interface, image printing, saving of altered images, and many others.  We
hope you will register TagVue to insure these continued improvements.  We will
have a BBS running on 607-264-8149 for fast downloading of new versions by May
1, 1994.  New versions will continue to be uploaded to Compuserve.


ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS

CaddView is a "sister" program to TagVue.  CaddView will allow the user to
manage drawing and component files made with the popular low cost CADD program,
Generic CADD.  CaddView views drawings made with Generic CADD Level 3, CADD5 &
CADD6!  CaddView can be downloaded from the ARETAIL Forum on CompuServe and is
also available thru many Shareware catalogs and BBS's.

CaddView Plus! contains all the features of CaddView but also includes a
very special option!  CaddView Plus allows one to view a .PCX Raster Image,
Zoom In, Scroll and Pan around and Zoom Out.  Then, it allows you to TRACE
THE RASTER IMAGE WITH LINES, ARCS & CIRCLES AND OUTPUT THE VECTOR IMAGE IN
CAD FORMAT.  In addition to .DXF file output, CaddView Plus will also
output directly in .DXF, Generic CADD .DWG, .GCD & .CMP formats!  CaddView Plus
can be downloaded directly from the ARETAIL Forum on Compuserv.

CaddView and CaddView Plus! will also also function with Visual CADD produced
by the Visual CADD Corporation when the program is released in Summer 1994.
Visual CADD is written by the same programmers who developed Generic CADD and
will be the Windows version of CADD users have been waiting for.  Please contact
the author for more information about Visual CADD.

The authors of TagVue and CaddView products can also be contacted through
E-Mail on CompuServe.  Address your mail to 71054,47.


COMMAND DESCRIPTION:


Selecting A Directory:  (LEFT & RIGHT ARROW KEYS)

Once TagVue has signed on, the operator will want to chose a directory
containing the file(s) he may wish to perform an operation on (ex. to view it).

The operator can choose to immediately type in the drive letter and directory
name he desires in normal MSDOS fashion (ex. C:\PCX) and press return (Enter).
The files contained in the directory will be displayed on the screen.  While
the operator is typing in the MSDOS command, his keystrokes will be echoed
in the lower right corner of the screen which normally reads A:\.  The command
structure for changing directories is the same as regular MSDOS commands.

As an option, the operator can elect to use the Left and Right Arrow keys
to move the highlight selector at the bottom of the TagVue screen to choose
from among the 15 "Preset Directory Selections" displayed there.  Upon making
a choice, press return (Enter) to affect the change.  The Presets are initially
set to reflect EXAMPLE selections of possible sub directory names AND CAN BE
CHANGED (PRESS F9..see below).  The TAB key will scroll the presets upward
revealing another 14 possible selections, turning the background screen color
to green.  Pressing TAB again will allow another 14 choices with a light blue
background.  Pressing TAB a third time will return to the original 15
selections.

The presets can be changed to reflect the operator's needs by pressing F9 and
typing in the alterations he desires.  Once the operator has pressed F9,
pressing the TAB key will change the background color and allow the operator
to change the preset entries which correspond with the same color of preset
displayed on the main TagVue screen.


Selecting A File:  (UP & DOWN ARROW KEYS)

Once a directory has been selected, pressing the Up and Down Arrow keys will
move the file selector arrow "up and down" the list of files contained within
the chosen directory until the operator allows the file selector to come
to rest "pointing" at the desired file name.  To speed things up, pressing the
END key will move the pointer to the end of the list of files and HOME will
move the pointer to the beginning.  Page Up and Page Down will move the pointer
18 files at a time.

Performing an operation on a file:

Once a file has been selected, the operator can choose from among 5 different
operations which can be performed by using the F1 thru F10 function keys
on the keyboard:

F1    "Pointing" at a file name and then pressing the F1 (View File) key
    will set up TagVue for the file viewing operation.  Press return
    to display the image.  That's it!

Ins    Once the image is on the screen, press Insert (Ins) to Zoom In or
    Delete (Del) to Zoom Out.  After you have Zoomed In past full screen
    size, pressing Del, Up, Down, Left & Right arrow keys will allow you to
    pan around the image.  Pressing HOME will rescale the image to full
Home    screen size.  Note!! Zooming In takes up a lot of RAM memory!
    After you have Zoomed In a few times, you may hear a beep!  This
    beep is your warning that you are out of RAM memory.  The next time
    you Zoom In, the image overflow will be sent to a temporary file on
    your Hard Disk Drive.  When this happens, you will see and hear a lot
    of disk activity and the zooming process will slow down dramatically!
    If it is necessary to continue zooming in, you may do so.  It will just
    take a lot longer.

Ctl    Pressing the Ctl key at the same time as the Ins, Del, Up, Down, Left,
    & Right Arrow keys will zoom or move the image in larger increments that
    using the movement key by itself.

    Multiple files can be viewed sequentially by tagging several file
    names prior to pressing return.  See "Tagging Files" further on
    in this documentation.

F2    "Pointing" at a file name and then pressing the F2 (Copy) key
    will set up TagVue for the File Copy operation. Pressing return
    (Enter) will cause TagVue to prompt you for a destination to
    copy the file to.  You will note that the default is the A: Drive.
    Pressing return (Enter) will cause the file to be copied to the
    A: Drive.  The operator may either choose to type in the DOS path
    to copy the file to (followed by a return), or use the Left & Right
    arrow keys to select a preset directory (followed by a return).

    Multiple files can be copied sequentially by tagging several file
    names prior to pressing return.  See "Tagging Files" further on
    in this documentation.

Alt-F2    This command invokes the MOVE FILE operation.  It will work almost
    identically to the File Copy operation except that the file selected
    is copied to the new destination and then erased from the former
    place that it occupied on the drive.

    Multiple files can be Moved sequentially by tagging several file
    names prior to pressing return.  See "Tagging Files" further on
    in this documentation.

F3    This command invokes the DELETE FILE operation.  It will erase the
    selected file from the directory.  Just as in MSDOS, once erased,
    the file is GONE!  So be careful!

    Multiple files can be Deleted sequentially by tagging several file
    names prior to pressing return.  See "Tagging Files" further on
    in this documentation.

F4    This command invokes the RENAME FILE operation.  It will rename the
    selected file.  When using this option, remember to type in the file
    name extension or you will end up with a file name with no extension.
    Only single file operation is permitted when renaming.

Alt     Pressing the Alt Key and the F4 key at the same time will place TagVue
F4    into "Convert" mode and will allow you to convert GIF, PCX, TGA and BMP
    files into each other's format.  Simply "point" to the file you wish
    to convert, press Alt-F4, and with your arrow keys, select the desired
    output format desired.  A second file with the same name as the original
    file but in the new format and with the new extension will be created
    in the selected directory.  (the operation is the same as F2 Copy)

F5    As soon as F5 is pressed, the file names in the chosen directory will
    be sorted alphabetically, by filename.  This command is simply a
    sorting option and is the TagVue default sort option when a directory
    has signed on for the first time.

F6    As soon as F6 is pressed, the file names in the chosen directory will
    be sorted according to size.  This command will re-arrange the order
    in which the file names appear on the screen.  The smallest files will
    appear at the beginning of the listing and the larger files at the end.

F7    As soon as F7 is pressed, the file names in the chosen directory will
    be sorted according to the date MSDOS puts on the file when it was
    created or altered.  This command will re-arrange the order in which
    the file names appear on the screen.  The oldest files will appear
    at the beginning of the listing and the newest files at the end.

F8    Pressing F8 will allow the operator to output the listing of file
    names to a printer in the order in which they appear on the screen.
    For example, if F6 has been pressed before F8, the print out will
    be according to the size of the file.  The output of TagVue is
    directed to the first PC Parallel Port (LPT1).  Nothing fancy has
    been attempted here.  Just a plain old Epson compatible, LaserJ II
    compatible 8 1/2" x 11" listing.  Prior to printing, a report of
    the number of pages required and estimated time will be given and
    the opportunity to abort the printing operation allowed.  Printing
    out an image is not possible in this version.

F9    Pressing F9 will change the screen to a utility screen with a sliding
    bar style of input.  Through this option, the operator can change
    the directory name which appears on the main screen, the MSDOS path
    to that directory and the type of files to be displayed according
    to extension.  Normal MSDOS conventions apply.  Pressing the TAB key
    allows access to the second and third groups of preset directories.
    Alteration or customization of these presets is provided for.  Just
    use the arrow keys to select one of the three options provided
    for (Label Name, Path & Filter) and type in your preference.

<NOTE>     THERE ARE 42 POSSIBLE PRESETS AVAILABLE...14 ON BLUE BACKGROUND
    14 ON GREEN BACKGROUND AND 14 MORE ON CYAN BACKGROUND.

F10    HELP!!  You know!  When you need quick Help, you gotta do something....
    so we gave you a button to press!  Press any key to exit help.

Alt-A    Displays the available memory, the sign on screen, copyright and
    registration message.

G    Press the letter G to convert the image from color to grey scale.
    Press it again (a toggle) and your color image will return

Page    Will allow for Global GAMMA correction of an image.  Pressing
Up    Page-Up will increase the GAMMA of the image.  Page-Down will
    decrease the GAMMA.  Pressing the BACKSPACE key will return the
Page    image to the original settings.  Please note that Gamma correction
Down    will only work with 256 color images in version 1.31.  If you hear
    a beep when pressing Page Up, that will indicate that the image
    cannot be corrected.

TAGGING    Allows the operator to select several files at a time for a group
    operation.  For example, one could select several files to erase at
    one time by tagging the file names for an erase operation.  The same
    applies for copy, move and view operations.

    To "TAG" files, one first presses the desired operation key (F1,
    F2, Alt-F2, F3).  Then, with the arrow keys, move the selector to
    point at the file name desired.  Then, press the + (plus) key.
    A "tag" will appear to the right of the file name to show that
    this file name has been selected for this particular operation.
    (if you wish to "un-tag" a "tagged" file, just select and press
    the + key a second time).  When all the desired files have been
    tagged, press return (Enter) to continue.  This is a very effective
    way to view files.  When a number of files have been tagged for
    the view operation, just pressing the space bar will flip through
    the files viewing one after another.

Ctl-A    Control-A works in conjunction with F1 thru F3 also.  Simply
    stated, after F1, F2, or F3 have been pressed, pressing Ctl-A
    will "TAG" all the file names in the directory in one movement.


Esc    The Escape key allows the operator to abort an operation or exit
    from a menu.  Two escapes in a row will usually exit the program
    entirely.

TAB    When the main TagVue File management screen is showing, TAB will
    "Rolodex" flip thru 42 directory presets.  After F9 has been pressed,
    pressing TAB will Flip thru 3 pages (blue..green..cyan) of input screens
    where changes can be made to "custom" set up the directory presets which
    are displayed on the main screen to your preferences.


Command Line Viewing

    TagVue will allow viewing individual files from the command line
    by entering TV FILENAME.EXT (return).  The threeo file extensions
    allowed in this version are .PCX, .GIF & .BMP.  Zoom & Pan functions
    operate normally when command line viewing. (Ex. TV C:\PCX\A6.PCX)
    The registration message which appears after each image viewed from
    the command line will be omitted when the program is registered.
    With this feature, you can have TagVue display your favorite image
    automatically when your computer starts up by including the command
    in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file!

    Copyright (c) 1993 Monumental Computer Applications, Inc.


Monumental Computer Applications, Inc . shall not be liable for incidental,
consequential, or other indirect damages which may or could occur through the
usage of TagVue.  Make sure that your system is backed before erasing
your drawing files with TagVue.

TagVue is a registered trademark of Monumental Computer Applications, Inc.

Generic CADD and AutoCad are Trademarks of AutoDesk, Inc.

GIF and "Graphics Interchange Format" are trademarks (tm) of Compuserve,
Inc.