Category : Printer + Display Graphics
Archive   : MVGAVU61.ZIP
Filename : SLIDSHOW.DOC

To use MVGAVU's user-definable slideshow feature, a plain text file must
be created. Each of the commands described below MUST be flushed against
the left margin; NO SPACES MUST PRECEDE or PROCEED COMMANDS. The text file
MUST be saved as COMMAND.SLD - only this file is recognized by MVGAVU as
the slideshow script. When you want to try your slideshow script, simply
make sure COMMAND.SLD is in your current dreive/directory and type

MVGAVU -p

to let MVGAVU know that you want to run your own slideshow "P"rogram.

See TUTORIAL at the end of this DOC for sample scripts.


COMMENT Syntax: ;
Where: all text following the ";" symbol is treated
as a comment

eg. ;THIS IS A COMMENT

Desc: This feature is lets you place comments anywhere in
the slideshow program. It can prove very useful when
you have LARGE slideshows.


FILENAME Syntax: FILENAME=filename
Where: filename is any supported GIF, PCX, BMP or TGA file

eg. FILENAME=test.gif
FILENAME=d:\windows\test.bmp
FILENAME=c:\pbrush\test.pcx
FILENAME=\hicolor\test.tga

Desc: This function specifies which image is to be shown.
You can specify a GIF, PCX, BMP or TGA file. The
function allows you to include image files from
several drives/directories; all you have to do
is specify where it is.


DURATION Syntax: DURATION=nn
Where: nn=0 to 60 seconds

eg. DURATION=1
DURATION=60

Desc: This function specifies how long a particular image
is to remain in the active display. You can display
the image for as long as 60 seconds (1 minute).
Since this is a linear script, this command must be
placed AFTER a specified FILENAME, otherwise a delay
will be introduced at the wrong time.


VIDEOMODE Syntax: VIDEOMODE=v
Where: E = EGA 640x350x16
V = VGA 640x480x16
M = MCGA 320x200x156
0 = VGA 320x400x256 (non-standard)
1 = VGA 360x480x256 (non-standard)
3 = VGA 800x600x16 (EEGA/EVGA)
4 = SVGA 640x400x256
5 = SVGA 640x480x256
6 = SVGA 800x600x256
7 = SVGA 1KBx768x16
8 = SVGA 1KBx768x256
H = SVGA 640x480x32K (HiColor or HercGS)
I = SVGA 800x600x32K (HiColor)
or
I = HGSC 512x480x24M (HercGS)
U = USER NNNxNNNxNNN (16/256-color user mode)

eg. VIDEOMODE=1
VIDEOMODE=5
VIDEOMODE=H

Desc: This command MUST be placed BEFORE the specified
FILENAME to take effect; otherwise it will affect
succeeding image files to be shown. Absence of this
command will default to AutoMode selection.
Automode selection can be modified by PROCESS
commands specified below.


PROCESS Syntax: PROCESS=a
Where: a = one of the processing options available at the
MVGAVU expert menu or command line.

SAFETY = "Safety w/ MIGs"
This limits AutoMode selection to 640x480 to
avoid damage to fixed-frequency analog
monitors. It will also render GIFs with
multiple image graphics (MIGs). This is the
default.

NORMAL = "Normal w/ MIGS"
This is similar to "SAFETY" but limits
AutoMode selection to 800x600x256 or
1024x768x16.

ONEMEG = "OneMeg w/ MIGs"
This is similar to "NORMAL" without limiting
the AutoMode selection. This will go up to
1024x768x256.

HICOLOR = [not avaliable at Expert Menu]
This is similar to starting MVGAVU with the
"-H" option if HiColor capability was not
hardcoded/configured. The AutoMode
selections will be similar to ONEMEG but will
include HiCOLOR modes if TGA or 24-bit BMP
files are selected.

FITSCREEN = "Fit to Screen"
This can be used AFTER any of the AutoMode
processing options above - SAFETY, NORMAL,
ONEMEG, HICOLOR. Images will be shrunken or
expanded to fit the whole screen. This is
useful for correcting some aspect ratio
problems or simple for the effect. THIS
OPTION SHOULD BE USED ON SINGLE IMAGES ONLY
- NOT MIGs.

SQUARE = "Fix Aspect 1:1"
This is similar to FITSCREEN. Images will
be corrected to have a square or 1:1 aspect
ratio; most scanned images with strange
screen or image sizes use a square aspect
ratio. Use this when images seem distorted.

TARGA = "Fix Aspect TGA"
This is similar to SQUARE but assumes that
the images have a TARGA aspect ratio.


eg. PROCESS=ONEMEG
PROCESS=SQUARE

Desc: This command once used will be in effect until
another PROCESS option is selected. It should be
placed BEFORE the FILENAME command and AFTER the
VIDEOMODE command, if used.


GREYMODE Syntax: GREYMODE

Desc: This command forces the rendering of the image to be
in grey shades. Unlike PROCESS commands, this
option will be implemented only with the image
specified (by FILENAME) immediately following it.



EFFECT Syntax: EFFECT=a
Where: a = Any one of the slideshow transition effects
supported by MVGAVU.

FADETOBLACK = Palette fades to black
(MCGA, VGA and SVGA only)

RANDOMLINES = Random vertical lines clear
the screen.

VCURTAIN = Vertical curtains clear the screen
from the top and bottom and meet at
the center of the screen.

BLOCKS = Random blocks clear the screen.

VBLINDS = Vertical "blinds" clear the screen in
an interlaced fashion

RANDOM = Randomly selects from any of the above


SLIDESHOW TUTORIAL

For the simplest slideshow, all you have to do is specify the images and
the order that they will be displayed. All images will be rendered with
the SAFETY AutoMode selections. Let us assume that your COMMAND.SLD file
is at the root of C: - your slideshow script would start off like this

;My first slideshow
FILENAME=\GIF\VGA\MONROE.GIF
;320x200x256
FILENAME=\GIF\EGA\DARLNG.GIF
;640x480x16
FILENAME=\GIF\SVGA\DGNLDY.GIF
;640x720x256
FILENAME=\WINDOWS\BABE.BMP
;333x480x256
FILENAME=C:\PBRUSH\RAINBOW.PCX
;1024x768x256
FILENAME=D:\TARGA\STRM1.TGA
;800x600x32K

With the above script, each of the different image files with different
resolutions and colors will be shown in an optimal fashion in the order
specified; it will then cycle through that order until the slideshow is
halted by pressing the several times. Lets now add delays and
transition effects.

;My first slideshow
FILENAME=\GIF\VGA\MONROE.GIF
;320x200x256
DURATION=5
EFFECTS=FADETOBLACK

FILENAME=\GIF\EGA\DARLNG.GIF
;640x480x16
DURATION=2
EFFECTS=RANDOMLINES

FILENAME=\GIF\SVGA\DGNLDY.GIF
;640x720x256
DURATION=2
EFFECTS=VBLINDS
;use VBLINDS since this is an interlaced image

FILENAME=\WINDOWS\BABE.BMP
;333x480x256
DURATION=3
EFFECTS=RANDOM

FILENAME=C:\PBRUSH\RAINBOW.PCX
;1024x768x256
DURATION=3
EFFECTS=RANDOM

FILENAME=D:\TARGA\STRM1.TGA
DURATION=8
EFFECTS=BLOCKS
;800x600x32K


The above script will show each slide with specified durations and will
add a transition effect after the specified duration. Lets assume that
you have a PS/2 Model 50 - ie., you can only go as high as 360x480x256.

Since your maximum resolution will not fit the whole DGNLDY.GIF image
on the screen, it is interpolated to "fit the screen" - resulting in
some distortion. You would want to use the PROCESS=SQUARE command.

;My first slideshow
FILENAME=\GIF\VGA\MONROE.GIF
;320x200x256
DURATION=5
EFFECTS=FADETOBLACK

FILENAME=\GIF\EGA\DARLNG.GIF
;640x480x16
DURATION=2
EFFECTS=RANDOMLINES

PROCESS=SQUARE
;correct the display of this image
FILENAME=\GIF\SVGA\DGNLDY.GIF
;640x720x256
DURATION=2
EFFECTS=VBLINDS
;use VBLINDS since this is an interlaced image

PROCESS=SAFETY
;reset PROCESS to "Safety w/ MIGs"
FILENAME=\WINDOWS\BABE.BMP
;333x480x256
DURATION=3
EFFECTS=RANDOM

FILENAME=C:\PBRUSH\RAINBOW.PCX
;1024x768x256
DURATION=3
EFFECTS=RANDOM

FILENAME=D:\TARGA\STRM1.TGA
DURATION=8
EFFECTS=BLOCKS
;800x600x32K

In the above script, we set PROCESS=SQUARE to display DGNLDY.GIF optimally
by using MVGAVU's aspect ratio correcting routines. We then set it back
to normal when showing the next slide. Although MVGAVU renders STRM1.TGA
in your maximum 256-color mode (360x480x256) with an acceptable quality
(given the limits of your video card), you opt to see more DETAIL at a
a higher resolution - but in grey shades.

;My first slideshow
FILENAME=\GIF\VGA\MONROE.GIF
;320x200x256
DURATION=5
EFFECTS=FADETOBLACK

FILENAME=\GIF\EGA\DARLNG.GIF
;640x480x16
DURATION=2
EFFECTS=RANDOMLINES

PROCESS=SQUARE
;correct the display of this image
FILENAME=\GIF\SVGA\DGNLDY.GIF
;640x720x256
DURATION=2
EFFECTS=VBLINDS
;use VBLINDS since this is an interlaced image

PROCESS=SAFETY
;reset PROCESS to "Safety w/ MIGs"
FILENAME=\WINDOWS\BABE.BMP
;333x480x256
DURATION=3
EFFECTS=RANDOM

FILENAME=C:\PBRUSH\RAINBOW.PCX
;1024x768x256
DURATION=3
EFFECTS=RANDOM

GREYMODE
VIDEOMODE=V
FILENAME=D:\TARGA\STRM1.TGA
DURATION=8
EFFECTS=BLOCKS
;800x600x32K

In the above script, STRM1.TGA is displayed using mode "V" for 640x480x16
grey shades - you therefore get more detail at a higher resolution.

Thus, aside from the individual control over each image file to be displayed,
you have virtually all the power that MVGAVU's expert menu can provide in
rendering an image - to optimize you specific video card hardware.

Enjoy.