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ViewPCX2

Virtual PCX display module with graphical features


Syntax

VIEWPCX2 [/noblank] <cFILENAME.PCX> <cBoxChar> 
   <nFontPoints> <nFColor> <nBColor> <nTopRow> <nTopCol> 
   <nNumCols> <nNumRows> <nSWidth> <nSHeight> <nNumColors> 
   <nTFColor> <nTBColor> <nUseMouse> <cTitle>


Arguments

/noblank
Do not switch video modes before display; use current one.

<cFILENAME.PCX>
Name of PCX image file, and optional drive and path.

<cBoxChar>
"p" = 2 color buttons, "3" = 3-D buttons.

<nFontPoints>
8, 14, 16 points only. Do not use points outside these values.

<nFColor>
Foreground color index. Range 0 - 15 same as "default" EGA color palette.

<nBColor>
Background color index. Range 0 - 15 same as "default" EGA color palette.

<nTopRow>
Top origin of area of interest. Multiply row * font points to get "y" 
coordinate.

<nTopCol>
Left origin of area of interest. Multiply col * 8 points to get "x" 
coordinate.

<nNumCols>
Number of columns wide. 79 legal maximum for 80 columns (illegal value will 
wrap around).

<nNumRows>
Number of rows high. 29 legal maximum for 30 rows (illegal value will wrap).

<nSWidth>
Screen width - horizontal resolution of video mode. The screen width of 
the video mode.

<nSHeight>
Screen height - vertical resolution of video mode. The screen height of the 
video mode.

<nNumColors>
Number of colors in palette. 2, 16, 256 color palette PCX file.

<nTFColor>
Title foreground color - Range 0 - 15 same as "default" EGA color palette.

<nTBColor>
Title background color - Range 0 - 15 same as "default" EGA color palette.

<nUseMouse>
Mouse flag, 0 or 1. If 0 then do not use mouse. If 1 then use mouse.

<cTitle>
Alpha-numeric title string.


Remarks

ViewPCX2 virtually displays all or a portion of an image larger than screen 
size within a window with configurable, graphical Scroll/Pan Bars, 3-D 
Buttons, active mouse, rubberband zoom selection.

This is an extremely complex function. Start with ViewPCX (part of Sunshow, 
standard edition) to become familiar with virtual imaging before attempting 
to use ViewPCX2. You must understand virtual imaging and have a PC with 
maximum performance and memory. 8 MB memory recommended for SVGA. More may 
be required for the display of 300 DPI images. Mouse driver should be loaded 
beforehand.

Horizontal and vertical navigation "arrow bars" are used with mouse to 
scroll and pan when image has been zoomed to other than full-screen 
(default). "+" and "-" zoom-in and zoom-out, "r" returns to full-screen 
(default) state. Mouse will select a starting coordinate, dragging with 
button depressed will form a rubber band box. Second mouse click will zoom 
to region of interest if desired.

Note: DOS allows 128 characters maximum on command line.

ViewPCX2 is a virtual display module that can display all or a portion of an 
image larger that the screen width and screen height of the highest available video mode of the current video card. It 
requires expanded or extended memory (LIM 4.0 EMS or XMS 2.0 or newer) or 
can work from disk files. LIM 4.0 EMS expanded memory is absolutely to be 
prefered over other options. 

When displaying large images, use the grey PLUS and MINUS keys at the right 
side of an AT compatible keyboard to zoom in and out, the ARROW cursor 
navigation keys on the numeric keypad to scroll and pan. Works best when 
image is about twice the size of the highest video mode (to see about a 
quarter of the image at one time). It will display 300DPI files, but 
requires long loading times, decompression times, and screen refreshes 
(between scrolls and pans). To calculate amount of expanded memory, 
multiply the screen width (in pixels) times the screen height (in pixels) 
to get the bytes of memory required.

Press ESC, or left click outside of the virtual window to exit function.


Example

To display a virtual image with scrollbars, graphical SVGA mouse, image 
title, and other features:

VIEWPCX2 PAVILION.PCX 3 16 1 15 0 0 79 29 640 480 256 1 15 1 PAVILION

Pavilion will display as a 640x480x256 PCX file in a full screen "window", 
with blue and white borders and 16 point characters with a title of 
"PAVILION" and the mouse will be active. The mouse will select a rubber 
band box "region of interest" that will be zoomed upon with a second click.