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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

4139.0. "GIF2IFF V2.0 (->DYNA-RES,SHAM,HAM,IFF)" by CGOFS::DREW (Steve Drew) Thu Sep 20 1990 17:41

        Well, I finished it finally; Version 2.0 of GIF2IFF. 
        
        I managed to get the a speed increase of about 3-4 times faster
        than version 1.0. I did this by optimizing the code with using
        MANX and assembly output. It maynot be that much faster on VMS
        since the optimization was for MANX.
        
        An average 256 color gif takes 3-4 minutes. (GifMachine takes 
        about 25-30 mins).
        
        I've also added lots of other featues, suchs as options to
        produce DYNA-RES, and SHAM modes, scan line indicator, 
        better aborting (via ^C) and so on. Read the docs for the
        full scoop.
        
        I strongly recommend using MOSTRA as the IFF viewer to use with
        all of these files. It supports SHAM and if it finds a DYNA-RES
        picture will call DYNA-SHOW to display it. I would create SHAM
        pics over DYNA-RES ham, just because MOSTRA handles them it's 
        self and does'nt take over the machine. However GIF2IFF will 
        allow you to convert a 256 color 640 x 480 GIF to a 640 by 480
        16 color DYNA-RES picture, (just like DIGIVIEW 4.0 :-), this is
        a mode that SHAM does not support.
                
        I have created 2 archives:
        
                GIF2IFF.LZH     ! contains the executable and docs.
                
                GIF2IFF_EXAMPLES.LZH ! contains a few good quality GIF pics
                                       and notes on various ways to convert
                                       them using GIF2IFF.
                                       

        These archives can be copied from CGOU01::AMNEW:, you will also
        find the VMS executable there. (GIF2IFF.EXE).
        
        I am also searching around for some more good quality (640 x 480
        256 color gifs) if anyone has some good quality gifs (not the
        usual ones that have been around for the pass few years) please
        let me know.
        
    	/Steve/
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4139.1WHAMMY::SPODARYKScaring the pedestrians...Thu Sep 20 1990 18:2112
Steve, I just read the .doc, and the new features sound really great!

Would you consider adding another feature?  What do you think about a 
-D switch that would take a directory path argument, and then convert
all the *.gif files into *.iff (or whatever format you've specified) files.

If there's no demand for this, I'll continue using my DCL command procedure,
and will probably write one for the Amiga.

Just a thought, can't wait to try out V2.0.

~Steve
4139.2CGOFS::DREWSteve DrewThu Sep 20 1990 19:4016
    
    Thanks for the comments. The directory option is not a bad idea,
    but specific mainly to VMS. Since on the AMIGA and ULTRIX I use the
    'foreach' command to do all the files with a test (if -f $arg) to
    only convert the files not already converted. Ie with my shell on
    the amiga:
    
    	$ foreach i ( *.gif ) "echo starting file $i; gif2iff $i"
    
    I'll see how much work this will be....
    
    /Steve.
    
    
    
    	
4139.3BAGELS::BRANNONDave BrannonThu Sep 20 1990 20:5314
    re:.0
    
    Would you settle for GIFs larger than 640x480?  There are some really
    nice ones showing up in the Mac pd directories.
    
    re:.1,.2
    
    How about a foreach for VMS?  Does one already exist somewhere?
    Even just a simple one that only handles the command mentioned in .2
    
    (I've gotten used to WITH on the amiga, been hoping to find the
    equivalent on VMS, no luch so far)
    
    Dave
4139.4Big Pics are fine too..CGOFS::DREWSteve DrewThu Sep 20 1990 22:0814
    
    re. .-1
    
    Larger gifs are fine. GIF2IFF will handle them and Mostra will scroll 
    them around. DYNA-SHOW has problems with odd size pictures, but I can
    also size them using the PPM utilities under ULTRIX.
    
    Please post or email me a location, I can convert and make them
    available.
    
    thanks.
    
    Steve.
    
4139.5BOMBE::MOOREEat or be eatenThu Sep 20 1990 22:117
    Re: VMS ForEach
    
    There are probably several in the Software Tools Clearinghouse on
    METOO::.  I have one I wrote many years ago, before the F$SEARCH()
    lexical function was available.  I could probably update that and
    make it available if you want...
    
4139.6Remember to have a reasonable STACK SizeCGOFS::DREWSteve DrewFri Sep 21 1990 14:4713
    
    One thing I forgot to mention in the docs, GIF2IFF will run out of
    stack space and "SOFTWARE TASK HELD" if your running with the default
    small stack size of 4000. I recommend 8000 bytes, (ie STACK 8000).
    
    In fact those that have'nt found out the hard way by now, just about
    any moderate size program (anything other than the default cmds in the
    C: directory) require a stack greater than 4k. Through the STACK
    command into your S:CLI-Startup or S:Shell-Startup to get it set each 
    time you open a CLI window.
    
    /Steve/
    
4139.7GIF2IFF Timings with 030's ?CGOFS::DREWSteve DrewFri Sep 21 1990 15:3711
    
    Since I am thinking about picking up an accelartor card (030), I'd be
    real gratefull if a few of you with GVP's, 2620's etc.. could try
    running  "GIF2IFF -s F18.GIF" and let me know the results. This is
    90% compute intensive (ie CPU/Memory). 
    
    Wayne Oakley tried it on his GVP 030 (28MZ) and got exactly 2 times 
    performance increase over my stock 2000. I was actually hoping for
    better, but it maybe that the 32 bit memory is needed for more drastic
    speed increases.
    
4139.8distribution questionCLO::COBURNGrowing older, but not up...Fri Sep 21 1990 18:416
    Steve,
    
    Any objections to posting gif2iff.lzh and _examples.lzh to local user
    group BBS's? 
    
    John
4139.9Sure post it anywhere. CGOFS::DREWSteve DrewFri Sep 21 1990 20:110
4139.10BAGELS::BRANNONDave BrannonMon Sep 24 1990 21:0110
    re:.5  VMS ForEach
    
    Please do, it sounds like you like the one you wrote.  Anybody using
    a ForEach from the Tools Clearinghouse?  
    If so, any comments/recommendations?
    
    re: large pics
      rt95::mac$root:[gif]
    
    Dave
4139.11a few timingsWHAMMY::SPODARYKElvis has just left the building!Wed Sep 26 1990 02:3719
    re: .7 "GIF2IFF Timings..."
    
    FYI:  Some of the timings that I have gotten so far...
    
    > gif2iff -s f18.gif
                    
    1:32	Amiga 2500/20 (A2620 w/5 meg)
     :54	VAXstation 3100 (model 30)
     :37	VAX 6340 
     :34	VAX 8800
     :12	VAX 9000
    
    I know what I'd like to use.  I'd suspect that a '30 w/32 bit memory
    would probably beat the VAXstation 3100.  Your mileage may vary.
    
    GIF2IFF is working great... but I can't seem to generate a decent HAM
    image of the F18.  Everything seems ok.
    
    Steve
4139.12any GVP results, anyone?CGOFS::DREWSteve DrewWed Sep 26 1990 03:3722
    
    > gif2iff -s f18.gif
                    
>    1:32	Amiga 2500/20 (A2620 w/5 meg)
>     :54	VAXstation 3100 (model 30)
>     :37	VAX 6340 
>     :34	VAX 8800
>     :12	VAX 9000
    
      :15       my DECStation 3100. (Guess I don't need a VAX 9000 just yet)
     4:32       my Stock 2000 (3 meg).
    
    thanks for the specs.
      
    Not sure what you mean about the f18 image, maybe that was'nt the best
    picture to demo, the ham image of the f18 is'nt much different than the
    sham.
    
    /Steve/
    
    
    
4139.13CSOA1::COBURNGrowing older but not up...Wed Sep 26 1990 15:3312
    I have a GIF that I can't get gif2iff to convert (I think I have tried
    most of the combinations that made sense) to a viewable IFF. The
    program seems to run to completion but the resulting IFF is just a
    garbage picture (although it seems to be the proper size). 
    
    The GIF is 537x741 256 colors (74 unique) - info retrieved from
    XLoadImage.EXE
    
    Anyone have suggestions of what to try next? Or Steve would you like
    the GIF to play with?
    
    John
4139.14Ham mode Fixed (2.0a)CGOFS::DREWSteve DrewWed Sep 26 1990 16:4614
    
    Sorry, but you guys are right the F18.GIF picture would not convert to
    HAM mode. It's caused by as last minute bug as I was cleaning up V2.0.
    I fixed this and created a new .LZH and GIF2IFF.EXE on CGOU01::AMNEW:
    
    Again, it only affected some HAM pics, F18 being one of them.
    
    If some of you had posted this to BBS's maybe you'd be kind enough
    to repost the fixed version.
    
    Thanks.
    
    /Steve/
     
4139.15CSOA1::COBURNGrowing older but not up...Wed Sep 26 1990 17:505
    
    I'll post the newer version - I haven't had a chance to get on to the
    local users group BBS yet. 
    
    John
4139.16WJG::GUINEAUThu Sep 27 1990 11:2915
    
    > gif2iff -s f18.gif
                    
>    1:32	Amiga 2500/20 (A2620 w/5 meg)
>     :54	VAXstation 3100 (model 30)
>     :37	VAX 6340 
>     :34	VAX 8800
>     :12	VAX 9000
    
>     :15       my DECStation 3100. (Guess I don't need a VAX 9000 just yet)
>    4:32       my Stock 2000 (3 meg).

      :48	Amiga 2500/30 (28mhz Imtronics 68030/882 w/5meg)
      :40	VAXstation 3900 (wjg::)

4139.17A3000 perf.AYOU81::THOMSONAC'mon, git aff! /The Kelty ClippieThu Sep 27 1990 12:124
    
    gif2iff -s f18.gif
    
    0:43	Amiga 3000 25/100 w/12meg
4139.18Pointer to the MIPS version?OZROCK::BATHSay NO to Streamline.Thu Sep 26 1991 00:433
>>      :15       my DECStation 3100. (Guess I don't need a VAX 9000 just yet)

Can you give me a pointer to the ULTRIX MIPS version please?
4139.19okCGOWGS::DREWSteve DrewFri Sep 27 1991 02:065
> Can you give me a pointer to the ULTRIX MIPS version please?

I put a copy into cgou11::~guest/

/Steve/
4139.20Got it, thanks.OZROCK::BATHSay NO to Streamline.Fri Sep 27 1991 02:360
4139.21Can't find the .EXEXSTACY::PATTISONA rolling stone gets the wormMon Sep 30 1991 08:2912
>>    I fixed this and created a new .LZH and GIF2IFF.EXE on CGOU01::AMNEW:

Could someone post a pointer to a VMS version of GIF2IFF.EXE (Version 2a)
please? 

I've only got V2, which occasionally has problems. Although the amiga version
(which works great, but I'd rather download IFFs than GIFS, they are generally
much smaller) IS in the location mentioned above, the .EXE doesn't appear to be.     

thanks, in anticipation
Dave
4139.22it's there nowCGOWGS::DREWSteve DrewMon Sep 30 1991 19:076
Don't know where the .EXE went, anyway I put another copy of it into
CGOU01::AMNEW:GIF2IFF.EXE

regards,
Steve.
4139.23thank youXSTACY::PATTISONA rolling stone gets the wormTue Oct 01 1991 08:338
Thanks, Steve.

I notice that's actually V2.0b - what happened between 2.0a and 2.0b?
I've not had any problems with my Amiga version a, other than running
out of memory occasionally.

Dave