!CFSIbatch V2.01

----------------


This program makes use of !ChangeFSI (which is supplied with every RISC OS

computer) to create or modify Sprites, JPEGs, TIFFs, etc. by the bucket load.

It also uses !InterGIF (supplied).


This program takes foreign graphic files from the INFILES directory and puts

a copy of them into the OUTFILES directory as Sprites, JPEGs or GIFs.


The neat trick is that CFSIbatch processes all of them using ChangeFSI to tailor them via commands (sometimes called 'options') which you supply.

So by altering these commands, you can get CFSIbatch to do the same commands

on all the files.


The other neat trick is that it does all of this without locking you out of

the desktop. So while it is processing hundreds of files, you can get on with

other work.


To use this program you first look inside !CFSIbatch for a file called Settings.

This holds a series of commands that ChangeFSI/InterGIF understands and you'll

have to edit this to make it do what you want.


By default it is set to take all graphic files in the INFILES directory and

place copies of them in the OUTFILES directory to make standard Sprites.


As it comes supplied, it has one PCX files in the INFILES directory. So if

you double click on !CFSIbatch a Sprite file of it will appear in OUTFILES.



The commands...

If you don't know these commands then take a look at a copy of them that are

included with this program in the text files called FSIuse or FSIinfo.

(These files are also included with your own copy of ChangeFSI.)



Basically  you can rotate, invert, flip, sharpen, smooth, brighten, darken,

colour balance, gamma correct, change size of any of the supported graphic

files.


(If you're interested in making GIF files you'll need to read through the

InterGIF text file as well as there are a few InterGIF commands too.


You can also make the files all come out the same width. This is called

'Thumbnail' making.



Some points to note:


!CFSIbatch does not overwrite the original files.


As !CFSIbatch works in the background under RISC OS whilst working it has to

use the '-nomode' ChangeFSI command so you don't have to use it yourself as

!CFSIbatch automatically adds it if you don't.

The same goes for '-nosize' and '-noscale'.


One thing this program can not do itself is this:

It can't automatically create a 16 colour output file as ChangeFSI requires

you to BE in a 16 colour desktop mode.

If you are wanting to create 16 colour sprites you'll have to do switch to a

16 colour screen mode manually before you use !CFSIbatch.


When CFSIbatch is processing it is in fact creating a temporary scrap file in

!Scrap within a directory called CFSIbatch. These are deleted after it is

finished.


If you run CFSIbatch and it creates a file in the OUTFILES directory and then

you run it again. Don't be surprised if you get a 'Cannot rename...' error.

You should really empty the OUTFILES directory yourself before rerunning it.



THE COMMANDS

============

 

I'll now list the various SET commands that allow you to alter the way files

are processed and outputted into the OUTFILES directory.


Set KSconvert_to_GIF TRUE

Basically if TRUE then the final output file is a GIF.


Set KSinterGIFoptions "-216 -diffuse -i"

This allows you to set what kind of GIF if the previous line is true of course.

You are required to read the text file 'intergif' for more options on this.

But basically -216 creates a GIF with the standard 216 fixed colours as used in

a 256 screen mode Windows OS.

-i means create a interlaced GIF.

-diffuse takes the colours from the original file and tries to recreate them as

best it can in the GIF.

These are pretty safe options if you want a decent GIF output for Web use.


Set KScfsiline "S32"

This line can be complex as it tells ChangFSI what to do to each and every

image file in the INFILES directory. See below for more detail on this command.

IF you want to do nothing but produce a Sprite then leave it set to "S32" for

a very high colour Sprite or "28r" for a standard 256 colour sprite.


Set KSthumbs 0

This line allows you to create a thumbnail version of the files in the INFILES

directory.

If you make it greater than zero, then the width of each image will be that

width in pixels.


Set KSdostagout YES

This takes the name of RISC OS filetyped files are forces them into DOS/UNIX

type format. ie a GIF file called FRED, would become 'FRED/GIF'.

Note: it uses the standard RISC OS DOSMAP command to figure out what to do with

each filetype. So if you type in *DOSMAP and it doesn't have your filetype in

it then it doesn't know what to call it.


Set KSstripDOStag YES

This line takes any PC DOS tagged files and renames them in the OUTFILES

directory so they no longer are DOS tagged. ie 'FRED/GIF' becomes 'FRED'





KSCFSILINE examples

===================


Here are some example commands you could try out:



Set KSCFSIline JPEG90 10:7 10:7 -hflip -range

This creates a high quality JPEG with is 30% bigger than the original and

does a horizontal flip and also expands the images dynamic range (improves

the image quality).



Set KSCFSIline JPEG90 -sharpen18

This creates a high quality JPEG and sharpens the image slighty.



Set KSCFSIline JPEG90 -nomode -gamma1.4

This creates a high quality JPEG and increases the gamma of the image so it

appears 'brighter'. Useful if you've gotten an slighty dark image from PC-land

as their default gamma value is lower than a RISC OS image.



Set KSCFSIline S32

This would create a 32bit high quality Sprite file.

Take a bit more disc space and memory though.



Set KSCFSIline S32 -rotate

This would create a 32bit Sprite file but rotated counter-clockwise by 90degs.



Set KSCFSIline S32 -rotate-

This would create a 32bit Sprite file but rotated clockwise by 90degs.



Set KSCFSIline S16

This would create a 16bit Sprite file.

If memory or disc space is tight, try this instead.



Set KSCFSIline 28r

This would create a standard 256 colour Sprite file.

This is the best option if you just want 256 colour Sprites created.



Set KSCFSIline 28d

This would create a standard 256 grey/monochrome Sprite file.



Set KSCFSIline 27d

This would create a 16 colour Sprite file.

Note: your Desktop will need to be in a 16 colour screen mode to use this!


Set KSCFSIline 15r

This would create a 256 colour Sprite file suitable for RISC OS 3.1 machines.



REQUIREMENTS

============

ChangeFSI V1.15 to be booted/seen by the OS.

RISC OS 3.5 or better?

Works on a StrongARM RiscPC running RISC OS 4.02.



FAQ

===


Q:How does one stop CFSIbatch once its started?

A:First pop up the TaskWindow and do a Menu on the Task CFSIbatch and choose

QUIT. Then wait until the current process finishes or Quit via the Taskwindow

once more of the Application Task called ksop(xxxxxxxx) xxxx is the filename

being processed.


Q:Why no nice frontend for me to use?

A:Basically CFSIbatch was designed for use in house and these things take time

to develop. I thought them unnecessary for a free app. Sorry.

  


EXTRA

=====

This version of CFSIbatch uses its own tweaked version of ChangeFSI.

It offers several advantages over the usual ChangeFSI.


1.

This tweaked version of ChangeFSI causes no black border to appear around the small thumbnail sprite.


2.

It uses up only 2MB of RAM instead of 28MB in commandline mode when decoding

progressive JPEGs.


3.

The hourglass of ChangeFSI can be turned off by removing the '|' in the line:

| Set ChangeFSI$Hourglass Off

in the !Run file of !CFSIbatch.  



LICENSE

=======

This software is FREEWARE.

 Stuart Halliday 2001

This software is supplied "as seen"; no warranty, express or implied, of the

merchantability of this software or its fitness for any particular purpose

is given. Under no circumstances shall Quantum Software, the author, or any

provider or distributor of this software, be liable for any damage, loss of

profits or electronic data or any indirect or consequential loss arising out

of the use of this software or for the users inability to use this software

correctly.



QUANTUM SOFTWARE - Stuart Halliday


35 PINEWOOD PARK

LIVINGSTON

EH54 8NN

SCOTLAND


stuart@quantumsoft.co.uk


http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/files/graphicutils/



