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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #1474)
[PCjs Machine "ibm5170"]
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Information about “PICTURETHIS 2 OF 4 (1130, 2301, 2302)”
Quickly and easily prepare professional-looking drawings for printing
on PostScript-compatible laser printers and imagesetters with
PICTURETHIS. Do them either freehand or by tracing ``template''
screens captured with a companion program, CAPTURETHIS.
Use PICTURETHIS even if you don't know how to program in the
PostScript page description language. View a screen representation of
your drawing as you prepare it, easily making additions and
alterations. Print PICTURETHIS drawings at lower resolution on some
dot-matrix printers, using the graphics screen dump program supplied
with DOS.
PICTURETHIS doesn't need a lot of fancy hardware -- just an IBM PC, XT,
AT, or compatible. It doesn't even require direct access to a laser
printer. Drawing files can be sent by mail or modem to a laser
typesetting service bureau for overnight return of low-cost prints with
300, 1270, or even 2540 dots-per-inch resolution.
FILE1474.TXT
Disk No: 1474
Disk Title: PictureThis 2 of 4 (1130, 2301, 2302)
PC-SIG Version: S3.01
Program Title: PictureThis
Author Version: 3.00A
Author Registration: $65.00
Special Requirements: 320K RAM, CGA, and PostScript or compatible printe
With PICTURETHIS, you can quickly and easily prepare
professional-looking drawings for printing on PostScript-compatible
laser printers and imagesetters. You can do them either freehand or by
tracing ``template'' screens captured with a companion program,
CAPTURETHIS. PICTURETHIS doesn't need a lot of fancy hardware -- just
an IBM PC, XT, AT, or compatible. You don't even need direct access to
a laser printer. Your drawing files can be sent by mail or modem to a
laser typesetting service bureau for overnight return of low-cost
prints with 300, 1270, or even 2540 dots-per-inch resolution. You can
print PICTURETHIS drawings at lower resolution on some dot matrix
printers, using the graphics screen dump program supplied with DOS.
You don't have to know how to program in the PostScript page description
language to use PICTURETHIS. You view a screen representation of your
drawing as you prepare it, so additions and alterations can be made
easily.
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< PC-SIG Disk #1474 PICTURETHIS (also #1130, #2301, #2302) >>>> ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ To print beginning documentation and installation instructions, insert ║
║ Disk #1130 and type: COPY READTHIS.1ST PRN (press Enter) ║
║ ║
║ To print further documentation, disks #1474, #2301, and #2302 ║
║ (refer to READTHIS.1ST file), type: COPY [filename].TXT PRN (Enter) ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ Copyright 1990, PC-SIG, Inc. ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KEYS.TXT
PICTURETHIS(TM) "SHAREWARE" VERSION
RELEASE 3.00
MAY 15, 1990
SPECIAL KEYS
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990 by Patricia Y. Williams and
Gregory Williams, All Rights Reserved.
HortIdeas Publishing, Route 1, Box 302, Black Lick Road,
Gravel Switch, KY 40328 U.S.A.
Trademarks/Owners: PictureThis/Patricia Y. Williams and
Gregory Williams; PostScript/Adobe Systems Inc.
NOTE: Carefully read all of the terms and conditions of the
License Agreement (near the beginning of the READTHIS.1ST
file on distribution disk #1) PRIOR to using the
PictureThis and/or CaptureThis programs. USE OF THE
PROGRAM(S) INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS.
Some keys mentioned below have different names (or no names
at all) on certain keyboards.
In general, a key has the same effect whether or not Shift
is pressed simultaneously, and whether CapsLock is
toggled on or off. Exceptions to this are Del on the
Numeric Keypad and the number keys on the numeric keypad
and the main keyboard, which have different effects
depending on whether NumLock is toggled on or off and/or
whether Shift (or, in some cases, Ctrl) is pressed (see
below).
A beep means that an invalid key has been pressed (unless
the computer's speaker has been toggled off with H).
Alphanumeric keys are used to specify file names and to
respond to menu prompts; press BackSpace (repeatedly if
necessary) and retype to correct; press Enter to complete
a response (no Enter is needed for responses to menu
prompts).
Some prompts require a (Y/N) response. In these cases,
pressing Y or y means yes, and pressing any other key
means no.
Some prompts require a (Y/N/ESC) response. In these cases,
pressing Y or y means yes, pressing Esc cancels the
current operation and usually "backs out" to previous
operation, and pressing any other key means no.
? = access contextual help screen
Esc = cancel current operation and (in most cases) "back out"
2
to the previous operation (will access prompt for
exiting from PictureThis if pressed enough times);
when Quickshow screen is being drawn, stops drawing
F1 = set endpoint at current cursor location; special uses
during transformations of objects and in some other
situations
F2 = move cursor from one control point to other control
point of curve being drawn (after both of its
endpoints have been set); if drawing oval or square,
move cursor to other guideline; special uses during
transformations of objects
F3 = set curve (after its endpoints and control points
have been set); special uses during transformation of
objects and in some other situations
F4 = access curve modification menu (erase, change, or alter
line parameters)
F5 = begin curve cutting
F6 = access trail menu (define, erase, alter line
parameters, alter fill, or copy object to endpoints)
F7 = access object menu (group, ungroup, erase, layer, move,
copy, scale, rotate, flip, incline, or alter global
parameters)
F8 = access text menu (edit, set parameters, delete text
block, cut text block back to editor, set margin,
or choose margin with + or - or Space)
F9 = access miscellaneous menu (set palette, move template,
scale drawing, set grid, set aspect ratio, set
flatness, set units, or set cursor movement
increments)
F10 = access file operations menu (get drawing file, save
drawing file, import clip art file, export clip art
file, read template file, write encapsulated
PostScript file, shell to DOS, or use data from file
for plotting)
1,2,3,4,6,7,8, or 9 on numeric keypad = (with NumLock
toggled off and
Shift not
pressed) move
cursor in
direction of that
key from 5 key
Ins on numeric keypad = toggle cursor movement increment
between low cursor speed and high
cursor speed
Del on Numeric Keypad = move cursor to nearby endpoint and
"dash" curve(s) having that
3
endpoint; then, to move to other
endpoints, press Space (or +
or -); press Enter to leave
cursor at endpoint
Ctrl + Home = move cursor to upper left corner of frame
Ctrl + End = move cursor to lower left corner of frame
Ctrl + PgUp = move cursor to upper right corner of frame
Ctrl + PgDn = move cursor to lower right corner of frame
Shift + Del on numeric keypad = move cursor to nearby noted
point; then, to move to
other noted points, press
Space (or + or -); press
Enter to leave cursor at
noted point
0 = access prompt to erase all noted points
Shift + 1,2,3,4,6,7,8, or 9 on numeric keypad = (or with
NumLock
toggled on)
scroll
screen in
direction
of that key
from 5
key
Shift + 5 on numeric keypad = (or with NumLock toggled)
center frame on screen
+ on numeric keypad = scale screen up (magnify)
- on numeric keypad = scale screen down (demagnify)
Ctrl + T = move cursor vertically to position on or on
extension of top border of current margin
Ctrl + B = move cursor vertically to position on or on
extension of bottom border of current margin
Ctrl + L = move cursor horizontally to position on or on
extension of left border of current margin
Ctrl + R = move cursor horizontally to position on or on
extension of right border of current margin
Tab = move cursor to nearby text block beginning; then, to
move to other text block beginnings, press Space
(or + or -)
Shift + Tab = move cursor to nearby text block end; then, to
move to other text block ends, press
Space (or + or -)
4
A = toggle [A]utomatic smoothing on and off
B = begin drawing [B]ox; with Quickshow screen on, change
background color
C = access prompt to [C]lear current drawing; in Kartoons
mode, access prompt to [C]lear and quit Kartoons
D = re[D]raw current drawing
E = toggle guidelines on and off ([E]rase them)
F = begin [F]rame change
G = toggle [G]rid snap-to on and off
H = toggle error messages/prompts and speaker on ([H]ear it)
and off
I = toggle cursor movement [I]ncrements between external and
internal units
J = [J]abber toggle between screen font text characters and
"greeked" representation of text on screen
K = prompt to enter [K]artoons mode (if no current drawing,
enter [K]artoons mode without prompt); in Kartoons
mode, [K]hoose face block
L = access [L]ine change menu (takes effect for subsequently
drawn lines)
M = [M]easure distance
N = [N]ote/unnote point at current cursor location
O = begin [O]val (circle or ellipse)
P = toggle [P]osition box and relative position box on and off
Q = show [Q]uickshow screen
R = toggle drawing on ([R]estore) and off ([R]emove)
S = begin [S]moothing operations; if drawing box, begin
[S]quare
T = toggle [T]emplate on and off
U = with Viewscreen on, toggle memory [U]sed information box
on and off; in Kartoons mode, [U]se face part
V = show [V]iewscreen
W = toggle status box on and off (to show [W]hat's
happening: current states of automatic smoothing
toggle, guideline erase toggle, and error
message/speaker toggle; current operation;
external units/internal units/grid snap-to indicator;
5
cursor speed; current units)
X = center screen on cursor ([X])
Y = in Kartoons mode, [Y]es save face part in file
Z = [Z]ero screen (center frame and cursor on screen)
ORDER.TXT
PICTURETHIS(TM) ORDER FORM
TO: HortIdeas Publishing
Route 1, Box 302
Gravel Switch, KY 40328
U.S.A.
PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING:
____ Copies of the distribution disk set for Release 3.0 of
the REGISTERED VERSION of PictureThis (with phone
and/or mail support). Enclosed is $65.00 per copy. I
understand that for each disk set I am ordering, I am
purchasing a non-exclusive license to use the programs
and documentation on the distribution disk set on one
computer at a time.
____ Copies of the distribution disk set for the most recent
Release of the "SHAREWARE" VERSION of PictureThis
(with NO support). Enclosed is $15.00 per copy. I
understand that for each disk set I am ordering, I am
purchasing a non-exclusive license for PRIVATE
NONCOMMERCIAL use of the programs and documentation on
the distribution disk set, and a non-exclusive license
to distribute UNALTERED copies of the distribution
disk set (provided that I charge no more than $15.00
per set).
____ Information on availability and pricing of future
releases of PictureThis subsequent to Release 3.0.
(REGISTERED VERSION users will receive this
information automatically.)
ALL DISTRIBUTION DISKS ARE 5.25" DSDD WITH 360KB DOS FORMAT.
FREE FIRST-CLASS POSTAGE AND HANDLING IN NORTH AMERICA.
OVERSEAS, PLEASE ADD $5.00 PER ORDER. U.S. FUNDS ONLY.
SORRY, NO CREDIT CARD ORDERS.
_ _
TOTAL ENCLOSED: _______________ |_| CHECK |_| MONEY ORDER
NAME ________________________________________________________
COMPANY _____________________________________________________
ADDRESS _____________________________________________________
CITY/STATE OR PROVINCE ______________________________________
POSTAL CODE/COUNTRY _________________________________________
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE "SHAREWARE" MARKETING CONCEPT!!!
PTMOUSE.TXT
PICTURETHIS(TM) "SHAREWARE" VERSION
RELEASE 3.00
MAY 15, 1990
USING A MOUSE WITH PICTURETHIS
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990 by Patricia Y. Williams and
Gregory Williams, All Rights Reserved.
HortIdeas Publishing, Route 1, Box 302, Black Lick Road,
Gravel Switch, KY 40328, U.S.A.
Trademarks/Owners: CaptureThis and PictureThis/Patricia Y.
Williams and Gregory Williams; Logitech/Logitech, Inc.;
Microsoft/Microsoft Corp.
We find that cursor control is more precise with keyboard
input than with a mouse, mainly because we can count key
presses. Nevertheless, you can use a mouse with PictureThis
if you want.
Included on one of the PictureThis distribution disks are
two text files for defining Logitech mouse functions:
PTLOGI3B.DEF and PTLOGI2B.DEF. If you have a recent-vintage
Logitech mouse, you also should have Logitech Plus software,
including two files called NEWMENU.EXE and MENU.COM. Refer to
your Logitech Mouse User's Manual for instructions on how to
create a menu file from PTLOGI3B.DEF or PTLOGI2B.DEF (perhaps
modified by you) by using NEWMENU.EXE, and on how to load the
menu file by using MENU.COM. Also included on a PictureThis
distribution disk are the menu files corresponding to each
definition file: PTLOGI3B.MNU and PTLOGI2B.MNU; either menu
file can be loaded (provided you have already loaded your
mouse driver) by using MENU.COM.
What's the difference between PTLOGI3B.* and PTLOGI2B.*?
The former is for a three-button mouse, and the latter is for
a two-button mouse, although both can be used with a three-
button Logitech mouse. With very little effort, you should be
able to use the PTLOGI2B.DEF file to make a menu file for a
Microsoft mouse or a mouse which emulates either the Logitech
or the Microsoft mouse -- for more details, consult your
mouse manual.
Both PTLOGI3B.* and PTLOGI2B.* translate horizontal mouse
movements into horizontal cursor movements, and vertical
mouse movements into vertical cursor movements.
PTLOGI3B.* translates a press of the LEFT mouse key into
function key F1 (set endpoint), a press of the MIDDLE mouse
key into function key F2 (change control point), a press of
the RIGHT mouse key into function key F3 (set curve), and a
simultaneous press of ANY TWO OR ALL THREE mouse keys into
ESC (back out of the current operation).
PTLOGI2B.* translates a press of the LEFT mouse key into
function key F1 (set endpoint), a press of the RIGHT mouse
key into function key F2 (change control point), and (on a
two-button mouse) a simultaneous press of BOTH mouse keys
into function key F3 (set curve) or (on a three-button mouse)
a press of the MIDDLE mouse key into function key F3 (set
curve).
QUICK.TXT
PICTURETHIS (TM) "SHAREWARE" VERSION
RELEASE 3.00
MAY 15, 1990
QUICK START GUIDE
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990 by Patricia Y. Williams and
Gregory Williams, All Rights Reserved.
HortIdeas Publishing, Route 1, Box 302, Black Lick Road,
Gravel Switch, KY 40328 U.S.A.
Trademarks/Owners: CaptureThis and PictureThis/Patricia Y.
Williams and Gregory Williams; Hercules/Hercules Computer
Technology, Inc.; IBM and PC-DOS, International Business
Machines Corp.; MS-DOS, Microsoft Corp.; PostScript/Adobe
Systems Inc.; The Newsroom Pro/Springboard Software, Inc.
NOTE: Carefully read all of the terms and conditions of the
License Agreement (near the beginning of the READTHIS.1ST
file on distribution disk #1) PRIOR to using the
PictureThis and/or CaptureThis programs. USE OF THE
PROGRAM(S) INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS.
INTRODUCTION
This guide provides a very brief overview of PictureThis
(and CaptureThis) -- just enough information to enable you to
begin exploring the program on your own. For more details,
see the user manual and/or the tutorial.
In a nutshell, here's how you'll be using PictureThis:
While viewing their on-screen representations, you prepare
drawings consisting of curves, specifying each curve by the
locations of its endpoints and by the locations of "control
points" which determine its shape. You can fill (gray-shade)
areas bounded by curves, and you can manipulate groups of
curves ("objects") to generate complex drawings. PictureThis
produces files written in the PostScript page description
language; these files contain all of the information about
your drawings needed by PostScript-compatible laser printers
and imagesetters to generate high quality prints. While
PostScript files are thus the "ultimate products" of
PictureThis, several other kinds of files are involved in the
production process, including template files, drawing files,
clip art files, data files for two-dimensional plotting, and
font files of various types. CGA (medium- or high-resolution)
graphics screens can be captured in template files by using
the CaptureThis (or Alternate CaptureThis) program provided
with PictureThis; the template files can then be imported
into PictureThis to provide background screens for tracing.
Drawing files are used to store and retrieve information
about your drawings in a format usable by PictureThis (which
can't read PostScript); you can save a drawing-in-progress in
a drawing file for later recall. Clip art files are used to
2
save parts of drawings for later use in other drawings.
If your computer has a Hercules-compatible monochrome
graphics board, you can run PictureThis and CaptureThis ONLY
WITH SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE CGA GRAPHICS EMULATION. Several CGA
graphics emulation programs are currently available (some
marketed as "shareware"), and some monochrome graphics boards
include built-in CGA graphics emulation. EGA and VGA boards
emulate CGA graphics to various degrees; see the PictureThis
user manual for more information if you have any problems
with such boards when running PictureThis or CaptureThis.
SEVEN STEPS TO EXPLORING PictureThis
1. The files REQUIRED to run PictureThis are the following:
PICTHIS3.EXE (the PictureThis program)
PTS3T.OVR (a data file needed by PictureThis; must be in
the current directory)
PTS3D.OVR (another data file needed by PictureThis; must be
in the current directory)
and, if you want to use text features,
PT3EDIT.HLP (a help file)
PT3FONT.HLP (another help file)
FONTNNNN.* (font information files, with NNNN = a number
between 1 and 9999 and * = FIN, FNM, or FKN)
STANDARD.SFT, SYMBOL.SFT, and ZAPFDB.SFT (screen font
files)
and, OPTIONALLY,
CAPTHIS.COM (the CaptureThis program; needed only if you
want to capture CGA graphics mode screens for use as
templates in PictureThis)
or
ACAPTHIS.COM (an alternate version of the CaptureThis
program which requires no keyboard input to capture CGA
graphics mode screens; useful for some computers with
compatibility problems and with some applications
programs which "take over" the keyboard)
You might also like to use some of the sample PictureThis
files: *.DRW, *.TMP, and *.CLP.
2. For reference, print out a copy of the file listing the
special keys used in PictureThis (KEYS.TXT).
3. (OPTIONAL; if you DON'T want to capture CGA graphics mode
screens for use as templates in PictureThis, skip this step
and go to step 5.)
To install the memory-resident CaptureThis program, at the
3
operating system prompt (i.e., "A>") corresponding to the
drive containing the disk with CAPTHIS.COM, key in "CAPTHIS"
and then press Enter. A message noting that CaptureThis has
been installed should appear, and the DOS prompt should
return.
Any time after CaptureThis has been installed, the current
graphics mode screen (medium- or high-resolution CGA) from
most applications programs can be saved to a file by pressing
Shift PrtSc. After these keys are pressed, CaptureThis checks
your computer's BIOS to determine the current video mode; if,
according to the BIOS, the mode is CGA text, NOT CGA
graphics, then a warning message appears at the top of the
screen: "NOT CGA GRAPHICS! Try Capture? (Y/N)"/"ESC to exit."
NO message appears and a normal screen dump to a printer is
attempted if the video mode is NOT CGA text or CGA graphics.
Caution: if a printer is not connected, or if it is turned
off, your computer might hang up. For a graphics mode screen
dump, you must have installed a memory-resident graphics
printer driver program appropriate for the graphics mode
(such as GRAPHICS.COM, supplied with PC-DOS for dumps of CGA
graphics screens to IBM-compatible dot matrix printers) PRIOR
to installing CAPTHIS.COM.
Occasionally, an applications program will program the video
controller chip directly for CGA graphics, but fail to update
the BIOS; if the screen looks like CGA graphics even though
CaptureThis has determined (from the BIOS) that it SEEMS to
be CGA text (so that the warning message appears), you can
still try to capture the screen in a template file for
importing into PictureThis by pressing Y. Then respond to the
prompts which follow. We recommend that you use the extension
".TMP" for template files. If the captured screen isn't CGA
graphics, its file produces "garbage" when imported into
PictureThis.
Or, if you want a screen dump to a printer, press N.
Caution: If a printer is not connected, or if it is turned
off, your computer might hang up. For a graphics mode screen
dump, you must have installed an appropriate memory-resident
graphics printer driver program PRIOR to installing
CaptureThis.
Alternatively, to proceed without capturing or dumping the
screen, press Esc. If, according to the BIOS, the current
video mode IS CGA graphics, a different message appears:
"Perform Screen Capture? (Y/N)"/"ESC to exit." To capture the
screen in a template file for importing into PictureThis,
press Y. Then respond to the prompts which follow. Directory
specifications can be used for files. Again, we recommend
that you use the extension ".TMP" for template files.
Or, if you want a normal screen dump to a printer, press N.
Caution: If your printer is not connected, or if it is turned
off, the computer may hang up. For a CGA graphics screen
dump, you must have installed a memory-resident graphics
printer driver program appropriate for the graphics mode
PRIOR to installing CaptureThis.
Alternatively, to proceed without capturing or dumping the
screen, press Esc.
Directory specifications can be used when keying in file
names. Each template file takes about 16 KB.
If CaptureThis doesn't work correctly with your computer
(an example is the Zenith Z-100 running ZPC) or with
4
particular programs (examples are those which "take over"
the keyboard), you should try the Alternate CaptureThis
program instead. Once installed, this program doesn't require
any keyboard input other than Shift PrtSc to capture CGA
graphics mode screens, and thus will work even with programs
that "take over" the keyboard (unless they take over the
Print Screen interrupt; to date, we've found only one program
that does this: The Newsroom Pro).
To install Alternate CaptureThis, at the DOS prompt
corresponding to the drive containing the disk with
ACAPTHIS.COM, key in "ACAPTHIS" and then press Enter. A
message noting that Alternate CaptureThis has been installed
should appear, and the DOS prompt should return. Any time
after Alternate CaptureThis has been installed, you can
capture a medium- or high-resolution CGA graphics screen by
pressing Shift PrtSc.
If Alternate CaptureThis determines (from your computer's
BIOS) that the current video mode is NOT CGA graphics, it
performs a normal screen dump to a printer. Caution: If a
printer is not connected, or if it is turned off, your
computer might hang up. For a graphics screen dump, you must
have installed a memory-resident graphics printer driver
program appropriate for the non-CGA graphics mode PRIOR to
installing Alternate CaptureThis.
If, according to the BIOS, the current video mode IS CGA
graphics, Alternate CaptureThis captures the screen in a file
named "A0.TMP" (in the current directory). Subsequently
captured screens are saved in files having the following
sequence of names:
A1.TMP, ..., A9.TMP, B0.TMP, ..., B9.TMP, ..., C0.TMP, ...
Caution: Each time ACAPTHIS is installed, it saves screens in
files (beginning with A0.TMP) WRITING OVER ANY EXISTING FILES
IN THE CURRENT DIRECTORY WITH THE SAME NAMES WITHOUT WARNING
-- so after saving a series of files with ACAPTHIS, you
should rename them before installing ACAPTHIS again, to guard
against overwriting, and to provide more descriptive names.
4. To run PictureThis, make sure that PTS3T.OVR and PTS3D.OVR
are both in the current directory. At the DOS prompt
corresponding to the drive containing the disk with
PICTHIS3.EXE, key in "PICTHIS3" and then press Enter. If you
have a Hercules-compatible video card with software or
hardware emulation of CGA, pressing Tab immediately following
Enter might prevent your computer from hanging up (see the
user manual for more information). The title screen should
appear for a few seconds, allowing you to get a preview of
PictureThis in action. Then a copyright/ordering information
screen should appear. Please read it! After fifteen seconds,
you can press any key to continue. When you press a key, a
blank screen with a border and an X-shaped cursor at its
center should appear.
Contextual help screens showing currently valid keys can be
accessed by pressing ?.
If you hear a beep, it means that you just pressed an
invalid key.
You might find it helpful at first to toggle on special
error messages and prompts; do this by TWICE pressing H.
5
Now the fun begins! To draw a curve, you define its (two)
endpoint locations, and then you define the locations of its
"control points" (again, two of them, one associated with
each endpoint) to shape the curve as you wish. The basic
drawing sequence is given below:
Move cursor to desired location for curve's first endpoint,
using any of the numeric keypad keys 1 through 4 and 6
through 9 (NumLock must be toggled off). The cursor
movement increment (its "speed") can be toggled between 1
and 10 pixels with the Ins key.
Press F1 to define location of curve's first endpoint.
Move cursor to desired location of curve's second endpoint.
Press F1 to define location of curve's second endpoint.
Move cursor to move control point associated with second
endpoint (which is initially at second endpoint's
location), thus altering shape of curve.
Press F2 to switch cursor to control point associated with
first endpoint (which is initially at first endpoint's
location position).
Move cursor to move control point associated with first
endpoint, thus altering shape of curve.
Press F2 to switch cursor to other control point.
Repeat steps for switching between and moving control
points until curve's shape is as desired.
Press F3 to define curve. Note that the cursor moves to the
curve's second endpoint, to facilitate drawing of
successive connected curves.
To define a straight line, simply move to where you want
one of its endpoints, press F1, then move to where you want
its other endpoint and press F3.
As you can see from the list of special keys used in
PictureThis (KEYS.TXT), you can draw boxes and ovals, alter
previously drawn curves, work at different scales, move the
cursor directly to a previously defined endpoint, draw
connecting curves "smoothly" (tangent at their shared
endpoint), etc., etc. You can even "cut" a previously drawn
curve into two curves, thus obtaining a new "middle" endpoint
which can be used as an endpoint for subsequently drawn
curves. You also can fill groups of curves, combine groups of
curves into "objects" and manipulate these objects in various
ways (scaling, moving, copying, rotating, etc.), change the
line thickness and gray shading of curves, work in different
units or on a grid, view an on-screen representation of the
PostScript output, etc. And, of course, there is text --
which can manipulated in endless ways, yet remains editable!
The possibilities are described in detail in the user manual,
but we invite you to EXPERIMENT now by pressing various keys
to see what they do. You can't hurt anything by pressing an
6
invalid key -- usually, you'll just hear a BEEP and nothing
else will happen. If you toggled on special error messages,
sometimes one of these messages will appear along with a
BEEP. And you usually can access a help screen showing
currently valid keys (by pressing ?). Learning via trial and
error can be very effective, but if you aren't that
adventurous, the tutorial (TUTOR1.TXT and TUTOR2.TXT) offers
a more structured approach to PictureThis.
5. To import a template file into PictureThis for tracing,
press F10. In response to the menu box which then appears,
press R. And in response to the prompt for a file name,
press Enter. A directory listing with all of the *.TMP files
in the current directory appears. Highlight the one you want
by using the cursor keys, then press Enter.
You can use a template file you created previously with
CaptureThis or Alternate CaptureThis, or you can use a sample
template file from one of the distribution disks. Importing a
template file automatically replaces any previously imported
template.
Similarly, you can access the same menu with F10 to save
and recall PictureThis-format drawing files, to save and
recall clip art files, and to save "encapsulated" PostScript
files for delivery to laser printers and imagesetters. We
suggest that you use ".DRW," ".CLP," and ".EPS" as extensions
for drawing files, clip art files, and encapsulated
PostScript drawing files, respectively. Samples of all of
these kinds of files (with the suggested extensions) are
provided on the distribution disks.
6. You'll need to work out your own methods for delivering
encapsulated PostScript files produced by PictureThis to
"desktop publishing" page layout programs and laser printers
or imagesetters -- parallel and serial direct connections,
indirect modem uploading, sending disks -- the number of
possibilities is enormous! Consult software and laser printer
user manuals and dealers, typesetting service bureau staff,
and media reports for the latest, least expensive techniques.
7. Use the Esc key to "back out of" an operation. Press the
Esc key enough times, no matter where you are in the
program, and you'll see the prompt to exit from PictureThis.
If you have questions or problems, you should consult the
user manual. We hope that you find working with PictureThis
both productive and enjoyable. Your comments -- and artwork
samples -- are always welcome!
RSDIFF.TXT
PICTURETHIS(TM) "SHAREWARE" VERSION
RELEASE 3.00
MAY 15, 1990
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGISTERED AND "SHAREWARE" VERSIONS
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990 by Patricia Y. Williams and
Gregory Williams, All Rights Reserved.
HortIdeas Publishing, Route 1, Box 302, Black Lick Road,
Gravel Switch, KY 40328 U.S.A.
Trademarks/Owners: CaptureThis and PictureThis/Patricia Y.
Williams and Gregory Williams; IBM and PC-DOS,
International Business Machines Corp.; Hercules/Hercules
Computer Technology, Inc.; MS-DOS, Microsoft Corp.;
PostScript/Adobe Systems Inc.; typeface names/their
respective owners
NOTE: Carefully read all of the terms and conditions of the
License Agreement (near the beginning of the READTHIS.1ST
file on distribution disk #1) PRIOR to using the
PictureThis and/or CaptureThis programs. USE OF THE
PROGRAM(S) INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS.
There are ONLY four differences (besides the names of the
programs and their data files) between the Registered and
"Shareware" Versions of the PictureThis program which are of
consequence to users, and the CaptureThis and Alternate
CaptureThis programs are IDENTICAL for both Versions. This
means that TEMPLATE FILES CAN BE USED WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS
WITH BOTH THE "SHAREWARE" AND REGISTERED VERSIONS. DRAWING
FILES MADE WITH THE "SHAREWARE" VERSION WILL WORK WITH THE
REGISTERED VERSION, BUT SOME (LARGE) DRAWING FILES MADE WITH
THE REGISTERED VERSION WILL NOT WORK AT ALL WITH THE
"SHAREWARE" VERSION.
DIFFERENCE 1: OPTIONAL BYPASSING OF INITIAL SCREENS
Registered Version users have the option of bypassing the
initial (title and copyright/ordering information) screens
when loading PictureThis. Bypassing the screens not only
saves time, but also disk space: if you're sure you'll be
bypassing the screens every time you load the program, you
DON'T need to keep the PTR3D.OVR and PTR3T.OVR files (which
contain data for the initial screens) in the current
directory. (If you try to run PictureThis WITHOUT bypassing
the initial screens and with the data files missing from the
current directory, you'll see an error message, and the
program won't load.)
To load PTR3.EXE and bypass the initial screens, at the DOS
prompt corresponding to the drive containing the disk with
that file, key in "PTR3" and press Enter. Then, if you have a
Hercules-compatible monochrome graphics card with software or
2
hardware CGA emulation, you might need to press Tab
immediately to prevent lock-up of your computer (see the user
manual for more details). It won't hurt to press Tab if
you're not sure about your graphics card; the result is just
a slight slowdown of text-mode screen writing. Whether or not
you pressed Tab, next press Esc. If you press Esc too late,
you'll see one or both of the initial screens (assuming that
their data files are in the current directory). Pressing Esc
while the title screen is displayed causes the
copyright/ordering information screen to be bypassed;
pressing any key other than Esc (or Tab, prior to Esc) before
or while the title screen is displayed causes
copyright/ordering information screen to go away as soon as
it is fully displayed. Pressing any key while the
copyright/ordering information screen is displayed causes
that screen to go away as soon as it is fully displayed.
DIFFERENCE 2: CONFIGURING MEMORY FOR MORE CURVES PER DRAWING
You can configure the Registered Version of PictureThis to
allow more curves, endpoints, and objects per drawing than
allowed by the "Shareware" Version. Both Versions have user-
settable configurations for pixel memory. Each configuration
number (1 to 5) indicates approximately how much of the
screen can be covered with curves and/or text: 1 indicates
that about 1/6 of the screen can be covered, 2 indicates that
about 2/6 (or 1/3) of the screen can be covered, etc. Letters
A to H are used to indicate how many curves, endpoints, and
objects may be drawn; the default configuration for both
Versions is 3A. The "Shareware" Version can be configured
with 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, or 5A; the Registered Version can be
configured with 1 to 5 AND A to H. H allows up to 2000 curves
per drawing, whereas A allows only 250 curves per drawing.
Consult the user manual for additional information.
Which memory configurations are possible for you depends on
how much total memory your computer has, minus how much
memory is needed by DOS and by memory-resident programs you
have installed -- in other words, how much free memory is
available. You can determine both total and free memory by
running the DOS "CHKDSK" program (see your operating system
manual for details). You can run any configuration of
PictureThis which needs LESS than the amount of free memory
available. PictureThis also requires some additional free
memory while running; in particular, text operations can
require substantial memory able to be allocated AFTER the
program has loaded.
To run PTR3.EXE, at the DOS prompt corresponding to the
drive containing the disk with PTR3.EXE, key in "PTR3" and
then press Enter (possibly followed by Tab; followed by Esc
if you want to bypass the initial screens).
At start-up, the program looks for a configuration file,
PICTHIS.CFG, in the current directory. If it finds such a
file, then it uses the configuration specified by that file.
If it fails to find such a file, or if there is an error
reading the file, then the default memory configuration (3A)
is used.
Where does the configuration file come from? To run
PTR3.EXE with other than the default memory configuration, at
the DOS prompt corresponding to the drive containing the disk
3
with PTR3.EXE, key in "PTR3 XX" (where "XX" is the
designation for the desired configuration, such as "3A" or
"5B"); then press Enter (possibly followed by Tab; followed
by Esc if you want to bypass the screens). When the program
loads, it creates PICTHIS.CFG, a very small file containing
the configuration designation just keyed in and the saved
aspect ratio. (If PICTHIS.CFG cannot be created, because of a
bad, full, or write-protected disk, an error message will
appear. After you press a key to make the message go away,
PTR3.EXE will continue loading.)
Thus, when there is a PICTHIS.CFG file in the current
directory (containing a configuration designation specified
when PTR3.EXE was previously loaded), you can subsequently
run PictureThis with that configuration simply by keying in
"PTR3" and then pressing Enter (possibly followed by Tab;
followed by Esc if you want to bypass the screens)
DIFFERENCE 3: SUPPORT FOR ALL POSTSCRIPT FONTS WITH AFM FILES
The PostScript fonts which the "Shareware" Version of
PictureThis can use are limited to the Times family, Symbol,
and Zapf Dingbats. The Registered Version includes a utility
program to make PictureThis-usable font information files
from any PostScript font's AFM (Adobe Font Metrics) file (on-
disk). Included on the distribution disk are ready-made font
information files for the 35 fonts most often resident in
PostScript printers, so you don't need their AFM files (which
AREN'T included with the printers, although they are
available on disk direct from Adobe Systems Inc.). Any
downloadable fonts you use should come complete with AFM
files -- if they don't, complain to the vendor! If you are
using downloadable fonts at a service bureau, the bureau
should give you on-disk copies of the AFM files for those
fonts. In other words, the Registered Version of PictureThis
should work with virtually all PostScript fonts.
DIFFERENCE 4: PHONE AND/OR MAIL SUPPORT FOR USERS
Users of the Registered Version of PictureThis can call or
write AT THEIR EXPENSE for prompt assistance. We CANNOT
accept collect phone calls or postage due letters.
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #1474
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
MODFONT EXE 39618 4-30-90 10:36a
PTMOUSE TXT 3211 5-16-90 9:34a
PTLOGI3B DEF 638 3-01-90 12:00p
PTLOGI3B MNU 78 3-01-90 12:00p
PTLOGI2B DEF 575 3-01-90 12:00p
PTLOGI2B MNU 62 3-01-90 12:00p
QUICK TXT 19336 5-16-90 9:21a
RSDIFF TXT 9352 5-19-90 7:58a
KEYS TXT 10585 5-16-90 9:13a
ORDER TXT 2396 5-19-90 7:59a
PT3FONT HLP 1303 5-16-90 10:53a
PT3EDIT HLP 1636 4-23-90 6:42a
GO BAT 40 1-01-80 6:00a
FILE1474 TXT 2295 9-19-90 9:14a
GO TXT 1002 1-01-80 12:46a
FONTS <DIR>
KARTOON <DIR>
17 file(s) 92127 bytes
Directory of A:\FONTS
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
FONT111 FIN 753 4-07-90 8:17p
FONT111 FNM 12 4-07-90 8:17p
FONT81 FIN 753 4-07-90 8:05p
FONT81 FNM 6 4-07-90 8:05p
FONT91 FIN 753 4-07-90 8:07p
FONT91 FKN 454 4-07-90 8:07p
FONT91 FNM 11 4-07-90 8:07p
FONT92 FIN 753 4-07-90 8:08p
FONT92 FKN 450 4-07-90 8:08p
FONT92 FNM 12 4-07-90 8:08p
FONT93 FIN 753 4-07-90 8:10p
FONT93 FKN 470 4-07-90 8:10p
FONT93 FNM 10 4-07-90 8:10p
FONT94 FIN 753 4-07-90 8:14p
FONT94 FKN 434 4-07-90 8:14p
FONT94 FNM 16 4-07-90 8:14p
STANDARD SFT 5310 2-20-90 11:17a
SYMBOL SFT 6718 2-23-90 12:54p
ZAPFDB SFT 21098 2-25-90 6:33p
21 file(s) 39519 bytes
Directory of A:\KARTOON
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
!CHIN 1 300 1-01-80 1:55a
!CHIN 2 242 1-01-80 2:04a
!CHIN 3 978 1-01-80 2:05a
!CHIN 4 1736 1-01-80 12:56a
!CHIN 5 376 1-01-80 12:22a
!CHIN 6 330 1-01-80 12:41a
!CHIN 7 324 5-04-90 8:41p
!FOREHD 1 44 1-01-80 1:52a
!FOREHD 2 140 1-01-80 2:07a
!FOREHD 3 116 4-01-90 4:07p
!FOREHD 4 170 1-01-80 12:51a
!FOREHD 5 256 1-01-80 2:06a
!FOREHD 6 2380 1-01-80 12:44a
!FOREHD 7 226 5-02-90 7:33p
!FOREHD 8 156 5-04-90 8:46p
!LBROW 1 88 1-01-80 1:54a
!LBROW 2 122 1-01-80 2:04a
!LBROW 3 44 1-01-80 2:07a
!LBROW 4 68 1-01-80 12:44a
!LBROW 5 130 5-03-90 6:28a
!LBROW 6 44 5-04-90 8:45p
!LBROW 7 116 5-05-90 5:43p
!LEAR 1 322 1-01-80 1:53a
!LEAR 2 314 1-01-80 2:02a
!LEAR 3 338 1-01-80 2:08a
!LEAR 4 372 1-01-80 12:56a
!LEAR 5 268 1-01-80 1:31a
!LEAR 6 92 5-16-90 7:34a
!LEYE 1 242 1-01-80 1:55a
!LEYE 2 242 1-01-80 2:03a
!LEYE 3 996 1-01-80 2:06a
!LEYE 4 116 4-05-90 4:07p
!LEYE 5 232 1-01-80 1:03a
!LEYE 6 376 1-01-80 1:06a
!LEYE 7 194 5-04-90 8:42p
!NOSE 1 122 1-01-80 1:54a
!NOSE 2 204 4-05-90 7:00a
!NOSE 3 116 4-05-90 7:14a
!NOSE 4 44 5-04-90 8:39p
!NOSE 5 116 4-05-90 7:25a
!NOSE 6 220 1-01-80 2:03a
!NOSE 7 156 1-01-80 2:05a
!RBROW 1 88 1-01-80 1:54a
!RBROW 2 122 1-01-80 2:04a
!RBROW 3 44 1-01-80 2:06a
!RBROW 4 68 1-01-80 12:44a
!RBROW 5 130 5-03-90 6:29a
!RBROW 6 44 5-04-90 8:45p
!RBROW 7 116 5-05-90 5:44p
!REAR 1 322 1-01-80 1:53a
!REAR 2 314 1-01-80 2:02a
!REAR 3 338 1-01-80 2:08a
!REAR 4 372 1-01-80 12:57a
!REAR 5 268 1-01-80 1:31a
!REAR 6 92 5-16-90 7:35a
!REYE 1 242 1-01-80 1:55a
!REYE 2 242 1-01-80 2:03a
!REYE 3 996 1-01-80 2:06a
!REYE 4 116 4-05-90 4:08p
!REYE 5 376 1-01-80 1:03a
!REYE 6 232 1-01-80 1:04a
!REYE 7 228 5-04-90 8:43p
BETTY FAC 20 4-06-90 5:45a
CLOWN FAC 20 1-01-80 12:13a
CURLY FAC 20 1-01-80 12:46a
GERTRUDE FAC 20 1-01-80 1:13a
KINSHA FAC 20 1-01-80 1:33a
SADSAM FAC 20 5-16-90 7:27a
YUKYUK FAC 20 4-07-90 5:04p
71 file(s) 18358 bytes
Total files listed:
109 file(s) 150004 bytes
92160 bytes free