@database "EmBackdrops2.Guide" @author "Jamie Montgomerie" @(c) "Copyright ©1996 Jamie Montgomerie" @$VER: EmBackdrops2.Guide 1.0 @node "MAIN" "EmBackdrops - Contents" _ _ _ (_ ( (_|_ (_/\/\_)()| (_ _________________________________________________ / _ _ _ \ | (_ |_) _ _| _| _ _ _ _ '_) | | (_/\/\|_)(_|(_|<(_|| (_)|_)@{u}`@{uu}, /_ | | | | Full-Screen Grey-Scale MagicWB Backdrops | \_________________________________________________/ @{" Introduction " link "INTRO"} @{" Requirements " link "REQUIRE"} @{" Usage " link "USAGE"} @{" Legal Stuff " link "LEGAL"} @{" Coming Soon! " link "PLUG!"} @{" Contacting The Author " link "AUTHOR"} @endnode @node "INTRO" "EmBackdrops - Introduction" Introduction ------------ Yes, it's a guide file again, and yes, I still know a plain doc would do, but hey! I like AmigaGuide! These pictures were inspired by Roman Patzner's 'RomImages', which, in turn were inspired by Øyvind Falch's 'MiscPatterns'. If you fancy a look at these (you really should) you can find on the Aminet in pix/mwb under 'RomImages.lha' and 'MiscPattern1.lha' This is the second (and last) compilation of this type of images. The first is also on the Aminet in pix/mwb as 'EmBackdrops.lha' They were converted to 3-colour 640*498 (Just big enough for my PAL HiresLaced Magic Workbench) using a combination of The Art Department (the original version, not ADPro!) and ImageFX, both of which I got off CU Amiga coverdisks, and DPaint. They came from sources (mainly the inernet and CD-ROMS) too various to list. @endnode @node "REQUIRE" "EmBackdrops - Requirements" Requirements ------------ WB 2+ NickPrefs (if used under WB2) Magic-WB 2 would be good (but is not essential) A PAL HiresLaced Workbench Screen (or equivalent size) An 8+ colour Workbench Hard Disk is pretty essential An Amiga :-) @endnode @node "USAGE" "EmBackdrops - Usage" Usage ----- The Boring-Always-The-Same-Way ------------------------------ Copy the files to a directory on your hard disk. Use WBPattern preferences (or whatever the NickPrefs one is called) to chose your favourite picture. The Really-Good-Random-Way -------------------------- I don't know about you, but I get bored with the same backdrop on my Workbench all the time, and as there are plenty of backdrops to choose from it's nice to change them every so often. However, I don't enjoy constantly changing my prefs files, so I get the Amiga to choose a a random backdrop each time I boot up. There are many ways to do this, but this is the way I do it (and what I think is the easiest) You'll need some sort of random file copier. I use Chris Hodges' 'Randomfile'. It's on the Aminet in 'util/cli' under 'RandomFile.lha'. Copy it into your 'C:' directory. First you need to copy all the backdrop files you want to use to a directory on your hard disk. This should preferably be a new directory, containing only the backdrops you want to use for your Workbench. Mine are in 'Work:Utilities/MagicWB/Patterns/WBGrey' so you should replace this with the path to wherever you put your backdrops when you see it. You'll also need a temporary directory on your hard disk, which can be used for some temporary files. You could use 'T:', but this is on the Ram Disk, and I don't like using up too much ram. My temporary directory is 'Work:DiskTemp' so put your own path in whenever you see this. Next, load 'S:Startup-Sequence' into a text editor (I'm afraid you can't use User-Startup) and find the line which reads C:IPrefs. Make a new line just above this one and enter: RandomFile FROM "Work:Utilities/MagicWB/WBGrey/~(#?.info)" TO "Work:DiskTemp/Backdrop.IFF" ^ ^ | | | +--------------+---------------+ | Put your own paths in here. This should all be on one line, I've just put it on one here to fit in my AmigaGuide window. Now reboot. When the Workbench comes back on load the WBPattern (or the NickPrefs equivalent) prefs program. Use it to choose 'Backdrop.IFF' from your temporary directory and then save the preferences. That's it! Your backdrop should now change every time you reboot. I like to keep my window patterns the same on each reboot, but you could use the same technique to select random window patterns too. Remember to use a different filename for the file you put in your temporary directory though! Note: There are also various random backdrop choosing utilities on the aminet, but I prefer this way as it is simpler (to me at least) and dosent eat huge amounts of memory (in fact, it eats none!). @endnode @node "LEGAL" "EmBackdrops - Legal Stuff" Legal Stuff ----------- I know it's boring, but it's really quite important, so do read it. Please? All the image files contained in this archive are, to the best of my knowledge freely distributable and manipulatable. If the copyright owners of these images don't like it, I can remove them from the arhive. Disclaimer ---------- I, Jamie Montgomerie, will not be held responsible for any damage caused as a direct or indirect result of the usage of any of the files contained in this archive. @endnode @node "PLUG!" "EmBackdrops - The Shameless Plug!" _ _ _ (_ ( (_|_ Other (_/\/\_)()| (_ Programs ----------------------------- The Paper Counter The ultimate in paper counting technology on your Amiga. Should be available on the Aminet as 'PaperCounter.lha' under 'util/misc' EmSpool - The Frame-by-Frame Hard Disk ANIM 5 spooler. CLI Animation spooler. (for Anims in DPaint etc. format) Should be available on the Aminet as 'EmSpool.lha' under 'gfx/show' Both are freely distributable and should be available from any PD library. If you can't find them they are both available directly from me. Just send an SAE and a blank disk to the address @{"elsewhere in the documentation" link "AUTHOR"}. EmBackdrops 1 is also available in 'pix/mwb' as 'EmBackdrops.lha'. Other Good Archives ------------------- These pictures were inspired by Roman Patzner's 'RomImages', which, in turn were inspired by Øyvind Falch's 'MiscPatterns'. If you fancy a look at these (you really should) you can find on the Aminet in pix/mwb under 'RomImages.lha' and 'MiscPattern1.lha' @endnode @node "AUTHOR" "EmBackdrops - Contacting The Author" Contacting the Author --------------------- EmBackdrops were compiled and processed by Jamie Montgomerie 5 Thornfield Crescent Earlston Berwickshire TD4 6EA UK Email now available! - jamiem@enterprise.net Or have a look at my home page - homepages.enterprise.net/jamiem/ Please mail me if you actually use this stuff. I'm thinking of doing a 704X564 selection for people using DBLPal screenmode on the Amiga monitors (or the old Microvitec ones) - please let me know if you think this would be a good idea. If you're not 'connected' don't let it put you off - All letters postcards are much appreciated. It's nice to know if people are actually using my stuff. @Endnode @node "SECRET" "EmBackdrops2 - The Secret Node2 - The Revenge!" The Secret Node! ---------------- GW2k. Hmmm... @endnode