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                        GIF_view  (v. 2 / october '91)
                              by Lorenzo Musto


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Description
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      GIF images viewer.

      GIF_view  is  a  program that allows to view  all  images wich data
      are organized following the GIF format.
      All strategies taken to manage the decoding algorithm plus a direct
      image's  assembling  in  memory ( i.e. without calls to any graphic
      primitive like 'WritePixel') allow to reach relatively low decoding
      times.

      This program suits perfectly on PAL systems becouse it totaly uses
      the avaible display area (256/512 lines);
      it works right on those NTSC too.

      The program starts execution showing some image and screen's details
      obtained from input  file. These will be adapted to the amiga graphic
      system allowing scrolling for large images and using HAM-mode for those
      ones with more than 32 colors; then will start the decoding step wich
      output is a dot sequence.
      After a while, whether all gone well, the image should appears.
      At this time the program will be stopped for about twenty seconds;
      then it goes over to terminate unless the user has hit one of the
      following keys:
      - Carriage Return that causes an early exit .
      - Space Bar or Arrow Keys that hangs the program to a Carriage Return.

      No action can be taken to abort execution until the image appears
      (any attempt at your own risk: it's probable a loss of memory).


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Usage/Template
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      GIF_view  <filename>  [QUICK]

      option  QUICK  allows to gain  'speed, resolution, memory'
      but to the detriment of image's color features.

      Explanations  about  keyboard usage  will  be  given  during
      program's  running.


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Author
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          Home Address:   Lorenzo  Musto
                          via  A.  Cantele  11
                          35129 Padova (Italy)

      Internet address:   maciste@alessia.dei.unipd.it

                 Phone:   +39 49 609356


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Notes
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      Contact me for every issue about this work ( preferely via e-mail ).
      If you are pleased about it simply spread it but remember that gifts
      of any type (floppies,cards,cakes whatever you think ... even $) as
      counterpart are welcomed.


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History
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      o ??-may-91 first version but prototype.
      o ??-aug-91 first release.
      o 02-oct-91 Idiosyncrasy for B&W images removed.
      o 02-oct-91 Approximation of the 'Colors Map' refined.
      o 04-oct-91 Fixed a bug.


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Trademarks
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                            G I F (tm)
                 Graphics Interchange Format (tm)
                  A standard defining a mechanism
                 for the storage and transmission
               of raster-based graphics information
                           June 15, 1987
                 (c) CompuServe Incorporated, 1987
                        All rights reserved

      GIF and 'Graphics Interchange Format' are trademarks of
                     CompuServe, Incorporated.
                       an H&R Block Company
                    5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
                       Columbus, Ohio 43220
                          (614) 457-8600

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