Document StripIcon Release 1.4 documentation STRIPICON 1.4 Removes redundant bitplanes from icons created with Commodore's IconEdit, e.g. the icons distributed within the `MagicWB' package. © by Timm Müller 1993/1994 0. Disclaimer ============= Disclaimer ---------- This software may be used and redistributed freely, as long as there are no changes made to the program, its source code, and its documentation. The `author' makes no guarantee of any kind for the reliability of the software described in this documentation. 1. Introduction =============== Introduction ------------ StripIcon is a simple shell command that removes redundant bitplanes from Workench icons that are sometimes created with Commodore's IconEdit. I always wondered why the icons distributed with the `MagicWB' package occupy that unnaturally much diskspace. So I decided to analyze those icons' structure and found out that they're containing image data in eight bitplanes, although they're making use of eight colours only. The reason is: Mr Huttenloher -the author of `MagicWB'- used Commodore's IconEdit for creating these icons, and IconEdit works with eight bitplanes internally. After introducing the AGA chipset and starting with OS3.0, the Workbench may run with up to 256 colors. That leads to the problem that icons on a 256 color Workbench have to keep image data in eight bitplanes in order to display correct colors. If you've got a Workbench with 256 colors, you should keep the `MagicWB' icons unchanged, otherwise their colors become corrupted. If you're using less, you may strip the `MagicWB' icons to the number of bitplanes that is used by your Workbench, in order to reduce chipmem and harddisk usage and to speed up the icon display. Keep in mind that you should NOT strip any icons to less bitplanes than your Workbench makes use of! Only if your Workbench also has got 3 (three!) bitplanes, you can strip the `MagicWB' icons to the very minimum. At this point I have to apologize to Martin Huttenloher, for I asserted that he used a "buggy" feature of IconEdit. This assertion, stated in an earlier version of StripIcon, was definitely WRONG, for IconEdit is not buggy and Martin did it the right way, due to the color problems mentioned above. Thanks to Martin who explained me this in quite a long phone chat. By the way: You may of course use StripIcon not only for `MagicWB' icons, but for your own icons as well. 2. Documentation ================ Documentation ------------- 2.1. System requirements ------------------------ System requirements ------------------- You need Kickstart 2.0 or higher to run StripIcon. 2.2. Shell usage ---------------- Shell usage ----------- Template: StripIcon ICON/A,DEPTH/N/K You must specify an icon for input, whereby it makes no difference whether or not an .info suffix is added to the filename. Optionally you may specify the DEPTH keyword, followed by the number of bitplanes you want that icon to be stripped to. The default DEPTH setting is 3, which corresponds to `MagicWB''s icons. You can make StripIcon resident if you like. This will improve speed considerably. 2.3. DirectoryOpus installation ------------------------------- DirectoryOpus installation -------------------------- It is highly recommended to configure a STRIPICON button or menu inside of `DirectoryOpus', especially if you're having the complete `MagicWB' icon set installed to your system. Installation example: AmigaDOS c:StripIcon {f} Flags: Do all files, Recursive Directories. You may then use StripIcon on whole partitions without any risk. Only real icon files are changed. You may even rename your startup-sequence to xxx.info, it won't be touched. Be careful if you're using icons with more than eight colours. 3. Further MagicWB speedup ========================== Further MagicWB speedup ----------------------- Using StripIcon, you will gain a general speedup when working with `MagicWB' icons on your Workbench. But there are still two more possibilities to improve speed. - Always fix the icons' positions in a specific directory. Just drag-select multiple icons, then choose "Icons/Snapshot" from your Workbench menu. - Next time you're cleaning up your hard disk partition, consider using the well-known disk optimizer `Reorg'. This utility offers various possibilities to configure the optimization process. Use the option "Workbench Mode". This will increase speed drastically. 4. Author ========= Author ------ Don't hesitate to contact the author if you've got problems, ideas for enhancements, bug reports or something like that. Timm S. Müller Wehrdaer Weg 3/39 35037 Marburg FR of Germany Tel. 06421-63828 5. Revision History =================== Revision History ---------------- v1.2 First public release v1.3 internal release v1.4 Minor code clean-ups performed Removed a very serious mistake in the documentation. Mr Huttenloher's address was wrong - I inserted MY OWN address by mistake. 6. Acknowledgements =================== Acknowledgements ---------------- 6.1. MagicWB ------------ MagicWB is shareware and © by Martin Huttenloher. To get registered, send DM20,- or $20 to Martin Huttenloher Am Hochsträß 4 89081 Ulm FR of Germany 6.2. DirectoryOpus ------------------ DirectoryOpus is © by Jonathan Potter and is distributed by INOVATronics GmbH Lütticher Straße 12 53842 Troisdorf-Spich FR of Germany Tel. 02241-406856 Fax. 02241-406773 6.3. ReOrg ---------- ReOrg is shareware and © by Holger Kruse Holger Kruse 12006 Coed Drive Orlando, FL 32826 USA 6.4. Ralf Thanner ----------------- Thanks to Ralf Thanner who urged me on writing this.