@DATABASE ImageConvert
@MASTER ImageConvert.guide
@$VER: ImageConvert.guide 1.8 (1.7.2001) (C) by Martin Steigerwald

@NODE MAIN "ImageConvert"

ImageConvert 1.9 (1.7.2001) (C) by Martin Steigerwald
- an ARexx script to automatically convert images

        @{"Introduction"    LINK Introduction}
        @{"Legal stuff"     LINK LegalStuff}
        @{"Requirements"    LINK Requirements}
        @{"Installation"    LINK Installation}
        @{"Usage"           LINK Usage}
        @{"History"         LINK History}
        @{"Author"          LINK Author}
        @{"Credits"         LINK Credits}


@{b}IMPORTANT NOTICE:@{ub} I decided to release ImageConvert under the @{b}GPL@{ub}
starting with Version 1.9 (1.7.2001). This does not affect earlier
versions of ImageConvert.

@{b}Thanks to Greg Perry from GP Software@{ub} for kind permission to
release ImageConvert independently from the Opus Plus CD-ROM. Good luck
with Directory Opus 6 for Windows. I wish it would be on Amiga, QNX and/or
Linux instead.

When you continue development of ImageConvert I would like to know. I
maybe also can help to avoid that two people are doing the same work at
the same time. I currently have no plans on developing this any further.
This may change at will ;-)

@ENDNODE

@NODE Introduction "Introduction"

This is a script that converts images given on the command line to a
certain resolution and color depth using one of the following programs:

- ArtEffect2:   tested with version 2.6, 3 and 4
- PPaint:       tested with version 6.4 and 7.x, extra support for 7.x
- Photogenics2: tested with version 2b, not supposed to work with
                Photogenics NG as it does not have ARexx support

It is used mainly for converting a whole bunch of images in one go.

I use it with Directory Opus Magellan. You can use it with any other file
manager - not that Opus isn't just a file manager anymore ;-) - that
allows flexible configuration.

I have written it for the purpose of converting the pictures of themes to
a format that Opus can easily load via common picture datatypes for
AmigaOS.

@ENDNODE

@NODE LegalStuff "LegalStuff"

The software is (W) 1998 by me Martin Steigerwald. Versions I upload to
AmiNet are freely distributable.

GP Software may distribute ImageConvert with their fine Opus Plus CD.

There are NO WARRANTIES.

@ENDNODE

@NODE Requirements "Requirements"

Needed:
- Either ReqTools or Directory Opus Magellan for the requesters.
- ArtEffect, PPaint and/or Photogenics.
- Some images and an Amiga of course.

Recommended:
- Directory Opus Magellan. You will get a progress gauge with it! ;-)

@ENDNODE

@NODE Installation "Installation"

Copy the script to »SYS:REXX«. Copy the catalog to »SYS:Locale/catalogs«.

To set it up in Opus, just make a button or define a context menu entry in
your picture filetype that calls my script as follows:

ARexx SYS:Rexx/ImageConvert.rexx {f}
Run asynchronously

Make sure your graphics software is installed properly.

@ENDNODE

@NODE Usage "Usage"

Throw some images at it!

You can use it from the shell. To convert some pictures just type:

        ImageConvert.rexx pic1 pic2 pic3


Use quotes for filenames containing spaces!

The requesters in the script are quite self explanatory. ImageConvert
remembers your old settings and ask you whether you want to use it or
set something else.

Note: Some graphics software activate their windows when they open it.
When ImageConvert runs in the background to convert some images you loose
the focus to the window you are working in from time to time in cause of
this. I don't know what to do about this.

@ENDNODE Usage

@NODE History "History"

23.7.2001

ImageConvert 1.9
    Replaced Newicons by Glowicons

ImageConvert.guide 1.8
    Reflects that ImageConvert is now released under GPL.

ImagaConvert.rexx 1.9
    From now on released under the GPL. Note: This does not affect
    previous versions.
    Thanks to Greg Perry from GP Software for kind permission to
    release this independently from the Opus Plus CD-ROM.
    No functional change since 1.8


13.10.98

ImageConvert 1.8
    Added NewIcons where it would make sense

ImageConvert.guide 1.7

ImageConvert.rexx 1.8
    Hopefully fixed a bug "Host environment not found" when converting
        an image with ArtEffect. I am not sure about how and why
        I fixed it. I changed the order of some lines and it seems that
        this fixed it. I won't be surprised when it happens again.


28.9.98

ImageConvert.guide 1.6
    Changed history format

ImageConvert.rexx 1.7
    Found big bug in procudure newext. The IF statement there had a
        DO which it really shouldnt have. I dont understand why it
        worked before
    Added SIGNAL handling, it should now close the progress window
        when aborted due to error
    For a reason totally unknown to me DOPUS GETSTRING doesnt set
        the DOPUSRC variable anymore. I check RESULT beeing "RESULT"
        now, for canceling an operation as Opus doesnt seem to
        set the RESULT variable.

ImageConvert.rexx 1.6
    Fixed bug with filenames with spaces and loading a
       file into photogenics
    Added resolution same as before --> no scaling when
        that is selected
        Either Dave, Jon or I am wrong:
        Its not DOPUS REQUEST '"Some Text" "Button 1" "Button 1"'
        but     DOPUS REQUEST '"Some Text" Button 1|Button 2'

        Oh, this took me some time. IMHO Opus behaves incorrectly.

deutsch/ImageConvert.catalog 2.0
    MSG_REQ_RESOLUTION_SAME (210) added
    MSG_ERROR_LOAD_ERROR and MSG_ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND changed to
        display the filename as well


23.9.98

ImageConvert.rexx 1.5
    Changed some of the english strings.
    Reverse order of history entries: newest on top.
    Finally made some GoldED 5 Studio Joyce ispell
        spell-checked documentation.
    Now should add the current path when a filename
        without absolute path is detected.
        (Thanks to Dave for giving me a hint how to
        do this.)
    Removed some unnecessary debug output.

deutsch/ImageConvert.catalog 1.0
    Made german catalog! Localization works!


2.9.98

ImageConvert.rexx 1.4
    Finally works with PPaint 6.4
        (But without EXTENDPALETTE functionality. It took
        me some time to find out PPaint 6.4 doesn't
        support that option.)
    Considered adding ENV:/ENVARC: use/save functionality
        support. Didn't implement it, cause it had to use
        another stupid requester to ask whether it should
        use or save the config then. Sorry, Dave ;-)
        (Maybe sometime when Opus has fine support
        for building config dialogs with ARexx)
        Dave, bug me again, if you really want to have
        this ;-)
    Replaced all occurrences of <>NIL: with <NIL: >NIL:
        to make Dave and all users of weird shells happy.
    Fixed custom resolution requesters in Opus mode so
        that pressing RETURN means pressing OK.
    Opus custom resolution requesters now don't accept
        non-numbers anymore. Thanks Dave for pointing out
        the DATATYPE() function to me.
    Still missing: proper framework (docs,
        installer script, icons)

31.8.98

ImageConvert.rexx 1.3
    Now should work with spaces in filenames.
        Prodedure newext was faulty. Thanks Dave. ;-)
    Removed my own power function. ARexx ** operator
        does it also. (Yes, I don't read manuals;-)
    Doesn't allow to choose 16M colors for PPaint anymore.
    Doesn't allow ILBM conversion for Photogenics 2
        anymore. PG gives a locked null byte file when
        I try saving into this format via ARexx.
    Default format PPaint 640x480x256 colors instead
        of 128 colors now. Requested by Dave!

24.8.98

ImageConvert.rexx 1.2
    Now correctly saves the image format setting to
    the config file

ImageConvert.rexx 1.1
    Configuration requesters: dopus and reqtools
    Load and saves config file, remembers configuration
    With opus requesters it provides a progress bar

22.8.98

ImageConvert.rexx 1.0
     First version
     Does converting with ArtEffect, PPaint
     Photogenics doesn't work yet
     No configuration requesters
     Error requesters: dopus and reqtools

@ENDNODE

@NODE Author "Author"

Martin Steigerwald
Email: steigerw@stud.uni-frankfurt.de
WWW:   http://www.rz.uni-frankfurt.de/~steigerw
       http://home.pages.de/~helios
IRC:   helios@#amigager sometimes

@ENDNODE

@NODE Credits "Credits"

@{b}Thanks to Greg Perry from GP Software@{ub} for kind permission to
release ImageConvert independently from the Opus Plus CD-ROM. Good luck
with Directory Opus 6 for Windows. I wish it would be on Amiga, QNX and/or
Linux instead.

Thank you, Dave Clarke, for testing my script and providing feedback.

Thanks to all the developers of the graphics software usable with this
script.

Thanks to the members of the Opus Plus project who inspired me to do this
script - when I remember it mainly was Dave Clarke once again. Once I
started ARexx coding they are not becoming lazy to find ideas for new
scripts. ;-)

@ENDNODE