PORTFOLIO GRAPHICS DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
------------------------------------
This is just a *very* short and quick intro
into making animations and graphic files for Portfolio.

Special thanks to Don Messerli and BJ Gleason
and to the author of SNATCH file.

*** 1. HW and software requirements

You need following to make graphics for Portfolio:

	*IBM PC with DOS
	*graphics editor
	*full screen bit map viewer 

Recommended:

	Windows programs (PBRUSH) are better then DOS programs
	you can use more fonts and they are usually easier to handle


*** 2. A bit of theory

Portfolio has a 240*64 pixel LCD screen which on using special
routines may be accessed as quickly as 15-20 screens per second.

PGF file is a direct representation of the screen bit map. It has
always a fixed size of 1920 bytes (240*64/8).

PFC file is a special compressed format which saves diskspace
and is supported by animation software.

PGX file is special Portfolio-only animation file which includes
in itself both screen data and timing info.

SNATCH is a PC screen saver which saves just 240*64 pixels in the
upper left corner and in fact serves as a convertor of PC bitmap
files into PGF files.

PGCOMP is a file compressor that convertes PGF files into PGC files.

MKPGX will make an PGX (animation file) using a list of PGC files
and the animation commands in a script file.

MAKERT will convert PGX file into stand-alone animation in a COM file.

*** 3. Procedure (described in 1st person singular, the way I do it)

-1	I start Windows and the PBRUSH in Accesories.
-2	I always turn on the pixel coordinates display.
-3	I draw a 242*66 pixel frame to know the maximal
	area I can use.
-4	If I plan to use pictures with a frame around
	(looks better on PF) I draw 240*64 pixel frame.
-5	I make as many copies of the frame as I need for
	the animation (or how many I can place on the PBRUSH area)
-6	I make the individual sreens.
	-note:
	If changing the FONT be careful, there is a minor bug
	in PBRUSH. Sometimes the image is demaged in the area
	beneath the FONT selection box. I always drag and move
	the FONT selecton box aside from the bitmap area.
-7	Do not forget to be saving your work. It is a pretty pain
	to loose the bitmaps you have drawn.
-8	I recommend to use PCX format not the BMP. PCX makes much
	smaller files and is evidently quicker in saving/restoring.
-9	If you are ready with all the future Portfolio screens
	you must save each screen into a seperate PCX file.
-10	Make a space in the upper left corner and move your first
	PF screen into this corner. Save the file.
	Repeat will all the screen that you have ready.
	I recommend to name the files in a short consecutive way:
	t00.pcx, t01.pcx, ..........
-11 	If you are ready, quit Windows to DOS.
-12	Start the TSR SNATCH program
-13	Now, I use the Norton Commander to view the PCX files.
	Select the *00.pcx file (using cursor keys or mouse) and
	press F3 to view the bitmap.
-14	On seeing the bitmap press ALT-S. This will evoke
	the resident SNATCH file and will save the upper left
	corner into a snatchxx.pgf file (1920 bytes). ready the SNATCH.DOC
	to learn more about SNATCH.EXE.
-15	Repeat the procedure until you snatch all the bit maps.
-16	The result will be a number of snatchxx.pgf files.
	The number of the files should be the same as the number of the
	original (source) PCX files starting with snatch00.pgf.
-17	Converting the PGF to PGC:
	Just run the pgf2pgc.bat file.
	All the files must be in the same directory.
	The result will be a number of PGC files from snatch00.pgc
	to snatchxx.pgc.
-18	Writing a script file:
	Read the MKPGX.DOC file to learn more about available PGX
	script commands.
	Then open the SCRIPT file and edit your own script.
	-notes:
	The first line is the name of the resulting .PCX file
	If you want to repeat the animation the /repeat command
	will be on the last line of the SCRIPT file.
-19	If you are ready, save the file and you are ready to go.
	Just enter: MKPCX @SCRIPT
			    |
			    ------ you may use your own name
				   if your write another script file
	The "@" indicates that you use the script file.
-20	Then enter MAKERT - result will be a .COM file
	You can run the file on Portfolio only.
-21	If you have the PKLITE compressor, you can reduce the size of
	the .COM file.
-22	Transfer the result into your PF and enjoy.

Please send your results by email to

sedlakj@dec59.ruk.cuni.cz

and I will upload them for benefit of other PF fans.

Looking forward to your responses.

Jan Sedlak
Portfolio Club
Praha, Czech Republic