Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    
    	I use both VLT and JR-Comm and find them both very good...
    
    JR-Comm is only a VT100/VT102 it also has IBM character set for when
    use on BBS's....
    
    VLT is VT200 

    I use VLT which emulates a vt100.  You can use scripts to do most
    anything.  For instance, to dial into work from home I press F8 which
    calls up a script to start the modem(dialup), then connect through the
    LAT to a system(I can log onto Ultrix or VMS depending on which script
    I want to use), they types in my username and rings a bell to alert me
    to type in my passwd.  I have other scripts for d/l or u/l.  Handshake
    emulates vt200 series terminal but doesn't have the script control of
    VLT.  I use JR-Comm for BBS' and People/Link because it has the wxmodem
    protocol which people/link uses.  JR-Comm is the easiest to set up
    but I like VLT for its power.(scripting)
    
    Animbuild is a PD utility that will create an OP5 ANIM from individual
    pictures.  It is part of a "suite" of PD animation manipulation
    utilities.  The other utilities will break an animation into separate
    pictures, etc...  These were done by "Cryogenic software".  I do not
    know if the suite is on the Easynet, if it isn't, I will upload them. 
    They are very well done and a "must have" if you work with anims.
    
    My first experience with anims was with DeluxePaintIII.  Although the
    package was overwhelming to me(so much power, so little knowledge)at
    first, with a little bit of experimenting I was able to create great
    animated logos.  I am not an artist(got kicked out of elementary art
    classes for NO talent ;^)) but I was able to create some ok pictures
    with DpaintIII.  I also have DigiPaint3, which I use to touch-up
    3-D renderings.(HAM).
    
    md

    I use Handshake for terminal emulation and JR-COMM for downloading (I
    love ZModem!).  Handshake doesn't have it.  I haven't been successful
    at getting JR-comm to emulate anything.

    I seem to end up with Handshake or VT200 (off TAPE::) when I access VAXes
    as I find either of these two have the best VT emulation. For the BBS's
    I use Ncomm (it has Zmodem) as I find it easier to use than VLT or
    JRcomm. 
    
    regards
    kevin

Thanks for the comments, folks. Now I need the *programs* !

I'm fairly new to the Amiga Upload/Download areas; I've looked in
TAPE::USER2:[UPLOAD] and various of the TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA] subdirectories for
the programs mentioned. If there are any other "standard" locations for EASYNET
Amiga stuff, please identify them for me.

I didn't find the AnimBuild utility or VT200 (at least not so named). I found
what *looks* like JR-Comm and VLT- trouble is, there are several "candidates"
which could be the latest version of each. Most likely seem to be:

TAPE::USER2:[UPLOAD]VLTJR4P846.LZH  (VLT)
TAPE::USER2:[UPLOAD]JRCOM94D.LZH  (JR-Comm)

I'd appreciate any info on (a) whether these are indeed the latest of these two
programs, (b) where else I should look for what I didn't find. I'd also like to
take .2 up on the gracious offer to upload AnimBuild, if noone can point it out
on the EASYNET.

I think a "DOC" note describing the operations, directories, and tools related
to Amiga EASYNET users would be most helpful. Rather than start a note on it, I
thought I'd just mention it in case you folks already "package" this info in
some other way.

Thanks again for your opinions.

Cheers,
	Bob

    I can answer some of your questions. JRComm currently is at version
    1.01 (do not use anything less because the VT100 emulation is very
    buggy before this version). The archive name was JRC101.LZH and should
    be located at TAPE::USER2:[UPLOAD]. 
    
    The latest version of VLT is 4.846 so the one you spotted should be the
    latest. 
    
    The standard locations that appear to be the most active are TAPE and
    WJG. Other nodes have archives but aren't advertised as much so I
    assume that the owners would rather not have them accessed much. 
    
    John

Thanks to originator of 4217.45 for uploading CRYO_UTILS; I'll download it as
soon as I get a chance.

I downloaded VLT last night, haven't used it or downloaded JR-Comm yet. I'm
looking forward to trying out Zmodem; never thought a transfer protocol could
generate such enthusiasm! (Though folks seemed quite enamored of Kermit for a
while-)

    I like JRCOMM not only for the ZMODEM protocol, but the interface that
    it uses to display the ZMODEM statistics.  Also, ZMODEM seems to be
    VERY stable and forgiving of timing.

I use VLT/zmodem exclusively.  I have on several occaisons picked
up an extension during a download and it kept on going.

When I'm on a downloading binge I will be trying the stuff at the
same time and occaisionally I will manage to crash the system.  No
problem zmodem resume and VD0 save the day.

Nice program.  Has anyone sent to SLAC for the latest vlt manual?
The 4.846 documentation looks like you need to send US mail for a
hardcopy. Maybe someone out there in Palo Alto could see about
getting us a soft copy in ps form...

-steve

Since I just downloaded the little bugger, I am about to send for the manual.
While I'm at it, I'll put in the request for a PS version. I'll post whatever
info I get.

When I tried to run VLTjr, the message 'INIT: can't find ARP.library' was
displayed, and the program terminated. I noticed 3 libraries in the archive,
but no arp.library.  Where do I find it?

Also, there were several duplicate filenames in the archive like 'readme'
and a few others.

Re: .12

>When I tried to run VLTjr, the message 'INIT: can't find ARP.library' was
>displayed, and the program terminated. I noticed 3 libraries in the archive,
>but no arp.library.  Where do I find it?

    arp.library can be found on FF123 (tape::user2:[amiga.fish.ff123]arp.zoo)

    -Dom

    re:.12
    
    duplicate filenames usually mean that the archive has subdirectories in
    it.  Use the -x switch to get the full name.
    
    Dave

    The ARP library is a good thing to have.  A lot of PD stuff uses it. 
    Make sure you have the latest version, V3.9 (Folks, keep me straight
    here).
    
    

Thanks for the help folks, now a few more questions:

Where do I find 'xprxmodem.library' (for VLTjr)

Where do I find a 'zmodem' executable for the amiga
(I looked in TAPE::USER2:[AMIGA.UTILITIES]ZMODEM.ZOO, but
found only sources

Can 'zmodem' be integrated with VLTjr using the 'External'
protocol option?

Thanks in advance,
Peter
   <<< Note 4385.15 by GOBAMA::WILSONTL "Lead Trumpet (Read that...LEED!)" >>>
                              -< A plug for ARP >-

    The ARP library is a good thing to have.  A lot of PD stuff uses it. 
    Make sure you have the latest version, V3.9 (Folks, keep me straight
    here).
    
    

xprzmodem and sz,rz  for vms can be found on wjg::amiga:

The vms files are sz.exe and rz.exe.

look for xpr*.*

john

	Just out of curiosity, has anybody seen xprYmodem, or xprXmodem
    or xprKERMIT or xprBImodem?  For that matter has anybody seen anything
    asside from xprzmodem and xprascii?

re: 18
Good question. Now that I have xprZmodem (thank you John),
VLTjr now seems to want xprXmodem.library, else it won't come up.
(I moved VTprefs.dat out of the way, thinking it might have
knowledge about xpr libaries)
                    <<< Note 4385.18 by VMSNET::WOODBURY >>>
                           -< Other XPR protocols? >-

	Just out of curiosity, has anybody seen xprYmodem, or xprXmodem
    or xprKERMIT or xprBImodem?  For that matter has anybody seen anything
    asside from xprzmodem and xprascii?

Regarding a note some replies back about arp.library and VLT, please make sure
you picked up the right copy of VLT. I downloaded it last week and it did have
arp.library, though it didn't have arexx.library. I imagine the latter is
copyright-protected.

The latest VLT version is

TAPE::USER2:[UPLOAD]VLTJR4P846.LZH;1

BTW, I've used the CRYO-UTILS utility set to create some simple anims; quite a
kick, for anyone who hasn't done it! I was surprised to not find an ANIM
player in the set, but I do have AmigaVision, so I used that.

Cheers,
	Bob

re .21

Bob,

I grabbed a series of images off my video, built the anim....then went to play it!!

BUT I haven't got a player.

Could you upload your player if it's PD, or anyone point me to one that will work?


Cheers,

Greg

Re -1:

Sorry, I used AmigaVision, and it's player is not only copyrighted, it's
embedded in the overall AV executable! I did see a reference to a PD player for
OP5 anims, I think in the latest note on Fish disks. I didn't notice whether the
new disks are available in [UPLOAD] yet. Since this net is a toll call for me,
I'm kind of reluctant to download a whole disk for a single tool!

I'm sure there are other PD anim players floating about, but I can't point you
to one myself. Anyone else?

Superview3 shows animations. It should be on the net somewhere.
There is also a Showanim player which I think is PD. That may be on 
the net too. Sorry I don't have exact file names or locations.

I used the anim builder from CRYO-UTILS. Very nice. I was able to put
together a HAM animation in a limited memory system. I had previously
tried it with the commercial program Animagic which used too much memory 
to do it.

Dave

FWIW, I download ANIM.ARC and the ShowAnim player it contains complained about
the ANIMs I produced with the CRYO-UTILS.ARC utility. Since AmigaVision plays
them fine, I presume the problem is with the PD player (or its vintage).

The only Superview file I found claimed only to display the first frame of an
animation. If Superview3 is an updated version which does more, I haven't
located it.

I noticed that one of the C-LIGHT files contains an animation player program,
but I haven't downloaded it and tried it out. Anyone use it and like/dislike it?

SuperView3 is on FF367.lzh  (Fred Fish Disk on TAPE::)

From the docs:

SuperView is a program that will display IFF pictures of all types
on the Amiga.  The program supports the following features:

        Multiple files on one command line.
        WorkBench  (icons) are supported.
        All display modes supported.
        Auto Overscan
        Color Cycle ( DPaint and GraphiCraft types)  CRNG  CCRT
        AmigaBasic  ACBM  type files
        Author chunk is supported
        Displays the first cell in a ANIM file
        Written in Assembly, PURE code that can be resident under 1.3

*NEW*   Display Animations.  (Type 5 - DPaintIII, VideoScape2.0)


Display options include the following:

        -a              Suppress Author Text
        -c              Suppress Color Cycling
        -d <dir>        Display all pictures in a directory
        -f <file>       Read a text file for picture names
        -h<n>           Change the display height of a picture
*NEW*   -j<n>           Force <n> Jiffies between frames
        -l              List picture information
        -m<x>           Select view modes.
*NEW*   -n              No ANIM, show picture only
        -o              Override the Auto Overscan
        -p              Disables Pointer Clearing
        -r              Repeat command line
        -s<n>           Display picture for n seconds
        -t[<n>]         Double buffer pictures
        -u              Dual Playfield
        -v              Stop Animation after one time through.
        -w<n>           Change the display width
        -x<n>           Change the position of the display area x
        -y<n>           Change the position of the display area y
 

Thanks- forgot to browse the FISH descriptions again.

    I have had a lot of problems with Superview 3.  Most of the anims
    I created with Turbo Silver would not run under Superview 3.  I
    use Showanim exclusively now.  I have not had any problems using
    AnimBuild from the Cryo-utils archive.  FWIW
    
    md
    
    ps  The problems I've had with Superview 3 is that it only shows
    the first frame or on HAM anims it "fringes" high contrast
    portionsof the anim.

Since the latest entry in this note, I've tried every version of ShowAnim
I could find; the latest available on the net seems to be of 1987 vintage, and
it gives me errors when trying to run animations produced by AnimBuild from
HAM files written by DigiPaint.

I recently noticed a 1989 version (was it 5?) in the files listing of Safe
Harbor's BBS. Apart from the fact that it would be a download from Wisconsin
as opposed to Nashua, I'm not yet a registered user of the abovementioned
BBS, so I can't download it at the moment.

If some kind soul has this version of ShowAnim and would upload it, I'd
greatly appreciate it. It's a real pain to have to start AmigaVision every
time I want to preview an Anim-in-progress!

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
	Bob

I have a ShowAnim (probably from a group of demos) which is dated 
October 1989.  Check tape::amiga:[upload]showanim.lzh, and see if this
is any better/newer than the others.

Steve

Re .29:

Thanks, Steve, I'll give it a shot. The ShowAnim version I saw recently was
roughly the same vintage, so is probably the same executable.

BTW, over the weekend I got a copy of Superview (I *think* it's the latest)
wrapped in with an animation. While it shows the anim shipped with it just fine,
for my HAM anims it just shows the first frame, then freezes (i.e., stays up, no
input seems able to stop it); if I use the qualifiers used for the demo anim it
came with, at least it doesn't freeze, but quits with a right-mouse-buttonclick.

I'm beginning to think that support for HAM anims may be considered a luxury by
players in the PD domain. We'll see if this ShowAnim version is the exception...

Cheers,
	Bob

	it is also true that Scuplt Animate 3D anim files can't be shown
	by Director V1 or the Showanim I have.  It's a type 5 compression,
	apparently, that is used in S A 3D files.  So I used an anim maker
	in Director to build the individual images (created by Sculpt while
	creating the compressed anim file) into an anim file it can
	use.  The IFF developer's disk probably has an anim builder too.
	Tom

Re .32:

I'm using the Cryo-Utils utilities originall suggested to me way back in this
note, and they're great- my only problem has been the lack of a player which
will work with files built from HAM images (DigiPaint). I haven't delved into
the guts of the ANIM format at all, but the error I received from the version
of ShowAnim I'd tried was (if I recall correctly) something like "Illegal
value DeltaOp = 5" or somesuch. I've presumed that this signified the use of
HAM images, since obviously people are successfully using both this and
SuperView to display animations. I have my fingers crossed for the '89 vintage
ShowAnim...

Oh, BTW, I did try converting the HAM images to 16-color using "Transfer 24,"
the conversion/image-processing program which comes with DigiPaint 3- no joy
there.

Cheers,
	Bob

    The art department will give a good HAM-> 16 color Hres conversion.
    I have Digimate to help build annimations from digipaint but I find
    16 color hres to work well in regards to compatability. Of course I
    want to build an animation with Imagine so I'll be into the fray soon.
    Imagine offers standard anim support or their own format.(for use with
    the Firecracker I think)
    								bill
    PS. Elan Performer offers nice utilities for building anims.

	No no, delta op=5 is a compression algorithm designator I think.
	I was able to make ham anims OK using the Director Toolkit (it
	would work without having director, by the way, but you may not
	be able to get it since Director V2 is now out and I assume
	that Director Version 2 obsoletes Version 1/toolkit combination).
	Tom

    I have the latest ANIM/IFF player/viewer from cryogenic it is called
    view2.0.  So far it has played every anim I own(most are HAM) with no
    problems, it has a requestor(uses req.library, I think), and will give
    you statistics for the anim or iff plus it has the usual anim player
    controls(speed, freeze, and a few other things I cannot remember).  I
    will upload the archive if I didn't > /dev/null.  This is the only anim
    player I have seen that will play my Turbo Silver anims without
    artifacts.  I highly recommend it!
    
    mark
    

Re .29 et al

Well whaddya know! The '89 version of ShowAnim handles the HAM anims produced
by Cryogenics' AnimBuilder (or any others using delta op=5, I'd guess) just
fine, thanks! I haven't put a lot of time into pursuing this issue, but it *has*
been on the back burner for quite a while; it's nice to get it licked.

I'd be interested in the View2.0 program from Cryogenics for comparison (now
that I have something that works!), if Mark (reply .36) can locate it.

BTW, I really did find that a lot of detail was lost in photo-quality images
in the translation from HAM to 32-color. HAM is obviously less desirable a
format than straight 24-plane color, but it sure does a helluva job on the
cheap!

Thanks for all the assists.

Cheers,
	Bob

This is a followup to my tryout of View2.0, the Cryogenic anim player kindly
uploaded by Mark Davis.

This program plays the anims generated by Cryogenics' other utilities just fine,
and moreoever has a similar interface. Although ShowAnim also works, I find
View a better match for the Croygenics "suite" of animation utilities. ShowAnim,
for instance, has no graphic interface at all, much less a file
selector/browser.

Perhaps now I'll join the apparently innumerable "animaniacs" who while away
red-eyed nights assembling "killer" animations! Thanks, all.

Cheers,
	Bob

I've heard that View copes better than ShowAnim with HAM animations created 
with packages like 'Spectracolor', but it doesn't have a 'ping-pong' function.

Is that true? Are there any other anim players on the net that are worth 
looking at?

Dave

    
    	I have a display program that is part of the packages from HASH
    Enterprises. It is freely distributable and has the added feature of
    playing HASH soundtrack anims that include sound and graphics.
    
    	I upload it tonight.
    
    		Steve P.
    

This looks like the best bet for this note.

I have an application that needs to start (and stop) an animation on
demand. Ideally, source to a PD C anim player I can mung is available.
However, an FD player that will let me shut it down more elegantly
than sending it IDCMP messages will do.

Anyone got pointers to any such?

	Thanx,
	<mike