Shaolin PCX converter 0.1
=========================
					
Written by Silver Fox/Tesko!


** NOTE! ** This incarnation only supports 320*200 PCX files in 256
colours (MCGA), or mode 13h to all you real coders :-) 


What you'll need!
=================

A PC with a VGA-compatible graphics card, and a mouse.


What it does!
=============

Basically, the Shaolin PCX converter is a util that will convert
a PCX file to it's RAW binary equivalent, so that you can use it 
in your own productions.  It allows you to cut out areas of the 
picture (which is handy for doing sprites and stuff), and save the area 
as either raw binary data (e.g. each byte is the colour of the pixel) 
OR (and this is the kewl bit) as an ASSEMBLER file, (i.e. as a list 
of DB statements).  The pallete is also saved in the same way.  
This means you have the choice of loading the data from the disk,
or including it straight away in your ASM productions.  Buzzin' eh?


Why I did it!
=============

When I first started coding in asm on the PC, when I started writing 
code to display pictures on the screen, I realised that I didn't 
have anything to convert pictures to RAW format, TA!!!  

What I really wanted was something like Kefrens-IFF converter on the 
Amiga (which was KEWL AS, pity it refused to work on the A1200) but 
having searched the net and found B.A. BARRACUS, I decided to code 
my own...


The instructions... destroy after reading!
==========================================

Firstly, you'll see a prompt asking you for a PCX file, so get one
typed in.  You'll then see your picture, and if you move your mouse,
you'll see a crosshair.  To select an area of the screen to convert,
press the left mouse button and drag the mouse to where you want to 
cut to, then let go.  If you're happy then press any key to go to the
main menu, or else keep cutting to your hearts content!

On the main menu there are various options.  They should all be pretty
self-explanatory.  If you find that you can't see the area that you're
selecting, then select option C to change the colour of the box, 
then enter the number of the colour you want the box to be.  
This colour will depend entirely on the pallete of the picture.

When you go to save the data, you will be asked for a filename.
If you enter a directory path then this will be used instead, or 
else the file will be written into the directory where you got the 
PCX file from.

You can also specify a file extension to use instead of the default
one.  This extension will be used for the converted picture data,
but NOT for the pallete data.  The default extensions also depend
on how you're saving the selection.

For example, lets assume a PCX file in the directory C:\PICCIES\MY.PCX.

Saving the selection as:

SELECT

produces the files
 
 C:\PICCIES\SELECT.PAL - This is pallete data in ASM format 
 C:\PICCIES\SELECT.ASM - This is picture data in ASM format

 (for RAW picture data, the default extensions are .RPL and .RAW,
  respectively)
 
 whilst saving as
 
 SELECT.EGG
 
 will produce the files
 
 C:\PICCIES\SELECT.PAL	- The pallete extension remains unchanged
 C:\PICCIES\SELECT.EGG  - But the picture one is
 
This is because I couldn't be arsed to have to type 2 seperate
things just to save a file.  Plus, I figure that you might have more
reason to change the extension of a picture file rather than the 
pallete data..

And that, as they say in the TRADE, is that!  

Any comments? Email me at

    a.partington@lancaster.ac.uk (term-time only!).

DON'T send any emails saying that it should support more resolutions
and file formats etc etc - I KNOW!!!  And if by some remote chance
this program corrupts your hard drive, destroys your monitor or causes
global warming, TOUGH!  I can't be held responsible - in the end,
it's up to you if you type the magic words SHAOLIN.EXE or not...

Peace.

 - Silver Fox/Tesko!