info-mac@uw-beaver (01/04/85)
From: Eric <LAVITSKY@RUTGERS.ARPA>
Hi,
I have updated Macqms to create an output file without all the
positioning information. This is for the purpose of inserting the
picture into a document with a system like Scribe. It is assumed
that whatever system is used will create the space for the picture
and position it properly within the document. I am also including
the documentation that is being used here at Rutgers. It gives a few
details of the bitmap formats for the different machines and how to
use pictures from within Scribe. While this stuff is probably pretty
specific to our site, it should provide some insights on how it
could/should be done elswhere.
Eric
[Eric's MACQMS is written in Pascal and runs on TOPS20. The program
and document are stored on <info-mac>macqms.pas and macqms.pasdoc.
Below some sections from the document.]
MACQMS
A Macintosh To QMS Bitmap
Conversion Facility
By: Eric Lavitsky
26 December 1984
Center For Computer and Information Services
Rutgers University
Piscataway, New Jersey
1. Introduction
1.1. Overview
The Program is written in Rutgers Pascal and was inspired and based on
MACIMP.PAS from Ed Pattermann at Stanford and MACQMS.C by Van Jacobsen at
Lawrence Berkely Laboratory. The latter version would not work at our site, so
I set out to write one in Pascal which could also be transported to other
sites/Pascals.
After a general understanding of the MacPaint and QUIC formats is accquired, it
would be a fairly trivial project to insert Macintosh pictures into your own
documents for printing on the QMS. The Macintosh image could also be converted
for output on various other devices. The appendices at the end of this document
may give you some insights. I would also recommend looking through the source
code to see how the conversion is done. If these don't provide enough
information, I have found the QMS programmers' manual to be an invaluable
resource in my efforts.
My thanks to Charles Mcgrew for his undying enthusiasm and contributions.
1.2. System Requirements
What you will need:
- Macintosh computer with or without external disk drive
- MacTerminal V1.1 or MacKermit
- Modem or hardwired line to the DEC-20
- The MODEM or Kermit program on the DEC-20
- A Mac disk with MacPaint images on it (MacPaint is not needed)
2. Transferring files to the host computer
2.1. Modem and MacTerminal 1.1
2.1.1. Macintosh Settings
2.1.2. Transferring the file to the DEC-20
2.2. Kermit
2.2.1. Macintosh Settings
2.2.2. Transferring Files To The DEC-20
3. Running MACQMS
The MacPaint image has now been transferred to the 20. You can now go ahead and
convert it to a format suitable for printing on the QMS Lasergrafix 1200
printer. You can convert it to be printed as a seperate document (standalone)
or to be inserted in a document (document).
3.1. Converting Images For Standalone Printing
Suppose we called the picture file 'MAC-PICTURE.PIC'. To convert it to QMS
format, run MACQMS on the 20:
@MACQMS.EXE
MACQMS will prompt you for several things:
MacQMS - A Mac Bitmap File to QMS Conversion Program
Mac Filename to be Converted > MAC-PICTURE.PIC.1
Output filename > MAC-PICTURE.LG1200.1
Image Type > STANDALONE
Enter magnification desired > 4
Change default positioning parameters? No
Processing file MAC-PICTURE.PIC.1 [OK]
Normally you will respond with 'No' to the prompt 'Change default printing
parameters? ' This will produce a full page, 1 image reproduction of the
original mac picture in portrait mode (vertically oriented on the page). What
happens if you respond with 'Yes' at this prompt? ...
MacQMS - A Mac Bitmap File to QMS Conversion Program
Mac Filename to be Converted > MAC-PICTURE.PIC.1
Output filename > MAC-PICTURE.LG1200.1
Image Type > STANDALONE
Change default positioning parameters? Yes
Enter magnification desired > 4
Number of copies > 1
Orientation > P
Images per page > 1
Images per row > 0
X-position > 410
Y-position > 700
Processing file MAC-PICTURE.PIC.1 [OK]
You may enter a value for any of these parameters or enter a carriage return to
use the default value. The settings shown here are the default values which
will print a full page image as described above. You may type a question mark
at any of the prompts for more help.
3.5. Using A Macintosh Picture In Scribe
If you want to use the bitmap image from within a scribe document you must
first run MACQMS on the file and specify 'document' as the image type. In your
SCRIBE source file, include the following where you want the image to appear:
@picture(size=4.25in,nonscaleablelaser=foo.mss)
Where 'foo.mss' is the name of the converted bitmap file. The size tells
SCRIBE how much space to allow for the picture within the text. To determine
what size you should use, use the following table:
MACQMS Magnification SCRIBE Size
4 8.50 in
3 6.40 in
2 4.25 in
1 2.20 in
These are only suggestions, you may get better results by using slightly
different values.
Mail any bug reports, comments to LAVITSKY@RUTGERS
I. MacPaint File Format
The first 512 bytes of the file are the header. The first four bytes comprise
the version number, followed by 38 * 8 = 304 bytes of patterns. The remaining
204 bytes are reserved for future expansion. If the version number is zero,
the patterns are ignored. Hence, programs that wish to create files to be read
into MacPaint can just write out 512 bytes of zero as the header.
Following the header are 720 compressed scanlines of data which form the 576
wide by 720 tall bitmap. The bitmap is compressed as follows: Any run of three
or more equal bytes is compressed into a count byte and a single data byte.
Runs of unequal bytes are passed on literally, preceeded also by a count byte.
<count byte> <data byte>
count = -1..-127 ==> replicate byte 2..128 times
<count byte> <n data bytes>
count = 0..127 ==> copy 1..128 times uncompressed
count = -128 ignored for backward compatibility
II. QMS Quic Bitmap Format
II.1. General Overview
The QMS Lasergrafix 1200 has its' own command language called 'QUIC'. The
printer has an actual resolution of 90,000 dots per square inch and the QUIC
language lets you take full advantage of all the 1200s' graphics capabilities.
The QUIC command language allows selection of fonts and use of downloaded fonts
for multiple fonts on a page, bar codes, line drwaing, box drawing, horizontal
and vertical form drawing, bar charts, pie charts, raster graphics, vector
graphics and area fill. QUIC also provides several powerfull page positioning
commands which allow precise plotting of all QUIC features anywhere on the
page.
II.2. General QUIC Conventions
II.0.1. MacQms File Format