
Coughing, from the smoke and rubble of what has been quite a long time, 
arises the new and improved:




                             /\                 /\
             //\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/  S P X  CREATOR \///////////////\\


SPX designed by Gizmo of Electronic Images.
SPX creator (GEM version) by The Phantom of Electronic Images.

Yes, the program you've all been waiting for (almost) has arrived!


First of all, let's do the legal bits:
This program is public domain and can be freely distributed as long as it 
contains the following files:

SPXCREAT.PRG            The actual creator.
SPX_V17.PRG (or above)  The program to view your SPX's.
SYNCTEST.PRG            A screen syncronisation display program.
CNVGIZMO.PRG            The program to convert Gizmo's creator SPX's.
SPXCREAT.TXT            This text file.
SPX_SHOW.DOC            User manual for the display program.
UPDATE.DOC              Update file (!).


Ice Packer is by Axe of Superior.
Atomik packer by Altair of VMAX/MCS.
Internal packer by Russ Payne.
Spectrum 512 (C) Antic Publishing.


Please check section 7 (contributors) for acknowledgements.




SECTION 1 - Notes.

  Firstly, there are two versions of the creator.  One of them is Gizmo's 
which is text-driven and has more than 10 screens for users with more memory 
(more of that later).  It also has better editing facilities (like insert and 
delete picture) but does not compress SPX's (beleive us when we say that 
there were fists flying when both Phantom and Gizmo argued about who's 
creator is better!!).  Secondly, any version of the SPX shower that is 1.7 or 
less will NOT display Gizmo's format.  Gizmo's creator saves an unpacked SPX 
that loads fine on ANY of the SPX showers.  Fine.  BUT it also allows you to 
pack the entire SPX using ICE packer 2.1.  This causes problems since the 
header is packed (therefore unreadable).  There is a solution to this but you 
will have to wait until version 1.8 (or above) of the shower to display 
Gizmo's SPX's.  If you find you cannot display an SPX, then you can do two 
things:

  Unpack the SPX (using a program like multi-depack by Mug UK) so it is in a 
raw form (therefore can be displayed by any SPX shower).  OR

Run CNVGIZMO.PRG to convert Gizmo's format to the standard format.

There is a slight problem with Gizmo's RAW SPX's.  In the header they have 
version 2 - This causes unpacked files to crash (!) in the 1.8 (or above) 
shower.  If you have this problem, pack the SPX with ATOMIK 3.5 or CNVGIZMO.



SECTION 2 - Using CNVGIZMO.PRG

  This program uses a batch file so you can leave it overnight or whatever 
when you want to convert one or more SPX's (it also serves to compress raw 
SPX's). This program ONLY converts Gizmo's (totally ICE packed raw SPX's) or 
just raw SPX's.  It does not re-convert old version SPX's.

  You need a normal ASCII text file called BATCHSPX.CNV in the same directory 
as CNVGIZMO.PRG.  FIles are taken in sets of two; one for source, one for 
destination.  The source file name can match the destination (therefore 
writing over the old one).  Here's an example of a batch SPX file:

C:\HORSES.SPX
G:\HORSES2.SPX

E:\KNEES.SPX
E:\KNEES.SPX

  In the example above, the convertor will convert 'C:\HORSES.SPX' and then 
save it out as 'G:\HORSES2.SPX'.  Then it will convert 'E:\KNEES.SPX' and 
save it over itself (overwriting it).

  Please note that the batch file handler has no error-checks - spurious text 
of remarks will be taken as filenames!  During conversion the mouse may 
appear and disappear at regular intervals - don't worry, this is just the 
packer working.  Note that the converted SPX can only be viewed with version 
1.7 (or above) of the shower.




SECTION 3 - Using the creator.

  When you run the SPX creator the screen will 'jump' or not depending on 
which shifter (graphics) chip you have in the ST.  This is normal, as SPX 
creator is checking which version of the chip you have (this is associated 
with the border removal).  You will then be presented with a GEM screen with 
all the functions available to create your SPX.

 Loading a picture. -  First of all, select which screen you want the picture 
to be loaded into; this is done by clicking on the relevant box next to the 
'Screen 1' (etc) boxes.  Note that depending on the memory you have 
available, some or all of these boxes are selectable.  Then, select LOAD (the 
disk icon) and select your file (either a normal (.SPU) Spectrum 512 picture 
or a compressed (.SPC) one).  So, for instance, if you want to load a picture 
into screen 2, select the box next to 'Screen 2' and load your file by 
clicking on the disk icon.  Note that this version of SPX creator will NOT 
load SPX pictures.

 Viewing an SPX.    -  Just click on the view (the 'eye') icon!  To stop at 
your required screen just select which screen the view is to end at (by 
selecting the 'Screen 1' (etc) boxes).  When viewing, use the cursor keys or 
the + and - keys on the keypad to scroll/view your SPX.  Pressing the space 
bar while viewing will return you to the creator.  Note that when you view an 
SPX it will always begin from screen 1.

You may sometimes get odd 'dots' on your picture.  Do not worry, this is due 
to the video chip not being syncronised properly, and not due to corruption 
in your picture.  To avoid this it is best to switch off your ST for no less 
than 10 seconds and then switch it back on.  The program included with the 
creator (SYNCTEST.PRG) will tell you if your ST is syncronised properly.  If 
you see vertical stripes on the screen, then it is.  If not, switch off your 
ST and try again.  It is not essential to have your ST syncronised, but it 
DOES improve the picture when it looks like what it is supposed to look like!

 Clearing an SPX.   -  This is the little red box next to the SPX handler 
box.  Please be careful with this as there is no UNDO and will completely 
destroy any SPX in memory.

 Miscellaneous.     - These are just for convenience.  'File selector' simply 
brings up the file selector (handy if you have the excellent UIS file 
selector installed or something similar).  'Disk space' returns with the 
number of bytes you have in your SAVE path.  This is useful if you want to 
check your disk space before you save (although SPX checks for you anyway) 
without the hassle of calling up a file selector.

 Compression        - This only takes effect when you SAVE an SPX.  It 
chooses between compressed and uncompressed (RAW) SPX's.

 Resolution         - The options here are currently disabled.  The 
'resolution' option is currently being developed (see 'AUTHOR'S NOTES' 
below).




SECTION 4 - Saving your SPX.

  Once you are happy with your SPX, either by instinct or by viewing your 
creation (usually the more reliable!), first select the height of your SPX by 
selecting the boxes next to the 'Screen 1' (etc) boxes.  For example, if your 
SPX is 6 screens high, then select the box next to 'Screen 6'.

  After that, select either the 'Author' or 'Description' text boxes and type 
in whatever you feel you ought to type!  Please do this BEFORE you save your 
SPX.

  When you are sure you have done everything right, select SAVE.

 Saving with compression ON:
Because the packer/compressor completely destroys your SPX in the process of 
compressing your SPX, you are given a second chance to re-think your choice! 
 If you proceed, you are told to wait while it goes forth and compresses your 
SPX.  Depending on the size/complexity of your SPX, this may take from a 
couple of seconds to several minutes (for example, a test 6-screen SPX with a 
lot of detail took over 6 minutes!).  When it is done, you will be presented 
with a few statistics regarding how well it has performed;  click on 'OK' and 
you can now save your SPX.  Note that even if you cancel the save, your SPX 
will still have been destroyed!  If you do not have enough disk space, SPX 
creator will let you re-try another disk/path.
 Saving with compression OFF:
This is exactly the same as saving compressed SPX's, except that it doesn't 
compress them!  This means that it immediately saves the SPX with no 
compression (be prepared - the SPX may be up to 500K big!) so you can batch 
pack it with Ice Packer 2.1, Atomik Packer 3.5 or CNVGIZMO.PRG later on. 
SPX'S packed with ICE or ATOMIK can only be viewed with SPX SHOWER 1.8 or 
above.

 Congratulations, you now have a baby SPX!!  We have to remind you that SPX 
pictures created with this creator can only be viewed with SPX shower/s of 
version 1.7 or above (which we kindly include with this creator!).




SECTION 5 - How do I actually GET to make something 6 screens high?

  Well, there are several ways to do this:

 1) (This is how Gizmo makes all of his SPX's)  You need an IBM PC or 
compatible, preferably with VGA graphics.  You then get hold of a GIF picture 
with a resolution above 320x200, or you use a colur scanner (which generates 
GIF's).  Them you take your GIF picture and use a program like Autodesk 
Animator Convert and load up the GIF picture.  It will then allow you to 
scroll around the picture and save a 320x200 GIF.  Gizmo selects his desired 
horizontal area (because SPX's are not wider than 320 pixels, which luckily 
is VGA's reolution), saves one picture, then moves the mouse down to the 
bottom of the screen and drags the GIF up one screen, saves another picture, 
and so on.  Right, now here's where you REALLY have to be careful.  The 
amount you scroll vertically to the next screen is 199 pixels, NOT 200.  This 
is because Spectrum 512 pictures cannot display line 1, therefore only having 
199 lines.  This is something to have in mind if you want to create your own 
SPX's within your program (see 'DEVELOPERS' section below).  Just by luck, 
Autodesk's scroll when you drag one screen up is 199 pixels!!  He then 
converts the GIF to a Spectrum picture using either of these two excellent 
packages on the ST - Steve Belczyk's GIFSPC or DMJ's GIF (version 3).  If you 
are reading this and have converted GIF's before, we'd like to hear from you! 
Please write to the address below - we await your call!

 2) Draw an SPX.  First, you draw one screen in Spectrum 512.  Save it.
Then, cut out about 30 pixels off the bottom and move it to the top of the 
screen so you have some kind of reference.  Then draw the rest and continue 
to do so until your desired height, and every time you fill a screen (MINUS 
the cut-out) you save it to disk.

 3) Wait until The Phantom figures out GIF pictures!

 4) Or wait until someone else decides to do an SPX convertor (see the 
'DEVELOPERS' section below).

 5) Post note - or use VIEWGIF 2.0.

  The size of a picture on-screen in SPX (before scrolling) is 320 pixels 
horizontally by 276 pixels vertically.




SECTION 6 - Author's notes.

And now, here's The Phantom:

  Before anything, I must enlighten you about the 'resolution' box in the 
creator.  It is currently disabled since more and more ideas cropped up and 
I'm all tied up doing the new routines.  For version 2 expect to see either 
or all of these resoltions (on a normal ST) available: 320x552 (512 colour) 
640x552 (16 colour) 460x276 / 460x552 (512 colour) 920x552 (512 colour) and 
1840x552 (16 colour).

  First of all, I'd like to say why I chose GEM for SPX creator.  I have seen 
many programs done with flashy menus and all these special effects - most of 
which were blatantly un-user friendly and the purpose for all those 
background graphics was just for decoration (them not noticing it was hard to 
read!).  By using GEM, you, the user, can change screen colours to taste, 
have any background program/task running plus be assured that when it 
crashes, it does NOT take the whole thing down with it!!  This was quite a 
bother to do, but I think you'll prefer it!  Because of this GEM feature, SPX 
creator will run in high resolution!!  You will NOT be able to display an SPX 
in high resolution.

  Secondly, because of the way the picture is displayed on the screen, people 
with cached/accelerated ST/E's or Mega STe's will not be able to view SPX's. 
 Well, you will, but they will look somewhat garbled to say the least! If you 
can switch your cache/accelerator off then everything will be fine. This does 
NOT mean you can create your SPX WITHOUT an accelerator.  If you have an 
accelerated ST/E/TT and you do NOT use the view function, you can still 
create your SPX (quicker since the compressing will be faster!).

The speed of your machine to VIEW SPX's is at 8Mhz with cache disabled.

  Thirdly, the creator SHOULD work in multi-tasking environments.  That is, 
until you view an SPX.  Then everything will halt and will only return to 
normal once you return to the creator.  I have NOT tested this but it should 
work OK since I've tried to be the least naughty with the ST's hardware and 
kept refraining myself from using those 'cheats' that I'm so used to!

  Last, but not least, the creator should work on ALL makes of ST/E, and Mega 
STE (taking in consideration the second point above).  I have tested it out 
on thousands (plus or minus a few!) of ST's with some problems, but I 
corrected them all, so it should be OK.




SECTION 7 - Acknowledgements.

  Ben Griffin - For the RSC file handler and all things GEM!  We must mention 
that both he and Phantom will be releasing at some point or another a demo 
with a difference!  Out some time soon (!).

  Russ Payne  - For the packer.  A thousand thank you's (and also a kick in 
the teeth for neglecting to mention a 'hidden' feature about his packed 
files!) and a handshake also for the chat over the past few years.




SECTION 8 - Developers.

  If you want to create your own SPX's within your program, then write to the 
address below and we will pass judgement whether or not to supply you with 
the relevant information.  Please note that you will be automatically 
excluded if your program is solely for commercial gain.  This is in keep with 
the true spirit of Public Domain/Shareware.  If you are accepted, you will be 
registered (more of that below) and sent a full developer's pack.  For it to 
go that far we need examples/proof of your program/previous work, and a good 
reason to do so!




SECTION 9 - Registration.

  We could have made this program shareware, with a cut-down version 
available to the general public.  Not so.  We feel that you should have the 
full version first with no obligation.  If you DO want to contribute (just 
think of the man-hours put into our software!) then you will be registered in 
our database (aren't we getting flash!) and be sent any new information 
regarding SPX or any new Electronic Images software.  Also you would be the 
first to receive the 'secret project' which has been in development for just 
over two years (the release date is still a while away though)!  We suggest a 
minimum 'charity contribution' of 5 UK pounds.  If you feel like writing a 
cheque then write to The Phantom first and he will pass the relevant details 
to you.  We must stress again that you are under NO OBLIGATION to send money, 
but it would show some support if you do!  If you want any other things from 
us (like information etc etc) and the required routines/software then make 
sure you send any blank disks if needed.  You do NOT need to send money for a 
reply.  It would help if you sent stamps or better still if you are from 
outside the UK, International Reply Coupons for the return post, since last 
time SPX was released, there was a phenomenal amount of mail!




SECTION 10 - The End and other things.

  There will be upgrade versions of SPX coming out soon.  This includes a 
total re-work of SPX in the form of SPX version 2.  This depends on how fast 
The Phantom can code the new display routines he's working on and how fast 
anyone with a knowledge of GIF's gets into contact with him or Gizmo; hint, 
hint!  There are other programs from Electronic Images, of which are:

 A screen saver with a search memory option.
 The fastest 4-channel sample player around.
 A font/sprite saver (with selectable bitplanes).
 A disk archiver (not as good as MSA or Ultra Or Jampack 4 though).

Soon to come (we hope!) in no chronological order:
 Telecommunications software (various applications).
 SPX version 2.
 More 4 channel music utilities.
 And, of course, the fantastic 'secret project'!



If you want to contact The Phantom for anything, then write to the address 
below, remembering to include the relevant blank disk/s if any software is 
required (EG new SPX pictures etc etc).


  The Phantom
  21 Bledlow House
  Capland Street
  London NW8 8RU
  England.



Alternatively, you can call Contact BBS from 9PM to 9AM UK time at this 
number (+44) 081-646-0746 and mail either Master, the sysop, or The Phantom, 
the co-sysop.  Modem speeds are from 300/300 to 2400.  The board is currently 
offline for structural work and will be back on around the middle of June 
1992 with 60Mb online and ALL the SPX's ever created on it (over 130!)!  The 
board will run up to 9600 (and maybe upto 14.4) so downloading the new SPX's 
will be less painful to your wallet.



Well, that's it for now.  We hope you enjoy SPX as much as we do, and, since 
at the time of writimg there are over 130 SPX's (some of which are done by 
people other than us!), there's something for everyone.


Members of Electronic Images are:


 Gizmo
   The Phantom
     Nightowl
       Count Zero
         Griff
           Master
             Yama



This has been an Electronic Images production!

