
                 Welcome to XFORMER
                 -------------------

                    February 1993

This documentation contains important information about XFORMER.
This is an update to the previous manual.  Please read this file
before you run XFORMER.


1. Versions of XFORMER

    XFORMER (standard) - handles A/A4 size image (3600 pixels by 3600 pixels)
    XFORMER LF (large) - handles E/A0 size image (32000 pixels by 32000 pixels)
                       - suppports PROFILE (continuous line-arc)
    XFORMER PROFILE    - handles B/A3 size image (6000 pixels by 6000 pixels)
                       - suppports PROFILE (continuous line-arc)


2.  Suggested System Configuration:

    IBM PC/AT or its compatible, with 80286/80386/80486 CPU
    4 MB memory
    A hard disk with 4.0M byte free disk space
    A Microsoft compatible mouse
    MS-DOS or PC-DOS 3.0 or later


3.  The recommended setup for the scanner support are:

    Houston Instrument's LDS 4000
        I/O port            350H
        Memory              D000:0000
        Interrupt Level     7

    HP ScanJet
        I/O port            278H
        Memory              C400:0000

    OA DATA
        We use the DMA channel 1.  If you do have other boards installed
        in your personal computer, please check if there is any conflict
        in the DMA channel.

    Panasonic FX-RS505
        I/O address         100H

    Prolab PS4000G
        I/O address         288H
        Interrupt Level     7

    Prolab PS4200C
        I/O address         2A8H
        Interrupt Level     7

    UMAX UF-32
        I/O address         300H
        We use the DMA channel 1.  If you do have other boards installed
        in your personal computer, please check if there is any conflict
        in the DMA channel.

    Microtek
     /***********************************************************/
     /*  Note to Microtek Scanner Users:                        */
     /*                                                         */
     /*    The default scanner port address is set to 200.      */
     /*    If you use other address, you need to specify it     */
     /*    in xform.ini file.                                   */
     /*    The line                                             */
     /*            SCANPORT   200                               */
     /*    should be changed to                                 */
     /*            SCANPORT   port_addr                         */
     /*                                                         */
     /*    where port_addr is the port address of your Microtek */
     /*    scanner.   For example,  if you set the scanner at   */
     /*    address 300, the 10th line of xform.ini file should  */
     /*    be:                                                  */
     /*            SCANPORT  300                                */
     /*                                                         */
     /*                                                         */
     /***********************************************************/


4.  To Install

    You must install XFORMER before it can be used.
    XFORMER diskette contains an installation program. Please type

      >INSTALL [ENTER]

    Then follow the instructions provided by the install program to
    install XFORMER.


5.  To run XFORMER DEMO

    Following XFORMER DEMO scripts are provided:

      DEMOQUIK  - for fast machines
      DEMO      - for all machines
      DEMOSLOW  - for slow machines
      DEMO2     - for most machines with math coprocessor, demonstrating
                  Interactive/Manual Tracing
      DEMOP     - for machines with math coprocessor,
                  demonstrating PROFILE capabilities (NOT available in A-size)

     To use any of them, just type it and ENTER.


6.  Number of Graphic Objects and Image Pages

    Large image file and large number of objects require large amount of
    RAM and disk space.  The operation and performance of XFORMER depends
    heavily on the these memories.

    Maximum number of graphic objects per strip that XFORMER allows to
    create can be set in XFORM.INI file:

      M_OBJECTS Objects KBytes imagebuffer_pages displaybuffer_pages

    We suggest CAD users to use a number 3000 or more for 'Objects' if the
    system has 8 MB RAM available.  The absolute maximum is 32600.

    The second number, 'KBytes',  is used to specify memory for objects.
    If a number larger than 18000 is given for 'KBytes', XFORMER will try
    to determine the maximum safe memory and will adjust it automatically.
    User may lower that number if need be.

    The third number is used to set Image RAM pages.
    The fourth number is used to set Image Display RAM pages.

  Image Pages

      Image (TIF, RLC, or PCX) in XFORMER resides on physical memory (RAM) or
    virtual memory (Disk) in the form of pages.
      If most of image resides in RAM, the image procesing, conversion, and
    display will be faster.  However, if most of image resides on disk, the
    image procesing, conversion, and display will be faster.
      XFORMER requires a minimum of 8 pages, each page holding a number of
    image rows no more than 32768 pixels.  If there is not enough Extended
    Memory to hold this minimum (8*32K=256K bytes), XFORMER will not run.

      The amount of total availble Extended Memory that can be allocated
    as Image RAM pages may be varied by changing M_OBJECTS parameter 3.
    Each page requires 32K bytes of RAM space.

  Display Pages

    To facilitate fast display, separate memory pages in RAM are used for
    display.  The more display pages XFORMER has, the faster the display
    it will be.


  Disk Space

    XFORMER need additional disk space to store image during its operations.
    The amount of disk space is dependent on the image size.  It is roughly
    computable as follows:

      Disk Space needed by XFORMER to process an image =
              (ImageWidth + 7) / 8 * Image_Length


7.  To run XFORMER, type

      XFORM
       or
      XFORM filename

    where filename is the name for image file ( in TIFF, PCX, or RLC format )


8.  Note on issuing DOS command under XFORMER

    If you want to use DOS command under XFORMER, do not use

      MODE = xxxx

    this will mess up the screen.


9.  Note for DPMI users

    XFORMER uses Phar Lap DOS-Extender to run in DOS Protected mode.
    If you have previously installed other memory manager which has
    the  DPMI  feature,  there could be some conflict in the memory
    management, please disable that memory manager when you use the
    XFORMER.

    For example:
      If you use EMM386 comment out the statement
        "Device = EMM386.SYS..." in your CONFIG.SYS file.
      If you installed 386MAX.PRO, you may need to add a statement:
        "NODPMI" in 386MAX.PRO file.


10.  Two types of on-screen HELP are available:

    HELP MENU
        Pull-Down the HELP Menu and select any desired command.
        Then you can browse through the available HELP topics.

    TOOL/COMMAND HELP
        a. Move the mouse cursor over to a desired Tool Box or Command.
        b. Hit the F1 Key while the mouse cursor is over the desired
           Tool Box or Command.
        c. A brief description of the tool or command appears in the text
           dialog box.
        d. If you click on the text which is displayed in light blue color,
           additional information is available.


11. HPGL file format support

    You can now save the objects on XFORMER windows into HPGL or HPOGL2 file
    format.   Simply specify the name of the file to be saved and select
    "HP" or "HP2" from the SAVE command under FILE menu.

    You can in one session, select "HPGL" or "HPGL2", but not both.

  Support for HPGL
    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  x  x  0

    where x is an irrelevant number.

  Support for HPGL2
    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  x  x  1

    where x is an irrelevant number.


12. PLT (and PRF) file format support

    You can save the objects on XFORMER windows into several file formats
    for cutters/plotters.

  a. Support for Elcee's PRF (close to ISO standard)
    This is available only on PROFILE version.
    XFORMER PROFILE outputs 'profile' objects in a special .PRF file format.
    Details of this file format is described in Chapter VI of User's Manual.

    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  x  0  x

    where x is an irrelevant number.

  b. Support for Autodesk's PLT
    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  x  1  x

    where x is an irrelevant number.

  c. Support for HP's 7445 (HPGL)
    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  x  2  x

    where x is an irrelevant number.


  Relevant Parameters

   a. A parameter in file "XFORM.ini" is used to control the granularity of
      coordinate values.

      PLT_UNIT 1026

    where 1026 indicates there are 1026 plotter steps in 1 'inch'.

   b. Layer
     For Autodesk's 'PLT' and 7445 type 'plt' files, all curves (objects)
     of same layer are output for a pen.  In other words, Pen Change
     command are issued only for each new layer.


13. PS and EPS file format support

    Currently PS output is designed for output to Postscript printer.

    EPS include image output.

    Please contact Elcee for EPS output to export to another application.
    Or you would edit the PS or EPS output for only minor differences exist.

  Support for PS
    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  0  x  x

  Support for EPS
    Make sure the line in file "XFORM.ini":
      PS_PLT_HP  1  x  x


14. Circle or Circular ARC SHAPING

    While holding the "ALT" key down, you can click on the "ELLIPSE" tool
    to reshape a polyline or polygon object into a circular arc or circle
    object, respectively.  Depending on the shape of the original object,
    you may have to lower the value of "CURVEFIT" parameter in the
    "CURVE" command under "PREFER"  menu.


15. DXF file

  DXF OUTPUT

    XFORMER generates DXF file in two fashions, depending on ALL/PART
    selection:
     a. ALL     -  Selected objects will be output as BLOCKED.
                   Unselected objects will be output unBLOCKED.
     b. PART    -  Selected objects will be output as unBLOCKED.

     Text objects will be output as DXF text.

  DXF INPUT

     Only unblocked objects will be loaded.
     Texts will not be loaded.


16. Important Operations for creating/editing PROFILE

    1. OBJECT menu SMOOTH command  - may be used to smooth a curve, and
                                     to 'break' (continuity) the POLYLINE
    2. PREFER menu LINEFIT command - set line fit parameter
    3. PREFER menu CURVE  command  - set arc fit parameter, and
                                     continuity 'break'
    4. OBJECT toolbox GRAB   - grab vectices of POLYLINE and POLYGON

    5. Bezier, B Spline, Profile, Line FIT tools
      A Polyline, Bezier or other curve may be converted into a Profile.
      A Profile may be converted into Polyline, Bezier or other curve.

    6. Other tools: CONNECT, CLEAVER, SCISSOR, TWEEZER
    7. Other Commands: OBJECT/JOIN, OBJECT/MERGE


17. Output of curve
     Depending of file format, XFORMER may convert a curve into polylines
     or polygons before generating the necessary entities.
     The following statement file "XFORM.ini" is relevant:

     SEGMENT 32 x

     where 32 indicates every curve of 1 inch in length will be output as
        32 segments.


18. HYBRID Object

    (Online help is available also).
    While touching lines and circ. arcs may be formed into a PROFILE.
    touching POLYLINE, OPEN_BEZIER, and OPEN_B_SPLINE curves
    may be formed into a HYBRID object.

    To do this, select all almost touching objects, and use
    SHIFT-PROFILE tool.  (Holding down Shift key and click on PROFILE
    fit tool).  More than one HYBRID object may result.
    Note that this process will result into PROFILE objects, if the components
    are (2-point) POLYLINE and CIRC-ARCs.

    Like PROFILE object, an interior point of HYBRID object may be
    CLEAVEd into two objects.  Each new object may be individually edited.

    Two HYBRID (or PROFILE) objects with close endpoints may be joined back
    into one via OBJECT/JOIN command.


19. XFORMER Log File

    XFORMER generates a log file, named XFORM.LOG, to record some system
    activities.

    It is possible to specify a name by using /L option:

    >XFORM  /L=logfilename

    A log file wlll have .LOG extension.


20. Technical Support

    If you have a question/problem about XFORMER, please fax your problem
    report sheet to:

       Elcee Computek, Inc.
       Technical Support Department
       Spanish River Plaza
       500 N.E. Spanish River Blvd
       Boca Raton, Florida  33431
       FAX: (407) 750-8057

21. Canadian Distributor:

    Xformer is being distributed in Canada by

    Plustek Canada Inc.
    151 Brunel Road
    Unit #5
    Mississauga, Ontario
    L4Z 2H6
    Tel:(416)890-9300
    Fax:(416)890-9802

    
