      Product Name:  Bitmap to Data Converter
      Release:  Version 1.5
      Date:  12-21-98
      Author:  Justin Hill
      License:  FREEWARE

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   BUG FIXES                 |
------------------------------

    10-23-98 - Version 1.0
       Original release

    12-21-98 - Version 1.5
       -Fixed bug preventing conversion of bitmaps larger than
        65,535 bytes.

       -Fixed bug not correctly displaying the total size of
        the bitmap.

------------------------------
   INTRODUCTION              |
------------------------------

     What is Bitmap to Data converter all about?  This program is
     designed for DOS game programmers who still enjoy programming
     in mode 13h.  Well, I personally like designing my graphics
     with Microsoft Paint.  The problem is the file format in which
     it saves graphics.  The .BMP file format is no fun to work with
     when it comes to writing games.  Not to mention, I feel that it
     is unprofessional to include them "as is" with the game.  So, I
     decided to create a command line converter that would open these
     files and store the palette data in one file, and the image
     data in another.  I wanted both files organized in a linear
     fashion so that your game could read in the files at runtime
     quickly and easily.  What's the big deal you ask?  Well, BMP
     files are stored in a bottom up format.  This means that the
     first scan line of the image starts in the lower left corner
     of the file!  This fact makes them a pain to read in at runtime.


------------------------------
       INSTALLATION          |
------------------------------

     Minimum System Requirments:

        IBM AT (or compatible)
        Intel 80386 or higher
        MS-DOS or PC-DOS Version 5.0 or better
        A few kilobytes of conventional memory
        

     You may install the converter to any directory you like.  Just
     unzip the archive and extract all the files to the directory of
     your choice.

     The archive should contain the following files:

        bmp2dat.com - The Converter.

        file_id.diz - BBS Description File.

        example.c - Example on the use of the data files
                    created by the converter.

        readme.txt - This file.

     If any of the files listed above are missing, or if any
     other files have been added, please let me know.  See
     contact information section.

    

------------------------------
   HOW TO USE IT             |
------------------------------

     It's easy.  You invoke the converter from the DOS command line
     by typing:  bmp2dat myfile.bmp.  Here's the catch though.  THIS
     PROGRAM WILL ONLY WORK WITH 256-COLOR .BMP FILES!!  When you
     create your bitmaps you MUST save them in this format.  Microsoft
     Paint's default format is 24-bit.  If you try to use the converter
     with this type, you will be dissapointed with the results.  The
     converter will look for the file you entered at the command
     line in the current directory, unless you included a path.  It
     will then create two binary data files.  The first will contain
     the palette information, and will be named "palette.dat".  The
     second will contain the bitmap data and will be named "bitmap.dat".
     Be careful because if there are files present with these names
     they will be overwritten!  You can rename the files to whatever
     you like once the converter is finished.


------------------------------
   HOW TO USE THE NEW FILES  |
------------------------------

     First I'll describe the palette data file.  This file will always
     be 768 bytes in length which is a Red Blue and Green value for
     each color in the palette.  In C you might use a structure like
     this:
            typedef struct
            {
               unsigned char red;
               unsigned char green;
               unsigned char blue;

            } RGB;

     The other file created by the converter is the actual image data.
     The newly created file will be stored as follows:

     OFFSET 0000 - Width of the image in bytes - Double word value
     OFFSET 0004 - Height of the image in bytes - Double word value
     OFFSET 0008 - Start of image data to end of file

     IMPORTANT:  When reading in the width and height, you must read
                 a double word value for each!  This is the way the
                 these values are stored in the BMP file, and I thought
                 it best not to change that.

     *** Please see the included example program 'example.c' ***

     

------------------------------
   CONTACT INFORMATION       |
------------------------------

     If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions I would
     very much like to hear from you!  I have some ideas on how
     the program could be improved, but I wanted to see if there
     was anyone out there who is interested in it.  If you find
     any bugs, I would especially like to know about that.  I am
     also willing to share the source code for the program with
     other programmers who might wonder how it was done.  I wrote
     this program in C and compiled it with the DOS C compiler from
     Borland.

     Email:  justin72@bellsouth.net



------------------------------
      LICENSE AGREEMENT      |
------------------------------

     Section 1.  Intellectual Property Rights.

     Bitmap to Data Converter is protected by United States copyright
     and other intellectual property laws, and all intellectual
     property rights in this product belong to the author.  You may
     not reproduce, publish, transmit, modify, create derivative
     works from, publicly display, or publicly perform the product
     except as noted in section 2.  Copying or storing the product
     other than as permitted in section 2 is expressly prohibited
     unless you obtain prior written permission from the author.

     Section 2.  Permitted and Prohibited Uses.

     Bitmap to Data Converter is licensed as FREEWARE.  You may
     use Bitmap to Data Converter on a single computer for
     your own personal use or for the internal business use of your
     company.  You may include the data files created by the product
     royalty free with your own programs.  You may freely distribute
     the product as long as you include all the files contained in
     the archive as listed above.  You may not charge a fee for the
     product except that which may be required to cover the cost of
     distribution.  You may not rent, lease, or otherwise transfer
     the product except as noted above.  Unless permitted by law, you
     may not reverse engineer, decompile, or dissasemble the product.

     Section 3.  No Warranties.

     BITMAP TO DATA CONVERTER IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS.
     TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL
     WARRANTIES ON THE PRODUCT, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED,
     INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
     MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS,
     AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

     Section 4.  Disclaimer of Consequential Damages.

     UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY
     CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT
     OF THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT,
     INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, COMPUTER FAILURE, WORK STOPPAGE
     OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF
     THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  BECAUSE SOME STATES AND
     COUNTRIES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
     FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMTIATION
     MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
   



