GMSK

G-MSK - Graphical Mode 0 to Sprite Converter

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1. Introduction

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Version: 0.39 alpha

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This FutureOS program allows to convert a part of a Mode 0 Screen (use cursor to choose) to the CPC-Plus Sprite RAM. The Converter uses all 16 CPC-Plus Sprites. You can save the Sprites to disc and use them in your own Demos, Programs and Games.

2. Control of GMSK

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After launching the program, you can use both joysticks, the CPC-keyboard (cursor keys and copy) or some mice (c'est le souris). No lightpen support!

3. How to use the GMSK

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- Insert Disc named "GMSK.dsk" to Drive A. - Start FutureOS throug RSX-command !OS.

- Read Directory of the Drive (first tag A-Icon, then use/tag DIR-Icon).

- Tag file "- G-MSK .64K" - Run Program G-MSK (use RUN-Icon, at down left side).

 (now you should see the CBM-Desktop of the converter).

- Press Copy to activate "File", then - Press Copy to activate "Load Pict.", then

 (read the message, that no file is tagged until yet).

- Press Space to get back to the FutureOS-Desktop (temporarily).

 (now you see the FutureOS-Desktop like usual).

- Press Shift or Control to show the Directories of tagged drives. - Tag picture to convert (place it on the disc previously). - Click at OK-Icon (right side).

 (now you should see the CBM-Desktop of the converter again).

- Press Copy to activate "File". - Press Copy to activate "Load Pict.". - Selekt "Y" and press Copy to load Picture.

 (the picture will be loaded, uncompressed and a PAL-file will be loaded too).
 (You can now choose the arrangement of the sprites, but first ...)

- Move "cursor" right to "Conversion" and press Copy. - Move the graphical cursor to the portion of the screen, which should be

 converted.

- Press Copy again to activate function "Pic. -> Sprite" - Have a look at the Picture and then press Space. - Have a look at the converted Sprites!!! (enjoy it for a while *g* or shout!) - Press Space again go come back... to GMSK ;-)

- Press Copy to activate "File". - Move down three lines (use Cursor-down key). - Press Copy to activate "Save Spri.", to save the new Sprites to Disc. - Hit Return to accept Drive, User and Name (or change it, if you like).

 (don't use little letters, if you want to use the file later with AmsDOS).

- Press Copy to activate Menue "File". - Move completely down (cursor down key) to the bottom of menue "File". - Select function "End" (use Copy). - Select "Yes" and press Copy.

 (now you've left GMSK, you should see the FutureOS-Desktop again).

- Touch Shift or Control key to see the saved Sprites in one of the directories.

 (if not - shout loud! ... mail tfm, kick as and ... then try again).

- Quit FutureOS (... or have some more fun, creating other Sprites).

You can now load the converted Sprites to the ASIC-Sprite-RAM (adress &4000), to work with them. The color-palette of the Sprites is located between &6422 and &643F (&1E Bytes, two bytes for every PEN from 0 to &0F).

4. Supported functions in GMSK

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Menue File:

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- Load Pict. (see 5. Supported graphic formats). - Save Pict. - Load Spri. - Save Spri. - Close (same as End) - Version (shows actual program version) - End

Menue Process:

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- Clear (clears loaded Picture and ASIC-Sprite-RAM)

Menue Options:

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- Colour (but only for PENs, not for Sprites until now). - Language (english, german, french, and others if YOU translate!).

Sprite Format:

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- M0 -> 2(X)*8(Y) (sets 2 Sprites in X and 8 Sprites in Y) - M0 -> 3(X)*5(Y) - M0 -> 4(X)*4(Y) - M0 -> 5(X)*3(Y) - M0 -> 8(X)*2(Y) - every 2. line x (only every second scan line will be used)

Conversion:

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- Pic. -> Sprite (the real function of the program). - Show picture - Show sprites

Help

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- Help - Menue - -$$$- - .www.

5. supported graphic formats

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- native 17 KB CPC screens (from SAVE"PIC",b,&C000,&4000). - 16 KB screens (16 KB pure graphic data, without file-header). - OCP-Screens (uncrunched and crunched) with PALette file.

• If you load an OCP-Art-Studio Screen, GMSK looks automatically for a

 .PAL file. If a .PAL file is present the PENs and Sprite-Colors are set.