aVa icon 32 aVa, another Viewer again


aVa version 0.8, for BeOS R3.

Advertissement , Installation , Usage , Description , I cant understand that , Miscellaneous , Bugs and problems . History..


ADVERTISSEMENT:

This is the first BeWare application with documentation in pidgin. If the following is too shocking, try the french version.

By using this software the user agrees that the authors will not be liable for any damage caused directly or indirectly. There is no warranty for this software. Use it at your own risk. This software can be distributed freely as long as no files are changed, added or removed and as long as it is not sold commercially.


INSTALLATION:

- See warnings after.

- Manually:

- With Terminal application: WARNING 1: Some aVa library names may clash with previously installed libraries. If you have libraries with the following names:
- libjpeg.so, libjpegc.so or libjpegd.so, dont install from aVa this libraries and the following ImageTypes handlers: ImageType_jpg, ImageType_ijg_gif.
- libpng.so or libz.so, dont install from aVa this libraries and the following ImageTypes handler: ImageType_png.

WARNING 2: If ImageType handlers are not installed in default place, file /boot/home/config/boot/UserSetupEnvironment shall be edited to define environment variable IMAGETYPES with path of handlers directory (NB, BeOS shall be restarted):
# to reach ImageTypes handlers
export IMAGETYPES=<where you like rooted path>

WARNING 3: if /boot/config/lib is not in BELIBRARIES path list (this can be tested by typing shell command set in a Terminal window), the following line shall also be added in /boot/home/config/boot/UserSetupEnvironment:
BELIBRARIES="/boot/home/config/lib;$BELIBRARIES"


USAGE:

Assuming that you have some image/ mime typed files, drag and drop this files on aVa icon or double click on aVa icon to run file panel.

NB: aVa can also use R3 Translation Kit. See settings.


DESCRIPTION:

- What is a document? just a lot of images with the "Edit" and "View" windows.

- Clipping rectangle is rectangle with squares on border in Edit window. It is also View window boundaries. It is the same (in size) for all images in the document.

- Offset of clipping rectangle can be adjusted for each image in the document.

- Main menu (with aVa icon aVa icon 16 ) is application menu and acts on/for all opened documents. Item "Open..." acts as dragging of file/files onto application icon:

- Edit menu and View menu are document menus and acts only on/for this document. Some Edit menu items are only for Edit window currently displayed image.

- Quitting: via main menu, Edit menu or Edit window close box. If items requiring save are changed (see settings), a dialog box is displayed. If answer is yes, quit is canceled and you can save document using Edit menu.

- save panel: in save panel for images, if you use '=' as files name, files are saved with name unchanged else name of saved images will be <name>.xxx with xxx from 000 to ... Images are clipped but never scaled when saved.

- with mouse:

- with keyboard:

I CANT UNDERSTAND THAT:

- It is strange that when a document is saved, document images and informations as title ... are not changed, as are doing many editors: aVa is a viewer not an editor.

- If in settings, option "images are loaded via bitmap cache" is set, and if an image is already loaded in cache, update to handler settings for load isnt used when image is redisplayed.

- If an image is loaded in cache and displayed twice or more, image gamma value is shared.

- Why two windows, "Edit" and "View"? Why not, the 1st to do somethings, the 2nd to see what you do.

- Why many software piece? Linker 64K restricted version, but design for handlers.

- PNG library and handler are not in Intel delivery, I cant build library with restricted version of linker, sorry.


MISCELLANEOUS:

- Remerciements, thanks, muchas gracias to libjpeg, libpng and libz authors.

- libjpeg was build with sources from "the Independent JPEG Group's software" release 6a of 7-Feb-96.

- libpng was build with sources from "The Contributing Authors and Group 42, Inc." version 0.96.

- libz was build with sources from "Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler" version 1.0.4, Jul 24th, 1996.

- For libjpeg, libpng and libz, go to ftp.uu.net/graphics.

- aVa icon is from shadocks eyes.

- Some diagnostics may be found in /tmp/spy.*.

- Next release of BeOS (R4?) will have something like Translation Kit. Wait and see.


BUGS AND PROBLEMS:

- aVa can load image files only if they are "image/" mime typed or not mime typed.

- When scale isnt 100% and settings option "use update rect" active, there is sometimes a noise of 1 pixel in updated windows.

- Sometimes, folders are not application/x-vnd.Be-directory mimetyped, select folder with mouse and use FileType Add-Ons to repair.

- Black and white images (B_GRAY1 bitmaps) are white or transparent when scale isnt 100%.

- With "Select by stamp" in Edit menu, an image shall ever be selected else application may crash (a poor solution is to disable option in settings).

- Gamma work well for screen but not ever for an image. A solution may be to save document as text and reload it manually updated.

- I have not found a way to save images with R3 delivery translators (BMP, TGA and TIFF) and BeWare is poor in translators today. Beware ArchivedBitmapTranslator is a good way for image exchange.

- Dont change screen when aVa is running, that is not implemented.

- And all what I have not seen.


HISTORY:

- V0.8 98-05-31, BeOS R3 and some new features:

- V0.5 98-02-22: first BeWare release.



Enjoy

apsed@easynet.fr