• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Gif Viewer for 8088?

A

Anonymoose

Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2024
Messages
46
I’m attempting to pimp out my Compaq Portable with some applications and whatnot, wanted to know if there’s some sort of program to display image sequences in a loop. I’ve read of BLOAD being able to display binary images, but my coding knowledge is null. I’m also aware of the XDC codec, but it doesn’t loop. Any thoughts?
 
The GIF file structure is available on the internet.

You could always advance your coding skills from null upwards and have a go yourself...

I assume the use of BLOAD implies BASIC?

Or am I assuming too much?

Dave
 
http://files.mpoli.fi/software/DOS/GRAPHICS/ has a bunch of GIF viewers. http://www.cshowplace.com/cshow.htm is one that should run with the Portable's graphics card. All the viewers are small by today's standards so downloading a few to test out wouldn't be much of a problem.

There are a number of GIF decoders in source code for C. I don't know of any program that converts a GIF into a BLOADable graphic. BLOAD has a lot of limitations which most GIF files won't be able to fit in.
 
If you want animation you might look into the FLC format (FLC/FLI/FLA) I recall these being more popular than animated gifs back in the day.
 
daver2 said:
The GIF file structure is available on the internet.

You could always advance your coding skills from null upwards and have a go yourself...

I assume the use of BLOAD implies BASIC?

Or am I assuming too much?

Dave
Click to expand...
No worries, it’s probably about time I learn some sort of code given my interest in these old machines.
 
Anonymoose said:
No worries, it’s probably about time I learn some sort of code given my interest in these old machines.
Click to expand...
I'd reference the post by krebizfan. I used to use cshow all time back in the day. As for the other comment... No Comment.
 
GloriousCow said:
If you want animation you might look into the FLC format (FLC/FLI/FLA) I recall these being more popular than animated gifs back in the day.
Click to expand...

Autodesk Animator! I'm still kicking myself for not keeping all the stuff I made with that...

For the OP, I should add: GIF looping was an extension of the format by Netscape, around 1996 or so. Animated gifs weren't widely used or supported before that point, so 8088 players are going to be few and far between... cshow is probably your best bet.
 
Hi,

What are you trying to do? How many images? What color depth? GRASP .GL files can display images in a loop easily. If it is a compaq portable can we assume 640x200x2 color images?

Thanks,

Chris
 
Welll in a perfect world it would be nice to see some sort of animated loop of images (not necessarily a gif) as a fun demonstration. I didn’t have a set number of images or color depth in mind, just thought I’d make a post about it in case someone had any ideas. 640x200x2 works for me! I’ve never heard of GRASP, I’ll do some research :)
 
If you want to still go the animated GIF route, you should give lxpic a try:

http://hplx.pgdn.de/

While it started out as a viewer for the HP 100LX palmtop, it has been greatly expanded to cover a lot more standard screen resolutions from CGA up to VESA. You can use it to view a number of other image formats like jpeg too. All this in a 20K .COM program that's designed to run on an 8088 with as little as 64K of RAM.

There are a few other programs at that site which will help you to trick out your Compaq.
 
Hi,

I had been meaning to post this. For some reason these files aren't easy to search for anymore via search engines. It could be that there are less and less sites that specifically host this kind of DOS content. Anyway, here is a file that will let you view and create your own .GL files.

There are also some example GL files for CGA with a folder specifically for composite mode. There are two utilities to make GL files, one is much easier and is not official software from GRASP. At some point I had made a file on my own but couldn't find it. Many GL files are NSFW but I made sure none of them are in this archive.

You will need to be able to create .PIC files (Pictor PC Paint file format.)

If you want to make your own converter here are the specifications: https://www.fileformat.info/format/pictor/egff.htm

I didn't find an easy way to make a .PIC file but you can open a file and save it using PC Paint which you can download here.

Thanks,

Chris
 
Attached is a GL file that I made today. It is some dancing skelton cartoon from a long time ago. I grabbed off of youtube, picked 16 frames that looped well, converted them to 640x200x2 colors, saved as PCX 1-bit files, used Graphics Workshop to convert to .PIC files. Extracted the GL TXT file "program" from another GL file, edited to include my frames and used GLCOMP to turn back into a GL file. Proper player it included. Enjoy.
 

Attachments

  • Skelton.zip
    263.9 KB · Views: 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top