HPAVC/HPAVC CD-ROM.iso/pc/TDHELP.ZIP/20

Text File | 1989-12-07 | 3.8 KB | 65 lines

      TIPS ON USING THEDRAW TO MANIPULATE ANSI - RORY GLASGOW    8/88
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There are a number of techniques that we can use to animate ANSI images
with TheDraw.  TheDraw's Copy command is useful to easily move large objects,
but it is slow.  Some objects can be animated much faster "by hand" than with
TheDraw's Block copy command.

For instance, suppose we wanted to move a block from the left of the screen
to the right.  We could use TheDraw's block copy command (ALT-B) then define
the area we wish to use a block function on, then press "C" (for copy) to move
copies of the entire block around.  To do this, you must enter block mode
(ALT-B), then define the corners of the object (since this object is going to
be moving to the right, make sure that you pick up a column of BLANKS to the
left of the object when you define the corners)  This means moving one
space to the left of the object when asked by TheDraw to move the cursor
to the upper left of the object and press <SPACE>).  Next, define the
lower-right corner of the object (normal, in this case).  TheDraw will
finally ask what you want to do with the area that you've defined.  Select
C for copy and TheDraw will allow you to move a copy of the area you
defined around the screen.

For our example, move the block one space to the right of where it came from,
and select S for stamp.  (S)tamp will put a copy down in that spot and allow
you to continue putting more copies  elsewhere.  Move to the right again,
and stamp another copy down.  Keep on doing this until you reach the right
of the screen and instead of stamping the last copy down, press the <ENTER>
key to place it.  When you reanimate using the ALT-Q command from TheDraw
or by using the TYPE command from DOS, the block will move across the screen.
(AN IMPORTANT NOTE!!  MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN ANIMATOR MODE [ALT-J] BEFORE DOING
THIS, OR YOU'LL JUST GET A COPY OF WHATEVER YOU PICKED UP IN ONE PLACE!)

To move something "by hand" takes a little more time for the artist, but
doesn't necessarily require TheDraw to redraw an entire object in every
place the object was stamped.  In drawing by hand, I mean that you redraw
parts of the object yourself.  This method isn't very efficient for
complicated objects, but in some one or two character size objects, or in
large simple objects (like a solid block of color 10x10), it is better
than the block copy method.

In the example of moving the block from the left of the screen to the
right, Draw out the block (a square is what I'm talking about), then draw
an extra column of whatever the square is composed of one space to the right
of the block so that the block is one column wider than it should be.
(Make sure you are in animator mode before starting).

Now erase the leftmost column of the block with whatever the background
color is set to (use the space bar, or whatever you need to replace any
background detail that it being covered up by the block).  Keep this up
until the block is on the left of the screen.  Since the block doesn't
contain much detail within its borders, this method is best for moving it.
It takes MUCH less time to move it across the screen than drawing EVERY
SINGLE character in the block like the copy command does.  Sometimes, using
the copy command is unavoidable and often it is the best way to go.

Hope this helps!  If you have any more questions, just ask.  There's a lot
that I haven't covered here, but I need someone to remind me via a question
to remember it all.

--------
Rory Glasgow is a Special Graphics Consultant to THE GAVEL, a private BBS
sponsoring THE SPECTACULAR 1988-89 HOUSTON PC GRAPHICS ART FESTIVAL and home
of THE INTERNATIONAL ANSI/ASCII ECHO CONFERENCE - E10/037 - [phone]