UpTime Volume 2 #5/utv2n5s1.d64/loco.help

Text File | 1988-01-01 | 6.0 KB | 269 lines

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Locomotion is a high-speed drawing
program that creates a 3-dimensional
wire-frame image on the screen of the
Commodore 64 or 128.

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Your point of view can be adjusted in
5-degree increments with the cursor
keys.  Press cursor left-right to move
around the object; cursor up-down
will move above and below.

The program also has a simple
hidden-line capability.

If you have expansion RAM images
can be stashed in the cartridge and
recalled for even faster animation.

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The UpTime disk includes several
images to choose from.  You can also
prepare your own data files of other
objects if you have their dimensions.
p
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   >>>  Getting Started  <<<

If you just want to try the program
then this page is for you.
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From the main menu press 2 to load a
disk file.  Type in one of the names on
the disk--press $ if you need a list.

After the file loads...

 - press 5 to view the image;
 - use the cursor keys to move around;
 - press F7 to return to the main menu;

then print the image or try another.
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Press F7 now to try the program.  Press
any other key to continue with more
technical instructions.
p
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For the most part the menus are
self-explanatory.  You make choices by
pressing a number (or letter if asked)
You do not press RETURN unless
typing in a longer input.


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   >>>  Main Menu  <<<

Your initial choices are to create a
new object or to load one from disk.

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Once a file is in place you can...
 - view the object
 - modify it
 - print it
 - save it on disk.
A separate menu will review
images in expansion memory.

Selection 1 will review these
instructions again.
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   >>>  Viewing Mode  <<<

Selection 5 takes you to the
viewing mode where you can
display and manipulate the image.

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The viewing menu is shown as a split
screen below the image.  While viewing
the object this menu will disappear.
The menu will reappear automatically in
a few seconds; you can press F5 if you
want to hold the image on the screen.

You can recall the menu at any time
by pressing the control key.  Press
control again to switch between...
 - the full text screen
 - the graphic image
 - the split-screen menu.
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This same feature is available in some
other parts of the program as well.
p
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   >>>  Viewing Mode  <<<  ...Continued

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You can alter your point of view with
the cursor keys; the HOME key
will return you to the start.  The
viewing angles are displayed on the
menu.  You can type in the angles
directly if you prefer press F3.

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You can turn hidden lines on or off
by pressing the F1 key.  Please note
that the hidden-line function is only
effective when the object is viewed
from a limited range of angles.

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With expansion memory you can stash as
many images as your cartridge will
allow simply by pressing 'S' for each.
The number of images in memory will be
displayed on the menu.

You would press F7 for the main menu.
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   >>>  Printing  <<<

You can print the image by pressing 7
at the menu.  The printout will work
on any Epson-compatible printer.

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You must first supply the secondary
address for graphics/no line feed.
For most interfaces enter 5 (Tymac 6).

If this doesn't work then check your
users' manual for the correct value
and be sure your printer DIP switch
is set for 'no line feed'.

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You can also print these instructions
or print the data points and lines
for an object.
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    >>>  Disk Access  <<<

Selection number 2 loads a disk file
and number 6 saves the current object.

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When an object is saved on disk the
file name starts with 'LOC.' to
identify it as a 'Locomotion' file.

You don't need to type this part of the
name.  Just type the normal name...
up to 12 characters long.

When entering the file name you can
press just RETURN to retain the same
name as before.  Press '$' and RETURN
to see the directory of all compatible
files on the disk.

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   >>>  Animation Mode  <<<

This function requires that you have an
expansion RAM cartridge and first use
the viewing mode to stash images in it.

From this menu you can...

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  - view one of the images;
  - single-step through them all;
  - view all images in animation;
  - change the speed of animation;
  - view the images in 'rapid fire'.

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This last option demonstrates just how
fast expansion RAM is by running it
at its maximum hardware speed (it's
faster than the eye can see!).
p
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   >>>  Creating an Object  <<<

An object is composed of points in a
3-dimensional grid (invisible)
connected by lines which are visible.

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You could start by making a sketch of
your object and numbering the points
up to 255 in total.  Each point has
three coordinates...X; Y; and height.
Each of these is in the range 0 to 255.
Choose a suitable scale--for example
if describing a car you might use units
of 1 inch.  For a high-rise building
you could use 1 foot.

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Once the points have been entered go
ahead and define the lines you need.
Each line starts at one point and
visits a number of others.  Enter
point number zero to terminate the
line and begin the next one.
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   >>>  Edit Mode  <<<

You can edit all the data of an object
from the 'Edit/Add' menu (selection
number 4 from the main menu).

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You can modify any of the coordinates
or change the points on a line.
The program will display the old data
and ask for the new value.  If you
press RETURN at this prompt the
old data will be kept unchanged.

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Note that you cannot change the number
of segments on a line.  You just change
the specific points that it visits!
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   >>>  Edit Mode  <<<  ...Continued

Other choices include...

 - adding to the object
 - shifting it
 - changing its scale etc.

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When you shift the object the
coordinates will be adjusted but
this will not be apparent on
the screen.  Since the program
automatically centers the object
it will still look the same.  You
would only do this in order to
adjust the coordinates and make
room for more points.

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Shifting or scaling may cause some of
the coordinates to go out of the range
of 0 to 255.  They will 'wrap around'
to the other side of the screen.
q