Usage

ivbconv is a command line tool. The invocation syntax is as follows:

ivbconv [options] input_file...

Input files can be in JPEG, PNG, BMP or several other formats, see the list of image formats supported by the FreeImage library. The images are automatically resized and converted to 256 colors and linked with code that displays them. The output files are in XEX format and can be loaded directly from your favourite DOS.

Available options:

-h, --help

Display usage information

-d output_dir

Set output directory to output_dir. Without this option, the .xex file will be created in the directory where the original image file is located.

-v, --verbose

Show what is being done.

-f, --overwrite

Overwrite existing files.

-c caption, --caption=caption

Setup caption for the converted images. It will be displayed at the bottom of the string. Its length can be up to 40 characters. The default caption is the name of the original file. If you want no caption, use this option with an empty string, i.e. -c "".

Viewing images

The viewer uses original Gary Ryan’s code with a few minor modifications. Each converted image is a DOS binary file, which can be loaded by typing L and entering the file name (DOS 2.5, MyDOS, etc.) or just typing the file name (SpartaDOS, DOS II+, etc.).

Loading the image (especially through SIO) can take some time, and thus it can be aborted using the ESC key.

By default, the interlace should work well on most CRT TV sets and monitors. On LCDs, it may show lines in incorrect order (use O and I keys to adjust, hoping that one of these options will work for you) or not work at all (which is a bit harder to adjust for).

Pressing the ESC key disables VBXE display and enters GR.0 mode.

Authors

Adrian Matoga

Programming

Gary Ryan

VBXE interlaced displayer code

Piotr Fusik

FlashPack 2.1 depacker routine

This software uses the FreeImage open source image library. See http://freeimage.sourceforge.net for details. FreeImage is used under the FIPL, version 1.0.