1. LIB to Compute GIFs under Win32
Hello,
I need a recommendation how to calculate a GIF file without displaying
it on the screen. It would like to use it for a CGI program running on
an WWW server.
I just succeeded running EXEs (created with bindw) on a server via the
CGI interface.
Have a nice day, Rolf
2. Re: LIB to Compute GIFs under Win32
Bernie Ryan wrote:
> ...
> Rolf:
>
> What do you mean by calculate a GIF file ?
Hi Bernie,
one example is to display n data points, i.e. (x,y) pairs. Or to display
bar graphs. In general: the number of pixel for width and height will be
given and then for each pixel a rgb value (for the moment I'm not
thinking of animated GIFs). I know, I could try to understand the GIF
file format and program then this, but someone might just have done
this... .
3. Re: LIB to Compute GIFs under Win32
You will want to be careful about this kind of program (which I too would =
find very useful, as a matter of fact). GIF uses a compression algorithm =
that requires payment of a license fee to copy. When you use a purchased =
paint program like Paint Shop Pro or Adobe Photoshop, part of the price of =
the program is the license fee. When you use a GPL GIF writer, it is more =
or less warez. There may be loopholes that allow the free use of the =
algorithm, but they must be carefully investigated and documented in your =
program & docs. A better idea might be to create virtual images in RAM, =
then use one of the programs from the archives to write them out as a JPEG =
file for use in your HTML. JPEG compression is free and better at what it =
does. Also don't forget that embedding JavaScript in your HTML can make =
for some pretty good effects. See http://javascript.internet.com for some =
examples.
HTH,
Mike Sabal
>>> r.schr at T-ONLINE.DE 05/25/01 03:17PM >>>
Hi Bernie,
one example is to display n data points, i.e. (x,y) pairs. Or to display
bar graphs. In general: the number of pixel for width and height will be
given and then for each pixel a rgb value (for the moment I'm not
thinking of animated GIFs). I know, I could try to understand the GIF
file format and program then this, but someone might just have done
this... .
4. Re: LIB to Compute GIFs under Win32
Hi Mike,
Michael Sabal wrote:
> ...
> You will want to be careful about this kind of program (which I
> too would find very useful, as a matter of fact). GIF uses a
> compression algorithm that requires payment of a license fee to
> copy. When you use a purchased paint program like Paint Shop Pro
> or Adobe Photoshop, part of the price of the program is the
> license fee. When you use a GPL GIF writer, it is more or less
> warez. There may be loopholes that allow the free use of the
> algorithm, but they must be carefully investigated and
> documented in your program & docs.
Is it really true that I need a licence to program the GIF file format
for my purpose? T remember there was a GIF89a EU include lib for DOS in
the archive which might be just usable for my demands. Is that 'warez'?
> A better idea might be to create virtual images
> in RAM, then use one of the programs from the archives to write
> them out as a JPEG file for use in your HTML. JPEG compression
> is free and better at what it does. Also don't forget that
> embedding JavaScript in your HTML can make for some pretty good effects. See
> http://javascript.internet.com for some examples.
> ...
I agree in principle here. But JPEG is unusable for graphics. The idea
to use embedded JavsScript is probably better, though one has to fight
with an unusual language (I at least).
It's easy for me to program the kind of graphics I need via graphics.e
under DOS. Is there no similar easy way possible without introducing a
special language?
Mike, thank you anyway for your warnings and ideas, and
have a nice day, Rolf
