GMSK:Manual

GMSK Version: 0.39 alpha

Control of GMSK

After launching the program, you can use both joysticks, the CPC-keyboard (cursor keys and copy) or some mice (c'est le souris). No lightpen support!

How to use the GMSK

• Insert Disc named "GMSK.dsk" to Drive A.
• Start FutureOS throug RSX-command !OS.
• Read Directory of the Drive (first tag A-Icon, then use/tag DIR-Icon).
• Tag file "- G-MSK .64K"
• Run Program G-MSK (use RUN-Icon, at down left side). (now you should see the CBM-Desktop of the converter).
• Press Copy to activate "File", then
• Press Copy to activate "Load Pict.", then (read the message, that no file is tagged until yet).
• Press Space to get back to the FutureOS-Desktop (temporarily). (now you see the FutureOS-Desktop like usual).
• Press Shift or Control to show the Directories of tagged drives.
• Tag picture to convert (place it on the disc previously).
• Click at OK-Icon (right side). (now you should see the CBM-Desktop of the converter again).
• Press Copy to activate "File".
• Press Copy to activate "Load Pict.".
• Select "Y" and press Copy to load Picture. (the picture will be loaded, uncompressed and a PAL-file will be loaded too). (You can now choose the arrangement of the sprites, but first ...)
• Move "cursor" right to "Conversion" and press Copy.
• Move the graphical cursor to the portion of the screen, which should be converted.
• Press Copy again to activate function "Pic. -> Sprite"
• Have a look at the Picture and then press Space.
• Have a look at the converted Sprites!!! (enjoy it for a while *g* or shout!)
• Press Space again go come back... to GMSK ;-)
• Press Copy to activate "File".
• Move down three lines (use Cursor-down key).
• Press Copy to activate "Save Spri.", to save the new Sprites to Disc.
• Hit Return to accept Drive, User and Name (or change it, if you like).
• (don't use little letters, if you want to use the file with another OS later).

• Press Copy to activate Menue "File".
• Move completely down (cursor down key) to the bottom of menue "File".
• Select function "End" (use Copy).
• Select "Yes" and press Copy. (now you've left GMSK, you should see the FutureOS-Desktop again).
• Touch Shift or Control key to see the saved Sprites in one of the directories.
• Quit FutureOS (... or have some more fun, creating other Sprites).

You can now load the converted Sprites to the ASIC-Sprite-RAM (adress &4000), to work with them. The color-palette of the Sprites is located between &6422 and &643F (&1E Bytes, two bytes for every PEN from 0 to &0F).

Functions in GMSK

Menue File:

• Load Pict. (see 5. Supported graphic formats).
• Save Pict.
• Load Spri.
• Save Spri.
• Close (same as End)
• Version (shows actual program version)
• End

Menue Process:

• Clear (clears loaded Picture and ASIC-Sprite-RAM)

Menue Options:

• Colour (but only for PENs, not for Sprites until now).
• Language (english, german, french, and others if YOU translate!).

Sprite Format:

• M0 -> 2(X)*8(Y) (sets 2 Sprites in X and 8 Sprites in Y)
• M0 -> 3(X)*5(Y)
• M0 -> 4(X)*4(Y)
• M0 -> 5(X)*3(Y)
• M0 -> 8(X)*2(Y)
• every 2. line x (only every second scan line will be used)

Conversion:

• Pic. -> Sprite (the real function of the program).
• Show picture
• Show sprites

Help

• Help
• Menue
• -$$$-
• .www.

If you load a OCP Art Studio picture, GMSK checks if a .PAL file with the same filename exists. If a .PAL file is present, it will be analyzed and the PENs and the Sprite colors will be set according to the .PAL file.