
Copyright (c) 1992 Intergraph Corporation
All Rights Reserved, Including this Release Note, the Product it Describes,
its File Formats, and Visual Displays

-------------------
Version Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product:         MVWPC    ModelView PC
Product Number:  SEF024600
Version:         03.00.01.01
Date:            09-APR-1992
Description:     Rendering and Animation software.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Version Information
--------------------------

<B>
NOTE:  If you are reviewing this readme file during the installation of
       ModelView PC, scrolling or moving the window may be slower than normal.
<N>

-----------------
Installation Help
-----------------

When installing ModelView PC we suggest that you follow this sequence:

  1. Save any user files currently in the ModelView PC directory such as
     images, palettes, or design files.

  2. Delete ALL previous versions of ModelView PC.

  3. Put ModelView PC Disk 1 into the floppy drive.  Run the "setup.exe"
     file from WITHIN the MicroSoft Windows environment.

  4. If any files already exist in the ModelView directory answer "YES" to delete 
     ALL of these files to insure that you are using only the latest software.

  5. You can define which parts of the product you wish to install.

  6. Description of installation options:

     Nucleus Files - Basic product files that are put in various product 
     directories.

     Bump Files - *.bum files that are put in the bumps directory.  These 
     files are used to apply texture to surfaces.  Some bum files have 
     corresponding image files in the images directory.

     Images files - Material files that are put in the images directory.
     Materials such as marble, brick, and grass can be assigned to
     surfaces with the Material Editor.

     Sample files - Example files that can be used for demonstrating 
     or teaching ModelView.  Note that some examples may be materials
     and bumps located in the bumps and image directories, so these
     directories may also need to be loaded to complete a project.

  7. Read the samples.txt file located in the samples directory for a 
     description of the sample files.

  8. The installation program will prompt you for the next floppies when
     it has copied all the files.

  9. Answering "YES" to add the ModelView group to the MicroSoft
     Windows, will place ModelView icons on a MicroSoft window group
     named ModelView.  You may run the product from these icons.

 10. Answering "YES" to have the installation script will add the MODELVIEW
     environment variable to your autoexec.bat file.  ModelView PC is
     loaded by default in the "c:\modelv" directory.  If you accept the
     default, the line will read as follows:

        SET MODELVIEW=c:\modelv

     If "\modelv" is not the location of ModelView PC on your PC, the
     variable should be set to the ModelView directory.  For example, if 
     ModelView is installed in the mvw directory on drive d the line 
     should read as follows:

        SET MODELVIEW=d:\mvw

     The autoexec.bat file will be copied to autoexec.mvw, as a backup, 
     before the line is added.
 
  o  NOTE: ModelView installation files may be copied to a server, for 
     network installation.  Copy all the files from each product floppy 
     to a directory on the file server.  Install ModelView by running 
     setup.exe from the network.

------------------------
End of Installation Help
------------------------
 
------------
Dependencies
------------

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE DEPENDENCIES: 

To use ModelView PC, your computer system must meet certain
minimum requirements.

Your PC is required to have:

  o  An Intel(TM) 386SX or 386DX CPU

     AND

     an Intel(TM) 387SX or 387DX math coprocessor

     OR

     an Intel(TM) 486DX CPU with integral math coprocessor.

     ! Intergraph will not be responsible for insuring that
       ModelView PC is compatible with any CPUs or math
       coprocessors not listed above.

  o  MS-DOS Version 3.1 or higher.

  o  At least 4 MB RAM required (8 MB or more is highly recommended).
     NOTE: This is the minimum recommendation.  Some models will
     require more than 4 MB RAM to process.  Also refer to swap file 
     requirments below.

  o  Microsoft Windows, Version 3.0 or higher, properly installed
     and configured for your system.

  o  386 Enhanced Mode. ModelView must run in Microsoft Windows 386 
     enhanced mode.

  o  A Windows-supported mouse.  See note in the "Getting Started"
     section for 3 button mouse usage.

  o  A Window-supported graphic display adapter (VGA resolution or
     higher) and an appropriate monitor.

  o  A hard disk drive with at least 25 MB free disk space required
     (40 MB free space recommended).

  o  At least one parallel printer port for the ModelView PC
     hardware lock.

  o  To record video animations using ModelView Version 3.0, a Truevision 
     TARGA+ videographics card, Lyon Lamb Animation Systems animation 
     controller, a video tape recorder with insert edit capability,
     and a composite video monitor are required.

-------------------
End of Dependencies
------------------- 

---------------
Getting Started
---------------

  o  There is a configuration section in chapter 2 of the ModelView 
     Reference Guide.  You can also refer to this section configuration 
     help.

  o  Hardware Lock
     Make sure the ModelView PC hardware lock is properly connected to a
     parallel printer port. See INSTALLING THE MODELVIEW PC HARDWARE LOCK
     section 2.2.2, pages 2-7 thru 2-10 of the ModelView Reference Guide
     for information on proper installatiion.     

  o  Configuring Extended Memory

     - ModelView PC runs in the 386 Enhanced Mode and uses extended memory
       when running under Windows.  In order to run in the 386 Enhanced Mode,
       you must have the Windows extended memory (XMS) manager, HIMEM.SYS
       installed.  Normally, this file is automatically copied to your root
       directory and added to your CONFIG.SYS file when you install Windows.

     - If you reserve some of your extended memory for expanded memory (EMS)
       managers (EMM386.EXE), RAM disks (RAMDRIVE.SYS), or disk cashes
       (SMARTDRIVE.SYS) in your CONFIG.SYS files, that amount of memory will
       usually NOT be available to ModelView PC or other Windows applications.

     - For example, if your system has 4 MB RAM memory installed, and you 
       allocate 2 MB of that for a disk cache in your CONFIG.SYS file,
       ModelView PC may not run on your system, because less than 2 MB of
       expanded memory will be available under Windows.  You should reconfigure
       the cache size to a smaller amount in order to increase the amount of
       available extended memory.

     - It is strongly recommended that you allocate as much of your memory
       as possible to the extended memory manager in order to improve the 
       performance of ModelView PC and other Windows applications.

     - It is strongly recommended that you setup a permanent swap file.  See 
       the Windows documentation for details.

     - There are numerous other issues involved in configuring system
       memory for optimal use under Windows.  We suggest that you refer
       to the Optimizing Windows chapter of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS USER'S
       GUIDE for a more complete discussion of how your computer's memory
       can be configured for use with Windows and ModelView PC.  Additional
       information on memory managment is available in the WINDOWS RESOURCE 
       KIT.

  o  PIF Files
     Do NOT edit the delivered pif files for ray.exe and qt.exe.  They have
     been set properly.  Changes you make to these files may obstruct or
     suspend execution of the renderers.

  o  Temporary Files Used by ray.exe and qt.exe.
     When ray.exe or qt.exe are executed outside of Windows, they
     will be running under the PharLap Dos-Extender.  Under this
     condition, the program will create a temporary swap file in the
     root directory of the device from which qt.exe or ray.exe was run.
     If the system is rebooted while the program is running, a large
     temporary file will have been created, but not entered in any
     directory.  This condition can be repaired by running "chkdsk /f"
     after rebooting and before running windows.  If you have Norton
     Utilities, you may prefer to run "Norton Disk Doctor" (ndd)
     instead.  

  o  EMM386 Incompatibility
     If you have EMM386 loaded you can not run ray.exe or qt.exe outside 
     of Windows.

  o  For information on the cfig386.exe utility, which is provided with 
     the PharLap DOS-Extender, see the cfig386.txt file in the ModelView 
     directory.

  o  3-Button Mouse Usage
     If your system is equipped with a 3-button mouse and a mouse
     driver which supports it, you may wish to enable 3-button 
     operation in ModelView PC.  Note that only the "Escher" program
     uses 3 buttons.  To enable 3-button mode, create a file named
     "3buttons.on" in your ModelView PC installation directory
     (usually c:\modelv).  This can be done by typing:
           dir >c:\modelv\3buttons.on
     at the DOS command prompt, or creating a file of that name with
     Windows' NotePad.  The contents of the file has no effect on
     the interpretation of the file.  If this file exists when any
     ModelView PC program is run, your 3-button mouse will behave like
     a "Clipper mouse" as documented in section 2.3 of the ModelView
     Reference Guide.

----------------------
End of Getting Started
----------------------

----------------------------
Product Certification Notice
----------------------------
 
     The content of this  certification notice is to  inform the
     user  of the methods of test,  performance  evaluation, and 
     known problems.  It is  not intended  to identify  all open 
     trouble reports.  Discrepancies between these notes and the 
     fixes file are  possible and indicate areas in the software 
     that were modified too late in the certification process to 
     be  thoroughly exercised.   In general, the content of  the 
     fixes file supersedes the certification notes in such cases 
     of  discrepancy.   Production  readiness  of  the  software 
     discussed in these notes is not guaranteed.  The production 
     manager  is responsible  for assessing  the  fixes and  the 
     positive and negative impacts of the revision software upon 
     his productivity.

-----------------------------------
End of Product Certification Notice 
-----------------------------------

-------------
Documentation
-------------

     DEAK70410 - ModelView Document Kit

--------------------
End of Documentation
--------------------

--------
Training
--------

     TDEV0001 - ModelView PC
                This is a 4 1/2 day course that covers all aspects
                of the ModelView software with an introduction to
                animation.

     TARH2212 - Animation
                This is a 4 1/2 day course that covers the process of
                generating animations and writing them to video tape.

     ???????? - ModelView PC Video Training
                This course has an expected availability of mid 1992.

---------------
End of Training
--------------- 

------------
New Features
------------

  o  File Formats 

     - Model file format can be any MicroStation format file.
       MicroStation is an Intergraph/Bentley Systems Inc. product.

     - Raster file types and sizes can be defined in the PRODUCT 
       SETUP menu.  All raster output files are 24 bit color images.  
       Valid raster output types are:  

             BMP uncompressed
             PCX compressed 
             PCX uncompressed
             RGB compressed
             RGB uncompressed
             TGA compressed
             TGA uncompressed
             TIF compressed 
             TIF uncompressed

  o  File Extensions

     - Read the samples.txt file in the samples directory for a list of 
       file extensions and file definition.

  o  Main Form

     - Product Setup - This option establishes defaults for product
       usage.

     - Project Configuration - This option allows the user to setup
       directory structures for multiple projects.

     - Video - This option provides menu driven assistance for
       writing video script files as well as limited remote control of
       the video tape recorder (VTR).

     - Raster file on main form can be replaced.  Replace the logo.ras
       file with your raster file and remove the logo.dat file.  A new
       logo.dat file will be generated.  These files are located by 
       default in the C:\modelv\modelv directory.

  o  Viewfinder

     - Control of object motion by data button as well as key-in.
       Menu display of camera, target, viewcone, keyframe, and object
       motion information.

  o  Image Generation

     - New Icon - Q allows the user to stack multiple generation
       commands to be processed at the discretion of the user.

     - Viewtype - Keyframe and Animation options allow the user to
       identify specific keyframes as well as animation generation
       by reading the ".vfa" from the selected design file.

     - Options:   Filter - This feature helps eliminate flickering
       of animated files through pixel averaging.

  o  Image Display

     - Flix - A display option that allows viewing of files in 
       sequence.  This will assist the user that is especially
       interested in animation.  An example animation is delivered
       with the samples directory.  This example is used by default
       with Flix window icons.

  o  Material Editor

     - Bump mapping - This option allows the user to apply textures
       and or patterns to surfaces.

     - Color Specular - This option allows the user to define various
       colors for the "hot spot" or specular area of material
       definition.

     - The display window of the ASSIGN or DEFINE menu displays a
       sphere, which shows the user the active material.   REFLECT
       and BACKGRND define the image that will appear in this window.
       You can save these images to another file name and rename your
       own images for display in this window.   Remember, the larger
       the file size, the longer it will take for the menu to update.

  o  Escher

     - Read the escher.txt file located in the escher directory for the
       new features added to the Escher product.

-------------------
End of New Features
-------------------

---------
New Fixes
---------

  o  Initial release for the PC.

----------------
End of New Fixes
----------------

-------------
Open Problems
-------------

  TR-131  Viewfinder - Level Display Menu
          List of reference files only displays design file name.  The
          correct display should show design file, attached reference
          file names, and attached reference file logical name.

  TR-290  Viewfinder - Background
          There is no obvious method for turning off background.  The
          correct method for turning off a background once you have 
          a background displayed is: 1) reselect the load background 
          image command, 2) do not select a file, 3) Check off the 
          menu, and 4) redisplay the image.

  TR-374  Viewfinder - Animation Snapshot
          Only the first three characters of the name given by the user
          are used when saving animation snapshots.

  TR-389  Material Editor - Rendering Parameters
          If writing the background color is the first thing you attempt 
          with a material file (.mat), then the file is not written.

  TR-394  Material Editor - Define Materials
          If you use the slide rule on the hue bar and move the rule all
          the way to the left, the cursor jumps all the way to left hand
          side of the screen.  

  TR-438  Viewfinder - Animation/Object Motion
          When geometry is translated outside of the initial range of the
          model, the geometry is clipped.

  TR-445  Viewfinder - Snapshot
          There is no warning of running out of disk space if you are
          creating a large numer of snapshot frames.

  TR-462  Raster Utilities - stretch.exe
          When stretch is selected from the windows interface as an icon,
          no input fields are available for values.

  TR-463  Raster Utilities - stretch.exe
          Stretch only allows you to change the aspect ratio of an image
          by editing the Windows command line.  Changing the x or y value
          from the main ModelView form always maintains the same aspect
          ratio.  This is the only way to change from NTSC to PAL.

  TR-496  Image Generation - ray.exe
          The time estimate for a ray may not be correct if an image
          processes for longer than 24 hours.  The time estimate seems to
          be altered by the date on the PC.

  TR-505  Raster Utilities - converter
          The user must enter the extension for file output.  If no extension
          is entered by the user, then the file will not be recognized by the 
          filetype.dat.

  TR-506  Image Generation - ray.exe
          When ray runs out of disk space, it stops and gives no reason
          for the problem.  The window simply stops and becomes inactive.

  TR-507  Raster Utilities - Pixie
          In order to load patterns from drives other than c:, you must 
          use the keyin field to change to a specified drive.

  TR-517  Raster Utilities - converter
          The raz2raz.exe converter does not flip the bmp format image
          when converting to another file format.  You must use Escher
          to flip image and write desired file format.

--------------------
End of Open Problems
--------------------

