
    NETPIC Version 1.4 README
    =========================

    This is the second release of NETPIC. There are a few enhancements. 
    The program size has been reduced considerably. All bug reports and 
    suggestions welcome: jtucker@byron.apana.org.au

    For a quick start do this:

      NETPIC SAMPLE
      Run SAMPLE.COM (it will display a picture)
      Edit SAMPLE.NPX (a text file) and display the same picture

    The program is free with only two restrictions (1) You cannot sell 
    it (2) You cannot use it for commercial purposes. You can register 
    ($20) and get a GIF picture of yourself (or anything else) and a big 
    collection of GIF pictures suitable to NETPIC and email. Thank you.
    This packages contains:

      NETPIC.COM      The program
      NPX2GIF.COM     See below 
      SIMPLGIF.COM    See below
      NPARC14.NTR     See below
      *.GIF           Sample GIF files
      README          You are doing that

    The file NETPIC.DOC is contained in NETPIC.COM. To extract it simply 
    enter NETPIC -DOC. Enclosing the documentation in the program serves 
    several purposes. (1) It can't get lost. (2) You can mail the 
    program without worrying about extra files (3) It saves space. The 
    documentation is compressed.

    CHANGES FROM VERSION 1.0:
    ========================

    -z   Option added (omit header from NPX files)
    -i   Added information (display size, converted size etc)
    -u   UN-decodes (extracts) COM files from NETPIC (NPX) files
 
    -w -e  Options deleted

    This version of NETPIC will not convert COM files to executable 
    text files. This option is now available in a separate program 
    (where it really belonged in the first place). The program is NETRUN 
    and available on ftp and BBS sites where you find UUEncoders. It is 
    better than NETPIC 1.0 because it will convert EXE files as well as 
    COM files. It can also be used as a self-extracting file. It is the 
    same price as NETPIC. Free. 

    -s Scaling option deleted

    This version of NETPIC automatically scales a picture larger than 
    320x200. The code for scaling was originally written in C. It is now 
    in assembler (thereby reducing NETPIC by about 30K!)

    The -d display option now includes the same options as NETPIC 
    pictures (timing etc).

    NPX2GIF.COM
    ===========

    This is new. The name describes it. Feed it a NETPIC file and it 
    spits out a GIF file. There are no options. Enter NPX2GIF for 
    instructions.

    SIMPLGIF.COM
    ============

    This program strips complex stuff (like interlacing) from GIF files. 
    Just run it with no parameters for instructions.

    NPARC14.NTR
    ===========

    This is a small NETPIC package in NETRUN email format. You can use
    this to email NETPIC to friends. It is self-extracting (all you have
    to do is clip it and run it). It does not include the sample GIF
    files or SIMPLGIF.COM.

    THE SAMPLE GIF FILES
    ====================

    PANIC.GIF : A tiny file with a message, ideal for e-mailing to both 
    friends and enemies. (Included in NPARC14).

    JIMBO.GIF : I have edited a picture to fit in the small NETRUN 
    e-mail package. The picture started life as a 250K PCX image. It 
    only takes 10K for you to see what I look like! (Included in NPARC14).

    The following are not included in the NETRUN encoded package. 
    Registered NETPIC users (not compulsory) will receive their own 
    picture in GIF format as well as more than 50 GIF pictures suitable 
    for using as e-mail.

    SAMPLE.GIF : This picture was cropped using NEOPAINT. The original 
    is on SimTel /gif/parrot.gif.

    COMPARE.GIF : Here's the difference between scaling and quantizing. 
    I hope to include quantizing in the next version of NETPIC (for 
    obvious reasons).

    JIM.GIF : Me! The original is a 640x768 PCX image which has been 
    cropped and converted to GIF using GWS. The words were added with 
    Neopaint.

    Don't forget you will find the latest version of NETPIC and NETRUN 
    and other programs: ftp://kludge.byron.apana.org.au/pub/jtsoftware

    JT - 17 March 1995
