                          ImageGen Version 2.0a09

                        Written By Robert Thivierge

                     Supporting Windows 3.X, 95, and NT

ImageGen is a freeware Windows program that produces HTML Web pages
consisting of small in-line GIF images. These images can be clicked on in a
Web browser (like Netscape or Mosaic) to see the full sized JPEG or GIF
picture. The output can be customized to suit your tastes. ImageGen is
available in 16-bit and 32-bit versions.
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Note: After you have read the legal stuff, downloaded the ZIP File,
installed the program, and run it, please take the time to e-mail me about
your experience.

This document is on the web at http://www.canuck.com/~thivier1/imagegen and
is a plain text file (called README.TXT), which is included with ImageGen.

Table of Contents

   * ImageGen News
   * Current Features
   * Planned Features
   * Obtaining the Program
   * Legal Issues and Credits
        o Ownership
        o Freeware Status
        o Credits
        o Disclaimer
   * System Requirements
   * Installation Procedures
   * Known Bugs
   * Known Dangers
   * Contacting the Author

ImageGen News

Version 2.0a09 is a modest improvement over 2.0a08. The 32-bit version
should be somewhat faster during very long operations (much faster than the
16-bit version, and slightly faster than the previous 32-bit version).

You can now rename picture files from within ImageGen. This is especially
useful in the 32-bit version, which supports descriptive long file names.

Current Features

Web Features

   * For every JPEG or GIF file in your site, it creates a smaller GIF
     version.
   * It generates one or more HTML files which contain links to these
     pictures. If you choose to have a sophisticated multi-page site (which
     you don't have to) a browser of your site will be able to traverse
     through all the pages by following links.
   * Within ImageGen you can preview both JPEG and GIF pictures, after
     you've generated a site. This is useful if you want to place
     descriptive text next to the picture (which ImageGen supports).
   * Your site can have one or more pages in any directory and any number
     (zero, one, or many) sub-directories and any level of sub-directories.
   * You can have ImageGen automatically generate a layout for your
     pictures with the "AutoOrganize" feature. It recognizes repeated file
     name patterns (ie. cc01.jpg, cc02.jpg, etc...), and groups them for
     you. Optionally you can edit this default layout.
   * All text outputted in pages can be changed. You can make changes
     globally that effect all pages, make changes that effect a certain
     type of page, make changes that effect only a particular directory, or
     effect only a particular page. You can also specify certain text to go
     next to individual pictures. For instance, next to a photo you could
     have the title of the photo and the name of the person (or object) in
     the photo. The text you specify may contain any HTML tags you wish.
     Pretty much, anything that can be done in HTML can be done with
     ImageGen.
   * You can have any number of pictures appear on a row in a table (if you
     choose to use tables to display your pictures).
   * You can control the display width and height of images.
   * ImageGen (by default) uses the WIDTH and HEIGHT tag to tell the
     browser the dimensions of a picture. This speeds up the display of
     your page for most browser users. Browsers not supporting these tags,
     simple ignore them.
   * As an optional alternative to having the Directory Index Pages link
     directly to the anchor image, you can have them link to a picture
     Detail Page. This detail page can optionally show the full sized image
     or the reduced size image.
   * You can choose from a pre-defined list of sample layouts.
   * You can choose what file extension is used in HTML pages created. They
     can be "htm" or "html". This makes it easier for you to transport web
     pages to different operating systems (ie. UNIX), that may prefer a
     particular extension. Only Windows 95 and NT users of the 32-bit
     version can actually create files with the "html" extension, since
     Windows 3.1 doesn't support long file names.
   * Support for the new progressive-JPEG file format. Progressive-JPEG
     files take less disk space and have a fade in effect when viewed by
     Netscape.
   * Picture files can be renamed from within ImageGen.

If there's anything you can't get ImageGen to do when making Web Pages,
please let me know.

Planned Features

These are features I would like to implement if I get feedback on their
usefullness.

   * Allow users to copy and move picture files from within ImageGen.
   * Provide an even more user friendly interface for customizing a site.
   * Provide an easy built-in way to package files to be uploaded to a UNIX
     box.
   * Let the user choose between GIF and JPEG format for in-line images.
   * Allow the user to group picture files onto different pages based on
     the values in user defined fields. Pictures with the same value in a
     given field would go on the same page.
   * Proper support for interlaced GIF images.

Choosing the Right Version

ImageGen is available in 16-bit and 32-bit versions. The 32-bit version
does everything the 32-bit version does, with a few bonuses. It supports
Windows 95 and NT long file names, so you can give your pictures and
directories (folders) meaningful names, which also appear on web pages
produced. My informal tests, show the 32-bit version runs well over twice
as fast. As well the 32-bit "exe" file is smaller. Other than these
differences, both versions should look and act pretty much the same.

If you are running Windows 95 or NT you will want the 32-bit version. If
you're running Windows 3.1, or WFW 3.11 without WIN32S you should run the
16-bit version. If you have WIN32s you should be able to run the 32-bit
version. As for OS/2, I suspect you'll have to use the 16-bit version.

Note: If you are using Windows 3.1 or WFW 3.11, with WIN32s, you may find
that the 32-bit version of ImageGen seems to take over your computer while
it produces a very large site. You have two choices to deal with this: 1)
Don't use other programs while you run ImageGen, or 2) use the 16-bit
version instead.

Obtaining the Program

If you are viewing this document on the Web, just load the 16-bit or 32-bit
ZIP file to disk and follow the installation procedures later in this file.
Otherwise you should go to
http://www.canuck.com/~thivier1/imagegen/index.html to view the on-line
version of this document or mail me at thivier1@canuck.com.

Legal Issues and Credits

Ownership

ImageGen(c) 1996
The Picture Page Generator
Written by Robert Thivierge
All rights reserved by Robert Thivierge

Any attempt by a person other than myself to reverse compile, sell, or to
represent the program as their own is prohibited. You may give a copy of
the the program to someone else free of charge, provided you include all
the files you received yourself. They then should notify me of receipt of
it.

However, any person or organization may distribute my program as freeware.
They may charge a fee for the service of distribution (such as on-line
charges, charge for distribution media, etc...). An acceptable form of
distribution is including my program on CD-ROMs containing
freeware/shareware, where there is a charge for the CD-ROM. However, it
must be understood that they are not selling my program. And absolutely
nobody, but me, may imply or suggest that they authored this program or
that it is their property. I must always be given full credit.

Freeware Status

This program is freeware. I do not require financial payment for use of
this product provided you meet the following terms:

  1. I be notified when you obtain my program.
  2. I be given the URL of any site produced with ImageGen.
  3. I be given access to any private site produced with ImageGen,
     including a password if needed.
  4. I be notified of any commercial use of my program.
  5. All terms of use mentioned in this document, and on-line help of
     ImageGen are fully read, understood, and complied with.

If and only if all the above terms are granted do you have the right to use
ImageGen for free and own, royalty free, anything produced with it.

Credits

   * This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG
     Group. They are kind enough to allow programmers to use their code
     library without financial charge.
   * The Graphics Interchange Format(C) is the Copyright property of
     CompuServe Incorporated. GIF(SM) is a Service Mark property of
     CompuServe Incorporated.
   * The actual compression method used in GIF is copywrited by Unisys
     Corporation. I thank them for allowing freeware authors to use their
     compression method without obtaining a license or paying royalties.
     See the Unisys FAQ on GIF for further details.
   * This program uses code from TabDlg.DLL which is Copyright (c) 1994
     Edward McCreary

Disclaimer

Use my program at your own risk. There are bugs I know of, there are bugs I
don't know of. I assume no liability for any losses incurred by use of my
program. I myself have accidently overwritten files with ImageGen. So, if I
can loose stuff, you can too.

System Requirements

   * Operating System: Windows 3.1, 95, or NT. Should also run on OS/2.
     Read about Which Is The Correct Version.
   * Memory: The more the better. 4 Megs should do it.

Installation Procedures

To install, do the following:

  1. Make a directory for the program (such as C:\IMAGEGEN). It is very
     important that you have a directory set aside exclusively for
     ImageGen. Never use the same directory for the program that you use
     for your Web Site (ie. the directory where you keep all your
     pictures).
  2. Copy the ZIP File into it.
  3. Unzip it with PKUNZIP or a compatible program.
  4. Make sure all the files are in the same directory, with no other files
     present. Never use this directory to put your pictures or HTML files
     in.
  5. Double click on ImageGen in the File Manager or create an icon for it
     in the Program Manager. To create an icon in the Program Manager,
     simply drag the file from the File Manager to the Program Manager.
  6. You'll be asked for your full name, enter it.
  7. IMPORTANT: Select File/Select Directory and tell ImageGen where you're
     Web Site is. In other words this is the directory where all of you
     JPEG or GIF pictures are located. Be sure to enter the full path
     (including the drive letter), and make no spelling errors.
  8. Now look through the various settings (all of which can be accessed on
     the main screen), ensure they are all as you wish.

Known Bugs

Please let me know of any and all bugs you have had experience with. First
be sure that you have the latest version of ImageGen. Keep in mind, I am
interested in the bug, even if others have reported it, and information
about it is below. The more people who tell me about how they got (or
didn't get) a bug, and what the circustances were, the sooner I will be
able to fix the problem.

If you experience a bug and it goes away, or you work around it, please let
me know. This will help others. Also, always report all the details of the
bug (ie. what happened on the screen), and your configuration (ie. what
operating system do you have).

Bug List

   * If ImageGen (16-bit) is in the middle of a very long task, clicking
     anywhere on the program, could cause it to crash. You can switch to
     other programs safely while ImageGen is running. But, you must never
     try to do two things at once with ImageGen itself. The 32-bit version
     doens't have this bug.

Known Dangers

Pease be advised certain actions taken in ImageGen have massive and
permanent consequences, for which users (ie. you) and not me, are liable
for. A list of only some (not all) of these follows. Always back up
valuable work, before using ImageGen.

   * If ImageGen finds a JPG and GIF file with the same base name in the
     same directory, it assumes the GIF file was an in-line image of the
     JPG file, made with SEARCH.EXE (which is the program ImageGen
     replaces) and is redundant. So, it deletes the GIF file, since
     ImageGen will make it's own in-line GIF file. No warning is given
     before this happens.
   * ImageGen converts all interlaced-GIF files it finds to non-Interlaced
     GIFs. The non-Interlaced-GIF file permanently replaces the original
     file. There is no warning this will happen.
   * ImageGen deletes all HTML files it finds in site, before re-creating
     the site, by default. This means if you have unrelated HTML files they
     will be deleted, without confirmation. So, when selecting the the
     directory with "File/Select Directory", be very careful.
   * When writing files, ImageGen will overwright existing files of the
     same name, with absolutely no warning.
   * ImageGen currently does not delete any in-line GIF files it creates.
     It's your job to periodically delete files you don't need.
   * When you use the "File/Delete" command in ImageGen, after you confirm
     the deletion, you permanently delete an item off your disk drive, not
     just off your web site. So, if you delete a picture, the actual
     picture file (such as mypic.jpg) is deleted off your hard disk. You
     can never recover the deleted file. It is gone forever. This is not a
     bug. This is how the program is supposed to work.

Contacting the Author

You are welcome to contact me with your comments, suggestions, and bug
reports at thivier1@canuck.com.

Visit my Home Page at http://www.canuck.com/~thivier1
