                       QPX On-Line Pictures

QPX  is a system that allows viewing of pictures over  the  modem.  
In  this  system  a 160 x 100 pixel picture can  be  received  and 
displayed  at  2400 baud in less than 10  seconds.   Pictures  are 
monochrome, containing up to 8 grey levels.

You  can  view  most  pictures  by  using  the  beta  version   of 
QPXTERM.TOS,   version  0.2.    Version  1.0  contains  additional 
functions,  and  can  be purchased by sending  $20,  plus  $2  for 
shipping  and  handling for any US address ($5  for  shipping  and 
handling  to Canadian addresses) to Paul Swanson,  12  Shedd  Rd., 
Billerica,  MA  01862.   You  will  receive a user  manual  and  a 
diskette containing QPXTERM version 1.0 as well as a program  that 
will convert correctly formatted low resolution Degas pictures  to 
the QPX format.

The  Dij-It video digitizer can be used to create  low  resolution 
Degas  pictures  that  are  compatible  with  the  .PI1  to   .QPX 
conversion program.   A kit containing the main parts for building 
a Dij-It digitizer,  instructions and the digitizing software  can 
be  purchased by sending $40 plus $5 for shipping and handling  to 
any  US  address  ($10  for  shipping  and  handling  to  Canadian 
addresses)  to  the address given for QPXTERM.   To  complete  the 
digitizer  you  will  need some  additional  components  that  are 
readily  available  at any electronics store.   Radio  Shack  part 
numbers are given for all additional components required.

Use  version 0.2,  which is for free distribution only,  to  "test 
drive" the QPX system.   You will find demonstrations and games on 
various  Nite  Lite  Bulletin  Board  Systems  that  support  this 
graphics protocol.   If you like what you see,  order your copy of 
version  1 to show your support in further software  and  hardware 
development for the Atari ST computer system.

Version  0.2  requires any Atari ST computer system with  a  color 
output.   This demo version operates only in low resolution and if 
you  attempt  to  operate  it on  a  monochrome  monitor  in  high 
resolution the pictures will not display properly.

Remember that version 0.2 is meant only as a demonstration of  the 
QPX  system,  and  it  has very few  functions.   Use  some  other 
terminal program to log on to a BBS that supports QPX, then switch 
to  QPX  by exiting to the desktop to load QPXTERM or  by  loading 
QPXTERM  through the terminal program if it allows that  function. 
QPXTERM does not set the baud rate or any other modem  parameters, 
so these must be set up before you enter the program.

The BBS supporting QPX will send commands to you that will  enable 
the  pictures.   At 1200 baud,  each picture will take  almost  20 
seconds  and  at 2400 baud each picture will take  less  than  10. 
They  will display in the lower left quarter of your  screen.   If 
you  have  a  .QPX picture,  you can load it  directly  from  your 
diskette,  whether or not you are logged onto a BBS,  by  pressing 
ALT-V (hold down ALT and press V).   You will get a prompt  asking 
you  for the file specification of the picture you want  to  view. 
Some  QPX  pictures are included in this arc'd file that  you  can 
load in this manner.

Version 1 adds many more functions to what is available in version 
0.2.   In version 1,  pictures can be positioned anywhere on  your 
screen  and  can be in either the 1/4-screen format  supported  in 
version  0.2  or in an icon format,  which is 1/4 of the  size  of 
these QPX pictures.   The icon files are only 500 bytes  long,  so 
they  take  little more than 2 seconds to receive  at  2400  baud.  
Version 1 also contains picture buffers, accessible by the BBS, so 
the  BBS can store pictures and call them up later by  codes.   In 
addition  to  the load picture function availble in  version  0.2, 
version  1  can  also  save pictures  received  and  can  transmit 
pictures  to  another computer running a program that is  able  to 
receive them.

On the diskette with version 1 are utility programs that allow you 
to convert picture formats.   The utilities support low resolution 
Degas  (.PI1),  NEO  and QPX formats.   One of the  utilities  can 
create the 500-byte icon QPX pictures.

Supporting QPX

The following BBSs currently support QPX pictures on line

Nite Lite       Billerica, MA  (508) 663-4221           300-2400
VAST            Methuen, MA    (508) 681-1196           300-2400
Short Circuit   Ringgold, GA   (404) 937-3190 or 2614   300-2400

If  you are operating a BBS,  you can list QPX pictures  on  line.  
Listing  single full-sized (1/4 screen) QPX pictures is  a  simple 
task  on most BBSs.   To send a QPX picture to a caller  you  must 
first  make sure your BBS will send all eight bits of  each  byte, 
with no parity.   The procedure required to send one 2000-byte QPX 
picture file is:

1.  Send the four bytes $00, $01, $01, $00.  This tells QPXTERM to 
expect the picture.

2.  Wait for the one-byte response $40.   This should be  returned 
immediately if the caller is running QPXTERM.   If it isn't, or if 
some other character is returned, assume the caller is not running 
QPXTERM.   Do  not send a QPX picture to a caller running  another 
terminal  program.   There could be bytes within the picture  file 
that are interpreted as control charcters on the terminal they are 
running, which could produce some rather interesting results.

3.  As  soon as you get the proper response byte,  send  all  2000 
bytes of the picture to the caller.   The picture is displayed  to 
the caller as soon as the 2000 bytes have been received.

You may encounter some "combination" files of QPX pictures.  These 
files  have command bytes in them,  so all you have to do is  send 
the entire file,  making sure that you send all eight bits of each 
byte.   If you use these combination files,  remember that QPXTERM 
will respond to the various commands with response  bytes.   These 
bytes  should  be read from your buffer after the  file  is  sent, 
before you return the caller to a menu or other prompt.

