                POVPANEL -- A Control Panel for POVRAY

                        by  Malcolm Donald

                     Compuserve ID: 100036,504

                            31/12/92
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
=================
Using POVRAY has given me many hours of pleasure and many superb 
images! My thanks to the programming team for their efforts!!

Having recently purchased a copy of Microsoft Visual Basic for DOS 
I decided, as my first project, to design a control panel for 
POVRAY which would facilitate setting the available options and 
enable easy experimentation with them.  Visual Basic proved ideal 
for this purpose.

The resulting executable file was compressed using LZEXE.

----------------------------------------------------------------

INSTALLING THE PANEL:
     To install POVPANEL copy the file "povpanel.exe" into your
     POVRAY directory(the one containing "povray.exe").  To
     display the panel type POVPANEL at the DOS prompt in the
     POVRAY directory.

LAYOUT OF THE PANEL:
     The left third of the panel contains the file controls; the
     middle third contains the diplay card/image controls and the
     right third contains the display trace controls.

FILE CONTROLS:
     These consist of the following-

              CONTROL                           = POVRAY Option
     -----------------------------------       ---------------
     . Include File Directory Path                +l
     . Sample File Directory Path(*.POV)          +l
     . Input FileName                             -i
     . Input File Selection List                  nil

     . Red "DEF" Command Button                   nil
     . Red "CFG" Command Button                   nil
     . Yellow "GO" Command Button                 nil
     . Yellow "EXIT" Command Button               nil
     -----------------------------------        ---------------

     The "DEF" command button writes the file "povray.def" to disk
     which contains only the specified Include file path and the
     Sample file(i.e. the directory with the .pov files) path e.g.
              +lc:\povray\include +lc:\povray\samples

     I find it unnecessary to add any other options to this file
     as the default settings are reloaded into the panel after
     each tracing session(or are very easily altered on screen).

     The "CFG" command button writes the file "povpanel.cfg" to
     disk which enables the retention of control panel settings
     between tracing sessions.

     The "GO" command button starts the trace.

     The "EXIT" command button closes POVPANEL and returns to DOS.


DISPLAY CARD & IMAGE CONTROLS:
     These consist of the following-

              CONTROL                           = POVRAY Option
     -------------------------------------      ----------------
     . Display Card List                        e.g. '4','0'
     . Image Size Options                       e.g. +w80  +h60
     . Output File Format                       e.g. +ft
     . Image Quality Control Bar                e.g. +q9
     -------------------------------------      ----------------


TRACE CONTROLS:
     These consist of the following-

              CONTROL                           = POVRAY Option
     -------------------------------------      ----------------
     . Palette Options                          e.g. H,3
     . Diplay Trace Option                      e.g. +d - ON
     . Verbose On Option                        e.g. +v - ON
     . Prompt prior to Exit Option              e.g. +p - ON
     . Enable early Exit Option                 e.g. +x - ON
     . Antialias On Option                      e.g. +a - ON
     . Continue Trace Option                    e.g. +c - ON
     . Set Start/End Line Option                e.g. +s/+e
     -------------------------------------      ----------------

     The Set Start/End Lines Option is activated when you wish to
     enter start and end line numbers for a trace.  After
     activation, you should then enter the appropriate start and
     end line numbers into the Start Line and End Line boxes.
     For a complete trace you should leave the Start/End Line
     Option unselected and the Start Line and End Line boxes
     empty.


USING THE CONTROLS:
     The controls will respond to either keypresses or mouse
     clicks.  Move the mouse cursor or use the TAB key to move
     from one control to another(i.e. to select it).  Then to-
     . Operate Command Button     - Press ENTER or LEFT CLICK.
     . Choose a Checkbox Option   - Press SPACE or LEFT CLICK.
                                  - Option toggles ON/OFF.
     . Enter Text                 - Type entry.
     . Choose from File/Card List - Use ARROW keys or LEFT CLICK.
     . Choose from List Option    - Use ARROW keys or LEFT CLICK.
     . Choose Image Quality       - Use ARROW keys or LEFT DRAG.


YOUR FIRST PANEL SESSION:
     1. Install the panel as noted above and start the POVPANEL
        programme.
     2. The Include File Path box is already selected so type in
        your path details(as shown by the default text).  Then
        select the Sample File Path box and enter your details.
        Select the "DEF" Command button and write the .def file to
        disk(press ENTER or LEFT CLICK).
        WARNING: THESE PATHS MUST BE SET CORRECTLY FOR THE
        PROGRAMME TO FUNCTION PROPERLY!
     3. Select the Input File List box and choose a file to trace.
        The name of the chosen file will appear in the Input
        FileName box.
     4. Select and the set the other controls as required(if you
        have any problems see USING THE CONTROLS).
     5. To retain these settings between tracing sessions select
        the "CFG" Command button and write the .cfg file to disk.
     6. Select the "GO" Command button to start the trace.
     7. The "EXIT" Command button may be selected at any time to
        return to DOS.
     8. After each trace is completed, the POVRAY statistics
        screen will appear and you are returned to DOS.  Type
        POVPANEL to restart the control panel.


COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS:
=====================
     If you have any comments or suggestions to make about
     POVPANEL please contact me via Compuserve(PACIFIC).
     My ID Number is:
                 100036,504
     Enjoy using the programme!

DISCLAIMER
==========
     POVPANEL if freeware and is provided without any guarantees
     or warranty.  The author is not responsible for any damage
     or losses of any kind caused by the use or misuse of the
     programme.  The author is under no obligation to provide
     service, corrections or upgrades to the programme.

=================================================================