[GreenKeys] RTTY Art JAVA Viewer Facelift

[Bob Camp]

Hi

No matter what we do any software we write is likely to go obsolete 
over time. Even with Java I suspect this will be true.

The hope here is that the data would be in a "software agnostic" 
format. Since there is no way to figure out what future software will 
look like all I can go by is what is out there now. Obviously this is a 
less than perfect situation.

If we want the file to be easy to work with in text input mode in 
Visual Basic then an ascii end of line needs to happen every so often. 
You can run the stuff in as binary and get around some but not all of 
the problems. If we want to read the same files on a Unix based system 
we have similar issue with text input but a different end of line 
character.

Since the cr/lf combinations on a picture are so significant we can't 
simply map equivalent Badot characters to ASCII characters to get 
around the binary read issue. The only way would be to deliberately 
avoid mapping anything significant to the ASCII cr or lf characters. 
Then you can strip out ASCII cr's and lf's when you go to display the 
picture.

One way or another I think we need to keep information about the 
picture attached to the picture data. That does not have to be in the 
same file but it would be nice if it can be done. I'm reasonably sure 
we will come up with many copies of the more popular pictures. Sorting 
this stuff out once we are done will be a bit of work. The closer we 
can get to a dupe free collection the more useful the collection will 
be. Data about the picture could be in a separate file inside a zip 
along with the data if it's not imbedded in the data file it's self.

There are never any perfect solutions to these problems. There are far 
to many possible ways to do it. There are far to few obvious advantages 
to any one solution.

Here's what I would propose:

1) We need a way to edit the file
2) We need a way to display the file
3) We need a way to generate the file

We've all thrown in a lot of ideas on how and what to do. I'd say that 
who ever is going to do items 1, 2, or 3 go off and do it. Once done 
then demonstrate it to work. After it works document the process well 
enough that it could be duplicated. We can all look at the 
documentation and I'm sure we can come up with any additions and 
modifications that are needed. The ultimate proof will be when somebody 
successfully duplicating one of the parts of the software (1,2 or 3).

So who's the lead on this one going to be? (and no it's not going to be 
me ...)

	Enjoy!

		Bob Camp
		KB8TQ


On Jan 23, 2005, at 2:18 PM, William Bytheway wrote:

> Gang,
>
> The main need seems to be with editing/fixing/repairing a Baudot 
> picture
> tape.  The "X0X0X" concept sounds like a lot of work.  I'm having 
> trouble
> visualizing the Space shuttle launch by Jim Walls - K6CCC.
>
> Why not create a custom RTTYArt line editor, one that displays both 
> PIX and
> POX on a page, allows one to select and edit the line and retain the
> original cr-cr-lf sequences.  Much easier to create such a program and 
> work
> with the pictures.  What you saw would be what you got!
>
> A program could be created in a couple of evenings.  Simple design, 
> here is
> the pseudo-code.
>
> 1.  Select and read in a PIX or POX text-format file.
> 2.  Store and display each line in a scrollable text list box.
> 3.  Replace the 'lf' with a '^' and 'cf' with a '<'.
>     a.  Neither character exist in the Baudot code.
>     b.  A POX would display a "<<" at the end of the first line,
>         and a "<<^" at the end of the last overstrike line.
>     c.  A PIX would simply show a "<<^" for cr-cr-lf sequence
> 4.  Check for valid Baudot character set and repair if necessary.
> 5.  Double-click on a list box line and bring up a single line
>     text edit window. Fix the error and save the results back
>     into the text list box.
> 6.  Single-click and select an option to add or delete a line.
> 7.  Save the changes into a new POX or PIX text-format file.
>     The '^' and '<' would be converted back into a 'lf' and 'cr'.
>
> 73,
> K7TTY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Camp [mailto:ham at cq.nu]
> Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 10:00 AM
> To: Tom Jennings; Greenkeys ((E-mail))
> Cc: William Bytheway; John Foust
> Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] RTTY Art JAVA Viewer Facelift
>
>
> Hi
>
> The nice thing about doing it with the x's and o's is that it is pure
> ASCII. You can edit it with just about anything at all. . . . . . .
>