PICDEX VERSION 1.01 FREEWARE


1. OVERVIEW

Currently Picdex version 1.01 is a freeware application. It was
developed using Delphi 3.01 and is used extensively as a
foundation in the development of various customized image
processing applications. Its strongest feature is the fact that
it is a MDI application which allows you to view and manipulate
a number of images in one main window. It can be used simply as
an image viewer but it also has a number of special features
which make it a truly powerful utility.(See section 3)

For those of you developing in Delphi who wish to modify this
version of Picdex to suit your own requirements the source code
is available. (See section 9)

2. INSTALLATION

To install simply unzip the PICDEX.ZIP file and double click on
the setup.exe file. The install wizard does most of the hard work
and once installation is complete you will have the following files
on your system:

   Picdex.exe   (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory)
   Nviewlib.dll (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory)
   Readme.txt   (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory)
   _deisreg.isr (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory)
   _isreg32.dll (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory)
   Delsl1.isu   (defaults to the C:\Program Files\Picdex directory)
   Picdex.ini   (defaults to the C:\Windows)


Note you can now delete all the setup and zip files as they are no
longer necessary.

To uninstall simply go to the windows Settings | Control Panel and
activate the Add/Remove Programs application. Proceed with the
removal of Picdex.

3. FEATURES

Some of the features of Picdex ver 1.01 are briefly summarized
here:

       * MDI application - can load single or multiple images
       * Collage creation - assemble a number of individual
         images and save the collage as a single image
       * Clipboard aware
       * Can view a variety of image formats
       * Can playback .AVI video clips
       * Standard set of controls with hot keys - Next, Previous,
         Delete, Close, Close All, Save, Save As, Open and plenty
         more!
       * Auto fit to screen (Automatically sizes image to fit
         screen maintaining aspect ratio)
       * Magnify / Reduce capability (Zoom in and out using linear
         interpolation or QuickZoom)
       * Resize image capability (Enter width and height values)
       * Crop and Paste functionality
       * Slide show - adjustable timer allows auto display of a
         directory of images
       * Windows association of supported image extensions
         (Associate the PicDex application with the image
         extension(s) of your choice in the Explorer and then
         just double click on the file name to activate)
       * Right click menu of popular commands
       * Region of Interest (ROI) aware - using the left mouse
         button demarcate a Region of Interest on the image, any
         further manipulation of the image i.e. Zoom, Copy etc.
         will now effect only the demarcated area.
       * All user settings from the last working session are
         recalled i.e. Directory, Zoom Factor, JPG quality
         factor etc. Most of these can be set from the �Settings�
         menu item.




4. KEYBOARD COMMANDS

Besides the main menu and the Right Mouse Click PopUp Menu the
following hot keys are available:

       * F1 - Show About Information
       * F2 - Save Image
       * F3 - Load Image(s)
       * F4 - Save Image As
       * F5 - Fit Image to Screen
       * F6 - Crop demarcated area
       * F7 - Restore original Image
       * F8 - Move Image to Home position
       * F9 - Activate Slideshow
       * F11 - Zoom In (Magnify Image)
       * F12 - Zoom Out (Reduce Image)
       * Space bar or  up arrow key - Displays next image
       * BackSpace or down arrow key  Displays previous image
       * Pg Dn | Pg Up | -> | <- - Moves image down,up,right and
         left respectively
       * Cntrl + Tab - Toggle between images
       * Cntrl + Ins - Copy
       * Shift + Ins - Paste
       * Del - Delete Image (NB deletes image does not post to
         Recycle Bin)
       * Ins - Display next image without closing current image
       * Alt + F3 - Close Image
       * Alt + F4 - Exit Application
       * Alt + F5 - Close All Images
       * Cntrl + M - Create Collage Canvas (see section 6)
       * Cntrl + P - Paste to Collage Canvas (see section 6)
       * Cntrl + I - Invert Image
       * Cntrl + R - Rotate Image 90 degrees



5. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Picdex has been tested on both Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.
Although not necessary Picdex works best in a 800x600 graphics
resolution with a Color Palette set at 24 bit True Color.



6. TIPS

When using Picdex one can either load a batch of images at once
and then toggle through the selection using the Cntrl + Tab keys
or select the first image in the directory and hit the space bar
to display the next image. Note pressing the space bar first
closes the active image and then displays the next image. If you
wish to retain the active image press the INS key - this displays
the next image with out closing the current image.

Using the Windows95 explorer I have associated most image
extensions with the Picdex application. This allows one to double
click on an image file name in the Explorer and quickly view the
image using the Picdex application.

ROI - Region Of Interest:

Demarcating a region of interest on an image is undertaken simply
by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the mouse
accordingly. Once you have demarcated an area you can apply one of
the available image processing operations to it for example Zoom
In, Invert , Rotate etc. This will take effect on the demarcated
region. Try the Copy and Paste functions - only the ROI will be
pasted to the New Image.

Collage Creation:

I often come across the situation that I have a number of smaller
images that I would like to arrrange on one canvas and save as a
single  image. For this I have implemented a utility that enables
one to create a collage from a number of individual images. To do
this select the images that you wish to use in your collage comp-
ilation. Then press the Collage Canvas speed button (CC on the
ToolBar or look in the main menu under File) in order to create
a background canvas on which to paste your individual images.(Note
if you go to the settings dialog box you can set the background of
the Collage canvas to your preference.) Now use the Cntrl +Tab
key to switch to the image of your choice, demarcate an area on
this image or just select the whole image and then press the
Collage Paste button (CP on the ToolBar or use the PopUp menu).
The Collage Canvas now appears and you can position your image
anywhere on this canvas by moving the mouse. At the desired
location left click the mouse button and the image will be
anchored at that location. Continue this process until all the
single images have been placed upon the Collage Canvas and then
save the collage as a BMP or JPG. Remember to use the Pg Dn ,
Pg Up , -> , <-  to move an image or even the Collage Canvas itself
if necessary.

7. FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

A number of enhancements are to be made to this version of Picdex
namely :

       * The collage creation utility will be refined with a lot
         of additional extras i.e. text insertion, borders etc.
       * The playback of video clips will be enhanced - better
         controller
       * More color image processing operations will be included
       * Thumbnail creation
       * Refinement of the slideshow selection
       * Batch delete/move capability
       * Help menu

Any suggestions will be welcome

8. CREDITS

Thanks go to K. Nishita for writing the excellent NviewLib.dll.


9. DEVELOPERS DETAILS

Author of Picdex   -     George Vrahimis
Email address      -     [email protected]

Mail Address       -     26 Harry De Stadler Close
                        Fish Hoek
                        7975
                        South Africa

For those of you who are working in Delphi and  wish to adapt
this version of Picdex according to your own requirements the
complete source code is available at a cost of US$5. Note the
decoding of the image formats is done by the NviewLib.dll.
If there is a demand for a customized version of Picdex please
email me with your request.

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