@DATABASE "BetaScan"
@AUTHOR "Svend Daugaard Pedersen"
@(C) "Š 2000 Svend Daugaard Pedersen"
@$VER: BetaScan.guide 2.20

@NODE MAIN "BetaScan Manual"

                               @{B}BetaScan 2.20@{UB}

                      A scanner program for the Amiga

                                    by

                        @{" Svend Daugaard Pedersen " LINK AUTHER}


      @{" Overview            " LINK Overview}
      @{" System Requirements " LINK Requirements}
      @{" Installation        " LINK Installation}
      @{" Using BetaScan      " LINK UsingBetaScan}
      @{" Tested Systems      " LINK TestedSystems}
      @{" How it was made     " LINK HowMade}
      @{" Thanks              " LINK THANKS}
      @{" Author              " LINK AUTHER}
      @{" FAQ                 " LINK FAQ}
      @{" History             " LINK History}
      @{" Future              " LINK Future}

@ENDNODE

@NODE Overview "Overview"

 @{B}Overview@{UB}

 BetaScan is a general scanner program for the Amiga (se @{"System Requirements " LINK Requirements}).
 It is designed to be used with virtually any scanner for which a driver exists.

 In the BetaScan archive is a driver for Microtek ScanMakerE3 (or Microtek
 Phantom 4800, which is in fact a ScanmakerE3). Other drivers are found in
 separate archives in AmiNet.

@ENDNODE


@NODE Requirements "System Requirements"

 @{B}System Requirements@{UB}

 Any Amiga with at least 68020 processor and Kickstart 3.0.

 Recommended: at least 8Mb RAM, 50Mb free disk space and a graphics card
              with CyberGraphX.

@ENDNODE


@NODE Installation "Installation"

 @{B}Installation@{UB}

 There is no install script for this program :-(

 However, the installation is very simple :-)

 Move the @{I}BetaScan@{UI} drawer to the desired place. That's all.
@ENDNODE


@NODE UsingBetaScan "Using BetaScan"

     @{B}Using BetaScan@{UB}

     @{" Starting BetaScan   " LINK Starting}
     @{" Control Buttons     " LINK ControlButtons}
     @{" Preview Window      " LINK PreviewWindow}
     @{" Configuration       " LINK Configuration}
     @{" Scan Mode           " LINK ScanMode}
     @{" Scan Size           " LINK ScanSize}
     @{" Advanced Settings   " LINK ColorCorrection}
@ENDNODE

@NODE Starting "Starting BetaScan"

 @{B}Starting the program@{UB}

 BetaScan may be started from CLI or from Workbench in the usual way.

 The first time you start the program, a screen requester pops up allowing you
 to select a screen and the number of colors.

 This screen requester will pop up at program start until you have made a real
 @{"configuration" LINK Configuration}.

@ENDNODE

@NODE ControlButtons "Control Buttons"

 @{B}Main Control Buttons@{UB}

 In the upper left part of the BetaScan window you find the five main program
 control buttons:

 @{B}Quit@{UB}        The program stops. No requester will pop up since there is nothing
             seriously to lose.


 @{B}Photo Copy@{UB}  The area selected by the frame in the @{"preview window" LINK PreviewWindow} is scanned
             and send directly to the printer. TurboPrint is supported.

 @{B}Scan File@{UB}   The area selected by the frame in the @{"preview window" LINK PreviewWindow} is scanned
             and send to the selected @{"output file" LINK OutputFile}.

             If the name of the selected @{"output file" LINK OutputFile} already exists, a file
             requester will pop up.


 @{B}Zoom@{UB}        The area selected by the frame in the @{"preview window" LINK PreviewWindow} is scanned
             and shown enlarged in the @{"preview window" LINK PreviewWindow}.


 @{B}Preview@{UB}     The whole document is scanned and is shown in the @{"preview window" LINK PreviewWindow}.


@ENDNODE

@NODE PreviewWindow "Preview Window"

 @{B}The Preview Window@{UB}

 The big area below the @{"Control Buttons" LINK ControlButtons} is used to show a preview of
 the document.

 The red frame bounds the area that wil be scanned (see @{"Control Buttons" LINK ControlButtons}).
 The frame can be sized or moved by the mouse (click on the small squares and
 move the mouse). To get a precise position and size use the button @{"Frame.." LINK ScanSize}.

@ENDNODE


@NODE Configuration "Configuration"

 @{B}Configuration@{UB}

 In this section you can set the main program parameters (@{"Config.." LINK ProgramParam}) and the
 name and type of the @{"output file" LINK OutputFile}.

 The first time you use the program you should set screen mode, select the
 scanner and set the size of the RAM buffer (@{"Config.." LINK ProgramParam}).

 By pressing the Info.. button you can see the name and type of the connected
 scanner.
@ENDNODE

@NODE ProgramParam "Program Parameters"

 @{B}Setting the Main Program Parameters@{UB}


 @{B}Screen..@{UB}    Select the screen to be used by BetaScan.

             If you choose an AGA screen (Amiga 1200 and Amige 4000) you can
             select the number of colors, too. But don't expect a true color
             preview picture if you select a 16-color screen!


 @{B}Scanner..@{UB}   Select your scanner.

 @{B}IO-Device..@{UB} Select the IO-Device the scanner is connected (most often
             SCSI) and the unit number.


 @{B}TmpDir..@{UB}    The directory to place temporary files if the RAM buffer is
             too small to hold the whole picture.


 @{B}RAM Buffer@{UB}  Select the size of the buffer to hold the scanned picture
             during scanning.


 @{B}Number Of Copies..@{UB}
             The number of copies printed when pressing Photo Copy buttom
             (see @{"Control Buttons" LINK ControlButtons}).


 @{B}HP LaserJet Compatible@{UB}
             Select this if your printer is a HP LaserJet compatible printer.
             Then the scanned area is only send once to the printer (don't
             select if TurboPrint is installed!).

@ENDNODE

@NODE OutputFile "Output File"

 @{B}Select Output File Name and File Type@{UB}

 The available file types are JPEG and ILBM (24 bit color, 8 bit gray scale or
 1 bit B/W).

 B/W JPEG are stored as grey scale pictures.

@ENDNODE

@NODE ScanMode "Scan Mode"

 @{B}Scan Mode@{UB}

 The modes available depends on the scanner. If Halftone is selected a list
 view appears allowing you to select the pattern.

@ENDNODE

@NODE ScanSize "Scan Size"

 @{B}Scan Resolution and Size@{UB}

 The resolution is measured in dpi (dots per inch). By pressing @{B}Frame..@{UB}
 you can set the area of the picture to be scanned. The size and position
 are measured in mm.

 The size of the scanned picture is shown. The number is influenced by the
 resolution, @{"Scan Mode" LINK ScanMode} and frame size. The size is not the size of
 the file which is normally smaller.

@ENDNODE

@NODE ColorCorrection "Advanced Settings"

 @{B}Color Correction@{UB}

 The available color correction modes are scanner dependent.

 Most scanners support gamma correction as well as brightness and contrast
 adjust. The result of a change of one of these correction values is imme-
 diately shown on the preview picture. The same is true for threshold.

 @{B}NOTE!@{UB} Moving the slider require a lot of CPU power if you use a 24 bit screen.
 It might be better to use an 8 bit screen. The colors are almost as good as on
 a 24 bit screen.

@ENDNODE

@NODE TestedSystems "Tested Systems"

  BetaScan has been tested on the following systems:

  A3000 030/25 with
             OS 3.5
             CyberStorm 060/50
             116 Mb RAM
             9.1 Gb HD
             CyberVision64 with CyberGraphX
             External CD ROM and Syquest EZ Flyer
             Microtek Phantom 4800 and HP ScanJet 6200c

  A3000 030/25 with
             OS 3.5
             34 Mb RAM
             3.1 Gb HD
             Microtek Phantom 4800 and HP ScanJet 6200c

  A4000 040/25 with
             OS 3.0
             16 Mb RAM
             0.12 Gb HD
             (no scanner)


@ENDNODE

@NODE AUTHER "BetaScan auther"

    Send any suggestion, bug report or compliment :-) to:

                         Svend Daugaard Pedersen
                         Hoffmeyersvej 17
                         DK-2000 Frederiksberg
                         Denmark

                         Email: sdp@vip.cybercity.dk


@ENDNODE

@NODE HowMade "How BetaScan was made"

                 @{b}BetaScan@{ub}   -  version 2.20   27th April 2000

                     Š1997-2000 @{"Svend Daugaard Pedersen" LINK AUTHER}


   BetaScan was compiled with @{" StormC Ž " link THANKS} ver. 3.0

   The Microtek ScanmakerE3 driver was compiled with @{" SAS/C Ž " link THANKS} 6.57

   The GUI was made with CIT, an object oriented gadget system made
   by the @{"auther" LINK AUTHER}.

   BetaScan, as well as all the accompanying files, is
   Š1998-2000 Svend Daugaard Pedersen.

@ENDNODE

@NODE THANKS "BetaScan's author would like to thank..."

   BetaScan's author would like to thank...

   Amiga     For being the best platform to 'work' on. And still
             alive in spite of some sad facts.

   SAS/C Ž   The compiler I have used for years.

   StormC Ž  A C/C++ compiler with an excellent development environment,
             and finally (from ver. 3) producing stable and effective code.

   IJG       The Independent JPEG Group's JPEG software for some useful
             routines.

   .. and all those users that have been very patience during tests of new
   devices.

@ENDNODE

@NODE History "History"

 @{B}History@{UB}

 V1.00  May 1998

   - first public release


 V1.02  June 1998

   - errors removed.


 V1.10  July 1998

   - added possibility to make several copies in photo copy section.

   - small errors corrected.

 V1.12  October 1998

   - small changes in the GUI.

   - small errors corrected.

   - new localization

 V1.26  November 1998

   - Info.. button added

   - better error information in case of scanner configuration error

   - protection against unintentional overwriting of existing file

   - small changes in the GUI.

   - small errors corrected.

 V2.00  December 1998

   - completely new scanner interface

   - small changes in GUI  due to the new interface

 V2.05  January 1999

   - buffer for IO device name 256 bytes (prior 32 bytes)

   - removed problems with brightness and contrast correction in
     preview window on some scanners

   - better error information in case of scanner configuration error

   - support for automatic document feeder

   - change in threshold value shown immediately in preview window
     (like gamma, brightness and contrast)

 V2.15  March 1999

   - another name buffer error corrected

   - corrupted preview with bitmap screen and Kickstart 3.0 corrected

   - any operation (scanning, writing to file etc.) can be aborted (see
     the scanner driver ReadMe files for limitations)

 V2.20  April 2000

   - problems with long texts in OS3.5 fixed

   - TempDir check during config file load (if directory not exists it
     is changed to directory of BetaScan)


@ENDNODE


@NODE Future "Future"

 More drivers.


@ENDNODE

@NODE FAQ "FAQ"

 @{B}Frequently Asked Questions@{UB}


 @{B}Q:@{UB} Is it possible to use a parallel scanner with BetaScan?

 @{B}A:@{UB} In principle YES. But drivers must be written.

    At this moment the Epson, HP and Mustek drivers may work with some
    parallel versions of these scanners (but it is not yet tested with
    success).
    -----

 @{B}Q:@{UB} I have tried BetaScan with the driver for ScanmakerE3. But each
    time I press Preview, Zoom or Scan File buttom a requester pops up with
    the message: "Communication Error" (or some thing like that).

 @{B}A:@{UB} The driver @{I}ScanmakerE3.device@{UI} is not perfect. Use in stead the
    SANE based driver @{I}Microtek.device@{UI} found in a separate archive in AmiNet.
    -----

 @{B}Q:@{UB} I am unable to select my scsi device driver. It is not found in the
    requester.

 @{B}A:@{UB} If the scsi device driver is found in ROM like the @{I}cyberscsi.device@{UI}
    or @{I}1230scsi.device@{UI} it is not shown in the requester. You have to type
    in the name manually in the IO Device input field in the configuration
    window. Be careful to type in the correct name with the correct case.
    -----


@ENDNODE