File Formats

               Overview
    Canvas supports 14 different file
formats some of which are standard and
are used by other packages and others
which are non-standard. The following
descriptions are of the actual formats
in which each of them is stored on the
disk.


     Compact Picture Format (.CPT)
     -----------------------------
    This format saves the current work
screen onto disk along with the current
palette using a format which saves
considerable disk space. For this
reason it is advised that you use this
picture format while working with
Canvas.
Format:  Palette data - #16 words
$0rgb
         Resolution 0 to 2 #1 words
         Group Raster List - Number of
similar rasters .word (-1=end)
                             Position
of 1st .word (raster index)
                             Raster
data #8bytes(lo),#4(med),#2(hi)
         Single Raster List - Raster
data (as above)


     Canvas Picture Format (.CNV)
     ----------------------------
    This is very similar to the Degas
format except for the way the palette
is arranged. It may be more convenient
if you want to load a picture from
certain languages such as Fast BASIC.
Format:  Palette data - Red, Green,
Blue (3 bytes) #16 colours
         Screen data - 32000 bytes

       IMG Picture Format (.IMG)
       -------------------------
    This format simply consists of the
32000 byte screen.


   Degas Picture Format (.PI1>.PI3)
   --------------------------------
    This is the file format which is
used by the popular Degas art package:
Format:  Resolution .word
         Palette data - #16 words
$0rgb
         Screen data - 32000 bytes


       Neo Picture Format (.NEO)
       -------------------------
    This is the picture format used by
the standard drawing program NeoChrome.
Format:  #4 Bytes - leave 0
         Palette data - #16 words
         #92 Bytes - leave 0
         #32000 bytes picture data

       
         Palette Format (.PAL)
         ---------------------
    This file format contains just the
data for one palette.
Format:  Red, Green, Blue (3 bytes) #16
colours


        Sequence Format (.SEQ)
        ----------------------
    All of the Animation information
and Grid sizes are stored in this type
of file.
Format:  Sequence on/off data (0 or 1)
#32 .words
         Delay data #32 .words
         Repeat data #32 .words
         Start image data #32 .words
         End image data #32.words
         Size image data (0 to 7 grid
size index) #32 .words
         Screen data #32 .words
         BackTrack data (0 or 1) #32
.words
         All 8 Grid Widths #8 .words
         All 8 Grid Heights #8 .words


     1 Colour Fill Patterns (.1CP)
     -----------------------------
    This format stores all 8 of the 1
colour user-defineable fill patterns.
Format:  256 bytes = 32 bytes per
pattern (8 patterns)


    16 Colour Fill Patterns (.PAT)
    ------------------------------
    This format stores all 8 of the 16
colour user-defineable fill patterns.
Format:  1024 bytes = 128 bytes per
pattern (8 patterns)


          Line Pattern (.LIN)
          -------------------
    This format stores only one of the
8 line patterns defined on the Line
Specbox.
Format:  1 .word = each bit represents
1 dot in the pattern.


     Sprite Pattern Format (.SPR)
     ----------------------------
    This stores all 16 sprite
patterns.
Format:  512 bytes = 32 bytes per
pattern (16 patterns)


            3D Format (.3D)
            ---------------
    All 8 objects are stored in this
type of file.
Format:  24576 bytes used altogether:
         Start X, End X>.word
each*256(lines)*8(objects)=4096 bytes
         Start Y, End Y (as above)
         Start Z, End Z (as above)


          HBLs Format (.HBL)
          ------------------
    This format stores all the HBLs
which are currently set. Note that only
1 HBL list can be stored in memory at
once and must be shared between all the
work screens.
Format:  100 .words (50 actually used
in colr modes=200 scan lines)
         each .word = #palette OR
#-1=no change on that scan line
         each .word = represents every
forth scan line


          Grid Format (.GRD)
          ------------------
    This format stores the 8 grid
sizes. Note that the Sequence format
also stores the same information along
with the rest of it's data.
Format:  8 .words = All 8 Widths
         8 .words = All 8 Heights