From: Ryan Blazecka <eblazecka AT bc DOT sympatico DOT ca>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: Allegro Newbie (sprites/tiles)
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 1997 00:14:55 -0800
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Ryan Bright wrote:

>     I have sprite (and tile) files in raw data format (1028 bytes) and
> I've spent a couple of days trying to figure out how to load them and
> display them with Allegro but to no avail.  What's the preferred
> method?  I was planning on using RLE_SPRITE, but how would I go about
> loading them off the HD into the data structure?  And then,

you can load the data from the HD directly into a bitmap. (I am assuming
the RAW files are 32x32 8-bit bitmaps, with a word value for width and
height each.) If this is so, then the following code should load them
into a BITMAP:

BITMAP *image = create_bitmap(32, 32);     //create bitmap to store tile
PACKFILE *fp = pack_fopen("tile.raw", F_READ);          //open tile file
pack_igetl(fp);       //throw away size info, since you know it is 32x32
pack_fread(image->dat, 32*32, fp);  //read the tile data into the bitmap
pack_fclose(fp);               //close the file when you're done with it

You can now use image as a regular bitmap, passing it to blit,
draw_sprite, or whatever.

>   If I use RLE sprites, then I don't see any "blit" equivalent.  So what
> do I do with the tiles in which I don't want to use masking (skip 0)?
> Do I have to use a BITMAP and waste all that space?

When you don't want to skip 0's, use regular BITMAPs. RLE sprites only
compress color 0's, so there is no speed or memory gain for using RLE
sprites in this case.

>   Continuation of first Q : I'd love to use the included "grabber"
> software to store all these RLE sprites into a single data file, but I
> don't quite see how to load them in.. it only accepts .dat files.   And
> if I create a "new..." object then, once again, how do I load in my raw
> data sprites?...and convert to run-length?  tia

Using the grabber is a much better way to go than loading all the
bitmaps directly. You need to get your images into a format Allegro can
use, though (PCX,BMP,TGA, or LBM). The program you used to create your
images should be able to do this for you. The rest is explained in
detail in grabber.txt.

> btw, when I say newbie, I mean I heard about djgpp and allegro for the
> first time 3 days ago, so detailed answers would be _MUCH_
> appreciated... thanks

(I am assuming you are familiar with C though :).

-- 
[  Ryan Blazecka  --  http://www.deninc.com/~corrosion/  ]
[ _corrosion_ AT geocities DOT com OR eblazecka AT bc DOT sympatico DOT ca ]