Cutout Maker

By Derek Walker
Originally published in EUG #14

There have been two handy utilities for SP64 users published over the last couple of issues [Cutout Previewer and Screen Stripper - Gus] so here is a third utility that may prove as useful. This Cutout Maker will let you save any portion of a Mode 0 screen in the format of a SP64 'Cutout' for future use within either Slogger's Stop Press/SP64 or the Amx Pagemaker/Stop Press packages.

STOP PRESS 64 Users

With ADFS
To use, format a new disk and create two sub-directories 'C' and 'S'. Copy the files CUTMAKE and OVERLAY [From the $ directory, so they're in the $ directory on the new disk - Gus] and make a "!BOOT" file to CHAIN "CUTMAKE". *OPT 4 3 to allow the disk to start on a SHIFT-BREAK.

At this point, save or copy any screens you would like to take cutouts from into the sub-directory S. Now press SHIFT-BREAK and in a couple of seconds you will be presented with the opening screen which will ask three questions: 

   1) From which file do you wish to take a cutout from?
   2) View screen (Y/N)?                                                
   3) Please enter cutout filename?

Once you have entered the cutout filename, the screen picture will appear with a set of cross-hairs. Move the cross-hairs with the cursor keys to the desired position and press RETURN to lock the first corner. Now move the cross-hairs to encompass the desired area and press COPY). The cutout is now saved to the C sub-directory and the program returns to the opening screen.

With DFS
Follow the instructions as above but do not create the directories S and C.

Two minor changes have to be made to the program itself because of the disk filing system. LOAD it then LIST 90,190 (RETURN).

Change line 90 to: 

       90*DIR S

Change line 190 to: 

      190*DIR C

AMX PAGEMAKER/STOP PRESS and SLOGGER CONVERSION

Change the program as above under 'With DFS' but delete line 90.

Note in both the AMX SP and the Slogger conversion, the screens are saved in the root directory.

Compatibility

The core of this program came from an early issue of The Micro User and, as published, would not work properly with any 8-bit machine. I have made some modifications which allow it to work on the Electron, BBC B and Master 128, and in ADFS for the SP64. I have also changed its appearance so it is similar to the Screen Stripper that was in EUG #13.

Derek Walker, EUG #14