	README 2002-12-6
SiDxf - vector/bitmap convertion utility 
	(c) Barkhatov A.E.

Fast,small program, operated as GUI or console, to convert vector graphic files
such as Autocad DXF, Windows Enhanced/Placeable EMF/WMF, Gerber PCB into widely
used bitmap formats such as GIF, BMP(uncompressed and RLE), JPEG and G3-Fax.
Vector-to-vector transformation is provided for DXF and Microsoft VML output.
A bitmap width and height, compression quality, external color palette and GUI 
for viewing and tuning is the options. 

Input DXF is ASCII mode, 2D standard, an output is v13+ complaint. 
BMP and GIF are palettized (8 or 4 bits/pix) compressed or plain formats, most 
suitable to a rasterized drawing. 
True color JPEG with hight quality Intel codec and black-white compressed G3-Fax
(to send thru modem connection directly on fax or computer) are also useful.
Vector HTML (VML) output can makes vector graphics Web aware.

The program should do the following:
1.Read command line args
2.Parse options:  
 -w -h are pixel dimensions for output bitmap
 -c color map to be used in place of standard DXF palette
   file format is 3 x 256 rgb (768 byte all), as in Photoshop ACT
 -q JPEG output quality (a number from 0 to 100)
 -r RLE compression for BMP output
 Last two arguments are input and output file names.
 File name extensions are used to determine types desired.
 DXF/EMF/WMF/GBR for input; BMP/GIF/JPG/G3/DXF/VML/HTM for output.
3.Read input file from current directory,
 if it is DXF - scale coords from an extent found in DXF header to W x H or
 to default values (1728,2287 pixels),
 if it is WMF check and leave placeable header, and convert it to EMF,
 if it is EMF, just read it with the Windows help 
   or by hand-made parser, if output is a drawing.
4.Convert (rasterize) input drawing and save it into output bitmap,
 or 'normalize' (that is to preserve only input values that the parser 
 undestand) for DXF/VML/HTM output mode.
5.If the program was just hited and no command line args presents,
 GUI version is launched. 
 Resulting bitmap can be viewed with scrolling/padding options
 befor saving it or interactively tuning convertion parameters.

* Intel(c) IJL library was used for JPEG output (See the License Agreement).
* Ed Casas open source EFAX was used to G3(CCITT-1D) Fax output.

* Registration at ShareIt!: 
http://shareit1.element5.com/programs.html?productid=133799

Registered users will be provided with C source code of the program and the binaries 
without some restrictions for freeware version.

Home site http://titan.spaceports.com/~spi.
