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STELLA-GRAPH
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V1.3

Copyright (c) 1997, 1999, 2001 by Christopher James Pepin

cpepin1@hotmail.com

http://www.geocities.com/cpepin1976

This program is Freeware.
Requires the use of VB40032.DLL (for 32-bit operating systems) or
VB40016.DLL (for 16-bit operating systems).

NOTE:  This has only been tested under win9x.  

11/13/01

	Here's version 1.3.  My home page and email are updated in the program.  I also got around to adding a clear fields button to uncheck all of the check boxes.  I'm not sure why I didn't include that before, but here it is.  With almost everyone having 56k modems or high speed connections these days, I've decided to include the VB40032.dll file in the distribution.  Please let me know if you find any bugs.  Thanks.

10/14/97

	Well, here is version 1.1 of Stella-Graph.  I fixed a few minor bugs and rewrote the code so you can now copy the hex values it spits out and paste them into your source code.  I had planned on going down to campus and using their version of VB4 to compile the program, but they had upgraded to version 5 over the summer. What that meant is if I had compiled it in VB5, you would have had to download a newer version of the DLL file and I didn't want to make people do that if they already had the older DLL.  So, Frank Palazzolo (palazzol@tir.com) was gracious enough to compile the new version for me in his copy of VB4.  Thanks!  The source code is always included with Stella-Graph to make it easy for people to modify it themselves or, if they wish to compile it on a newer version of VB, they can.

5/30/97
	Frank Palazzolo (palazzol@tir.com) was nice enough to convert Stella-Graph into an executable file.  To run the executable file, the run-time file VB40016.DLL (for 16-bit operating systems) or VB40032.DLL (for 32-bit operating systems) must be in \WINDOWS\SYSTEM or a directory on the user's path. 

	I also included Nick Bensema's How to Draw a Playfield source code in the zip file. (howtodrw.s)  This is an excellent tutorial on how playfield graphics work.  If you replace the hex values that he has for PFData0, PFData1, and PFData2 with the hex values you get from Stella-Graph, you'll be able to display your own playfield designs on an Atari!

Check out Nick's Atari Programming Page at
[http://www.primenet.com/~nickb/atariprg.htm]!

This zipped archive contains the following files.

file_id.diz     -     This is the identification file.
graph.exe       -     The program executable
readme.txt      -     The text file explaining about the program.
frmgraph.frm    -     This is part of the uncompiled version.
frmgraph.frx    -     This is part of the uncompiled version.
graph.vbp       -     This is part of the uncompiled version.
howtodrw.s      -     Nick Bensema's "How to Draw a Playfield"
                      tutorial and source code

If you're sort on hardrive space, all you really need is graph.exe
and the DLL file.


5/29/97

	Stella-Graph is a program that will help you to create playfield
graphics for the Atari 2600.  Just create your graphics by clicking on
the check boxes and then hit the create code button when you are ready.
The program will generate the appropriate hex values for you to include
in your source code.
	If you wish to create a stationary playfield covering the whole
screen, just split the graphic into three parts.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Part 1 - Top of screen
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Part 2 - Middle of screen
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Part 3 - Bottom of screen


	Enter the code into the program starting with part three,
then part two, then, finally, part one.  Don't forget to write
them down before you do the next part.  Then when you place the
hex values into your source code, just put them all in a row
with part three hex values first, then the part two hex values,
followed by the part one hex values.  Whew!  I hope I didn't
confuse you too much.  
	While trying to learn how to program the Atari 2600, I became
annoyed at the strange way the code for playfield graphics must be
written.  It was very confusing and time consuming to do.  I waited
patiently for someone else to write a program to do it, but so far no
has.  Finally, with some unexpected free time on my hands, I sat down
and whipped this program together in a few days.  It's not perfect and
there could be lots of neat things added to it, but I don't know if
I'll have the time to add them anytime soon.  Feel free to modify
this program if you wish, just let me know if you wish to distribute
a modified version of this program.
	To better understand how to program the 2600, I suggest you
check out Bob Colbert's web page.  [http://www.novia.net/~rcolbert]
It has all sorts of documents and programs relating to programming
the 2600.  There is also a compiler and a program called Makewav
that will allow you to download your programs into an Atari if you
own a Supercharger.  The Supercharger is a large cartridge produced
by Starpath in the early '80s that would allow one to load games
off of cassette tapes.  Makewav converts your program into a wav
file that you can play through your sound card if you plug your
Supercharger into it.  Superchargers can be found for about
$20 U.S. if you look around a bit.  Your best bet would be to
ask in the newsgroup rec.games.video.classic.  

	There is also the Stella Programming list where discussion
concerning how to program the Atari 2600 can be found.  

STELLA - THE ATARI 2600 PROGRAMMING LIST

To subscribe you can do 2 things:
1) send a message to stella-request@biglist.com with 
	subscribe [your@email.address]
in the body.  The [] is optional.  If you don't include it, it
subscribes the account you're sending from.  If you do, it'll
subscribe that account.

2) send a message to majordomo@biglist.com with
	subscribe stella [your@email.address]
Same deal with the email address.

In both cases, the Subject line doesn't matter.

You can get the whole list of available commands by sending a
message to stella-request@biglist.com with
	help
in the body.


	I've tried to test this program out completely, but there
might be a few bugs.  If you find any, please let me know.
If you don't like my program and think you can write a better
one, please do!  I really don't know a whole lot about how the
2600 works, as I'm still learning.  
	Finally, I am not responsible for any damage this program
may cause.  I am not liable for any misuse, intentional or
otherwise, of this program.  There is no warranty, written or
implied, on this program.  The user uses this program at his or
her own risk!

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