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VidPlus - Associated Press Clients

VidPlus is THE software solution for users of the new Associated Press "Graphics Bank" on the WWW. Re-use your Targa+ from the old dedicated/DOS system for it's high quality RGB output! Usage could not be easier -- just copy any image to the clipboard then click on the "Start" button and "VidPlus - Paste from Clipboard".

Let's do it:

  • Review the general info on the VidPlus pages, then install NT4 on a test PC and make sure that it runs well with your favorite web brower. The browser must provide the ability to copy a 24-bit image to the Windows clipboard (I've used Internet Explorer 3, 4 & 5 and right click on the image).

  • Move the Targa+ adapter from the old system to the NT4 system.
    See my photo of the T+ and check your DIP switch settings.
    Also note the number of RAM chips on your card. If you have 4 or 5 then your card has 512K RAM, if you have 8 or 9 it's 1Meg, if you have all 16 it's 2Meg. (For the NTSC adapters, these are the Targa+16, T+32 and T+64 respectively.)

  • Install the VidPlus DEMO software for evaluation. Most users will want to use the Targa+ at 512x486 resolution. Targa+16's will be limited to 2-byte color depth (32768 colors), while the Targa+32 and 64 allow 4-byte depth (16 million colors). One user wanted an 'underscan' style output to their paintbox for compositing - that's 512x400.

  • Customize FramePst.bat and it's Start Menu shortcut.
    Don't forget this step, it's the key to easy Graphics Bank usage!

    • Use Windows Explorer (the file Explorer, not Internet Explorer) to copy the "VidPlus - Paste from Clipboard" shortcut up two directory levels. By default you'll find it in your Start Menu, under Programs and VidPlus. By moving it up two directories it will appear in your Start Menu, just above Programs. VERY convenient. The full default location is:
      "C:\WINNT\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\VidPlus" (your drive letter and top directory name may differ).

    • Choose your Targa+ display size and modify FramePst.bat (in the VPCMD sub-directory) to scale the 640x480 AP image appropriately.
      Add four values to the VPCMD PASTE line. The first two are an "origin offset" (normally 0 0), and set the second two to match your display size:
      eg: C:\VIDPLUS\VPCMD\VPCMD.exe Paste 0 0 512 486

    • Usage: Right-click on a downloaded AP image to receive a pop-up menu ... select "Copy" to place the image on the Windows Clipboard, then click on your Start button then "VidPlus - Paste from Clipboard".

  • It is important to note that (as I understand it), EACH TIME you click on "Download' on the Graphics Bank page, you are charged for the download. After copying the image to the clipboard, you may also wish to right-click and select "Save As" to archive the image for later recall (without incurring a second charge).

    VidPlus can load only TGA files directly to the display. The JPG images used by AP are not directly supported. If you will be archiving images to your HD for later recall, I suggest that you use one of the popular Image Management applications. Usage is:
    1) Download images and save them in your image directory.
    2) Use the IM app to select an image and copy it to the clipboard.
    3) Click on your Start button then "VidPlus - Paste from Clipboard".

All contents Copyright © 1997-2000 by Brian Reed, except where noted. All Rights Reserved.