Readme.txt ============================= Readme file for DigXY.

exe Program Purpose: Digitize XY data from a scanned bitmap image and save the data points to a text file. The Problem: You have an X-Y plot of some data (for instance, a graph from a report or book), but not the original data points, and you want to manipulate the data or include it in another graph. Solution: Digitize the data to extract the data to a text file. Platform: Windows 95/NT Reads Windows device independent bitmap (.bmp) and TIFF files. Distribution: This software is distributed under the shareware concept. The shareware version is the full working version. Try the software for up to 30 days. If you use the software, register and pay for the software at the address below. If you do not register you should delete all copies of the software from your hard drive and discontinue use. Permission is granted to redistribute this software in its entirety; however, no fee of any kind may be charged for redistribution without the author's written permission. Registering: I'm not set up for cyber-cash so you'll have to send a check or money order for $25 US currency to the address below. I will also accept purchase orders, if necessary. Mark James DigXY Registration 307 Palen Ave. Newport News, Virginia 23601 USA Include your mailing address your email address (if you have one) your check any questions, comments, requests My current email address is (Nov '99): mark@james.net For the most up-to-date information about DigXY visit the web-site below: www.mark.james.net An alternate web-site that will have a link to DigXY is: http://www.mne.ksu.edu/~franc2d Support: I will gladly answer questions for registered users and welcome comments at the email address above.

------------------------Copyright: Copyright (c) 1994-1999 Mark James, all rights reserved. ------------------------Usage: 1. Use a scanner and your favorite scanner program to create a black and white bitmap image of the X-Y plot (or other data) that you want to digitize (typically at about 100-300 dpi). 2. Read the bitmap into DigXY (zoom the image if needed). 3. Use the Mapping Region Tool to drag out a rectangle corresponding to the axes of the graph. Edit the region if you want. 4. Define the Mapping for the Region (Digitize/Mapping Region..., or right click on the background). 5. Use the Digitize Tool to click on points of interest on the graph. 6. Save the points to a file. 7. Clear the current set of points. 8. Digitize more points. 9. Etc. I appreciate the support of users that have registered. At this point I'm interested in continued development, but only on a limited scale. I'm also interested in any bug reports that you can send. I will try to respond to any bug reports with a timely fix. If you find this useful, Great! I like to hear from satisfied users... Mark James mark@james.net

------------------------The Current Release Version Version 1.0.1 changes -- November 1999 No new features. Problems fixed: - If the mapping region is drawn outside of the limits of the bitmap, the mapping region box is not erased properly for zoom and pan operations. This is purely cosmetic, and in no way imacts the data. - Bug in the Define tool to make a mapping region. Rotate the region. Resize the region. Resize should work ok. Now switch back to the Define tool and

define a new mapping region. Resize now does not work properly (distorts the box to non-orthogonal or non-rectangular box). If you stick with the original mapping region it seems to work fine, rotated or not. -------------------------

Known problem(s): - When the window is resized, the status bar only shrinks to a certain point, then it is clipped. This has something to do with MFC and is mostly an inconvenience. Typically it's best to run the program at full screen to get the best resolution out of the bitmap. - Some of the bitmaps in the help are not fully up to date. - When printing, if there are data points digitized, they draw really small (basically at the pixel resolution in printer pixels). ------------------------Version 1.0 changes -- December 1997 This version is basically a full rewrite of the program. The new features include: - Full Undo/Redo for all operations that manipulate the database - Limited image maniuplation commands - Saving restart data including all of the current digitized data, the mapping information and the current bitmap - A tool to rotate the mapping region on the bitmap to account for misaligned images during scanning - An estimate of the digitizing error based on the current pixel size at the current zoom factor - Online Help (though it's not a great deal more extensive than the usage description from above) Possible Enhancements for Future Versions (in order of most likely implementation, feedback is helpful here) - optional automatic rounding of data points output to text file based on current screen resolution and cursor location (logarithmic dependent) - support for "warped" graphs that have curved edges as a result of the scanning process - preferences saved to the registry - save only a reference to the current bitmap in the restart file to prevent duplication of image data - gif/tiff/png file type support - Scanner support - ability to view digitized data in a table, save/view multiple data sets within the program - clipboard support for images and digitized data - improved printer support (I'm not sure what this means; I don't use the printer much from this application) - master documents that keep track of multiple image/data sets

If anyone is interested, there is a version 1.0 with the IE4.0 explorer type toolbar and menus (with icons in the menu) available for registered users. ------------------------Version 0.4a changes -- June 1997 Updated the drawing routines to save a copy of the scaled bitmap locally. This can improve the drawing performance for scaled bitmaps (i.e. compare the scrolling performance of a scaled bitmap with one that is full size). ------------------------Version 0.4 Changes -- May 1997 The Mapping Region Tool can now be used to edit the existing mapping region. The cursor changes shape when it passes over the mapping box. With multiple views of the same data, the mapping region box and points markers now show up correctly in alternate views. There is now a "Full Sized" option in the view menu that displays the image at a 1:1 ratio on the screen. Since there is no image scaling, the scroll operations are faster than for an image with some zoom applied.

Product name Version Ship date Company name Author name Description (the "elevator presentation" - see TidBITS-395) What's new (list of fixes and new features, if an upgrade) Requirements (Mac, system software, RAM, monitor bit-depth, etc.) Price Payment instructions Copyright Distribution information and restrictions Contact information (email, Web site, postal address, fax, phone)