bmp2avi documentation.

Description

bmp2avi is a 32 bit windows console program designed to stitch sequentially numbered (or lettered!) windows bitmap files into a windows RIFF .avi file.

Usage

It should be relatively straight forward to use but there are some caveat's

  1. Bitmap files need to be in the directory from which it is run. (you cannot specify a path(relative or absolute) in the -i option).
  2. It was not programmed defensively with respect to errors. There are some places in the code where an error will not be immediately detected this can cause corrupt .avi files to be produced.
  3. It was written and tested exclusively on Windows NT 3.51. And has not yet been tested on Windows 95 or using the win32S.
  4. All frames must be the same size and color depth.
  5. bmp2avi does no palette management palette based bmp files should all use the same palette.

The command line has the following parameters 

Usage : bmp2avi [-i input] [-o output] [-f frame-rate] [-k key-frame-rate]
                [-l] [-c compression] [-p] [-q quality]

Flag               Description                         Default

 -i input          Start of bitmap file name, bmp2avi  
                   uses a search string of the form
                   '*.bmp' for source files.
 -o output         Name of output file. '.avi' will    out
                   be appended.
 -f frame-rate     Frames per second                   15
 -k key-frame-rate How often key frames are used       1
 -l                List compression codes
 -c compression    Compression code for compression    "DIB "
                   manager to use                      (none)
 -p                Prompt for compression manager to use
 -q quality        COmpression quality (0 - 10000)     -1

Example.

bmp2avi -i cool -o cool -f 25 -k 10

This will take a sequence of files of the form cool*.bmp and output a file cool.avi with a frame rate of 25 frames per second and a key frame every 10 frames.

The usage information above can be displayed using the flags -? and -h

Other Stuff

bmp2avi uses the default Microsoft Video Compression Manager. This is subject to change in a future version.

I am currently looking at adding sound support. Code for converting '.mod' and/or '.xm' files to RIFF '.wav' would make my life easier.

According to my audit information I have been working on this for about 5 hours and a pizza.

bmp2avi is Copyright © Paul Roberts 1996. All Rights Reserved.

I wrote this in my spare time at work (shhh!) it was mainly written to prove that I could and for my amusement so I don't want any money for it. This program is licensed free of charge and can be freely distributed provided this file is distributed with it and that there are no charges beyond those necessary for administative purposes.

BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

I wrote this

paul@slothdom.demon.co.uk

I welcome your input and constructive criticism but may not have time to respond. The mail subject line "Re: bmp2avi" will aid my response time considerably.