Windows and OS/2 compatibility

This section applies to the DOS version only.

It is recommended to use the included PIF file (TNIMAGE.PIF) when running tnimage under Windows 3.x.

The suggested procedure is:

1. Copy and unzip tnimage in the desired location, e.g., C: $\backslash$ TNIMAGE.
2. In Windows, Select ``File...New program item''
3. Set ``Description'' to ``Tnimage''.
4. Set ``Command line'' to C: $\backslash$ TNIMAGE $\backslash$ TNIMAGE.PIF
5. Set ``Working directory'' to C: $\backslash$ TNIMAGE
6. Set ``Shortcut Key'' to ``none''
7. Leave ``Run minimized'' unchecked.
8. Select ''Change icon'' and enter ``C: $\backslash$ TNIMAGE $\backslash$ TNIMAGE.ICO''
9. Click on ``OK''.

Virtual Memory

Because Windows takes over virtual memory, running tnimage under Windows will affect virtual memory usage. Before starting tnimage, make sure the amount of Virtual Memory selected in the Windows Control Panel is greater than the amount of RAM in your computer. Also, check to make sure there are several MB of free disk space and that all other applications and windows are closed. Failure to do this can result in frequent ``Out of memory'' errors. Windows' virtual memory is much slower than the VM built into tnimage. Hence, there is no particular advantage to running tnimage under Windows. Also, as with all applications, speed under Windows will be markedly slower than in DOS.

A peculiarity of Windows is that if you have the wrong mouse driver installed in Windows, you can lose control of the mouse when you run a mouse-based DOS program such as tnimage. If this happens, run the ``setup'' program in Windows to ensure that Windows is set up to use the mouse driver that is appropriate for your mouse. For example, if you have a Logitech mouse, using the Microsoft mouse driver may cause the mouse to become immobilized when you return from tnimage. Because Windows uses a different mouse driver from DOS, the mouse may work under Windows but not in a DOS box. If the mouse doesn't work right when running under Windows, you almost certainly need a new (or different) mouse driver. An alternative approach which sometimes works for some reason is to change Windows from its default VGA screen mode to a 256 color mode. Many of these problems have been fixed in Windows 95.

Windows 3.1 also has an ``unexpected feature'' of sometimes not redrawing its own screen when returning from DOS graphics programs such as tnimage. One solution is to ``minimize'' the Windows screen after returning from tnimage and then immediately ``Restore'' it. This forces Windows to redraw its screen.

Computers with ATI Mach 32 cards have problems running tnimage in true-color mode from within a DOS box. In this case, the only solution is to run tnimage from DOS, or use tnimage in an 8 bit/pixel mode (e.g., mode 103). (See ``Command-line options'' above). Mach 64 cards are a little better (they can handle 16 bit/pixel modes, but still can't handle 24 bit modes in a DOS box). Most other cards have no problems.

For both OS/2 and Windows, tnimage must be run in ``full screen'' mode. For OS/2, it may be necessary to change the DOS box parameters to get tnimage to run properly. tnimage may not run on all OS/2 configurations, because it needs to access the hardware.

Note: No technical support is available for tnimage running under OS/2.

NOTE: In a Windows DOS box, the virtual memory manager in tnimage sometimes gets confused if Windows is set up for a small amount of virtual memory. This causes the ``Free Memory'' display to be incorrect, and more importantly, allows you to completely fill up memory with images, making it impossible to use the menus. If this happens, you can still erase an image by clicking on the image you want to erase and pressing Alt-E. It is therefore recommended that Windows' virtual memory be set to a size greater than the total amount of real memory.

NOTE: When running tnimage in Windows, if Windows' display resolution is changed, it must also be changed the next time tnimage is run in order for the new resolution to take effect. For example, if the resolution is changed to 1600x1200, start tnimage by typing

tnimage -xres 1600

This only has to be done once. Note that tnimage must be run in full-screen mode.

Changing Computers

If problems occur after moving tnimage to a different computer, after changing video cards, or upgrading to a new version, erase the file TNIMAGE.INI. This file contains tnimage's video mode selection, and may inhibit automatic detection of the video chip in your new computer. Tnimage will revise the file automatically if it detects an incompatibility.

This is also important in the Unix versions.