Sixel graphics (was: Humpty Dumpty)

Allison ajp166 at bellatlantic.net
Fri Feb 9 06:49:30 CST 2007


>
>Subject: Sixel graphics (was: Humpty Dumpty)
>   From: Richard <legalize at xmission.com>
>   Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:40:18 -0700
>     To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
>
>
>In article <0JD500346VGN4EW3 at vms040.mailsrvcs.net>,
>    Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net>  writes:
>
>> Error!  VT100 had sixel graphics as did VT220, 320 and 340 added color,
>> VT1200 as full graphics (xterm).
>
>Sorry, but I just don't think this is correct.

I meant Regis graphics, Sixel is a printer graphics protocal (As in LA75,
LA100 and others).

>VT100 docs (user guide and technical guide, both on bitsavers) do not
>mention sixel graphics at all.  Paul Shuford's site has some
>discussion of what "sixel graphics" means and apparently different
>people use the term loosely to describe different things.
>
>The VT125 had ReGIS graphics capability, but this is not a VT100.

Totally incorrect as the Vt125 is a VT100 + the VT125 graphics plane.
So a VT125 is a vt100 but a VT100 is not a VT125 holds.

>The VT220 Programmer Reference Manual also does not mention sixel
>graphics, but you can download a font glyph definition and presumably
>with the right custom font you could display some sort of image, but
>its not "sixel graphics".
>
>The VT320, like the VT200 series, also had user-definable character
>sets.  You can "fake" some graphics this way like you can with the
>VT220.  See <http://vt100.net/dec/vt320/soft_characters>.
>
>I know all these DEC terminal models can become confusing, but trust
>me, I have been paying attention to which models support graphics.
><http://vt100.net/vt_history> gives these models as supporting
>graphics:

IT was VT105 I'd meant not the base VT100.

>    VT55:	primitive graphics capability
>    VT105:	VT100 + VT55 graphics capability
>		<http://home.arcor.de/magnos/ccg/vt105/VT105.html>
>    VT125:	Graphics produced as a separate display from the text.
>		(I am not sure what this means; a separate monitor
>		required?)

It means the display was a two plane one for characters and one for
grpahics and they are displayed on the same tube.  External monitor 
is required for color though. My Vt125 and VT185 have this. 

>    VT240:	B&W ReGIS graphics
>    VT241:	Color ReGIS graphics
>    VT330:	B&W ReGIS graphics

>    VT340:	Color ReGIS graphics

Read further the manual.  Works fine on mine.

I prefer the DEC tubes as Real Terminals(tm) rather than PCs 
running a poor emulation.  I have used all of them in place AKA in 
the terminal and printers engineering (in a former engineering life)
group makes it harder to remember all of them.  It's also a problem
as I have a few one off firmware versions that were not produced.


Allison



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