Saving bitmaps to files

[pamoroso]

How do I make the File Manager notice a bitmap so that it can be saved to an Interlisp source file? I actually already did it once and know it involves the BITMAPS command, but forgot the details of inserting the bitmap data as the value of the command.

[MattHeffron]

If you just want to save the top level value of a symbol that holds a bitmap, then just use (VARS bitmapVar ...) in the COMS. It should "do the right thing" in MAKEFILE. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>

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[nbriggs]

BITMAPS is a synonym for VARS in the filecoms --

8_ (GETDEF 'BITMAPS 'FILEPKGCOMS)
((COM MACRO (X (VARS . X))))

It doesn't make a difference to the content of the saved file whether you use VARS or BITMAPS (except the command on the fileCOMS).

If you want to add something to a file, and File Manager doesn't seem to have an obvious way to add it as the type you want -- use

(ADDTOFILE name type file near listname)
(ADDTOFILE 'FOOBM 'BITMAPS 'FOO)

[pamoroso]

Thanks, I'm now doing something like this:

4_ (SETQ BM (EDITBM))
How wide would you like the bitmap to be? 16
How high would you like the bitmap to be? 16
{BITMAP}#137,14
5_ (ADDTOFILE 'BM 'BITMAPS 'BMTEST)
create new file BMTEST ? Yes
BMTEST
6_ (MAKEFILE 'BMTEST)
{DSK}<home>paolo>il>BMTEST.;1

[RyanBurnside]

I'm using this thread more and more as I delve into graphical things.
It looks like EDITBM doesn't force the system to "notice" changes to bitmaps on file.
Below I edit the attached ORNATEBM already present in the loaded FRAMEDTEXTURE file.

Is the correct technique to just keep executing ADDTOFILE as above once you edit a bitmap?

[nbriggs]

Ah, the problem here is that you did (EDITBM ORNATEBM) instead of (EDITBM 'ORNATEBM) -- so you're editing the bitmap object directly and EDITBM doesn't know the name of the object to mark as changed when it is done. Do it by name instead of value and it will do the right thing.

[nbriggs]

Use a name other than BM in your example, and try again.

[nbriggs]

Something is suppressing the noticing of the change to a simple top-level variable binding. Ive forgotten what the rules are for this.

[pamoroso]

Here's the example with a different bitmap name:

4_ (SETQ BMAP NIL)
NIL
5_ (EDITBM 'BMAP)
How wide would you like the bitmap to be? 16
How high would you like the bitmap to be? 16
{BITMAP}#136,5124
6_ (FILES?)
7_ 

[pamoroso]

The File Manager eventually (Koto? Lyric?) stopped noticing changes to top-level variables, for example SETQing them. Is this the issue?

[nbriggs]

That's likely it. If the variable were already on a file then (EDITBM 'varname) should get a change noticed. I expect that (EDITBM varname) would not (regardless of whether the variable is on a file).

[nbriggs]

You can (TRACE MARKASCHANGED) to see in which cases it will call it.