Introduction.

WinRip is a RIP graphics drawing package which runs under Microsoft Windows 
3.1 and hence uses the advanced features of the Windows GDI to provide the 
user with an easy to use mouse driven drawing interface. Further, WinRip has 
been designed to provide the BBS SYSOP with a cost effective method of 
producing cost effective RIP Images, with the minimum of effort, after all, 
not all BBS SYSOP's are great artists. 

Additionally, WinRip also provides advanced features that are compatible with 
Windows, but not so easy to implement in a MS-DOS environment alone. It is the 
general make up of WinRip and these advanced features that are to be discussed 
within this document. 



Acknowledgments.

"Remote Imaging Protocol" (RIP), RIPaint, RIPterm and RIPdraw are the 
copyright of TeleGrafix Corporation. 

WinRIP is the copyright of Ken Waddon.



Basic Facilities.

WinRip offers all the basic drawing functions provided by RIPaint, will allow 
the loading and editing of images created by any RIP editor, including RIPaint 
and RIPdraw, that adheres to the RIP specification. In other words, anything 
that can be created etc.,  with RIPaint may also be done with WinRip. 


Additional Facilities.

The additional features that have been added to WinRip in no way interfere 
with the operation of the RIP Protocol. These facilities will now be discussed 
and the reasons given as to why they have been added. 

     
          Windows Icons.

          There are an enormous number of icons available for Microsoft 
          Windows, offering an large selection for use by the SYSOP 
          implementing RIP on his system. However, the icons utilised by RIP 
          are not of the same format as Windows icons. WinRip overcomes this 
          problem by providing an icon import and conversion facility which 
          allows Windows icons to be loaded into the WinRip Icon Editor, 
          edited (if required) and saved in a suitable format for use with 
          RIPterm etc. 


          Windows Metafiles.

          Not every SYSOP is a great artist! Now you don't have to be. Version 
          1.0 of WinRip will include a facility which will allow Windows 
          Metafiles to be imported as "ClipArt" into RIP images. What does 
          this really mean? Well just like Windows Icons, there is an enormous 
          amount of clip art available for drawing packages such as CorelDraw. 
          Although not as Windows Metafiles .CDR files may be converted into 
          Windows Metafiles and then imported into RIP images via WinRip. 

          With Version 1.0 of WinRip Metafiles are imported as "wire frame" 
          drawings allowing the user to "colour" them in! From Version 2 
          onwards WinRip will also import the colours from the metafiles. 


          Saving RIP Images.

          WinRip will save images in the standard *.RIP format, but it was 
          also considered that other formats might also be of benefit to the 
          developers of BBS Door programs. Therefore WinRip will also save RIP 
          images in Assembler, 'C' and Pascal source format. This means that 
          Door programs may have their RIP graphics embedded, instead of in 
          separate files. 


Future Development.

Well at this stage it would not be too wise to give away details of all that 
is planned for WinRip, but it might be worthwhile mentioning that file formats 
other than Windows Metafiles are being investigated for importing. 


Release Information.

It was planned to release Version 1.0 of WinRip at the end of May 1993, this 
date now looks a little optimistic due to the hospitalisation for surgery of 
the author. So it now looks like a more realistic release date for 1.0 will be 
middle to the end of June 1993. 


Pricing.

WinRip is commercial software, not shareware, but the pricing of software has 
always been a difficult task. Looking at other commercially available software 
the price of $49 (US) and 30.00 pounds (UK) seems reasonable. 


Distributers.

UK and Europe.

        Ken Waddon
        17, Agricola Place,
        Main Avenue,
        Bush Hill Park,
        Enfield.  EN1 1DW.
        England.

        Voice: +44-(0)81-292-3093
        Data:  +44-(0)81-292-0677


North America.

        DataComm Online Services.
        1833, Haviland Drive,
        Virginia Beach.
        VA 23454-6701.
        USA.

        Data: 1-804-721-6987
        Fax:  1-804-721-3320