Sixel graphics (was: Humpty Dumpty) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

9 Feb 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