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From: erikmb@etek.chalmers.se (Erik Bryntse)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Standard for posting GROB's for the HP-4
Message-ID: <1991May5.124804.9610@etek.chalmers.se>
Date: 5 May 91 12:48:04 GMT
References: <281df89f:2981comp.sys.handhelds@hpcvbbs.UUCP>
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Lines: 41

Andrey Dolgachev writes:

>There have recently been some very large GROB's posted on c.s.h.  I think
>that it is a good idea to not post them in normal form, since getting rid
>of and inserting carriage-returns can be a real pain, but how about
>posting them in compressed form?  By compressed, I mean compressed by the
>use of Erik Bryntse's routines PGROB and UPGROB. We already have two
>standards for posting of non-standard programs: ASC and UUENCODE, so how
>about one for graphics?

>First of all, here are the advantages of using PGROB and UPGROB over ASC
>or UUENCODE.  One, the GROB is compressed, resulting in smaller space on
>the calculator and most importantly, far less space in the text form. 
>Second, both PGROB and UPGROB are extremely small, smaller than ASC.  

The problem with PGROB is that the result is a integer with a length <>
16 nibbles. This means that it must be transmitted in binary form to the
48 (and also that you cannot type it in). So you would still need ASC or
UUENCODE to post the packed GROB in its binary form! This reduces the
advantages of using PGROB in postings to one, that it takes up less
space in the posting. But the space you save by doing this would quickly
be filled by "where do I get UPGROB?" postings!

Therefore I beleive it is best to use the ASC (or UUENCODE) routines and
post the GROB in its uncompressed form. When you have downloaded the GROB to
your calculator, you can compress it using PGROB to save space.

Or you can post your pictures (in ASC or UUENCODE) with UPGROB included,
preferrably in a simple "uncompress and show" program. This way you
would save space without getting more "where can I get" questions.
 
>Well, what do you all think, should we all start using compressed GROB's
>or not?  

Sure, use compressed GROBs in your calculator, and in postings of games 
with fancy graphics or in postings of pictures, IF YOU INCLUDE UPGROB.
Otherwise I think it's best to use only ASC or UUENCODE. 

>              ---Falco

Erik Bryntse