Release notes for MECCA 2000 version 5.03.  Nov/11/2009


Fixed:

1. Grid lines were displayed as black (m2kbin).

2. Nested "%%BoundingBox:" statements occurring in an EPS sometimes caused
   the correct bounding box values being ignored (typdrv, isepsfile, m2kbin,
   galeyc).

3. When attempting to re-install a barcode/border/panto font, the font
   installation procedure errors out (t1font.tcl).

4. Corrected the "ppmtoix" converter for cases where input RGB data was
   optimized to grayscale but inverted (ppmtoix).

5. The "bcompose" batch compose command now sets working directory for each
   input file on the command line (bcompose).


New/Changed:

1. Barcode Code128 handling has been changed (m2kbin, code128.tcl,
   barcodes.tcl, tclIndex):

   a. Under Query, the "minimize" state of an existing Code128 is now
      reflected (before, it was always cleared when queried).

   b. The HR (human readable) of a Code128 no longer includes any control
      codes.

   Please view "v5.03code128" text file in this directory for more detailed
   description on what changed.  Also, the one-page "code128chart.pdf" in
   this directory is an updated Appendix G Code128 table in the User's
   Guide.  Please see that PDF file for character codes usable with Code128.

   Code128 barcodes created before this release would still display and
   print with the old style HR, and still query with "minimize" cleared.
   However, selecting Okay (perhaps with "minimize" set) under query will
   update the code.

2. Added "tiff2ix" to convert TIFF image to MECCA internal format (tiff2x,
   preview, typdrv, m2kbin, combinefile.tcl).

   Please note:
     a. 1-bit BW, 8-bit or 16-bit Gray/RGB/CMYK uncompressed TIFF's are
        directly converted; TIFF's using indexed-color or other color
        spaces, as well as other bit-depths, are converted to RGB only.

     b. Conversion to RGB is also applied when the source TIFF employs
        compression methods such as LZW, regardless color type or bit depth.
        If you have color images that need be output in CMYK seps, consider
        using some other utility to turn them into uncompressed CMYK TIFF,
        then combine the CMYK TIFF or use them in batch commands (see below).

     c. Finally, conversion to RGB requires sufficient amount of system memory
        to hold the (uncompressed) entire image.

   Also added "tiff_info" and "tiff_dims" command-line scripts to ease
   getting image size, resolution info from TIFF files.  Note that these
   scripts make use of "tiffinfo" utility in "tiff-3.x" FreeGBSD package.

   tiff_info reports image width (pixels), height (pixels), samples/pixel
   and resolution for each TIFF file given on the command line.

   tiff_dims reports image width and height in units of inches or cm, per
   resolution unit indicated in the TIFF file.

   Please note that some TIFF's may not contain Resolution setting, in
   which case default 72 dpi will be used.

3. For batch compose commands FIGURE and MFORM, "TYPE=TIFF" is now added
   (galeyc, preview, typdrv, m2kbin).

   Please note:
     a. When using a TIFF image in these commands, "WIDTH=" and "DEPTH=" must
        be specified.

     b. If batch compose to graphic (.g) file, TIFF images will be converted
        when MECCA loads the file, thereafter the saved drawing file can be much
        larger in size.

4. Also for batch compose commands FIGURE and MFORM, the referenced external
   file name will now be resolved (galeyc).

   It is best to use some examples to explain what "resolved" means (assuming
   a FIGURE command in the text file residing in "/usr/home/me/reports",
   and the login HOME is "/usr/home/me"):
 
   NAME=                                resolved to
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ~/figs/f001.g			/usr/home/me/figs/f001.g
   ~/f001.g				/usr/home/me/f001.g
   chart3.g				/usr/home/me/reports/chart3.g
   ../rpt1.g				/usr/home/me/rpt1.g
   ../../chapter3/003.g			/usr/home/chapter3/003.g
   /tmp/myreport.g			/tmp/myreport.g
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Please note:
   a. The resolution occurs in galey composer.

   b. Resolution is based on "current directory", not the input command file
      path name.  Both "bcompose" and MECCA interactive "Batch Compose"
      under "Batch and More", set "current directory" to where the command
      file resides before invoking galey composer.  Customers using custom
      scripts that invoke the galey composer directly, need to be cautious
      in using relative path names, because the script may set "current
      directory" to somewhere else.

   c. The "tilde as HOME" short-cut can only appear as the first character
      in the file name, and it must be followed by a / (slash).

   d. The internal limit for the resolved, absolute path name is 511 single-
      byte characters.

::Addendum::
http://www.amgraf.com/updates/m2k/v503A.txt
http://www.amgraf.com/updates/m2k/v503B.pdf