bmp2avi documentation.
Version 1.2

Description

bmp2avi is a 32 bit windows console program designed to stitch sequentially numbered (or lettered!) Windows Bitmap, or Targa Image files into a windows RIFF .avi file.

Usage

It should be relatively straight forward to use but there are some caveat's

Bitmap files need to be in the directory from which it is run. (you cannot specify a path(relative or absolute) in the -i option).
It was not programmed defensively with respect to errors. There are some places in the code where an error will not be immediately detected this can cause corrupt .avi files to be produced.
It was written and tested exclusively on Windows NT 3.51 and Windows NT 4. I have not tested it on Windows 95 or using the win32S. I have had no reports either way from people using these setups, I assume, therefore, that it works on Windows 95 or people would have complained
All frames must be the same size and color depth.
bmp2avi does no palette management, palette based bmp files should all use the same palette. (this is not true for TGA which are converted to 24 bit internally)
bmp2avi doesn't like RLE encoded bitmaps as its source files. You have been warned!
TGA support should be considered experimental, only TGA types 1,2,9 and 10 are currently supported (8 and 24 bit uncompressed and compressed)

The command line has the following parameters

Usage : bmp2avi [-i input] [-o output] [-f frame-rate] [-k key-frame-rate] [-l] [-c compression] [-p] [-q quality] [-s] [-t] [-v] [-w wavfile]

Flag Description Default
-i input Start of bitmap file name, bmp2avi uses a search string of the form '<input>*.bmp' for source files. <none>
-o output Name of output file. '.avi' will be appended. out
-f frame-rate Frames per second 15
-k key-frame-rate How often key frames are used 1
-l List compression codes n/a
-c compression Compression code for compression manager to use "DIB " (none)
-p Prompt for compression manager to use n/a
-q quality Compression quality (0 - 10000) -1
-s Show frames while creating avi n/a
-t Use '.tga' files for input n/a
-v Print version information n/a
-w wavfile Use 'Wavfile' as soundtrack for avi <none>

Example.

bmp2avi -i cool -o cool -f 25 -k 10

This will take a sequence of files of the form cool*.bmp and output a file cool.avi with a frame rate of 25 frames per second and a key frame every 10 frames.

The usage information above can be displayed using the flags -? and -h

Other Stuff

I am currently looking at adding better sound support. Code for converting '.mod' and/or '.xm' files to RIFF '.wav' would make my life easier.

According to my audit information I have been working on this for about 5 hours and a pizza.
Plus the odd hour here and there adding little things like sound support.
Plus another couple of hours adding tga support
Plus five minutes fixing broken tga compression support
Plus some time making compression more robust
Plus fixing no compression option

I wrote this in my spare time at work (shhh!) it was mainly written to prove that I could and for my amusement so I don't want any money for it. This program is licensed free of charge and can be freely distributed provided this file is distributed with it and that there are no charges beyond those necessary for administrative purposes.

BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

I wrote this

Paul Roberts
bmp2avi@cherryjam.prestel.co.uk