PLASMID PAINT (CGA version 1.1; EGA version 1.0) Joseph Lipsick ("readme.doc" added 7/14/89 by Spencer Yeh) INTRODUCTION PLASMID PAINT is an IBM-compatible graphics program that allows one to draw circular plasmids with labeled cut sites and up to four labeled regions. The regions are indicated on the drawing by using four different fill-in patterns (CGA version) or colors (EGA version). The program comes in CGA or EGA versions. The CGA version allows printing directly to a standard IBM Graphics compatible printer through use of the DOS GRAPHICS command. The EGA version would require an EGA-compatible screen grabber program if printing is desired. CONTACT ADDRESS For questions about the program or suggestions for future improvements please contact: Joseph Lipsick Dept. of Pathology, M-012 UC San Diego La Jolla, CA 92013 e-mail: jlipsick@bionet-20.bio.net SYSTEMS SUPPORTED An IBM-compatible computer running MS-DOS AND equipped with a Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) or Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) is needed. If hardcopy is desired, an IBM Graphics compatible printer (e.g. IBM Proprinter, Epson MX80, or Okidata 92) is required. In order to print the graphics screen from the CGA version, the DOS GRAPHICS command must be executed prior to starting the program. This can be easily done using the PAINTC.BAT batch file supplied with the BIONET distribution. A separate EGA screen grabber program would be required to print from the EGA version. Joe Lipsick is planning to make a Hercules compatible version available in the future. NOTE: PLASMID PAINT is NOT compatible with the older IBM Monochrome monitors since they do not support graphics. AVAILABILITY PLASMID PAINT is available by anonymous FTP from BIONET (net.bio.net) in the directory ~ftp/public/dos/plasmid or, for BIONET subscribers only, by postal mail from the BIONET Lending Library. If you are a BIONET subscriber and would like to receive the PLASMID PAINT diskette by mail, please send a stamped, self-addressed return envelope along with a formatted diskette (specify capacity) and your request to: BIONET Administrator BIONET/IntelliGenetics, Inc. 700 East El Camino Real, Suite 300 Mountain View, CA 94040 tel.: (415) 962-7337 SOURCE CODE Source code written in Microsoft Quickbasic v4.5 is available in the files PLASMIDC.BAS (CGA) or PLASMIDE.BAS (EGA). This code should also work fine with IBM BASICA and GW BASIC, although the program runs slowly through interpreted BASICS. Feel free to adapt the code for non-profit purposes. However Joe Lipsick requests that users NOT distribute ALTERED versions of the program for the sake of consistency in addressing users' problems. PROGRAM FILES before de-ARCing (BIONET diskette version): README.DOC This documentation file. PLASMID.EXE Self-extracting archive file for the executables and documentation. PLASMSRC.ARC Archive file for the source code. PROGRAM FILES before de-ARCing (BIONET downloadable version): README.DOC This documentation file. PLASMID.UUE Archived and uuencoded file for the executable and documentation. PLASMSRC.UUE Archived and uuencoded BASIC source code. PROGRAM FILES after de-ARCing: PAINTC BAT 21 8-15-87 6:55p PLASMIDC EXE 62754 8-15-87 6:49p PLASMIDE EXE 61472 3-30-89 9:55p DOCUMENTATION The program has internal instructions for use. STARTING THE PROGRAM On the BIONET diskette version, the archive file PLASMID.EXE is a self-extracting archive, whereas the ".uue" files in the downloadable version require both the UUDECODE program and an "ARC"-compatible dearchiving program such as PKUNPAK to restore the executable file. Self-dearchiving files: De-archive the program by "running" the archive file and specifying the drive and directory path where you want the program installed. E.g., to install PLASMID PAINT in the \plasmid directory of the c: drive, you should type: >PLASMID c:\plasmid ".UUE" files: First decode the ".uue" file: >UUDECODE plasmid.uue Then dearchive the resulting ".arc" file to an appropriate directory by using PKUNPAK (or compatible program): >PKUNPAK plasmid.arc c:\plasmid Once installed, CD to the appropriate directory and then start the program by typing its name at the MS-DOS prompt: >PLASMIDC for the CGA version or >PLASMIDE for the EGA version The batch file PAINTC.BAT can be used to invoke the DOS GRAPHICS command prior to running PLASMIDC. PROGRAM OUTPUT The program produces screen or hardcopy pictures of circular plasmids.