So what do my "fruitless efforts" look like as of late? If you are new to my project, snoop around the blog or have a look at my most recent entry which will give you more than enough information. Also, I refer to fruitlessness here as a sort of self-inflicted reverse psychology for ironic motivational purposes. As if I were capable of such a thing. Wooh.
Uh, anyway. If you're using Windows, head on over to Mermaid Elizabeth's download page and start using Microsoft Chat. Note the help page as well if you're using a newer version of Windows.
If you're on Linux and remember using Microsoft Chat back in the day, consider following my project or even lending me a creative hand! Good luck.
A. R. - Hi/Good day and nice to read our blog and learn of your project, progress and development. I too am also looking into coding replacement for MS Comic Chat but initially targeting passing a complete conversation dialogue script to generate as comic strip.
ReplyDeleteComic Chat 2.5 also have different format than before and are compressed I think as take up less space.
How do you handle AVB (Avator) and BGB (background) files?
I would be interested in speaking with you on the formats and how you'e doing it.
Thanks and kindest regards,
Mark Bobsin
Dear Mark,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately these have been major impediments which I am not equipped to solve.
As you probably already know, before Microsoft Chat character files are finalized in the compressed AVB format, they are generally saved by the artist in AVS format, essentially a bitmap image with extra data attached (most of which I don't know how to read). In my experience, any application that can read BMP files reads AVS files without any problem.
I have been asking users I encounter to send me the AVS versions of their characters. Using some basic scripts, the AVS file can be parsed into a set of PNG files with transparent backgrounds. When kept in the proper order, the correct image can be called up based on the data received via IRC.
Clues as to how the AVB and BGB formats work might be found somewhere in the "Microsoft Chat Character Editor" program and BGB Maker, respectively. The first application edits AVS files and includes an export option that converts an AVS to an AVB.
I forget the precise name of the second application, but it is MS-DOS based and converts BMP files to the BGB format. I have tinkered with both executables using resource editors and disassemblers, but I was a bit out of my element in so doing and I was thus not successful in learning much from this process. Perhaps you might have better luck.
I hope to reignite my own project soon, when the time permits. I hope to continue to hear about your progress on this as it is nice to hear others are interested.
Sincerely,
A. R. Sawyer
Thanks A.R. I have coded Ruby/ Imagemagik program for AVB 2.1 Microsoft Comic character file. The 2.5 encoded format eludes me too at the moment. I am working on same to parse AVS file and should be done this next week. Both apply transparent color and bitmap mask, saving each pose to own PNG file with pose part of filename. Between AVB 2.1 and AVS have about 50 characters...in contrast on web have found 4K AVB 2.5 characters.
ReplyDelete