Extending PROforma
PROforma can be extended by anybody, by adding new drivers.
- bitmap drivers :
- A bitmap driver is used by both printer and screen
drivers to to the actual drawing in the buffers.
They are a separate type because they are usually
shared by many drivers and can easily be replaced
by better - faster versions.
- printer drivers :
- Make sure the PROforma output can really be
visualised on your chosen output device.
- screen drivers :
- Actually just a variant of a printer driver, which
is intended for interactive use.
- picture drivers :
- Allow pictures of several types (especially bitmap
pictures - but vector pictures are also possible),
to be included without hassles, and without the
need to know about picture formats.
They can all be written by anybody. All you have to do is actually write the
drivers, and make sure PROforma knows about the driver (loads it).
PROGS, Professional & Graphical Software
last edited December 24, 1995