OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Hi all.
I got an assignment from a friend.
He has some picture files he made a long ago on a 486. He belives he used a program by Lotus called Picture Maker.
I've searched on the net and I think he mean that he made them with Lotus 1-2-3.
The files have the extension PIC.
The files that have the PIC extension is:
Lotus picture, Macintosh PICT drawing, Softimage Picture File, Micrografx Draw, Pictor PC Paint.

I tried opening it with Apples Quicktime picture viewer, that should be able to open the Macintosh PICt files, don't work.
With Slowview that can view Pictor paint and softimage files, nope.
With S-PicView 2.07, should be able to open Lotus PIC files, nope.

What is this?
I got several files to try, and the result is the same, there doesn't seem to be any error on the disk I got.
I uploaded two files in a zip file.
Can anyone who knows more about graphics than me tell me how to view or convert this pictures?

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1052767251.zip

Signed: Desperate http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

[ May 12, 2003, 20:37: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Hmmn weird... I couldn't open the file in Paint Shop Pro 7 or The Gimp either. Both should be able to handle Pic format. psp7 should be able to handle pictor and pc-paint pic files. I'm not sure about the Gimp. That leaves micrographx and macintosh files..

weird...

[ May 12, 2003, 21:46: Message edited by: henk brouwer ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

FWIW...

http://filext.com/detaillist.php?ext...&Submit2=Go%21

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Try opening then with www.irfanview.com . That program handles nearly every image format, and it might work here.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

If you can't open them it is possible a file that old is corrupted.

I just tried Irfanview 3.80 (2002)
It it did not work.

[ May 13, 2003, 01:42: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

It's not 123. I have Lotus Office Suite, and it doesn't know what to do with them.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Thanx for the suggestions.
I'm thinking of giving up...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Did a search on the web for the file extension .pic :

http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=PIC

Hope this helps.

P.S. check out the XnView program link - free converter program on site reads 400 formats.

[ May 13, 2003, 05:43: Message edited by: Taz-in-Space ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

once i unzipped them i was able to open the pictures with acdsee. it says they are bitmaps. 24 bit true color.

[ May 13, 2003, 06:49: Message edited by: DESDINOVA ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Strange.
My AcDSee says it can't open it as it don't recognize the file format.
What Version are you using?

I managed to get it to open it, then it says it's a pict Bi-Cubic file but it doesn't show anything.

[ May 13, 2003, 07:05: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Version 5.0.1.0006
just checked my plugins. i have plugin for pic and pict files

[ May 13, 2003, 07:08: Message edited by: DESDINOVA ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Ok, I'm using an older 5.0 Version. Does it show you a picture aswell?

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

yes it does. but i just noticed i have pic and pict plugins. i could alway convert the file types to bmp if wanted.
just tried to convert them and it says they are already bmp.

[ May 13, 2003, 07:11: Message edited by: DESDINOVA ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Ok, I have lot of other files aswell. I'll try to download those plug-ins from ACDSee site, If I can't get them open I'll get back to you.

THANX!

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Where do I find those plug-ins?
I cant find them on the ACDSee site...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

checking, will edit my post once i find it.
have you tried to update your Version?
TRY THIS LINK
unfortunately you may have to purchase them. i think when i purchased my copy it included 2 of them for free.

[ May 13, 2003, 07:26: Message edited by: DESDINOVA ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Will do, tried but it locked down and I can't seem to close it, will have to restart the computer but I've got other programs running that I don't want to stop right now (Don't now why I cant end the program, tried ending both the program and the process (CTRl+ALT+Delete WinXP))

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanx.
But I've seen that page but I can't see what plug-in can view these pic files...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

hmmm,found the plug-in i have and it is real optimizer. but not sure if it was part of that plugin or the base acdsee 5.0
i notice there is a trial Version of 5.0.1 you could always download it and see if you can open the files with it. if nothing else.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Ok, thanx again.
Otherwise I'll have to hear with him if he wants to purchase the plugin.

so, real optimizer.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

BLast it.
I downloaded the Real optimizer and the 2d vector pack plug-ins trials.
http://www.acdsystems.com/English/Pr...oads/index.htm

Still no pictures....
I'll have to look into this further, bow that I know that it can be done!

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

I can see that I got PIC and PICT plug-ins aswell. They come with the standard install I belive.
Still, no pictures...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

weird. i think i may have looked at the wrong pictures Last night.
i am looking at badrum and clockow this morning and i a see no pictures or picture attributes. it does allow me to open them but there is no picture. when i try to edit it says there is no picture to edit.

sorry about that Ruatha. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif
btw i have fotocanvas and real optimizer. both came with my original purchase as part of a special offer to upgrade from trial to full Version. but this was many months ago.

[ May 13, 2003, 19:54: Message edited by: DESDINOVA ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Ok.
I can open them aswell, no picture or info. All it says is that it's a Bicubic interpolation ???
But alas, no picture!

I'm giving up. If he want's to see them he'll have to fix it himself, I'll hear if he still has the old 486 in a closet though, that might solve the mystery!

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

There are about 20 PIC formats out, so I opened it up in a Hex editor, but the header info doesn't match any of the Versions that listed that information.

(Nor was i able to find anything by searching for a format that uses these bytes as identifiers - - - bu i tried renaming it to almost every format i could think of, incuding those with clearly different headers, with no result.

0084C1030080025E0104
0002003F003807023A04
3C0139063E053D033B00
00000000000000000000
0000FFFFFFFF

Both of them have that as their header followed by zeros up to offset 7c hex. If anyone can figure out what file format that is, great.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Thanx for the effort put into this.
It's somewhat of a mystery, I'll try to find the owner of the files later today and pump him for more information.
I've got some more files and they are the same format, so I don't think they are corrupted.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

could you post one of the functioning ones? we can check if the header is the same. If so, these two are probably corrupt. if not, they may be a different format, either a different PIC format or a misnamed other format.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Sorry, I have no functioning ones.
They are all the same, I haven't gotten any picture from any of them.
All open in ACDSee as Bicubic interpolations without picture and the headings are the same.
That's why I don't think those two I uploaded are corrupt, if they are, all of them are corrupt in the same way...
I just picked two pictures by random and uploaded, there's nothing that I can see that differs them from the rest.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

hrm, sounds like it may be SoftImage .pic format - too busy to check now, if someone else wants to try it, go ahead. I'll be back in a few days (must . . . fight . . . forum . . . addiction . . . )

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">All help is appreciated.
I tried opening them earlier with a program called slowview that should be able to open softimage files, but no gain, it didn't recognize it.

About forum addiction; for me it's to late, I've fallen to the dark side.
But you must fight it, turn to the light, there is still hope for you my son (Now I got a bit carried away there, to my knowledge there is no relationship between Gwaihir and me!).

[ May 14, 2003, 10:40: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

I've spoken with him and he thinks he has the old drives at home, he'll go storage hunting and I'll get the drives later, the program that made these pictures should still be there.
According to him it is vector based pictures, that should suit the size and content of the files.
When I solve this mystery (If I do), I'll post again.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Now I've got the disks at home, two of them.
I digged out my old 486 and tried to connect them, no go!

These discs are antiques, they must be from a 286!
They use the MFM/RLL interface and can't be connected through the IDE/ATA interface!

I guess I'll have to try and find me a 286 if I'm going to resolve these mysterious picture formats.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

I downloaded Lotus 1-2-3 v2.2 Dos Version and ran that program. But that doesn't have any graphic part in it, which Version is the first to have the capacity to make/open PIC files?

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

This link list several "dos viewers"
http://www.nic.funet.fi/mirrors/simt...phics-pre.html
I am not able to test them.
Good luck.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Trued one of them so far, "Imagepro", it says the files aren't Dr Halo PIC files...

I'll try "Picem27" next...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

I've identified the program.
It's IBM Picture Maker 1.01
Now I just need to find a way to view the pictures.......
If anyone has a viewer for IBM picture maker please contact me!

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Ruatha, this site has a program that can read and convert Picture Maker files...

Image Alchemy

I hope this helps. (the site takes a long time to load for me, but it did eventually load.)

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ September 17, 2003, 23:35: Message edited by: David E. Gervais ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Now I can open them. I just need to find a good screen dump program as the Print Screen key doesnt work when I run that old dos program, and it refuses to run in a window.

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks, I've seen that site nad I don't belive they are selling the program, only a service, pay them for each converted picture...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Ruatha I edited my original post. A new site with a software demo called Image Alchemy.

Gee it looks like we're Online here at the same time.

(so why aren't you in the #se4 chat room at gamesnet? lol )

[ September 17, 2003, 23:38: Message edited by: David E. Gervais ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

I'm about to go to sleep, half past midnight and the whole family is sleeping.
I tried hypersnap DX but that couldn't capture that image.
I'll look into that site now...

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

here's a link to the demo at a faster site...

http://www.keisoku.co.jp/vw/support/...chemySetup.exe

Have a good night, and don't worry the links here will still be here tomorrow.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

It's only a demo of "print alchemy". The Image Alchemy on-line demo doesn't recognize the format.
No I need a good screen capture proggie, will look more.

I've tried a dos capture proggie, screen thief -> No
Some windows capture programs with dos capabilities:
Hypersnap DX >No
SnagIt ->No
Capture Eze ->No

VGACap ->Cumbersume but it WORKS!!!

[ September 18, 2003, 07:46: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Try ACDSee. http://www.acdsystems.com/English/index.htm

It list PIC as one of its plug ins. Jpeg Picture

[ September 18, 2003, 14:08: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks for the suggestion.

It has already been suggested earlier in this thread but it doesn't work.
There are several PIC formats, the IBM picture maker is NOT supported by ACDSee, whatever they may say.

[ September 19, 2003, 10:17: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Hello, again Ruatha

I found this program that is supposed to be able to read and print a multitude of file formates including IBM Picture Maker...

FotoJet PS

I know you don't need a program to print, but it might have an on-screen preview/display that you can then capture.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

When I try to open the file, it says the ZIP is corrupted.
So I say the image format is:
Broken!

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No. The image is not broken.
The file was posted prior to the alteration of the Boards and has been downloaded by several people and tested, which you would have seen had you read previous Posts.
If you've read a post or two before yours you would see that I now can view the images in the IBM Image Maker program, I have found a program to capture the screen shots and the problem is solved, alas they are not broken!
I'll test the programs that has been suggested by David to see if there is an easier way, as there are quite a few pictures.

I just tested to download the file from the initial post, it works great, unpacks without errors in PowerArchiver.
Try to update you archive program if it gives you troubles.

(Have been working night and then is easily upset, sorry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif )

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi and thanks, but FotoJet doesn't recognize IBM Picture Maker files either it seems.
So far I have tried many programs but the only one that can open them seems to be the original IBM Picture Maker 1.01 which I extracted from the old 20MB HD's.

So now all that remains is the chore to open them one by one in that program (IBM Image Maker), capture the screen (With VGACap into a RAW file format), convert the captured image to something else (GIF, easily done with an accompanying program to the screen capture program, VGAFIL). Import it into a picture program (Photoshop, paint), cut out the actual image and discard the Image Maker program menues and toolbars, save it as for example JPEG, and voila. Repeat! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

[ September 19, 2003, 10:15: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hopefully VGACap can automate the capture process by giving each new capture a new file name (ie: pic0001, pic0002, pic0003...etc) this way you can go through the load and capture process and then set yourself up to convert them (perhaps with a program that can handle batch conVersion.)

Oh well, Have fun Ruatha, and just out of curiosity, I for one would love to see what one of the pics look like. Do you think there is a chance you can post one here?

Have a great day, Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT:Graphic wizards help: What file format is this?
 

Hmm, now after having done them all (I did a couple at a time..) I see that there is a "fullscreen" mode in IBM Picture Maker and that some pictures are larger than the drawing area, si I have to redo some.
Here is an example translated to gif, the "Klockfas.pic" with the IBM Picture maker program not removed:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1064084958.GIF

As I'm Swedish so is the program. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ September 20, 2003, 20:14: Message edited by: Ruatha ]