Date: Tue, 27 Dec 1994 17:47:36 EST From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" Subject: "Encyclopedia of Graphics Files Formats" by Murray/vanRyper BKEGRAFF.RVW 941026 "Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats", Murray/vanRyper, 1994, 1-56592-058-9, U$59.95 %A James D. Murray %A William vanRyper %C 103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA 95472 %D 1994 %G 1-56592-058-9 %I O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. %O U$59.95 800-998-9938 fax: 707-829-0104 info@ora.com or nuts@ora.com %P 894 %T "Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats" "Aha!" cry those who know me well. "Rob is trying to review a book on graphics. Rob doesn't know anything *about* graphics!" Basically, true. The last graphics programming I did was a vector plot of the Canadian flag on an Apple II. I did learn a bit about file formats in my efforts to "fill" it with a paint program and add text (usually not possible in the Apple Hi-Res screen) with a Logo utility. My current work doesn't involve much in the way of graphics. I don't read alt.feelthy.peechers on Usenet and I don't even like GUIs. So what use do I have for a book on graphics formats? As it happens, at the time I received it, the virus research community was looking into a purported virus in a GIF file. The consensus was that the virus was a hoax, but the question remained as to whether it was possible. In very few minutes I had the information that GIF 89a format files may contain an application extension Block. Depending upon the file reader, it could be possible to generate an executable program. All of which is by way of saying that this work truly is encyclopedic. The promotional material states that it is a resource for graphics specialists, but the book has great worth for others, as well. The ten chapters in part one offer a brief but wide-ranging overview of computer graphics. Part two gives descriptions and specifications (where possible) for eighty-seven graphics file formats. Bibliographic information is given at the end of each chapter in part one, while an appendix lists further resources. (Note that you may have some difficulty in finding items--this first printing has disordered pages in the Table of Contents.) The book also contains a CD-ROM which provides detailed specifications, sample code, sample images, as well as viewers and utilities. The appendix describing the disk also gives directions for accessing the files on the Internet if you do not have a CD-ROM reader. (One absolutely minor quibble. The authors state up front that file formats are forever. If they do have information on my dusty old Apple formats, however, I can't find it.) The authors definitely give value for money: that, and then some. They are also to be commended for an enormous and major work which should become a standard reference. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKEGRAFF.RVW 941026 ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94311-0/3-540-94311-0