GRASP GL library format
Encyclopedia
The GL library format is a self-contained animation library used by the GRASP GRaphical System for Presentation to store scripts, pictures, and all the commands needed for a GRASP animation.
GRASP was the first multimedia animation program for the IBM PC
"Family of
Computers". John Bridges
is the principal author and copyright holder of GRASP, which was
released in 1985 and originally distributed as ShareWare
directly by Microtex Industries.
was the first PaintBrush program (as we know it) written for the IBM PC.
The principal author of PCPAINT is John Bridges, who later wrote two other improved versions of PCPAINT (Pictor Paint
and GLPaint
) and who also wrote and still writes "high end" presentation software starting with GRASP and GLPro
and today AfterGRASP.
GRASP uses the GL Library Format to store its presentations.
John Bridges began developing the .GL file format when he worked for an educational software company called CCM in 1982.
When he was writing the library and support tools for CCM's educational software, he created a library format called ".PL" and a library maintenance
tool called "PIB". PIB was only for picture file libraries (PLs).
Later, to handle data files, he created library format called ".DL" and a second library tool called "DIB".
CCM's Educational software back then usually shipped as an EXE with a PL and a DL.
By late 1982, in the days before compressed files "caught on" as a means of
packaging a group of files, John had created a more general solution which would store any kind of file in a library called a ".ZL" file and a third
library tool called "ZIB" to manage these,
John and friends used ZIB for file storage in those pre-internet days to
offer groups of files stored in ZLs for download from a modem dial-up
Bulletin Board System (BBS) until the early archivers like ARC
(and later ZIP
, ARJ
, LZH, PAK, et al.) caught on with built-in file compression, and
storing of file date/time.
When writing GRASP, John renamed ZIB to "GLIB", and the ".ZL" file format was renamed to ".GL", with no code changes.
That original format for ZL (GL) files remained unchanged until after 1994,
when John changed publishers, and in 1995 began the development of GLPRO, a
complete re-write built on the ashes of GRASP, and 100% upwardly compatible with GRASP.
Shortly thereafter he revised the format to handle long filenames, and then to allow additions to a GL file without rewriting the entire file.
Note: the .OVR files that come with PCPAINT, PICTOR, and GLPAINT are actually GL files named OVR.
GRASP was the first multimedia animation program for the IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
"Family of
Computers". John Bridges
John Bridges
John Bridges may refer to:*John Bridges * John E. Bridges, Chelan County Superior Court Judge in Washington state* John Bridges , British archer who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics...
is the principal author and copyright holder of GRASP, which was
released in 1985 and originally distributed as ShareWare
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
directly by Microtex Industries.
History of the GRASP GL library format
PCPaintPCPaint
PCPaint was the first IBM PC-based mouse driven GUI paint program . It was developed by John Bridges and Doug Wolfgram.The hardware manufacturer Mouse Systems bundled PCPaint with millions of computer mice that they sold, making PCPaint also the best-selling MS-DOS-based paint program of the late...
was the first PaintBrush program (as we know it) written for the IBM PC.
The principal author of PCPAINT is John Bridges, who later wrote two other improved versions of PCPAINT (Pictor Paint
Pictor Paint
Pictor Paint was an improved version of PCPaint, the first IBM PC-based mouse driven GUI paint program. It was written by John Bridges, the primary author of PCPaint, and bundled with GRASP GRaphical System for Presentation also written by John Bridges...
and GLPaint
GLPaint
GLpaint was an improved version of PCPaint and Pictor Paint, and was the last in a series of paint programs that descended from the first IBM PC-based mouse driven GUI paint program . All three were written by John Bridges....
) and who also wrote and still writes "high end" presentation software starting with GRASP and GLPro
GLPro
GLPro is a multimedia authoring application for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. GLPro is a contraction of Graphics Language Professional, and was written by John Bridges. GLPro was originally a MS-DOS program released in 1995, written as successor to GRASP, also written by Bridges and marketed by...
and today AfterGRASP.
GRASP uses the GL Library Format to store its presentations.
John Bridges began developing the .GL file format when he worked for an educational software company called CCM in 1982.
When he was writing the library and support tools for CCM's educational software, he created a library format called ".PL" and a library maintenance
tool called "PIB". PIB was only for picture file libraries (PLs).
Later, to handle data files, he created library format called ".DL" and a second library tool called "DIB".
CCM's Educational software back then usually shipped as an EXE with a PL and a DL.
By late 1982, in the days before compressed files "caught on" as a means of
packaging a group of files, John had created a more general solution which would store any kind of file in a library called a ".ZL" file and a third
library tool called "ZIB" to manage these,
John and friends used ZIB for file storage in those pre-internet days to
offer groups of files stored in ZLs for download from a modem dial-up
Bulletin Board System (BBS) until the early archivers like ARC
ARC (file format)
ARC is a lossless data compression and archival format by System Enhancement Associates . It was very popular during the early days of networked dial-up BBS. The file format and the program were both called ARC...
(and later ZIP
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
, ARJ
ARJ
ARJ is a software tool designed by Robert K. Jung for creating high-efficiency compressed file archives. ARJ is currently on version 2.85 for DOS and 3.15 for Windows and supports 16-bit and 32-bit Intel architectures.ARJ was one of two mainstream archivers for DOS and Windows during early and...
, LZH, PAK, et al.) caught on with built-in file compression, and
storing of file date/time.
When writing GRASP, John renamed ZIB to "GLIB", and the ".ZL" file format was renamed to ".GL", with no code changes.
That original format for ZL (GL) files remained unchanged until after 1994,
when John changed publishers, and in 1995 began the development of GLPRO, a
complete re-write built on the ashes of GRASP, and 100% upwardly compatible with GRASP.
Shortly thereafter he revised the format to handle long filenames, and then to allow additions to a GL file without rewriting the entire file.
Note: the .OVR files that come with PCPAINT, PICTOR, and GLPAINT are actually GL files named OVR.