Detailed Descriptions > AUI > Image
Acquire

xcall AUI, AUI_IMAGE, IMGOP_ACQUIRE, handle, status, filespec, comp {,appname}

IMGOP_ACQUIRE (7) invokes a TWAIN “Acquire” to retrieve an image from the default TWAIN input device (aka “Data Source”). In the most common case, which involves scanners, this is equivalent to “scan-and-save-image”. Manufacturers of image input devices such as scanners typically provide a TWAIN driver and user interface which allows the user to access the functionality of the device. This way, the application does not need to know any details about the device (such as what kinds of controls and options it has). It just knows that once the Acquire operation is started, it will return with a file (if successful) or an error code (if not).

Parameters

handle

is not actually used here, and is included only for conformity with the other opcodes.

status

returns 0 for success, else an error; see Status Codes.

filespec

is the specification of the file (AMOS or native format) to store the image in. The extension you specify will determine the image format and must be one of the file types listed in the comp table below (e.g. TEST.JPG or DSK9:TEST.BMP[100,20]).

comp

is a compression-related factor determined by the image type:

Type

Explanation

JPG

Values range from 1 to 100, with 100 being maximum size and quality—i.e., minimum compression. 75 is the default and is generally considered the point below which you start to perceive the loss of quality.

TIF

Compression type: 0=none, 2=packbits, 3=Group3, 4=Group4, 5=CCITT Group3.

BMP,PCX

Ignored, not used

PNG

Symbol

Value

Meaning

PNGF_ALL

0

Use best filter for each row (best compression)

PNGF_NONE

2

No filter (fastest)

PNGF_SUB

4

Difference filter with adjacent pixel

PNGF_UP

6

Difference filter with previous row

PNGF_AVG

8

Average filter

PNGF_PAETH

10

Paeth filter

To save as an interlaced file, add PNGF_INTERLACE (+1) to any of the above.

 

appname

is an optional string containing the name of your application, which, depending on the particular TWAIN driver, may be displayed in the title bar of the device’s user interface window.

Comments

Note that the acquisition (scanning) of the image data is independent of the saving of the image file, so it is up to you to specify an image format (via the file extension) that is compatible with the type of scan. (Or conversely, for the scanning operator to select options compatible with the file format.) For example, PCX only supports 1 and 8 bit data, so a 24-bit scan will result in an error while attempting to save the file.