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Fractal Art => Parameter Files => Topic started by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 12:44:44 AM




Title: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 12:44:44 AM
There are currently some archives uploaded to: http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/ (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/), and more will be added throughout the day months.

This archive contains the compiler, app, fractal landscapes plugin, example files, FE compiler tutorial and db, and so forth.

File size: 3.2mb


http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractal Explorer.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractal Explorer.7z)

Please see REPLY#18 for links to the Virtual Machine tools and instructions. Windows only, and you're on your own.

This thread is intended to be an ongoing link set to archives of all of my fractal formulae for use with Fractal Explorer.
These will be hosted on my domain due to file size being in the tens to hundreds of megabytes because of the images within the archives, in some cases.

Each archive is by creation date of the formulae within, and each may be wildly different from the next within that date; keep in mind the sample images I may post are not representative of the whole.

You don't want to be forced to render this volume of parameter files just to see if you are interested in rendering the image, so the images stay.

I don't have to share, but I am and I'm doing it my way, so take it or leave it.  :tease:

I have literally thousands of unique fractal formulae, made from 2004 to this very day, and I want to give them to the world in the hopes that others will expand on what I have done and share their subsequent derivatives for the benefit of the species in the spirit of the hacker ethos "Information wants to be free.". In this way everyone can share in the results, and further development can proceed at a great rate.

While I respect the right of the originator of any noncommercial idea to keep it secret, I strongly object to this in principle.
No, I emphatically do not subscribe to any form of the truly vile, pestilential and cancerous Marxist/SJW philosophy, but I do believe that advancement of any idea is best achieved when it is freely shared and anyone can lend their skills to its enhancement, and subsequently share further developments following the same precept.

Due to the sheer volume of the files and images, I cannot post icons for even a small portion of what I am sharing.

I'm sorry, but unless you want to grant me the ability to exceed 256kb per post it just isn't going to happen, and I'm not making hundreds of posts to accomplish this task.
I may post selected items or links to Flickr where there are examples.

Fractal Explorer DOES work under Windows 7-10, and if needed I will provide an archive with the application, Virtual PC and XP Mode, including tutorials for 7 and 8/10 explaining how to set it up.
The formula compiler is built in Delphi and compiled to use the XP 16 bit subsystem, which is why it has to be run under a VM.


I will reply to this post with links to the archives, but you may browse the folder wherein they are stored manually:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/ (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/)

The contents of this folder will not be limited to fractals, and will soon contain many novel multiscale algorithms for solving partial differential reaction-diffusion equations, but I will make it clear what these are.
I created Fractal and Simulation folders within the FileDrop folder, and am in the process of moving things where they belong as I upload.

As an OT side note, it seems that recently I do my best work when listening to the song "Cenobites" by Aborted.
I don't know why, but it seems some songs just open the mind and let creativity flow; for me Brutal/Technical Death Metal seems to do the trick.
Particularly Origin, Aborted, Analepsy, Hour of Penance, Vital Remains, Hate Eternal, Grave, Marduk, etc..
I wonder if others have had a similar experience? ....Albeit likely most listen to a totally different genre hahaha.


Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: 3dickulus on February 24, 2017, 03:30:27 AM
404 (Page Not Found) Error ??? when I click on a 7z file link ???


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 06:50:12 AM
404 (Page Not Found) Error ??? when I click on a 7z file link ???

Ok, it looks like GoDaddy wont serve 7z files, I had to add a root web.config which has the following additons:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
  <system.webServer>
    <staticContent>
      <mimeMap fileExtension=".7z" mimeType="application/x-zip-compressed" />
    </staticContent> 
  </system.webServer>
</configuration>

So this is now fixed and it will properly serve 7z files.

Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 07:53:13 AM
Apparently the post function breaks if I try to embed an {img} tag pointing to a 4096 square image; it just goes white screen and posting fails, so I have to post direct links; right click, open in new tab.

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 58,905,362
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-04-2010.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-04-2010.7z)

2010-05-04_0:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_1_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_0_Finished.png)

2010-05-04_1:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_1_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_1_Finished.png)

2010-05-04_2:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_2_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_2_Finished.png)

2010-05-04_4:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_4_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_4_Finished.png)

2010-05-04_5:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_5_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_5_Finished.png)

2010-05-04_7:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_7_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_7_Finished.png)

2010-05-04_8:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_8_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2010-05-04_8_Finished.png)


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 08:18:26 AM
Selected review images for archive:
File size: 174,609,207
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/01-13-2017%20Meta%20Levels%202%20and%203.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/01-13-2017%20Meta%20Levels%202%20and%203.7z)

2017-01-13_6:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-13_6_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-13_6_Finished.png)

2017-01-19_0:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_0_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_0_Finished.png)

2017-01-19_17:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_17_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_17_Finished.png)

2017-01-19_r[-0_1]i[0]_0:
i[0]_0_Finished.png]http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_r[-0_1]i[0]_0_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_r[-0_1)

2017-01-19_r[-0_2]i[0]_0:
i[0]_0_Finished.png]http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_r[-0_2]i[0]_0_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_r[-0_2)

2017-01-19_r[-0_3]i[0]_0:
i[0]_0_Finished.png]http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_r[-0_3]i[0]_0_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/2017-01-19_r[-0_3)


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 08:22:37 AM
Selected review images for archive:
File size: 15,841,279
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/04-02-2004%20Bubble%20Disc.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/04-02-2004%20Bubble%20Disc.7z)

04-02_44:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-02_44_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-02_44_Finished.png)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 22,224,992
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/06-04-2004%20Horseshoe.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/06-04-2004%20Horseshoe.7z)

06-04_Gut_l:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/06-04_Gut_l_Fixed.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/06-04_Gut_l_Fixed.png)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 8,583,512
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-08-2004%20Mandel%20Disc.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-08-2004%20Mandel%20Disc.7z)

05-08_1:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_1_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_1_Finished.png)

05-08_5:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_5_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_5_Finished.png)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 15,684,372
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-06-2004%20Mandel%20Loop.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-06-2004%20Mandel%20Loop.7z)

05-06_6:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-06_6_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-06_6_Finished.png)

05-06_8 (2):
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-06_8%20(2)_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-06_8%20(2)_Finished.png)

05-06_8:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-06_8_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-06_8_Finished.png)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 49,555,700
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/08-27-2010%20Tangent%20Spikes%200.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/08-27-2010%20Tangent%20Spikes%200.7z)

08-27_3:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/08-27_3_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/08-27_3_Finished.png)

08-27_4:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/08-27_4_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/08-27_4_Finished.png)



Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 09:04:32 AM

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 146,779,500
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-08%20to%2011-2010%20Diverse%20Formula.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/05-08%20to%2011-2010%20Diverse%20Formula.7z)

05-08_14:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_14_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_14_Finished.png)

05-08_27:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_27_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_27_Finished.png)

05-08_69:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_69_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_69_Finished.png)

05-08_86:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_86_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-08_86_Finished.png)

05-10_18:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-10_18_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-10_18_Finished.png)

05-11_201:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-11_201_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-11_201_Finished.png)

05-11_281_ULQuad:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-11_281_ULQuad_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/05-11_281_ULQuad_Finished.png)

Some of these exhibit an interesting quadrant variance, where it appears that four entirely different fractals have been composited; I assure you that this is not the case, it seems to be a consequence of using asinh and acos.



Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on February 24, 2017, 09:16:40 AM
Selected review images for archive:
File size: 48,997,664
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/03-30-2004%20Lace%20Fractal%20Trignonometric%20Morphs.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/03-30-2004%20Lace%20Fractal%20Trignonometric%20Morphs.7z)

03-30_19:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/03-30_19_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/03-30_19_Finished.png)

03-30_20:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/03-30_20_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/03-30_20_Finished.png)

04-02_8:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-02_8_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-02_8_Finished.png)

04-02_9:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-02_9_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-02_9_Finished.png)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selected review images for archive:
File size: 41,158,819
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/04-04-2004%20Donut.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/04-04-2004%20Donut.7z)

04-04_37:
http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-04_37_16_Finished.png (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractals/Images/04-04_37_16_Finished.png)


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on March 28, 2017, 02:17:17 PM
@gds-entropy I would be very thankful if you could provide the software since the original link is dead http://www.eclectasy.com/Fractal-Explorer/
Had FE on one of my former computers, then changed computer thinking: oh, I can always just download FE again...  :'(


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on April 02, 2017, 04:59:57 AM
@gds-entropy I would be very thankful if you could provide the software since the original link is dead http://www.eclectasy.com/Fractal-Explorer/
Had FE on one of my former computers, then changed computer thinking: oh, I can always just download FE again...  :'(

I will do so, I just saw this, so give me a bit.
Do you need the VM instructions for modern architecture as well?

Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on April 02, 2017, 10:12:48 AM
I will do so, I just saw this, so give me a bit.
Do you need the VM instructions for modern architecture as well?

Thanks a lot, Ian, you are making me a very happy person! And yes, the VM bit too, please :)
And take your time :)


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: mclarekin on April 02, 2017, 10:56:48 PM
BTW. This is what my FE folder looks like


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on April 02, 2017, 11:28:07 PM
@mclarekin Argghh you've got it all, even the formula compiler :dink: Might I trouble you for that?

@gds-entropy I stumbled across the FE2.03-version online (at Nahee's website), and it seems to want to run under win7 64-bits?! In that case I am all ok, even without the VM!


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: mclarekin on April 03, 2017, 02:37:52 AM
I suggest you PM me an email address and I will send you the whole lot (about 9 Mb). 

The compiler. html was interesting because it says this:

Quote
Version 2.03 has no fundamental differences from version 2.02. The basic achievement of this version is a significant speed improvement. Also, a small bug has been fixed and two new functions added: CConj and CConjV. The constant CPixel was also added. This constant contains the source complex value of the pixel which is currently being calculated (i.e. Z0).

I had always wondered what had been implemented in V2.03.02 beta, now I know why i could find no differences between the UI's  ;D


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on April 04, 2017, 06:40:11 PM
Send you a pm, mclarekin :)


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: mclarekin on April 05, 2017, 06:51:30 AM
@sabine and gerson

I have emailed them, good luck and let me know if it all works.


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on April 05, 2017, 04:34:16 PM
Thank a lot, @mclarekin!  :thanks2: Now I've got terrain working thanks to your files!  :o

The compiler (which seems 16-bits so probably would never run under win7 (@gds-entropy, here your VM-part is needed!)) misses its files and I have had a rummage on the net and found that .dcu's are Delphi-related and downloadable from weird places :} (seems delphi version 7 is needed), but the make.pif (treated by windows as an executable) is a custom file and crucial for formula-compiling, and this one is missing...  :'(



Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on April 08, 2017, 02:58:30 AM
Sorry for the delay, I have had some rather unpleasant things go down...

This archive contains the compiler, app, fractal landscapes plugin, example files, FE compiler tutorial and db, and so forth.

File size: 3.2mb

http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractal Explorer.7z (http://gds-entropy.com/FileDrop/Fractal Explorer.7z)

Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on April 08, 2017, 03:22:05 AM
Thanks a lot, Ian, you are making me a very happy person! And yes, the VM bit too, please :)
And take your time :)

Ok, for the VM stuff I can do a few different things, initially the easiest is to point you to links which explain what to do and where to get the stuff you need, for your OS. Windows only.
Microsoft makes this bit called "XP Mode", along with "Virtual PC", and you will need both of those.

I am sorry non-Windows users, but I cannot legally make a VirtualBox/VMWare image of XP SP3, and it wouldn't work anyway for this from what I can tell because of the subsystem that it will not have [and VPC does] which FE Compiler needs because of that blastedly infernal PIF file. If someone out there knows what happened to the FE authors after all that crap went down in Ukraine, and can hook me up with them, then I can get a source license and rebuild the stupid little demon-spawned file to point to correct x64 resources, or just rewrite that bit. But so far as I know, no one who had the opportunity to buy a source license ever did, or they never chose to tell anyone at least.

If push comes to shove and folks cannot sort out the two sets of instructions I link to, I may be able to find enough time to whip up a Word doc walkthrough, but you see my response time is not anything that could be called with any amount of reasonable creative license either "fast" or "responsive".

They are intended for Windows 7 Professional or better, but *will* work under 8+...it is just rather more annoying to set it up, and you need to enable Hyper-V [so your hardware needs to support this].

Virtual PC:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702)

XP Mode:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002)

TechNet Documentation, for Windows 7 use:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee681737(v=ws.10).aspx (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee681737(v=ws.10).aspx)

Documentation for Win8-10 use:
http://www.download3k.com/articles/How-to-add-an-XP-Mode-Virtual-Machine-to-Windows-10-or-8-using-Hyper-V-00770 (http://www.download3k.com/articles/How-to-add-an-XP-Mode-Virtual-Machine-to-Windows-10-or-8-using-Hyper-V-00770)

I cannot offer tech support for this stuff, and if you mess things up and your computer runs off and starts murdering folks, it isn't on me.  :evil1:
You are entirely on your own with support and liability, I'm afraid.

My advice, is that if you do not understand what you are reading, it is best to ask in some appropriate forum [MS or one of the ones in the Stack Overflow network] and/or hit up YouTube [the cesspool that it is].

Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: blob on April 08, 2017, 01:56:03 PM
In older windows versions PIF files are shortcuts to 16bit executables or batch files (.bat). In the case of FE, make.pif is obviously a shortcut to make.bat. In addition to specify the same properties as a shortcut (.lnk) does, they also let the user specify how much memory the virtual machine their target will be running in will get. Newer windows versions, at least 64bit ones, don't understand pif files as they don't have 16bit virtual machines anymore.

The compiler is a 32bit program however so it does run in a 64bit environment. What I may suggest is to create a shortcut to make.bat and replace all instances of make.pif by make.lnk in the FE executable with an hex editor and try if you can get it to work like that. If it doesn't, at least you now know what a pif file is.  :tongue1:

Also, when the compilation fails because of the pif problem, you could then try to execute the bat file separately.

Apparently the compilation process goes as follows: a dpr file is generated in the user temp folder, then FE invokes make.pif to execute make.bat which specifies the compiler executable followed by the full path to the dpr. Simply Drag & dropping the generated dpr onto the dcc32.exe compiler should possibly work too.


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on April 09, 2017, 04:12:14 PM
Thanks a lot, @Ian, for the software and your elaborate comment on VM and XPmode.  :thanks1:
I have downloaded your version and runs like a charm!
The VM-bit I am looking into, not so sure yet if I want to go through all the hustle (I'm so lazy! ;D), because I just remembered that I have an old laptop somewhere with XP installed! That should do the trick if it's the 32-bit version...;) But if not, my computer should be ok to run VM and XP mode.


@blob Thanks a lot for your comment, so cool to meet someone who still knows what a .pif is;) I haven't worked with one (or seen one for that) in a very very long time...  :dink: Had also noticed the contents of make.bat, the thing is to grab the .dpr before FE wipes it again (at close of compiler error-message :}) Will have a closer look at what you suggest but running the make.bat/dropping the .dpr on dcc32.exe does not seem to work, at least, I get errors and nothing formula-like appears within FE.


Oh well, seems a challenge;)


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on April 12, 2017, 11:02:08 PM
In older windows versions PIF files are shortcuts to 16bit executables or batch files (.bat). In the case of FE, make.pif is obviously a shortcut to make.bat. In addition to specify the same properties as a shortcut (.lnk) does, they also let the user specify how much memory the virtual machine their target will be running in will get. Newer windows versions, at least 64bit ones, don't understand pif files as they don't have 16bit virtual machines anymore.

The compiler is a 32bit program however so it does run in a 64bit environment. What I may suggest is to create a shortcut to make.bat and replace all instances of make.pif by make.lnk in the FE executable with an hex editor and try if you can get it to work like that. If it doesn't, at least you now know what a pif file is.  :tongue1:

Also, when the compilation fails because of the pif problem, you could then try to execute the bat file separately.

Apparently the compilation process goes as follows: a dpr file is generated in the user temp folder, then FE invokes make.pif to execute make.bat which specifies the compiler executable followed by the full path to the dpr. Simply Drag & dropping the generated dpr onto the dcc32.exe compiler should possibly work too.

Yean I knew about pifs but would prefer to not have to mess with a hex editor, no fun, that. I would much rather find the original devs and buy a source license. Not that I would complain if someone else out there manages to make it work as you mentioned.  :angel1:

I have tried contacting other working e-mail addresses at the Ukrainian facility those folks worked, but no luck so far with any replies. For all I know, they're dead and buried now.

I have also thought perhaps I can track them down academically, as there are papers written by them, and maybe someone they worked with knows how to get in touch with them. No luck so far.

I really want the source, FE is a fine program. It seems a shame to let it slowly die. I tried using UF but it is more in your face than just slapping in a formula and hitting run. I nearly bought a FE source license back in 2004, man am I kicking myself now.  :fiery:

Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: gds-entropy on April 12, 2017, 11:09:27 PM
Thanks a lot, @Ian, for the software and your elaborate comment on VM and XPmode.  :thanks1:
I have downloaded your version and runs like a charm!
The VM-bit I am looking into, not so sure yet if I want to go through all the hustle (I'm so lazy! ;D), because I just remembered that I have an old laptop somewhere with XP installed! That should do the trick if it's the 32-bit version...;) But if not, my computer should be ok to run VM and XP mode.


@blob Thanks a lot for your comment, so cool to meet someone who still knows what a .pif is;) I haven't worked with one (or seen one for that) in a very very long time...  :dink: Had also noticed the contents of make.bat, the thing is to grab the .dpr before FE wipes it again (at close of compiler error-message :}) Will have a closer look at what you suggest but running the make.bat/dropping the .dpr on dcc32.exe does not seem to work, at least, I get errors and nothing formula-like appears within FE.


Oh well, seems a challenge;)

In windows 7 the VM stuff is pretty simple, you just install one bit then the other, and copy the FE folder into the VM, and you are good.
I have an old xp machine too, but the program seems to have some memory allocation issues that make it unable to save images if the runtime is much over 24h, or is large, or both.

Beware too, that I have had files just vanish outright when the program fails through closing with no message, exception, anything. The *.frs files just....disappear. And no digital forensics software I tried at the time [2005] was able to find even a trace. WTF right? Gone like they never were.

So, just beware this can happen, for reasons I never discovered. Maybe some really nasty bug with memory/file stream disposal and the stream being open for write? I don't know.
I have not had it happen recently, nor have I ever seen that behavior with any other program.

Ian


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Sabine on April 15, 2017, 10:48:27 PM
Can't look into this further at the moment, will have to wait a week or two, but thank you for the additional tips and warning, Ian! I will take them to heart


Title: Re: [GDS|Entropy] Fractal Explorer formula archives, ongoing
Post by: Gerson on July 10, 2017, 07:08:57 PM
I tried to run it under winXP with Virtualbox and compiler didnt work. If someone can get the solution let me know.