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PROCEDURE FOR USING XV TO CONVERT PICKER IMAGES TO MAC- OR PC-READABLE FORMATS

This procedure converts Picker files to more widely-readable formats. In the instructions that follow, text that you type is in bold font. Always hit the Return key afterwards. Unless otherwise indicated, an instruction to click the mouse means to click the LEFT mouse button.

On any Picker machine (except readrm2):

  1. Display whatever you want to convert. Adjust the controls so the image looks exactly the way you want it.
  2. Open a Unix Shell using the middle mouse-button menu.
  3. In the Unix window change directory to the transfers directory by typing:

    cd /imgxx/transfers

    [hit Return]. The xx in imgxx is the disk you want the images saved on, e.g. /img02/transfers.

  4. In the Unix window type:

    xv

     

  5. In the resulting xv window click RIGHT mouse button to activate the xv Control Window.
  6. In the xv Control Window click the 24/8 Bit button and highlight "Lock current mode". A checkmark should appear to the left of it.
  7. Move all non-xv windows behind the image you want to convert. To move an overlying window back behind the image, hold down the ALT key and click in the overlying window with the RIGHT mouse button. Remember, if the image is to be e-mailed DO NOT include patient info in the image.
  8. Click the Grab button in the xv Control Window. In the resulting window click on the "Hide XV Windows" box. A checkmark should appear to the left of it. Then click Grab.

    a. To save everything in the image window (e.g. an entire lightbox) LEFT click anywhere in the image.

    b. To save part of the image window, position the mouse cursor wherever you want the upper left-hand corner of the image to start. Click and hold the MIDDLE mouse button and drag until the highlighted rectangle defines the image you want. Release the MIDDLE mouse button, making sure you are within the boundaries of the window when you do so.

  9. The captured image will appear in a new Unix window entitled "xv3.10a <unregistered>". If you don't like the result, for instance if you accidentally left a window overlying the image, just repeat steps 7 and 8. If the color scale in the captured image does not match the original color scale, make sure that in step 8b you release the MIDDLE mouse button while the mouse is inside of the window boundaries.
  10. Now click the Save button. If you started xv from any directory other than transfers, please change to the transfers directory. For a file type other than GIF, change the Format type (e.g. to TIFF) and name the file. Click OK. For a TIFF file, also click OK in the next box (No Compression).
  11. When you're done with xv, exit by clicking the Quit button. Close the Unix window by typing exit [with mouse cursor positioned within window].

For instructions on how to transfer image files over the network, see Instructions for downloading and viewing Picker images on Nucmed Macs and PCs.

For instructions on how to e-mail image files, see Instructions for e-mailing clinical images.

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Last Revision: July 13, 2000