22.   ImageFinder for Dos

22.1   Introduction
22.2   Batch Files
22.3   Batch Commands

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22.   ImageFinder for Dos

ImageFinder for Dos is a quick way to implement an image recognition application. An image recognition application is roughly divided into:

Level 5: User Interface;
Level 4: Data Management;
Level 3: Image-Matching Layer;
Level 2: Scanner, Camera, and their drivers;
Level 1: PC with Windows.

The quick and dirty way to implement a system for a feasibility study can be done very quickly as follows:

Level 1: Find a computer.

Level 2: Select an off-the-shelf camera or scanner and connect it to your computer. Install the software driver.

Level 3: Purchase the ImageFinder for Dos.

Level 4: Create a few directories and store both newly captured images and the previously stored images there.

Level 5. Write a GUI, which captures images by issuing keystroke to the camera or scanner driver and saves the images to a directory. Issue a dos command to call the ImageFinder for Dos for image recognition. Finally, process the output files of the ImageFinder for Dos.

Attrasoft has an example for the Logitech camera and an example for the Fujitsu scanner. The source codes for Level 5 (Graphical User Interface) for both systems are available for licensed users of the ImageFinder for Dos. The ImageFinder for Dos has to be purchased separately.

The ImageFinder for Dos consists of an exe file, �attrasoft60dos.exe� and several text files. Copy all files from the �ImageFinder for Dos� CD to a directory and run with the command �attrasoft60Dos�.

To use the dos version, you must use the ImageFinder for Windows. The basic command is:

C:\�>imagefinder60dos 1

This is equivalent to the following in the Window version:

•  Click Batch/Open
•  Click Batch/Run
•  Do not show ImageFinder GUI.

Basically, you are running a Window�s version without the ImageFinder Graphical User Interface. The parameters for your problem are all in the batch file, abm60.txt.

When you write your application, you will write a Level 5 GUI, most likely using Visual Basic. Your GUI will prepare the input file, abm60.txt; then you run the dos version; finally you will process the output files of the ImageFinder for Dos.

22.1   Introduction

There are several off-the-shelf components in the ImageFinder family:

•  ImageFinder for Windows;
•  ImageFinder for Dos;
•  TransApplet;
•  PolyApplet.

Attrasoft Component-Object structure consists of three layers:

•  Application Layer
•  Presentation Layer
•  Neural Network Layer

 The PolyApplet is the Neural Network Layer developer tool, the TransApplet is the Presentation Layer developer tool, and the ImageFinder for Dos is the Application Layer developer tool.

ImageFinder for Dos is the ImageFinder for Windows without the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Other than that, these two are exactly the same.

The Dos version has many advantages over the Windows version:

•  The Dos version can start as a Windows version;
•  You can run multiple tasks in a single Dos batch file; and
•  You can have programming control over the ImageFinder.

You should become familiar with the ImageFinder for Windows first. There are two commands in the ImageFinder for Windows:

•  Batch/Open
•  Batch/Run

ImageFinder for Dos allows you to run these commands from the Dos prompt, from a Dos batch file, or from a Visual Basic program, � . This allows developers to quickly integrate the ImageFinder into their applications.

22.2   Batch Files

The Batch files specify the ImageFinder setting. The ImageFinder for Windows uses 5 files, abm60.txt, abm60_1.txt, abm60_2.txt, � and abm60_5.txt. When you use the ImageFinder for Windows and obtain satisfactory results, you can click the following button to save your results in 1 of 5 files:

Batch/Save
Batch/Save 2
Batch/Save 3
Batch/Save 4
Batch/Save 5

Later, to duplicate your earlier results saved in the first file, click:

•  Batch/Open;
•  Batch/Run.

To duplicate your earlier results saved in the second file, click

•  Batch/Open 2;
•  Batch/Run.
• �

You should never try to write these files yourself. Instead, use the ImageFinder for Windows to find the correct setting and click the "Save" button to obtain the codes.

22.3   Batch Commands

There are five possible commands:

C:\�>imagefinder60dos 1
C:\�>imagefinder60dos 2
C:\�>imagefinder60dos 3
C:\�>imagefinder60dos 4
C:\�>imagefinder60dos 5

corresponding to 5 different batch files. In addition, you can use the following command for the Windows version:

C:\�>imagefinder60dos x 1

Here x = 1, 2,3, 4, or 5. This command will run as the dos version; at the end, it will bring back the Window GUI. This is often necessary for debugging.
 

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