atlc's Binary File Format.
Description: atlc's Binary File Format
Keywords: atlc transmission line calculator error messages

# Error messages.

Like any programme, `atlc` generates error messages. Most are pretty obvious in meaning, but you might get an error like this, which is not quite so obvious:

    sparrow /export/home/davek/atlc/src/non_gui % !at
    atlc x.bmp
    Error#7: The colour r=0x8b g=0x8d b=0xff (0x8b8dff) exists at pixel 242,6.
    However, atlc does not know how to interpret this colour. This is not a
    conductor (pure red, green or blue), nor is it one of the 13 dielectrics that
    are predefined in Erdata.h, nor is a corresponding dielectric constant defined
    on the command line with the -d option. Sometimes this occurs when a
    graphics package is used to make the bitmap, but it performs some form of
    anti-aliasing or smooting. If this is the case, redraw the image turning such
    options off. If this is not the case then re-run atlc adding the -d option
    to define the relative permittivity of the dielectric

    e.g. atlc -d 8b8dff=1.9 x.bmp

    if this colour has a permittivity of 1.9. If there are multiple undefined
    dielectrics, then there will need to be multiple copies of the -d option given.

You may get this error if you simply try to use a different colour for another dielectric but forgot to define it. This can also happen if your graphics programme interpolates the colours in your image. For example, assume you intend drawing an elliptical conductor inside a rectangular cross section. The square grid will never fit an ellipse precisely, so the shape will look like this, which is shown on a very low-resolution image to make it more obvious
However, many graphics packages implement 'anti aliasing' or 'smoothing' or other such method to smooth the edges of sharp objects. Hence what your graphics package may produce is like this
For most applications, the smoother edges are preferable. However, this is not so if the bitmaps are to be read by `atlc`. At any sensible size of bitmap, the smoothing will not be obvious, so you may find `atlc` exits, when the image looks fine.
You should be aware of this problem and turn off any such smoothing functions in your graphics package. In Gimp, you should make sure that both feather and antialising are turned off (buttons up) for any tool you use. (double click on the ellipse or rectangle tools, to view or set these options)
Sometimes one makes a mistake and sets a background, (rgb=255,0,1), instead of rgb=255,0,0. However, whatever causes this message, it is a result of using a colour which `atlc` is not able to interpret.

atlc is written and supported by Dr. David Kirkby (G8WRB) It it issued under the GNU General Public License

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