new()

    my $i = Image::Xbm->new( -file => 'test.xbm' ) ;
    my $j = Image::Xbm->new( -width => 12, -height => 18 ) ;
    my $k = $i->new ;

We can create a new xbm image by reading in a file, or by creating an image from scratch (all the bits are unset by default), or by copying an image object that we created earlier.

If we set "-file" then all the other arguments are ignored (since they're taken from the file). If we don't specify a file, "-width" and "-height" are mandatory.

"-file"

The name of the file to read when creating the image. May contain a full path. This is also the default name used for "load"ing and "save"ing, though it can be overridden when you load or save.

"-width"

The width of the image; taken from the file or set when the object is created; read-only.

"-height"

The height of the image; taken from the file or set when the object is created; read-only.

"-hotx"

The x-coord of the image's hotspot; taken from the file or set when the object is created. Set to -1 if there is no hotspot.

"-hoty"

The y-coord of the image's hotspot; taken from the file or set when the object is created. Set to -1 if there is no hotspot.

"-bits"

The bit vector that stores the image; read-only.

new_from_string()

    my $p = Image::Xbm->new_from_string( "###\n#-#\n###" ) ;
    my $q = $p->new_from_string( "H##", "#-#", "###" ) ;
    my $r = $p->new_from_string( $p->as_string ) ;

Create a new bitmap from a string or from an array or list of strings. If you want to use different characters you can:

    Image::Xbm->set( -setch => 'X', -unsetch => ' ' ) ;
    my $s = $p->new_from_string( "XXX", "X X", "XhX" ) ;

You can also specify a hotspot by making one of the characters a 'H' (set bit hotspot) or 'h' (unset bit hotspot) -- you can use different characters by setting "-sethotch" and "-unsethotch" respectively.

new_from_serialised()

    my $i = Image::Xbm->new_from_serialised( $s ) ;

Creates an image from a string created with the "serialse()" method. Since such strings are a little more compressed than xbm files or Image::Xbm objects they might be useful if storing a lot of bitmaps, or for transferring bitmaps over comms links.

serialise()

    my $s = $i->serialise ;

Creates a string version of the image which can be completed recreated using the "new_from_serialised" method.

get()

    my $width = $i->get( -width ) ;
    my( $hotx, $hoty ) = $i->get( -hotx, -hoty ) ;

Get any of the object's attributes. Multiple attributes may be requested in a single call.

See "xy" and "vec" to get/set bits of the image itself.

set()

    $i->set( -hotx => 120, -hoty => 32 ) ;

Set any of the object's attributes. Multiple attributes may be set in a single call. Except for "-setch" and "-unsetch" all attributes are object attributes; some attributes are read-only.

See "xy" and "vec" to get/set bits of the image itself.

class attributes

    Image::Xbm->set( -setch => 'X' ) ;
    $i->set( -setch => '@', -unsetch => '*' ) ;

"-setch"

The character to print set bits as when using "as_string", default is '#'. This is a class attribute accessible from the class or an object via "get" and "set".

"-unsetch"

The character to print set bits as when using "as_string", default is '-'. This is a class attribute accessible from the class or an object via "get" and "set".

"-sethotch"

The character to print set bits as when using "as_string", default is 'H'. This is a class attribute accessible from the class or an object via "get" and "set".

"-unsethotch"

The character to print set bits as when using "as_string", default is 'h'. This is a class attribute accessible from the class or an object via "get" and "set".

xybit()

    $i->xy( 4, 11, 1 ) ;      # Set the bit at point 4,11
    my $v = $i->xy( 9, 17 ) ; # Get the bit at point 9,17

Get/set bits using x, y coordinates; coordinates start at 0.

xy()

    $i->xy( 4, 11, 'black' ) ;  # Set the bit from a colour at point 4,11
    my $v = $i->xy( 9, 17 ) ;   # Get the bit as a colour at point 9,17

Get/set bits using colours using x, y coordinates; coordinates start at 0.

If set with a colour of 'black' or a numeric value > 0 or a string not matching /^#0+$/ then the bit will be set, otherwise it will be cleared.

If you get a colour you will always get 'black' or 'white'.

vec()

    $i->vec( 43, 0 ) ;      # Unset the bit at offset 43
    my $v = $i->vec( 87 ) ; # Get the bit at offset 87

Get/set bits using vector offsets; offsets start at 0.

load()

    $i->load ;
    $i->load( 'test.xbm' ) ;

Load the image whose name is given, or if none is given load the image whose name is in the "-file" attribute.

save()

    $i->save ;
    $i->save( 'test.xbm' ) ;

Save the image using the name given, or if none is given save the image using the name in the "-file" attribute. The image is saved in xbm format, e.g.

    #define test_width 6
    #define test_height 6
    static unsigned char test_bits[] = {
     0x1f, 0x07, 0x07, 0x09, 0x11, 0x20 } ;

is_equal()

    print "equal\n" if $i->is_equal( $j ) ;

Returns true (1) if the images are equal, false (0) otherwise. Note that hotspots and filenames are ignored, so we compare width, height and the actual bits only.

as_string()

    print $i->as_string ;

Returns the image as a string, e.g.

    #####-
    ###---
    ###---
    #--#--
    #---#-
    -----#

The characters used may be changed by "set"ting the "-setch" and "-unsetch" characters. If you give "as_string" a parameter it will print out the hotspot if present using "-sethotch" or "-unsethotch" as appropriate, e.g.

    print $n->as_string( 1 ) ;
    H##
    #-#
    ###

as_binstring()

    print $i->as_binstring ;

Returns the image as a string of 0's and 1's, e.g.

    1111101110001110001001001000100000010000