DESCRIPTION
asc2dsp converts ASCII (decimal integer) cell (point) files to the binary form of a file in BRL-CAD's dsp format. Pixels are defined by whitespace-delimited, unsigned decimal integers in the range 0 to 2^16-1 (65535). The output file is in dsp binary format (one network unsigned short int per cell (point)).
The grid is oriented in the X-Y plane where width is in the X direction and length is in the Y direction. When used to create a dsp object im mged, the bottom left cell will have its bottom-left corner at X = 0, Y = 0, its bottom at Z = 0, and its top at Z equal to the value input in the ASCII file. Note that entries in the ASCII file are read in the same manner as a pix file, i.e., filling the grid from bottom to top, left to right, so the first cell defined in the ASCII file is the bottom-left cell when the dsp file is imported with mged. Note also that white space is ignored so the user can lay out the grid row by row to aid visualizing the end product (always remembering that the order of the rows will be reversed during input by mged).
An easy way to create the input file for asc2dsp is to first create it row by row in natural form with the top row being the desired top row and so on in desired viewing order. Then take the finished file and filter it through the Unix utility tac which will reverse the order of the rows (lines).
Note the user must ensure that the input file is valid for mged so that width times length equals the actual number of cells (points).
DIAGNOSTICS
Error conditions include invalid input characters or an input value greater than 65535. Descriptive messages are printed on stderr.
