View source for Using XCC Mixer to split a singleframe PCX into multiframe SHP

== Using XCC Mixer to split a singleframe PCX into multiframe SHP and vice versa ==

XCC Mixer has a TON of hardly noticeable but extremely handy functions. Joining SHP frames into a big singleframe PCX and vice versa is one of them.

('''Note:''' ''XCC Mixer supports other graphics formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and TGA, but the functionality is the same.'')

=== Intro ===

So, you have a multiframe SHP (most likely, an infantry). And you decide that you want to recolor it. What do you do?
<br>Of course, you can just use XCC Mixer's '<tt>Copy as PCX</tt>' function, and open all 600 or so frames in your favourite graphics editor, edit them one at a time, and then use the '<tt>Copy as SHP(TS)</tt>' feature to join them back together. But wait! There's another way. Read on and learn.

=== Joining SHP frames into a singleframe PCX ===

Write down the SHP's frame size (width x height) and frame count.
Use the '<tt>Copy as PCX (single)</tt>' function, and you will get a PCX with a single frame comprised of all the SHP's frames tiled together. Now it should be easier to recolor it.

=== Splitting singleframe PCX into a multiframe SHP ===

Now that you have a singleframe PCX, you encounter another problem: how to turn it back into a SHP? Using the obvious guess, '<tt>Copy as SHP(TS)</tt>', fails and produces the single-frame SHP. That's not the right way. 

You simply right-click on the PCX file, and select <tt>Clipboard > Copy (Ctrl+C)</tt>. Now navigate either panel to the destination directory, right-click anywhere and select <tt>Clipboard > Paste as SHP(TS)</tt>. Mixer will now ask you for a filename. Once you give it a filename, a <tt>SHP Properties</tt> dialog will appear. Type in the correct numbers for frame size and frame count {{Fnl|1}}, which you should have written down back before joining the frames together. Then click OK. Voila, you now have your multiframe SHP.

{{Fn|1|If you need to resize the SHP, obviously you'll need to recalculate the frame width and height before typing them in to get the correct results.}}

[[Category:XCC Tutorials]]
[[Category:XCC Mixer Tutorials]]