Elementary "compressed" bitmap creation problem.

[mtiernan]

Up front, let me apologize for asking a simplistic question. Actually, I'm asking for a solution without having to learn the entire image processing domain. (A worthy cause, just not for me in general nor at the moment.) I'm trying to do a favor for others.

And thanks to everyone here for permitting the intrusion.

Preface:
I'm trying to create a bitmap icon for use with a Garmin GPS. I'm using gpsbabel to create the output file for the GPS. Gpsbabel is complaining about the bitmap being a "compressed bitmap". I'm trying to work around this.

Example:

Code: Select all

$ convert mytest.gif -resize 24x24 -colors 256 -compress none mytest.bmp

Results:
This function works:

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$ gpsbabel -i gpx -f mytest.gpx -o garmin_gpi,bitmap=CrossHair.bmp -F mytest.gpi

This fails:

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$ gpsbabel -i gpx -f mytest.gpx -o garmin_gpi,bitmap=mytest.bmp -F mytest.gpi 
garmin_gpi: Sorry, we don't support compressed bitmaps.

Details:
Individual files are located at:

• https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27834209/CrossHair.bmp
  https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27834209/mytest.gif
  https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27834209/mytest.bmp

Code: Select all

$ identify CrossHair.bmp mytest.*
CrossHair.bmp BMP 24x24 24x24+0+0 8-bit PseudoClass 256c 1.65KB 0.000u 0:00.039
mytest.bmp BMP 24x24 24x24+0+0 8-bit DirectClass 2.44KB 0.000u 0:00.000
mytest.gif GIF 36x36 36x36+0+0 8-bit PseudoClass 256c 1.75KB 0.000u 0:00.000

I've tried all sort of variations of the convert command and I'm obviously too inexperienced to get the correct recipe to create the required file. A couple of attempts seem to have worked but the image was trashed when viewed. I can't seem to create a "PseudoClass" image, assuming that this is the solution I need. I'm sure you experienced folks will recognize the simplicity of solution but it's well beyond me.

And thanks to all for any assistance/advice/solutions offered and everyone's time.

[fmw42]

try the older bmp formats such as BMP3:test.bmp or BMP2:test.bmp as output

see
http://www.imagemagick.org/Usage/formats/#bmp

[mtiernan]

Thank you very much for the info!

I'm starting to read it now.