//IMAGE enhancement: A new flag and optional second filespec parameter have been added to allow more flexibility in handling the case where the specified image is not present. Normally in such a case, the text of the //IMAGE command will be printed at the current "cursor" location on the page. If you would rather have nothing printed, then you can specify the new flag IMGF_OPTIONAL (&h020). You may also specify a second image filespec, which, if the first image is not present, will be printed instead. Either or both of these can be useful in cases where the image file name is derived from some other data (such as a part number), but is not always present (i.e. not every part has an associated image). Rather than the application having to check individually for the presence of each one, the //IMAGE command can now do the work for you.
Complete new syntax:
//IMAGE, imagespec, left, top, right, bottom {,flags, borderwidth, imagespec2}
Note that the IMGF_OPTIONAL value can also be expressed as the text "OPTIONAL", for example:
//IMAGE,p123.jpg,100,100,200,200,OPTIONAL,1,generic.jpg
In this example, if p123.jpg is present, it will be printed. If not, and generic.jpg is present, it will be printed. If neither is present, nothing will be displayed (including no border), and there will be no indication of an error.
Also see the print filter ATPXFR.SBX (distributed in the SOSLIB) and the META GDI directive for alternate approaches to making sure that image files referenced by //IMAGE directives are transferred to the client PC before needed during remote (AUXLOC:) printing.
