# Special File Handling

*BITMAP* | Virtual Bitmap

## Format

OPEN (chan)"*BITMAP*"[;options]

Where:

chan | Channel or logical file number (e.g. OPEN (1)"*BITMAP*").
options | The following options are supported following *BITMAP*:
DPI=nnn | Image resolution in dots per inch. The value given must be greater than 0. If not specified, the default is 120.
LENGTH=nnn.nn | Image height in inches (to 2 decimal places). If not specified, the default is 11. The length can also be suffixed by mm (indicating millimeters), in (indicating inches) or px (indicating pixels). (The ability to indicate pixels was added in PxPlus 2019.)
ORIENTATION={LANDSCAPE | PORTRAIT} | Swaps the width and length (rotates the image). If not specified, the default is PORTRAIT.
WIDTH=nnn.nn | Image width in inches (to 2 decimal places). If not specified, the default is 8.5. The width can also be suffixed by mm (indicating millimeters), in (indicating inches) or px (indicating pixels). (The ability to indicate pixels was added in PxPlus 2019.)
*BITMAP* | Keyword, not case-sensitive. Special interface, enclosed in quotation marks within the OPEN directive. (Include * asterisks in syntax)

## Description

#### Note:
*BITMAP* is supported for use in Windows only.

*BITMAP* is a special file for generating a 24-bit colour bitmap image in memory. You can open this file and PRINT an image to it, just as you would using *WINPRT*. The generated image can then be printed either to the screen or to the printer using the 'PICTURE' mnemonic.

#### Warning!
24-bit colour at high DPI (resolution) can use very large amounts of memory. If there are insufficient operating system resources available, the result will be an Error #15: Operating system command failed.

## See Also

'PICTURE' Define/Draw Picture

## Example

begin ;
open (12)"*bitmap*";
print 'CS',
print (12)'rectangle'(@x(1),@y(1),@x(10),@y(5)),
print (12)'text'(@x(12),@y(2),"Howdy"),
print 'picture'(@x(40),@y(0),@x(79),@y(24),"#12",0),