Color RLE - Revision history

Jsummers at 14:45, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T14:45:53Z

Jsummers: /* Software */

2026-01-08T18:10:53Z

‎Software

Jsummers at 15:44, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T15:44:28Z

Jsummers: Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Graphics |extensions={{ext|rle}} |released=≤1987 }} '''Color RLE''' is an obscure variant of CompuServe RLE graphics format. ..."

2026-01-08T15:38:32Z

Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Graphics |extensions={{ext|rle}} |released=≤1987 }} '''Color RLE''' is an obscure variant of CompuServe RLE graphics format. ..."

New page

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Graphics
|extensions={{ext|rle}}
|released=≤1987
}}
'''Color RLE''' is an obscure variant of [[CompuServe RLE]] graphics format. The format, and DOS software for decoding it, were apparently developed by Tom Morgan of Micro-Technologies. The format may have been tested at a BBS named "The Sound of Music" (sysop: P. Waldinger).

== Discussion ==
The format supports 4-color CGA-style images. The documentation mentions plans for a 16-color format, but no evidence found that such a thing was released.

The software exists in a number of collections of old shareware. But it's unclear whether the format was actually used, and if so, whether any of the image files survive (other than one sample included with the software).

== Software ==
* {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/010a/crle.zip|crle.zip}}

== Links ==
* [https://www.brutman.com/RLE/RLE_Graphics.html Rediscovering Compuserve RLE Graphics] - Briefly discusses Color RLE.
* [http://bbslist.textfiles.com/516/ 516 Area Code BBSes Through History] - Lists Sound of Music BBS.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:44, 8 January 2026
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	The software exists in a number of collections of old shareware. But it's unclear whether the format was actually used, and if so, whether any of the image files survive (other than one sample included with the software).		The software exists in a number of collections of old shareware. But it's unclear whether the format was actually used, and if so, whether any of the image files survive (other than one sample included with the software).
		+
		+	== Identification ==
		+	Files start with bytes {{magic\|0x1b 'G' 'C'}}.

	== Software ==		== Software ==

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 == Discussion ==
-The format supports 4-color CGA-style images. The documentation mentions plans for a 16-color format, but no evidence found that such a thing was released.
+The format supports 4-color CGA-style images. A 16-color format was proposed, but might never have been implemented.
-The software exists in a number of collections of old shareware. But it's unclear whether the format was actually used, and if so, whether any of the image files survive (other than one sample included with the software).
+The software exists in a number of collections of old shareware. But it's uncertain that even the 4-color format was actually used, and if so, whether any of the image files survive (other than one sample included with the software).
 == Identification ==
-Files start with bytes {{magic|0x1b 'G' 'C'}}.
+-color files start with bytes {{magic|0x1b 'G' 'C'}}.
 == Software ==
-* {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/010a/crle.zip|crle.zip}}
+* {{CdTextfiles|gigabytesw/010a/crle.zip|crle.zip}} (~1987-01-09)
 * {{Deark}}
 == Links ==
 * [https://www.brutman.com/RLE/RLE_Graphics.html Rediscovering Compuserve RLE Graphics] - Briefly discusses Color RLE.
 * [http://bbslist.textfiles.com/516/ 516 Area Code BBSes Through History] - Lists Sound of Music BBS.