Method and system for providing external bitmap support for devices that

Abstract

A method and system for providing external bit map support to device drivers coupled to a data processing system are disclosed. The data processing system includes a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device. The method and system also provide outputting of an image under a graphical user interface on the display device. In implementing the improved external bit map support, the system and method generate an image through the graphical user interface in device independent bits format and then determine whether the image is to be supported in an external bit map format. If the image is to be supported in an external bit map form, the system determines the level of required resolution for supporting that image and then converts that image to the external bit map format at that desired level of resolution. The desired level of resolution is selectable from either 24 bits per PEL (bpp), 8 bpp or 4 bpp. Further, if the image is not to be supported in the external bit map format, the system then converts the image to a standard bit map support format. Additionally, the system then determines whether the image is targeted for multiple hardware formats or a single hardware format and then provides a conversion from device independent bits to device dependent bits formats in the case of the multiple hardware format targeting, or performing image conversion appropriate for the single device in the case of the single device targeting. Finally, the system forwards the converted image to either the multiple hardware devices or the single hardware device according to the prior determination.