Batch mode processing
Tnimage can also be run in ``batch'' mode for unattended operation. This is useful for operations that are time-consuming or need to be done every day. A cron-like utility or (for the DOS version) a DOS command scheduler such as tnshell (available from the author) can be used to automatically carry out any sequence of operations at (for example) 3 a.m. on Thursdays or to automatically load a series of images before you come to work.
Procedure: 1. Create a macro in tnimage and save it to disk. The last command in the macro should be ``exit'' to ensure tnimage quits when finished. The command ``messages 0'' can also be used to ensure that any error messages are ignored instead of causing the program to wait for an acknowledgment (Make sure the macro works before using this).
2. Using tnshell (or other program), set the following DOS command to be executed at the desired time (e.g., 3 a.m. every Saturday): tnimage -macro macro_file where macro_file is the name of the macro (without brackets). See Macro programming guide (Sec. 13.3) for examples of useful batch macros.
Editing text files
The Macro Editor in tnimage can also be used as a text editor for small (up to 65536 characters) text files. This can be used to take notes on image analysis, create color-remapping files, etc. as well as writing macros. The Unix version also supports clipboard cut & paste.
Command line interface
Some users find it more convenient to type commands than select items
from the mouse. The macro editor in tnimage doubles as a command-line
interface. Moving the cursor to the end of a line and hitting 
Shift-Enter
or the Ctrl-M key causes a single line to be executed. This has the
additional advantage that a list of commands can be saved in a file,
providing documentation and enabling the same commands to be executed
later. The main window can also be iconified and images loaded into
individual windows, so that complete functionality is obtained without
use of a mouse if desired. For a complete list of commands, see Macro
Commands (Sec. 13).
Reading mail attachments with tnimage (Unix version)
To use tnimage as an image viewer for MIME mail attachments, add the following line to /etc/mailcap or ~ /.mailcap and remove all other lines containing ``image'':
image/*; showpicture -viewer /usr/local/bin/tnimage %s
or image/*; /usr/local/bin/tnimage/tnimage %s .
This will cause your mail reader (e.g., pine) to automatically run tnimage when an image attachment is to be viewed.