al_load_bitmap_flags_f(3)

💖 al_load_bitmap_flags_f(3) 💖

okay so real talk, this one lives in the Library Functions Manual section of the Allegro 5 API, and it's basically the "load me a picture, but make it custom" function. bestie, let's get into it 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <allegro5/allegro.h>

ALLEGRO_BITMAP *al_load_bitmap_flags_f(ALLEGRO_FILE *fp,
   const char *ident, int flags)

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

So this icon takes an ALLEGRO_FILE(3) stream (fp, yes, the file you already opened, you go-getter) and loads an image out of it into a brand-new ALLEGRO_BITMAP(3). Slay. 💅

Now, how does it know what kind of image it's looking at? It asks al_identify_bitmap_f(3) to do a vibe check on the file contents. But if identification is not possible (the file's being mysterious, it happens), then the ident parameter comes in clutch as a fallback — that's a file name extension including the leading dot, and it only gets used if it's not NULL. If it's NULL, well... no fallback for you, bestie. 🙈

The flags parameter? Literally the exact same as the one for al_load_bitmap_flags(3). Same energy, no notes.

On error it returns NULL. No cap, that's your bad-news signal. But here's the cute part: the file remains open afterwards — this function doesn't slam the door on your stream, so you can keep doing your thing with fp. 🫶

Note: the core Allegro library does not support any image file formats by default 😭. Like, zero, nada, nothing. You must use the allegro_image addon, or register your own format handler yourself. It's giving DIY era. Don't come for this function when it doesn't recognize your PNG until you've done that, iykyk 💀

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🦋 SINCE 🦋

5.1.0 — an iconic vintage ✨

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• al_load_bitmap_f(3)
• al_load_bitmap_flags(3)

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💖 that's the whole page, bestie — straight from the Allegro reference manual, no date on this one so no birthday to celebrate 🎂, but go forth and load those bitmaps with flags, you absolute main character 👑🦋