1.10 Interrupting and Resuming
Fractint command keys can be loosely grouped as:
o Keys which suspend calculation of the current image (if one is being
calculated) and automatically resume after the function. <Tab>
(display status information) and <F1> (display help), are the only
keys in this group.
o Keys which automatically trigger calculation of a new image.
Examples: selecting a video mode (e.g. <F3>); selecting a fractal
type using <T>; using the <X> screen to change an option such as
maximum iterations.
o Keys which do something, then wait for you to indicate what to do
next. Examples: <M> to go to main menu; <C> to enter color cycling
mode; <PageUp> to bring up a zoom box. After using a command in
this group, calculation automatically resumes when you return from
the function (e.g. <Esc> from color cycling, <PageDn> to clear zoom
box). There are a few fractal types which cannot resume calculation,
they are noted below. Note that after saving an image with <S>, you
must press <Enter> to clear the "saved" message from the screen and
resume.
An image which is <S>aved before it completes can later be <R>estored
and continued. The calculation is automatically resumed when you restore
such an image.
When a slow fractal type resumes after an interruption in the third
category above, there may be a lag while nothing visible happens. This
is because most cases of resume restart at the beginning of a screen
line. If unsure, you can check whether calculation has resumed with the
<Tab> key.
The following fractal types cannot (currently) be resumed: plasma, 3d
transformations, julibrot, and 3d orbital types like lorenz3d. To check
whether resuming an image is possible, use the <Tab> key while it is
calculating. It is resumable unless there is a note under the fractal
type saying it is not.
The Batch Mode (p. 148) section discusses how to resume in batch mode.
To <R>estore and resume a "formula", "lsystem", or "ifs" type fractal
your "formulafile", "lfile", or "ifsfile" must contain the required
name.