What's new in RISC OS?

A checklist compiled by Lee Calcraft.

THE DESKTOP

The Archimedes Desktop has been vastly improved, and supports multi-tasking through the WIMP. New tasks are started by double-clicking on an application directory from within the Desktop. The Desktop now works in all modes, automatically scaling sprites and text characters where appropriate.

Ultimate control over multi-tasking is provided by the Task Manager, which may be called from the Desktop to alter configuration settings, and to set the RAM available for the next task.

The revamped Desktop is now a real module, and does not overwrite user workspace. It is much more powerful, and you may perform many more operations directly from it. These include: delete, rename, copy or change access of a file or directory, format or backup a disc; and most important of all, run a file or application. Copying is performed by dragging a file to the new directory.

To run an application, just double-click on the application directory, or on an associated data file. Alternatively, you can drag a file onto the application's icon, and this will start the application, and load the file into it. If you need to open an application directory, you must double click on it while pressing the Shift key.

The WIMP. A number of new WIMP calls have been introduced to cater for multi-tasking. The WIMP now allows window dragging with continual refresh of the dragged window. To implement this, use *Configure WimpFlags 15 (0 resets it).

BASIC

The new version of Basic supplied with RISC OS has a number of enhancements. These are mainly concerned with array operations and the assembler. There is also a number of additional routines exported by the CALL statement.

FILING SYSTEM

ScreenSave/Load. *ScreenSave and *ScreenLoad have been considerably speeded up when used with a full-sized graphics window.

Obey Files. A new file of type &FEB has been introduced. This is similar to an Exec file except that the contents of the file are sent directly to the operating system. Obey files are not closed when an application is started, and will continue to be obeyed once the application ends. The contents of Obey files are not normally echoed to the screen.

Copy T. A new *COPY option, using the parameter "T", will cause a directory structure, but not its component files, to be copied.

RAM Filing System. A complete RAM filing system has been implemented allowing fast saving and loading to an area of designated RAM (use *Configure RamFsSize).

HourGlass. A dynamic hourglass pointer can be made to appear during filing and other operations to indicate the time during which the processor is busy. The hourglass appears automatically during network filing operations.

DISC

The E Format. A new 800K disc format is provided which fragments files, and so does not need repeated compacting (though *Compact can still be used to de-fragment files). The new format also holds a back-up copy of the space allocation map, so reducing the likelihood of disc errors. The new command *CheckDisc checks this data.

Disc Names. On RISC OS discs are referred to by disc name (drive numbers are generally not used). So all discs should be given a meaningful name using *NameDisc.

SPRITES

Sprite Extend Module. This new module adds many sprite SWI calls. Sprites may be scaled (magnified or reduced), and their palette controlled. VDU commands can be directed to sprites, so that a sprite may be written to even when not on screen, and sprites may be easily converted for use as pointers.

VARIOUS

New Modes. Screen modes greater than 20 have been altered and vastly extended. Mode 21 now gives 640x512 resolution in 256 colours (using 320K, and needing a multi-sync). Mode 24 gives 1056x256 resolution in 256 colours, and will work with an ordinary monitor. Modes 25-28 cater for IBM compatible VGA monitors.

International Keyboard. This new module allows the keyboard to be reconfigured to accommodate the currently selected country. An unwanted side-effect is that the Alt key can no longer be used like Shift or Ctrl. To regain this facility, use *UnPlug InternationalKeyboard.

*Help. This has been extended so that *Help <module name> will list the star commands and configuration options provided by that module.

BUNDLED APPLICATIONS

A collection of disc-based applications is supplied with RISC OS. The majority of these will multi-task from the Desktop.

MAJOR APPLICATIONS

ArcEdit. This is a full-feature text editor, which can use normal or fancy fonts. It has cut and paste facilities, and can operate on multiple windows. It is ideal for creating Exec and Obey files, but is equally at home with ordinary text, or with binary files.

ArcDraw. This is a powerful object-orientated drawing package with many of the features of CAD software. It can handle splines, and objects may be rescaled and rotated. Text in fancy fonts can be placed anywhere within the active window, and text from ArcEdit can be imported.

ArcPaint. By contrast this is a pixel-orientated painting program, and replaces that supplied on the original Welcome disc. Again it multi-tasks through the WIMP, and any number of windows may be opened. It is ideal for producing and editing sprites for use as icons etc.

MINOR APPLICATIONS

Maestro. This is a new version of the music editor supplied on the original Welcome disc, though it is much less colourful, because it must conform to the multi-tasking palette.

Configure. This is a simple WIMP-based set-up screen for the main configure options such as beep volume, keyboard auto-repeat, and so on.

Magnifier. This shows off the use of the scaling routines in the sprite extend module, and displays a mouse-driven magnifying glass, which will magnify any area of the screen.

Puzzle and Patience. Two multi-tasking games to think about while you format discs. Unfortunately none of the Arc's filing operations are multi-tasked, so everything stops for loads, saves, formats and the like.

TinyDirs. This useful application allows icons of frequently used applications to be posted on the icon bar for instant access.

The inevitable Clock, Alarm and Calculator are also included, as is a small application giving a graphical representation of CPU usage, an electronic mail handler, and the Lander program from the Arthur Welcome disc - though the latter will unfortunately not multi-task.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Basic Edit. This is now supplied on disc, due to lack of room in the RISC OS ROM. The same is true of the HardCopy module.

65Host and 65Tube. New and improved versions of the 6502 emulator to emulate the model B or a 6502 second processor.

Fonts. Three fonts are supplied on disc:
Corpus Medium
Porterhouse Standard
and
Trinity Medium