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-
-
-
- File Name: README
- Source : Disk #1
- P/N : 1081109522/1081107222/1081207222/1081209522
- Date : August 1, 1990
-
- =================================================================
-
- CONTENTS
-
- Section 1 VINSTALL replaced by VDRIVER
- Section 2 New features in VSETUP
- Section 3 Changes to VCONFIG
- Section 4 Using RAMBIOS.SYS for faster BIOS operation
- Section 5 Using L43.COM to display more lines of text on screen
- Section 6 Using CLR.COM to clear screen
- Section 7 Mouse Drivers
- Section 8 Special note for users of Sidekick Plus
- Section 9 Special note for users of TTL monochrome monitors
- Section 10 Installing Wordstar & Word Perfect for 132-column text
- Section 11 Using PRTSCRN.COM
- Section 12 Using V-INFO.EXE
- Section 13 Using VANSI.SYS
- Section 14 Using VVESA.COM
- =================================================================
-
- SECTION 1 - VINSTALL REPLACED BY VDRIVER
-
- The video utility software has an improved driver installation
- program called VDRIVER, which replaces the VINSTALL program. The
- drivers for each software package are in their own subdirectory
- along with a separate install program. The separate install
- programs are accessed through VDRIVER. Here is a list of those
- install programs that VDRIVER uses:
-
- LOTUS\LOTUSDRV.EXE for Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony
- ACAD\ACADDRV.EXE for AutoCAD, AutoSketch, AutoShade
- WINDOWS\WINDRV.EXE for Windows
- VCAD\VCADDRV.EXE for VersaCAD
- GEM\GEMDRV.EXE for GEM
- VENTURA\VPDRV.EXE for Ventura
-
- Note that these programs are not to be invoked by the user. In
- addition, make sure these lines appear in your CONFIG.SYS file
- on your boot disk:
-
- BUFFERS=20
- FILES=20
-
- You may require numbers higher than 20 if, prior to running
- VDRIVER, some applications already exist in memory, using up
- some of the buffer and file handlers.
-
- VDRIVER operates very much as VINSTALL does; the procedure is
- self-explanatory. You can run VDRIVER from any disk (floppy or
- README Page 2
-
-
- hard disk) as long as the directory structure remains. However,
- some applications must be installed from floppy disks because of
- that particular applications installation procedure.
-
-
- SECTION 2 - VSETUP
-
- Video mode is now selected in 'Power up Video Mode Selection'
- menu. New choices have been added to the analog monitor list.
- Select the first item on the VSETUP menu to view the choices.
-
- You can now control the gray scale level when the video card is
- connected to a TTL monochrome monitor or the RGB monitor. Select
- "ADJUST TTL MONOCHROME GRAYSCALE" from the VSETUP main menu and
- use the left and right arrow keys to adjust the level.
-
-
- SECTION 3 - VCONFIG
-
- The choice "MONOCHROME TEXT 720x350 MDA" is compatible with IBM's
- Monochrome Display Adapter. It is similar to the MDA Mono
- Graphics modes except that graphics is NOT initialized. If you
- are using a program in monochrome that is incompatible with
- Hercules Graphics, this is the choice to use. See the section on
- SideKick Plus.
-
- The screen format with 132 columns by 60 rows has been removed.
-
-
- SECTION 4 - RAMBIOS.SYS
-
- RAMBIOS.SYS is a RAM version of the video BIOS. It enables
- programs to run faster when they access the VIDEO BIOS. The
- driver takes up about 32K of memory. To install it in DOS, do the
- following:
-
- a) Copy RAMBIOS.SYS to your boot disk
-
- b) Create/Modify your CONFIG.SYS in your boot disk to
- include the line:
-
- DEVICE = RAMBIOS.SYS
-
-
- Notes: The above command must be executed before any device
- drivers that replace the video interrupt, such as ANSI.SYS and
- FANSI CONSOLE. The best place to put the command is at the
- beginning of the CONFIG.SYS file.
-
-
- SECTION 5 - L43.COM
-
- L43 is a simple program that changes the number of rows
- displayed on the screen. This is done by using a smaller
- character font (8x8) instead of the normal 8x14 or 9x16 font. The
- README Page 3
-
-
- screen displays 43 lines on digital monitors or 50 lines on
- analog monitors.
-
- SECTION 6 - CLR.COM
-
- The program CLR clears any non-standard EGA/VGA screen. This can
- be used to clear the screen when it is in the following formats:
-
- 132 columns by 44 rows
- EGA/VGA 80 columns by 43 rows
- EGA/VGA 80 columns by 50 rows
-
-
- SECTION 7 - MOUSE DRIVERS
-
- Contained on this diskette are two mouse drivers; MOUSE.SYS and
- MOUSE.COM. MOUSE.SYS is a device driver which is installed
- through the CONFIG.SYS file on your boot drive. This driver will
- activate the mouse every time you boot the system. The driver can
- be installed for you by running VDRIVER and selecting Video
- Utilities. If you prefer, the mouse driver can be installed
- manually by copying MOUSE.SYS into the root directory of your
- boot drive and adding one of the following lines into your
- CONFIG.SYS file:
-
- DEVICE = MOUSE.SYS (normal resolution mouse)
-
- or
-
- DEVICE = MOUSE.SYS 400dpi (only for high res mouse)
-
- MOUSE.COM is an executable program which is used to install a
- resident mouse driver if MOUSE.SYS is not installed and to con-
- figure the mouse driver.
-
- MOUSE OFF - Disables mouse driver. If MOUSE.COM
- was installed instead of MOUSE.SYS
- and MOUSE.COM was the last resident
- program installed, the memory
- occupied by the mouse driver will
- be released.
-
- MOUSE - Enables the mouse driver.
-
- MOUSE STATUS - Displays the current status of the
- mouse driver.
-
- MOUSE 400DPI - Configures the mouse driver for a
- high resolution (400dpi) mouse.
- This mode should only be used if
- your mouse is labeled 400DPI.
-
- MOUSE 200DPI - Configures the mouse driver for a
- standard resolution (200dpi) mouse.
- The mouse driver will default to
- README Page 4
-
-
- standard resolution unless 400DPI
- is specified.
-
-
- SECTION 8 - SIDEKICK PLUS
-
- Sidekick Plus version 1.00A has a problem in monochrome graphics
- mode. The problem occurs because Sidekick Plus restores the
- screen to graphics mode on exit if graphics is enabled. If the
- card is in text mode instead of graphics mode, the screen goes
- blank. As a result, this program should not be run under the
- monochrome graphics mode. To use the program in the monochrome
- mode, set the card to Monochrome Text (MDA) instead of the
- Monochrome Graphics (H720).
-
-
- SECTION 9 - TTL MONITOR
-
- This section is of interest only if you are connecting a
- monochrome TTL monitor. The video card automatically optimizes
- the palette to obtain the maximum contrast when displaying color
- software on a monochrome monitor. This is highly desirable with
- most software but it may cause certain animated EGA games to
- blink. Some examples of these games are Gunship, F19 Stealth and
- World Tour of Golf. If this occurs on a program that you are
- using, you can disable or restore the gray-scale optimization
- with special VCONFIG commands.
-
- To disable optimization type this command:
-
- VCONFIG MASK BA FF 40
-
- To re-enable optimization type this command:
-
- VCONFIG MASK BA BF 0
-
-
- SECTION 10 - INSTALLING 132-COLUMN IN WORDSTAR AND WORDPERFECT
-
- Both WordStar and WordPerfect can support the 132-column text
- mode. No driver is needed, as both programs can be configured for
- this mode.
-
- WORDSTAR 3.31
-
- This version of WordStar must be configured by modifying the
- WS.COM file directly with the DOS DEBUG utility. This operation
- should only be performed on the working version of WS. Follow
- these steps:
- DEBUG WS.COM <enter>
- E CS:249 <enter>
- 84 <enter>
- W <enter>
- Q
-
- README Page 5
-
-
- Before running the patched version of WordStar, put your screen
- into 132-column mode using VCONFIG.
-
- WORDSTAR 4.0 AND 5.0
-
- These versions of Wordstar can be configured for 132 columns
- using the WINSTALL and WSCHANGE. Select 80x25 text in WINSTALL.
- If 80x43 is selected in WINSTALL, it over-rides WSCHANGE. Next,
- run WSCHANGE and select 132 columns and either 25 or 44 rows. Use
- VCONFIG to put the screen into 132-column mode before running
- WordStar.
-
- NOTE: WordStar 5.0 doesn't restore the screen to 132-column mode
- after exiting from the page preview feature. Be sure to save the
- document before using the preview feature.
-
- WORDPERFECT 4.1 and 4.2
-
- WordPerfect versions 4.1 and 4.2 allow you to designate the
- number of rows and columns displayed on the screen. Wordperfect
- requires you to invoke any non-default text mode externally.
-
- To configure WordPerfect, type:
-
- WP/S <enter>
-
- A setup menu then appears. Select number 3 from the menu and
- enter the desired number of columns and rows. There are 3
- different text modes available with VGA card: 80x43, 132x25, and
- 132x44. Not all of these modes are available with every monitor.
-
- After Wordperfect is configured for the desired text mode, you
- must invoke it each time you use Wordperfect. The easiest way of
- doing this is to make a batch file that invokes the required mode
- and then run WordPerfect.
-
- Create the file WP.BAT containing the following lines:
-
- [command]
- WP
- VCONFIG CE80
-
- Where the line [command] is one of the choices shown below:
-
- L43 Invokes 80x43 or 80x50 mode.
- VCONFIG M132x25 Invokes monochrome 132x25 mode.
- VCONFIG C132x25 Invokes color 132x25 mode.
- VCONFIG M132X44 Invokes monochrome 132x44 mode.
- VCONFIG C132X44 Invokes color 132x44 mode.
- README Page 6
-
-
- WORDPERFECT 5.0
-
- There is no need to do any special configuration with WordPerfect
- 5.0 and 5.1. Simply invoke the desired text mode with VCONFIG and
- run WordPerfect. WP automatically adapts to the text mode. Note
- that WP may not restore the screen to 132 columns after exiting
- from the page preview feature. Be sure to save the document
- before using the preview feature.
-
-
- SECTION 11 PRTSCRN.COM
-
- PRTSCRN.COM is a program which enhances the function of the DOS
- printscreen feature. Normally, when the contents of the screen is
- dumped to a printer, only the first 80 columns and 25 lines are
- printed. PRTSCRN allows the user to print any text modes that can
- be displayed on the video card. These include the 80X25, 80X43,
- 132X25 and 132X44 text modes. It does not enhance the dumping of
- graphics to the printer.
-
- PRTSCRN is a memory resident program. This means that after it is
- loaded into memory, it will remain there until the system is
- reset or turned off. To load the program, simply run PRTSCRN. The
- following message will appear on the screen:
-
- Printscreen Utility
- PRTSCRN V1.0 1989 (Copyright)
-
- To dump the contents of a text screen, hold down the SHIFT key
- and strike the PRINT SCREEN key (this key may be marked PRINT
- SCR, PRTSC or something similar).
-
-
- Section 12 - V-INFO.EXE
-
- V-INFO.EXE displays system and configuration information for
- diagnosing problems. You should run it and have the information
- at hand before calling Tech Support for help. To use the
- program, type
- A>V-INFO <enter>
-
-
- Section 13 - VANSI.SYS
-
- VANSI.SYS is a device driver which is a substitute for the
- standard ANSI.SYS in DOS. Use VANSI if you would like to use DOS
- in 80x43, 80X50, 132X25 or 132X44 text mode.
-
-
- Section 14 - VVESA.COM
-
- VVESA.COM is a Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program. It is
- ATI's implementation of the proposed VESA Super VGA Standard V2.1
- (VP891001).
- README Page 7
-
-
- VVESA is not a driver. It is a program which enables your video
- board to be used with VESA compatible software. Consult your
- software manual or your software manufacturer's Technical Support
- to see if a VESA driver is available for your software.
-
- Install your software for VESA Super VGA. Then run VVESA before
- running your VESA compatible software. If you prefer, a batch
- file can be written to invoke VVESA and then your software. The
- resident portion of VVESA consumes only 2256 bytes of memory. To
- unload VVESA from memory, type VVESA OFF.
-
- The following VESA modes are supported:
-
- MODE RESOLUTION 256K 512K MEMORY
- NUMBER /COLORS MEMORY MEMORY MODEL
-
- 100h 640x400 /256 yes yes packed pixel
- 101h 640x480 /256 no yes packed pixel
- 102h 800x600 /16 yes yes 4-plane planar
- 103h 800x600 /256 no yes packed pixel
- 104h 1024X768 /16* no yes 4-plane planar
-
- * Packed pixel on earlier V3 version of board.
-
- Programmers requiring more information about VESA standards may
- obtain copies of the specifications by writing or calling:
-
- VESA
- 1330 South Bascom Ave., Suite D
- San Jose, CA 95128
- (408) 971-7525
-
- For a printout of this information, type:
-
- A>COPY README PRN <enter>