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-
- VgaDim/2 v1.03
-
- ------------------------- COPYRIGHT NOTICE ------------------------------
-
- Copyright (c) by: Expert Systems Corp., 1988.
- All rights reserved. This program may not be
- sold, copied, duplicated, or altered without
- prior written approval of Expert Systems Corp.
-
- ---------------------------- LICENSING --------------------------------
-
- VgaDim/2 is a shareware program, meaning that
- it is licensed only for a private, non-profit
- use. Any commercial use or re-selling of this
- program constitutes a violation of applicable
- copyright laws and will be prosecuted as such.
-
- You can freely distribute VgaDim/2, provided
- that ALL of the following conditions are met:
- 1. This notice text accompanies the program,
- 2. The program is not altered in any way,
- 3. Absolutely no fee is charged for VgaDim/2,
- 4. Program will not be used in any for-profit
- activity (commerce or business).
-
-
- For commercial licences, please call or write:
-
- phone: (312) 944-3510
-
- Expert Systems Corp.
- 441 E. Erie St., Suite 2612
- Chicago, IL 60611
-
- --------------------------- DESCRIPTION ------------------------------
-
- 1. Introduction.
-
- VgaDim/2 blanks the screen at a preset interval
- after the keyboard or mouse use. This prolonges
- PC monitor life and conserves electrical energy.
- To restore the screen, simply touch any key or
- left mouse button. Since this keystroke will be
- passed to a currently active program, pressing
- a non-echo key, such as Ctrl, Alt, Shift, etc..
- is generally safer than pressing letter keys.
-
- 2. Dim-switch.
-
- The screen can also be blanked immediately upon
- pressing the dim-switch key combination (default
- Ctrl+Scroll Lock). Once the dim-switch is used,
- only the same keys (i.e. Ctrl+Scroll Lock) will
- restore the screen. The dim-switch keys can be
- changed and set to any combination of two or
- more keys (see parameters /C and /K below).
-
- 3. Speaker silencing.
-
- VgaDim/2 also silences the PC or PS/2 speaker,
- turning annoying BeeeeeeeeePs into short chirps.
- Since all the features can be switched on and
- off, you can set VgaDim/2 to do only silencing.
-
- --------------------------- REQUIREMENTS -----------------------------
-
- 1. Memory requirements.
-
- VgaDim/2 is a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR)
- program that remains in the memory, until it is
- explicitly removed (or computer is turned off.)
- VgaDim/2 occupies only 704 bytes of the memory
- (0.7 KB) and can be removed from memory anytime.
-
- 2. Monitors/video modes supported.
-
- The blanking works regardless of the video mode,
- and does not cause loss of data since no saving,
- changing or restoring of screen buffers is done.
- While it is tested only with IBM VGA monitors,
- it should work with any VGA compatible monitor.
-
- 3. Coexistence/removal.
-
- VgaDim/2 will coexist with any properly written
- TSR program that passes control to old vectors.
- It can be removed from the memory provided that
- no other TSR program loaded after VgaDim/2 is
- still using same interrupt vectors (08 and 09).
-
- 4. NOTE FOR MS-WINDOWS USERS:
-
- VgaDim/2 does not support MS-Windows and should
- be removed from memory prior to starting any
- Windows application.
- To accomplish this, edit the batch file used
- to start MS Windows or a Windows application:
- 1) insert as the first line:
- 'VGADIM /U'
- 2) insert as the last line:
- 'VGADIM'
- This will remove VgaDim/2 from memory and reload
- it upon the completion of a Windows application.
-
- ---------------------------- OPERATION --------------------------------
-
- 1. Starting VgaDim/2:
-
- To start VgaDim/2, simply enter 'VGADIM' on
- the command line or in your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
- You can optionally change default parameters
- (see Parameters section below).
-
- 2. Stopping VgaDim/2:
-
- To stop (uninstall) VgaDim/2, enter 'VGADIM /U'.
-
- 3. In case of problems.
-
- In case you cannot unload VgaDim/2, or it does
- not work properly, simply load VgaDim/2 last.
- VgaDim/2 parameters can be changed at any time,
- regardless of any other TSR programs active.
-
- VgaDim/2 is tested on IBM PS/2 mod. 70 and 80,
- with OS/2 1.0 - 1.2, DOS 3.3 - 4.01, Sidekick,
- Ventura, Pacman, and many other programs.
- However, if you experience a problem or have a
- suggestion for improvements, please call:
-
- Leo E. Ramic, phone (312) 944-3510, 9-5pm CST.
-
-
- ---------------------------- PARAMETERS -------------------------------
-
- Command line switches/parameters (can be changed anytime):
-
- /B[+|-] /C[m] /D[+|-] /H /K[s] /M[+|-] /Q /S[+|-] /T[n] /U
-
- Syntax: A slash must precede a switch, with at least one
- blank space between switches. No space is allowed
- between a switch and its parameter value.
-
- Params: + means 'Yes', 'On', - (minus) means 'No', 'Off'.
-
- +-------------------------------------------------------------+
- Switch Explanation Default
- +-------------------------------------------------------------+
-
- /B[+|-] Silence the speaker (short beep) /B+
-
- /C[m] Set control key bit-mask to 'm'. /C4
- Refer to the Operation Manual (available =Ctrl key
- to registered users) for details on how
- to set the control key to another key.
-
- /D[+|-] Dim the screen after interval /T since /B+
- last keyboard or mouse action; or when
- the dim-switch keys are pressed. NOTE:
- /D- turns blanking off and leaves only
- the speaker silencing feature active.
-
- /H Show help screen only (no execution)
-
- /K[s] Set dim-switch key to scan code 's'. /K70
- Refer to the Operation Manual (available =ScrollLock
- to registered users) for details on how
- to set the dim-switch key to another key.
-
- /M[+|-] Scan if left mouse button pressed /M+
-
- /Q Inquire about current working parameters
-
- /T[n] Set interval to n seconds (n is limited /T180
- to minimum 3 and maximum 3600 sec.)
-
- /U Unload (stop and remove from memory)
-
-
- ------------------------- THANK YOU NOTE ------------------------------
-
- If you find VgaDim/2 valuable to you, express
- your gratitude via a $ 15.00 check payable to:
-
- Expert Systems Corp.
- 441 E. Erie St., Suite 2612
- Chicago, IL 60611
-
- This will entitle you to the documentation and
- future updates and enhancements.
-
- The source code for this example of a properly
- written TSR program utilizing timer, keyboard,
- mouse and speaker interrupts is also available
- for $ 50.00.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------