Compaq QVision Supplemental Video Programs v1.11 --------------------------------- DISKETTE CONTENTS ================= o CPQVESA.EXE - Compaq VESA VBE Display Driver TSR o README.VSA - This text file. The program, CPQVESA.EXE, provides support for the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) Super VGA BIOS Extension (VBE) when used with the appropriate Compaq VGA-based graphics products. CPQVESA.EXE will provide VESA VBE support on Compaq computers with any of the following graphics systems: Compaq QVision 1280 with 2 Mbyte video memory Compaq QVision 1280 with 1 Mbyte video memory Compaq QVision 1024 with 2 Mbyte video memory Compaq QVision 1024 with 1 Mbyte video memory Compaq QVision 1024 with 512 Kbytes video memory Compaq Advanced VGA with 512 Kbytes video memory Compaq Advanced VGA with 256 Kbytes video memory Compaq Integrated Video Graphics System with 256 Kbytes video memory (132 column support) Note: Compaq Prolinea 386 and 486-based PCs are not supported by CPQVESA.EXE. See the paragraphs at the end of this file for the VESA drivers required by these PCs. VERSION 1.11 ENHANCEMENTS: ========================== CPQVESA.EXE Version 1.11 adds the following enchancements/features. - New hardware support: Compaq QVision 1280 boards Compaq QVision 1024 with 2 Mbyte video memory - Adds support for VESA VBE graphics mode: 1280 x 1024, 256 colors, mode 107h - Adds support for VESA VBE high-resolution text modes: 132 cols x 25 rows, mode 109h 132 cols x 43 rows, mode 10Ah 132 cols x 50 rows, mode 10Bh 132 cols x 60 rows, mode 10Ch - Write TTY support for mode 105h (1024 x 768, 256 colors). See below. - Adds support for additional Compaq monitors: Compaq Internal Display (for portables only) Compaq SVGA Color Monitor Compaq QVision 200 Color Monitor Compaq 151 FS Color Monitor - Adds support for VESA VBE function 04h to Save/Restore video state. CPQVESA SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: ============================ CPQVESA.EXE requires MS-DOS version 3.31 or later for proper operation. CPQVESA INSTALLATION: ===================== Run CPQVESA.EXE in order to install VESA VBE support prior to running your VESA compliant application. Applications which support VESA are able to query CPQVESA for information required to operate in one of the supported video modes. The CPQVESA.EXE driver is a terminate and stay resident (TSR) program. Once executed, it will remain in system memory until it is unloaded or the system is reset. To load the driver, enter the following at the MS-DOS command prompt: CPQVESA The driver will attempt to install itself into system memory. If no errors are encountered, the driver will indicate that it has been successfully installed into system memory. You may now run a software application that has been configured to use an installed VESA VBE driver. Once you are finished running the application, you may unload the VESA VBE driver from memory by typing the following at the MS-DOS command prompt: CPQVESA UNLOAD This will cause the driver to attempt to remove itself from system memory. If no errors are encountered, the driver will indicate that it has been removed from memory. CPQVESA COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS: ================================ CPQVESA supports several configuration options. To view a list of these options without loading the driver enter the following line at the MS-DOS command prompt: CPQVESA HELP Monitor Specification: ---------------------- CPQVESA supports a broad range of Compaq and non-Compaq high resolution monitors. When using a QVision graphics adapter and a Compaq monitor, CPQVESA will automatically detect the attached monitor type and use the appropriate monitor timings. When the monitor type cannot be determined, CPQVESA will use timings for a standard VGA monitor. NOTE: For systems with an Advanced VGA (AVGA) or an Integrated Video Graphics System (IVGS), you MUST specify the attached monitor. Otherwise, standard VGA monitor timings will be used. AVGA and IVGS boards cannot detect the type of monitor attached. Use the monitor command line options to modify the default monitor type. For example, if you are using a non-Compaq monitor that is capable of operating at a 75 Hz vertical refresh rate, enter CPQVESA ALT4 to load VESA VBE support for your monitor. Use the HELP command line parameter to view a list of supported monitors. Displaying available VESA VBE modes: ------------------------------------ The LIST command line parameter displays the current graphics information without actually loading the CPQVESA driver into memory. This information includes the detected graphics adapter, the selected monitor, and the supported VESA VBE modes. To use the LIST command, specify all options as if you were loading the driver. If you have an ALT4 monitor then specify ALT4 for the monitor type when you use the LIST command. For example, type CPQVESA ALT4 LIST to view a list of modes supported on the current graphics adapter with an ALT4 monitor. FBPITCH command line option - Bytes-Per-Scanline return value: -------------------------------------------------------------- During normal application/driver interface, the VESA VBE driver returns graphics information to the application program. One piece of information that is returned is the number of bytes per scanline. Most applications expect that value to match the horizontal resolution. This is the default mode of operation. However, there are some applications that require bytes per scanline to equal the actual physical width of the frame buffer. When the FBPITCH command line parameter is used, then the VESA VBE driver returns the actual frame buffer pitch in the bytes per scanline value. For example CPQVESA ALT4 FBPITCH instructs CPQVESA to use modes supported by the ALT4 monitor and to return the physical frame buffer width for the bytes per scanline value. You may need to use this option if the display looks distorted with several vertical copies of the resulting image on the screen. WRITE TTY SUPPORT: ================== CPQVESA.EXE version 1.11 adds full BIOS write TTY support for VESA VBE mode 105h. Write TTY support allows text to be displayed while in a graphics mode by using the INT 10h write TTY function. NOTE: In order to perform TTY functions, the graphics adapter must have "Extended ROM Support" enabled. Extended ROM Support is enabled by running the EISA configuration utility for EISA boards or setting the proper dip switch for ISA boards. Refer to the documentation that came with your board for more details on how to set Extended ROM Support. RUNNING VESA VBE APPLICATIONS UNDER WINDOWS: ============================================ In order to run VESA VBE applications under Microsoft Windows, they must be run in a full-screen DOS window. The modes available while running under Windows depend on the specific version of the Compaq QVision Windows driver. Since the Windows driver must virtualize the DOS session, i.e. save the current state, certain versions of the Windows drivers do not support all the high-resolution graphics modes for DOS sessions. Therefore, even if the graphics adapter you are running on supports a high-resolution mode, unless the Windows driver can virtualize that mode, the mode will not be available to the VESA VBE driver when running in a DOS window. If your version of the Compaq QVision Windows driver does not support super VGA modes, then you may need to get a later version of the Compaq Windows driver. Contact your Authorized Compaq Dealer or Compaq Technical Support at 1-800-345-1518 to get the latest Compaq QVision Windows driver. CPQVESA APPLICATION SUPPORT: ============================ It is Compaq's intent to support all software applications that are fully compliant with the VESA VBE standard. In the past, however, some applications that have claimed to be fully "VESA VBE-compatible", have been found to violate the VESA VBE standard, yielding unpredictable behavior. These applications often make assumptions about how a VESA driver will be configured while in the super VGA display modes (ie. window size, window granularity, window access types, window locations, display pitch, etc). The following is a list of software applications that are known to provide well-behaved VESA VBE support when used with CPQVESA.EXE: AutoCAD 386 Release 12 by Autodesk Inc. Animator PRO v1.0 by Autodesk Inc. Microstation v4.0 by Intergraph VersaCAD v7.0 by Computervision Corporation Links386 v1.07 by Access Software Theater of War by Three Sixty Pacific Genus GX Graphics Toolkit v2.0 by Genus Microprogramming, Inc. Genus PCX Toolkit v5.0 by Genus Microprogramming, Inc. Generic CAD v6.0 by Autodesk Inc. T-Base v3.52 by Videotex Systems Inc. VESA VBE DRIVER/HARDWARE SUPPORT: ================================== There are three different VESA VBE display drivers available for Compaq equipment. Each driver is specific to particular hardware. The paragraphs below describe which diskette, containing the VESA VBE driver, is needed for the specified hardware. You may decide that you need the VESA VBE driver from one of the Prolinea Supplemental Video Programs diskette. You can either download the files from the Compaq Forum on Compuserve. Or you can contact your Authorized Compaq Dealer or Compaq Technical Support at 1-800-345-1518 and request the proper diskette. Diskette Compaq Prolinea 386-based PCs Name: Supplemental Video Programs diskette Driver Name: VESA1C.EXE Hardware Prolinea 386/PCs Supported: Diskette Compaq Prolinea 486-based PCs Name: Supplemental Video Programs diskette Driver Name: TLIVESA.COM Hardware Prolinea 486/PCs Supported: Diskette Compaq QVision Name: Supplemental Video Programs diskette Driver Name: CPQVESA.EXE Hardware Deskpro /i PCs Supported: Deskpro /m PCs LTE Lite/Portables