=========================================================================
(C) 1993 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May
be reprinted only with this notice intact.  The Atari Roundtables on
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==========================================================================
 ************
Topic 33        Sun Oct 11, 1992
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 19:00 EDT
Sub: Extendo-O-Save Technical Support

Here's a place to discuss techniques for writing Extendo-O-Save screensaver
modules for use with Warp 9.

209 message(s) total.
 ************
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 1         Sat Feb 06, 1993
M.SQUIRE [Mike]              at 14:52 EST

John Dillenburg,


     Thanks for the upload of your new collection of EOS screen
 savers.  I've only tried them on a monochrome monitor so far, but I
 prefer Pyro Deluxe and Roaming Shapes (using Circles) the best.  I
 would prefer to register using GEnie's Gift-of-Time rather than
 mailing you a check.  Would you accept that?


     Also, on the Random Shapes module, there are draw mode settings
 of Replace and XOR.  What is the difference between these 2 settings?


 ... Mike Squire

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 2         Sat Feb 06, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 16:09 EST

John,

Actually, that Mac program was named Mandella, but it sounds like it could
very well be virtually the same as your Mandala.

Thanks for the interesting story behind MANDELA.EXT.  I'm looking very forward
to this puppy, even though I don't have a TT to check out TT Med.  :^(

Perhaps when I get a Falcon, I can see the true power of Mandala!  :^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 3         Sat Feb 06, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 21:06 EST

  While I realize we won't get the flashy colors, will Mandala work on
Monochrome?  Color GAAACK!!!

      Wayne <color is for games>

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 7         Sun Feb 07, 1993
D.LIVINGST11 [ErnestBovine]  at 07:11 EST

    T.WRATHER,
 About your undefined Lattice C symbols __base and  __XCEXIT, John Eidsvoog is
correct; those symbols are defined (declared in  assembly language and
exported) in the Lattice startup module, whose source is C.S, and whose object
file is one of C.O, CS.O, CSNB.O, etc etc depending on your settings for 16/32
bit ints, register parameter passing, etc.
 __XCEXIT is the code that executes after it returns from main(), just before
the program terminates, which your program doesn't do anyway.
 __base is the bottom of your program's (user) stack area.
 Since you're not linking with this object file, the linker can't find those
symbols.

 But there's an easy solution.  Those labels are referenced by the stack-
checking code that Lattice C puts at the start of every function if you have
that compiler switch turned on.  So just turn it off! It's called Disable
Stack Checks under Compiler Options - General, or option -v on the the command
line.

 You don't want stack checks anyway during an interrupt routine. The active
stack pointer will be the supervisor stack pointer (ssp), which won't point
into your program's stack space, so a stack check would report an error when
in fact the ssp points just where it should.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 8         Sun Feb 07, 1993
W.DEAN4 [D'noski]            at 11:47 EST

what is the No. of this file for the extendo-o-save....D'noski
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 9         Sun Feb 07, 1993
AEO.3 [Lyre]                 at 17:12 EST

Ernest & T.Wrather,

I noticed that T.Wrather is using _base and _XCEXIT in his messages and that
Ernest is using __base and __XCEXIT.  Is it possible that with only one
underline (_) preceding the command that the command is not being accepted
properly?

Just a thought.

                                        Lyre

                                        4:45 pm, February 7, 1993

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 10        Sun Feb 07, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 17:39 EST

I uploaded Mandala last night, but didn't check my mail again until a few
minutes ago.  It seems in the heat of the moment, I included MONBLANK.EXT
instead of MONDALA.EXT.  It has been once again uploaded as of a few minutes
ago and should be released soon.  I'm sorry about the extra 12 hour wait.

Now, as long as the sysops don't get mesmerized and hypnotized by Mandala (and
forget to release it <grin>), you should have it soon. It's WELL worth the one
minute download!  It will be file #27634, MANDALA.LZH.  Enjoy!

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 11        Sun Feb 07, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 18:31 EST

 >So do you use a black & white TV?  :^)

  Nope, but then again the resolution on my TV sure beats the crap out of Slow
or Mudium Res on the ST.  :-)  As soon as I buy a machine that at least
matches the resolution of Mono PLUS gives me colors I'll use the color monitor
for serious stuff.

  I would probably have a bit higher opinion of Color monitors on the ST if I
had any drawing talent, but since I don't......  :)

 -----

 >    Sure it is Wayne, that's why businesses spend billions each year for
 >color terminals.  Grin.

  Come on, I know why they spend billions on color terminals..... It's a plot
perpetrated by the workers so they can play all those neat PC games that have
the "BOSS" key.  Just about all the people I know who work using PC's as their
workstations are always playing LINKS, or some other game whenever I call
them.  :-)

           Wayne
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 12        Sun Feb 07, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 19:07 EST

John Eidsvoog,

"Why you little....."

Oh well.  I got my key for John Dillenburg's modules, so that will hold me
over until Mandala.  :^)

-----8<-----

All,

I urge you all to register for John Dillenburg's modules.  It's sooo easy to
do with the GEnie Gift of Time, and the modules are much more useful with the
key.  These are a steal at $10, and I'd like to see John get so rich from
these modules, he can't afford not to do some more.  :^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 13        Sun Feb 07, 1993
R.JONES82 [Bob Jones]        at 21:07 EST

Thanks for clearing up my EOS question.  That makes sense, I look forward to
seeing new modules.  Do you think a well written EOS module can be as good as
the after dark modules?  Also, it would be nice to have the EOS randomly load
in various modules when the cpu is left unattended.  I don't mean to keep
comparing EOS w/ After dark, but I feel EOS has great potential and wanted to
know it's limits.  All in all you have done a incredible job with Warp 9,
really an impressive piece of software for the $$.  Keep up the good work.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 14        Sun Feb 07, 1993
J.TRAUTSCHOL [jtrautschold]  at 22:41 EST

Wayne...

You're just going to have to go out and get yourself a TT with a color
monitor.  Better resolution in TT color (640 x 480) than in ST High, plus you
get 16 colors!  Not a bad deal!  :-)

                                                John T.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 15        Sun Feb 07, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 23:44 EST

John Eidsvoog,

In a word, INCREDIBLE!  I have to admit that I was skeptical that Mandala
would live up to all the hype, but it is even BETTER than the hype suggested!

I now know exactly what Tomas was saying, about not getting much work done.
Mandala is hypnotic.  It's hard to take your eyes off it, because it's always
changing into something different and more beautiful.

It looks awesome in ST Low.  I can only imagine what it looks like in TT Med.
Nice work, John!  (You too, O. Broadway. :^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 16        Mon Feb 08, 1993
M.MOTOGAWA [MEL]             at 00:11 EST


     Oh wow!  I was very impressed with Mandala too!  The constantly changing
patterns and shapes are every bit as nifty as those expensive special effects
and morphing they dream up for DS9 and TNG.  :-) Mandala is eye-catching in
mono and captivating in color.  These screen saver modules sure are loads of
fun.

     - Mel

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 17        Mon Feb 08, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 01:05 EST

John- possible joke in Mandela-  In ST MONO, size 4 (largest), on the left
edge of the screen there is a black bar that does not get written to.  Approx
1/3" wide.

Not a biggie, just thought I'd let you know!

 -Tom McComb
  {12:56 am}  Monday, February 8, 1993


p.s.- Its fantastic looking! p.p.s.- the Action! Kaliedoscope program allowed
you to fiddle with various parameters to change the "overall shape", any
chance of putting something like that in there? p.p.p.s. Thanks for writting
it!

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 19        Mon Feb 08, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 13:21 EST

Tom McComb,

Yes, I noticed the "black bar" problem too, but didn't want to delay the
release to track it down.  The cause is a little different than what you might
think.  I'm limiting the drawing of points outside of the screen area.  In
order to get the left edge to match the right edge, there are 16 pixels left
blank on the left (you can see this in size 3).  But for some reason some
patterns in the four corners are appearing due to some sort of wrap-around.
It disturbs me a bit that something else is possibly writing off the screen,
but I couldn't find a problem so I let it go.

Size 4 is mainly only useful on Moniterm monitors and TT High res anyway.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 20        Mon Feb 08, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 16:00 EST

I use Size 4 because of JClock, a corner clock that bleeds through. Size 4
cover most of the screen and massages the JCLOCK area too.

Interestingly enough, the original PYROMONO did not allow JCLOCK to bleed
through, but all the newer modules do.  ANy reason?

Also to John D.- use as much CPU time as you like in your future revs. While
it's in screen saver mode, my machine's not doing much else. IF I _need_ the
CPU time, I can always load up a simpler .EXT or put the mouse in DON'T FADE.


 -Tom McComb
  {1:57 pm}  Monday, February 8, 1993


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 21        Mon Feb 08, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 20:24 EST

  It's with great sadness that I have to say that *IF* I were going to spend
that kind of money on a new computer the name Atari probably wouldn't be found
anywhere on the box, machine, or literature. <said with a tear in my eye>
Unfortunately the price/performance of Atari machines is just about 0 in my
eye now.  The hardware is one of (if not THE) best around in the home
computing arena, unfortunately there isn't anyone writing any games for the
Atari.  I haven't seen a game worth buying (for me) in a LOOOOOOOONG time on
the Atari.  Where's Red Baron, Global Conquest, and the hundreds of other
excellant games/simulations out on that other platform?  Clones are just
soooooo cheap nowadays it's incredible.  If only they weren't designed
sooooooo poorly.

  Until I'm ready to lay out those kind of bucks, I'll just keep buying
whatever I can for my Atari.  It does everything I want it to right now except
entertain me.  Atari a game machine?   NOT!!!

Wayne <off the soapbox, grabbing my crying towel, downloading Mandala>



 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 22        Mon Feb 08, 1993
J.TRAUTSCHOL [jtrautschold]  at 20:50 EST

Well, I've been running Mandala in TT Medium and it's just as gorgous there!
I'm *very* impressed with this screen saver John.  Very nice work!  It looks
like we've got a new standard from which to judge other Warp 9 screen savers
now!

                                                John T.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 23        Mon Feb 08, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 20:57 EST

Guys, I just installed Mandala on my TT. To say that it is a work of beauty
would miss the point. It's exceptionally well done, in every way. I especially
like the way it recognizes the TT color-monitor output no matter what
resolution the system is in. It also looks great on my wife's monochrome ST.
And a while ago I got it to make toast.

Youse guys are swell.

Al

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 24        Mon Feb 08, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 21:17 EST

Tom,

It's possible that the original Pyromono changed the physical screen address,
causing JClock to draw in an unseen location (I don't recall).  There's no way
to keep another program from drawing on the screen if it wants to.  Warp 9
turns off the HotWire clock, so those who use HotWire don't have this problem.
Of course, we don't expect everyone to use HotWire, but life would be a lot
easier if they did. <grin>

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 25        Mon Feb 08, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 23:42 EST

I know we just got Mandala, which is THE screensaver by which all other
screensavers are judged.  BUT...I was messing with a couple standalone
screensavers a little while ago, and if anyone's looking for suggestions...

IDLE.ACC is a great looking screensaver.  Has a multi-colored animated
starfield in the background, and a spinning, bouncing Fuji logo in the
foreground.  This would make a great EOS module.

RUBRIK.ACC is another neat screensaver.  This one cuts your screen up into
many sections.  It then removes one section and starts shifting all the others
around.  It's like those puzzles you get that have one square missing and you
have to move all the others around, trying to line them up into sequence.

(tm)
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 26        Tue Feb 09, 1993
N.WEINRESS [Norm]            at 00:44 EST

Tomas,

You're welcome <grin>!  BTW, Mandala is a term from Oriental Art, meaning a
stylized representation of the Cosmos.  I spend hours staring at the  screen,
hoping to soak up culture.  But I just fall asleep.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 27        Tue Feb 09, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 05:18 EST

Terry,

Tonight I mostly finished another module, based on an earlier suggestion.
It's called Dropout and pieces of the screen fall out until it's all dark.
I'm toying with doing something cute with the pieces when they hit bottom.

My plan is to follow this module with the sliding puzzle scheme. That will be
fairly easy, now that I've got a routine which already moves small pieces of
the screen around.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 28        Tue Feb 09, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 05:51 EST

 >Atari.  I haven't seen a game worth buying (for me) in a LOOOOOOOONG time on

  >the Atari.  Where's Red Baron, Global Conquest, and the hundreds of other
  >
   Well, if it's games you want, get the game machine, a PC. Grin.
   Keep the ST for serious work though.
    And just imagine what kind of games the Falcon can play.  With a
 little work, you could TALK it through an adventure game.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 29        Tue Feb 09, 1993
TOWNS [John@Atari]           at 17:25 EST

Is there any possibility of getting support to do VDI calls in an EOS
 module?


 -- John

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 30        Tue Feb 09, 1993
MYECK.WATERS [myeck]         at 21:08 EST

John E;

I DL'd Mandala the other day and it's bee-yoo-tee-full!

In ST mono anyway.  On the Reflex card it generates garbage.  It also
(according to the config dialog) thinks it's running in ST Mono instead of a
graphics card.

So far I haven't seen a single EOS module that generated anything but hash on
the Reflex screen.  Geez, what am I gonna have to do - learn to program???
:^)

Seriously, I have already spent many productive minutes staring into mandala
in ST mono.  Thanks for gifting us with it.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 31        Tue Feb 09, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 21:46 EST

John Townsend.

Charles and I have been talking about the use of VDI calls in EOS modules.
We're not quite sure, but there may be a way to do it.  I guess only trial and
error will tell.  Our main worry is that since the module is called during a
vertical blank, the system may be within a VDI call already, causing
reentrance.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 32        Tue Feb 09, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 22:16 EST

Myeck,

One way to get some EOS modules for the Reflex card would be to convince the
developers of the card to write some.  So far, we know two people, at most,
who have these cards.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 33        Tue Feb 09, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 22:56 EST

John,

Excellent!  Looking forward to seeing your newest masterPIECES.  :^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 34        Tue Feb 09, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 23:25 EST

Norm,
 Thanks again oh experienced one.  If you want to soak up some culture, go mop
the kitchen!

 I found this in Grolier's:



Grolier                      0183480-0                               9207

mandala

{muhn'-duh-luh}

 A mandala (Sanskrit for "circle") is a symbolic diagram of the universe used
for ritual purposes in tantric Buddhism (see TANTRA). Frequently represented
in Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan Buddhist art, the mandala generally consists
of a group of cosmic deities (or their symbols or associated magic syllables)
that are arranged in one or more circles surrounded by a square and oriented
toward the points of the compass. Some of the earliest mandalas were laid out
architecturally, as at the Buddhist temple of BOROBUDUR in Java (AD c.800) and
the Samye monastery (c.780) in Tibet. They were also frequently drawn in
powder on the ground for use in initiation rites. From the 9th century
mandalas were painted on walls or on cloth or paper. Images of mandalas are
often visualized in the mind during meditation practices. A modified form of
mandala is also used in tantric Hinduism and in Jainism. The Swiss
psychologist Carl Jung considered the mandala to be what he termed an
archetype, a universally occurring pattern associated with the mythological
representation of the self.

Bibliography: Cahill, S., and Halpern, J., The Ceremonial Circle (1990);
Guerin, Wilfred L., et al., Mandala: Literature for Critical Analysis (1970);
Jung, Carl G., Man and His Symbols (1964; repr. 1969) and Mandala Symbolism,
trans. by R. F. Hull (1972); Tucci, Giuseppe, The Theory and Practice of the
Mandala (1961).


 ===Tomas===
 February 09, 1993 @  8:12:15 pm PST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 35        Tue Feb 09, 1993
K.HOUSER [Kevin MQ Def]      at 23:46 EST

John Towns,

RE: VDI from an interrupt...

That is the question we should be asking you (Atari)!!!!

VDI calls from an interrupt could be VERY useful.

--Kevin

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 38        Wed Feb 10, 1993
D.ALVEAR1 [Dom Alvear]       at 05:12 EST

Okay, so Mandala is all it's cracked up to be.  I like it.  Now I don't have
time to play with those other screen savers.

Here is another vote to add a configurable shape if possible.  How about being
able to choose the pallette in the configuration dialog?

Oh yeah, this is a MINOR quibble.  Not only is there that 'black bar' on the
let side of the screen in ST Mono, but in ALL resolutions (OK, ST Low and
High, I only have a Mega 4) there is a 1-pixel high black line going through
the center of all the pictures from left to right. It destroys some of the
effect since there is no such line from top to bottom.

Dom


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 39        Wed Feb 10, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 06:52 EST

Tomas,
    Better stop watching Mandala.  You seem to be losing touch with
 what passes for reality around here.  Grin.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 40        Wed Feb 10, 1993
M.SQUIRE [Mike]              at 07:02 EST

John,


     Thanks for uploading MANDALA.  It is especially impressive on a
 monochrome monitor and really stands out.  I also like the sizing
 feature included.  Setting 1 seems to work best for my color monitor
 and setting 2 for my monochrome.


 ... Mike Squire


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 42        Wed Feb 10, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 14:42 EST

The most interesting effects are still achieved by using size 2. Size 3 still
looks pretty good.  But size 4 does not quite have the randomness and interest
of the smaller sizes.  I'm looking into the reasons for this.  Bigger is not
always better.

Dom,

I tried a version of Mandala that excluded the empty black line across the
middle.  The effect was worse than having the black line, with stray pixels
appearing in certain spots.  I'm afraid you'll have to put up with the black
line for now.  I plan to take another look at this some time.

There are several ideas being considered for extending the palette
capabilities in future versions.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 43        Wed Feb 10, 1993
D.GEPPERT [MR.DON]           at 16:18 EST

  JOHN....

Kudos for MANDALA ..... very nice indeed.

I saw another wild screensaver called BILDSPAR.ACC #25109 Lib 2. For my taste
it is quite excellent in execution, (pun intended), and would make a terrific
addition to the Extendo line. I have no programming skills to speak of,
(oops....I can program my VCR), so I couldn't attempt the project
myself.....but if someone out there is interested !!!!!!!!!
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 44        Wed Feb 10, 1993
W.DEAN4 [D'noski]            at 19:46 EST

Hey Terry What is the file No. for John Dillenburg's modules..Thanks D'noski
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 45        Wed Feb 10, 1993
J.DILLENBURG [John]          at 19:58 EST

Mike,

I will accept gifts of time.  It's might be hard to see, but there is a
difference between XOR and replace mode in high rez.

John

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 46        Wed Feb 10, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 22:03 EST

John E.,

I use size 2 for ST mono and size 1 for ST color.  I don't like having part of
the image cropped in ST color by using size 2.

-----8<-----

D'noski,

John Dillenburg's SAVERS12.LZH is file #27557.

     __
     /erry .\\ay


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 47        Wed Feb 10, 1993
J.TREVETHAN [John]           at 23:50 EST

I too would like to see Bildspar made into an EOS module. It is still my fave
screensaver. So...can it be done?

John T.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 48        Thu Feb 11, 1993
D.GEPPERT [MR.DON]           at 12:58 EST

Terry.....

Would you kindly tell us what Library file #27557 (SAVERS12.LZH) is in????

I must have that Library ignored, as I can't seem to find this file.

Thanks in advance.........Mr. DON
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 49        Thu Feb 11, 1993
M.MOTOGAWA [MEL]             at 17:13 EST

  Mr. Don,

     I saw it in library 21.

     - Mel

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 50        Thu Feb 11, 1993
W.DEAN4 [D'noski]            at 19:22 EST

Codehead I'm Really glad to see that Warp 9 is just in it's infancy....Keep up
the good work.... D'noski
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 51        Thu Feb 11, 1993
MYECK.WATERS [myeck]         at 22:37 EST

 >J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 22:16 EST
 >One way to get some EOS modules for the Reflex card would be to convince the
 >developers of the card to write some.  So far, we know two people, at most,
 >who have these cards.

 Wow, two people?  Doesn't that count as serious market penetration in the
world of Atari?   :^)

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 52        Thu Feb 11, 1993
W.DEAN4 [D'noski]            at 23:57 EST

Thanks 4 da 411 Terry....D'noski
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 53        Fri Feb 12, 1993
R.JONES82 [Bob Jones]        at 01:58 EST

        Is anyone having problems with EOS and Calligrapher??  The screen
saver does not want to kick in.  My girlfriend left my monitor on all day,
when I came home I saw the bright white Calligrapher window burning into my
screen.  At first I thought it may be due to the autosave feature being turned
on, but I had the HD activity set to ignore in EOS.  It works fine If I stick
the mouse in the corner of the screen.  Any ideas?


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 54        Fri Feb 12, 1993
M.MOTOGAWA [MEL]             at 11:05 EST

  Bob,

     I haven't had any problems with Callig and EOS, the screensaver kicks in
at the appropriate interval.  The Autosave feature of Callig only comes into
play if you've changed the current document, so if it does an autosave and
then nothing new is typed in, no autosave will happen until the next editing
action occurs, irregardless of the autosave interval.  This is nice since it
prevents a regular, mindless autosaving when no changes have been done to the
document.  What EOS module were you using?  Try ignoring all of the 5 types of
activity that could deactivate the screen saving and see if this doesn't solve
the problem.  It might be that a tsr is causing some sort of regular screen
activity, something came through the RS232 port or maybe even something
jostled the mouse, moving it slightly.  And, of course, be sure that
screensaving for Callig isn't deactivated in your .dat file.  Hope this helps.

     - Mel

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 55        Fri Feb 12, 1993
CODEHEAD [Charles]           at 11:29 EST

Bob,

  You need to turn off the "GEM Graphics/Text" checkbox in the Warp 9 CP --
because Calligrapher uses GEM graphics calls to draw its blinking cursor, and
this prevents EOS from kicking in when "GEM Graphics/Text" is enabled.

- Charles

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 56        Sat Feb 13, 1993
D.ALVEAR1 [Dom Alvear]       at 04:04 EST

John Eidsvoog writes:

 > I tried a version of Mandala that excluded the empty black line
 > across the middle.  The effect was worse than having the black
 > line, with stray pixels appearing in certain spots.  I'm afraid you'll
 > have to put up with the black line for now.  I plan to take another
 > look at this some time.

Okay, I guess I'll just have to.  I thought it might be an 'easy fix', but I
suppose it's not.  :-(

 > There are several ideas being considered for extending the palette
 > capabilities in future versions.

Sounds good to me.  :-)

Dom

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 57        Sun Feb 14, 1993
R.JONES82 [Bob Jones]        at 19:40 EST

Sounds like a winner to me, thanks for the help.  The mailman dropped off
version 3.03 of Calligrapher today.  Looks real good and I've had no problems
with the Flex text as others have.  I guess I got one of the fixed versions.
Oh yes the Mandala works great!!  I think some of the stoners from the sixties
would get a kick out of staring at the endless forms of Mandala.  Good work!

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 59        Mon Feb 15, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 19:29 EST

 >  You need to turn off the "GEM Graphics/Text" checkbox in the Warp 9 CP --
 >because Calligrapher uses GEM graphics calls to draw its blinking cursor,
and
 >this prevents EOS from kicking in when "GEM Graphics/Text" is enabled.

  I found another program I had to turn off Gem Graphics for. Strangely, I
have to turn it off when using Mandala, but didn't when using PicFade with
that program?  Hmmmmmmmm

        Wayne


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 60        Mon Feb 15, 1993
J.DILLENBURG [John]          at 21:38 EST

  I've just uploaded another screen saver to the library called
 Swarm.  It simulates a swarm of bees.  You can control the number of bees,
the behavior of the swarm (follow, ignore or chase queen), and the speed of
the queen and swarm.  Registered users can use their CURRENT keys to obtain a
fully working version of this module.  For those who haven't registered:  with
the addition of this module you now get seven modules!

Have fun,
 John D.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 61        Mon Feb 15, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 22:20 EST

What ever happened to the idea of a Random EXT loader?


 -Tom McComb
  {10:01 pm}  Monday, February 15, 1993


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 62        Tue Feb 16, 1993
T.ZENTHOEFE1 [Tom Z.]        at 00:26 EST


 >What ever happened to the idea of a Random EXT loader?

Tom, check out file number 27487 MOVPIC12.ZIP.



 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 63        Wed Feb 17, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 10:57 EST

Tom,

A randomizer for Extend-O-Save is still in the works, but we discovered that
it was a lot more complex than we first thought.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 64        Wed Feb 17, 1993
J.GNIEWKOWSK [GE-Lamp ST]    at 23:02 EST

John D.,

What file number is the 'Swarm' EOS module?  I've been looking but it hasn't
shown itself yet!

 Sincerly,

 John E. Gniewkowski
 Editor, GEnieLamp ST

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 65        Wed Feb 17, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 23:46 EST

John Eidsvoog,

I hatched Mandella into AtariNet as soon as it was released, and by now it's
no doubt pleasing people throughout the world!  The response in the various
echoes has been extremely enthusiastic.  One guy said he stared at his screen
for a good two hours a few nights ago, with MODs playing in the background.
He made no mention of Jim Morrison being his hero, but I have my suspicions.
;^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 66        Thu Feb 18, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 00:25 EST

John Dillenburg,

Thanks much for Swarm!  At first I didn't really care for this module, but as
I played with the settings, I began to like it more and more.  I've found that
if you keep the swarm to a reasonable size, it's a little less chaotic.  It's
also best to make the leader significantly faster than the swarm.  Otherwise,
she just blends in.

I _strongly_ suggest you consider switching to low res for future modules (and
any upgrades to present ones).  The modules look so much better in 16 colors
and with larger pixels.  Swarm is certainly no exception.  I tried it in low
res, and it's much, MUCH better than it is in med res.  The bees are easier to
see, due to the larger pixels, and all the different colors look great.

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 67        Thu Feb 18, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 04:06 EST

Terry,
  That's great, throw Mandala (note the spelling, at CodeHead we're very proud
of our spelling <grin>) to the masses.  Maybe it'll show up on dealer's
screens too.
  It's true, Mandala can be enjoyed on many levels.  I like having the still-
unavailable-to-the-public MIDI Spy loaded as an ACC playing MIDI files on my
MT32.  It makes for a very entertaining computer session! Tonight I've
selected a few new downloads from the MIDI RT for my listening pleasure, some
Bach and Birdland.  I have Mandala in ST Medium on size number 2 at a moderate
speed, internal colors.  Ahhh.
 ===Tomas===
 February 18, 1993 @  0:28:03 am PST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 68        Thu Feb 18, 1993
ST.LOU [Lou Rocha]           at 08:21 EST

                  27731 - SWARM.LZH - EOS module.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 69        Thu Feb 18, 1993
D.FLORY [ALERTsys*Cop]       at 10:25 EST

John, so far I like drop out the best of all, as I use mono almost
 exclusively, and leave my computer on all the time. I liked Mandala
 but it doesn't cover my whole screen, there is a triangular area
 which remains white  all the time, even in the largest size, so I
 don't use it. Looking forward to downloading 'flying shapes'. Sounds
 like shapes is going to be a classib, nothing less than I've come to
 expect from the CodeHeads. You're a hard act for others to follow.

  (-:  Happy Bytes  :-)


     Dave Flory, ALERTsys*Cop
     07:13 PST - 02/18/93
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 70        Thu Feb 18, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 21:22 EST

Tomas,

Oh geez, did I misspell Mandala?  Shame on me!  ;^)

Your message reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask.  Is it possible
to have DMA sound in a module?  I have an After Dark module of an animated cow
with a "moooo" sound in the background.  Too cool!

I'd like to see a module, something like Mandala, that does its thing to
music, like perhaps a MOD file.  Kind like those psychodelic lights that
operate to the sound of music.  That would be pretty awesome.

-----8<-----

Yes, Drop Out is neat.  But what is this "Flying Shapes"?  I assume that's the
second new module that was supposed to be released with Drop Out?  The name
certainly sounds interesting!

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 71        Fri Feb 19, 1993
N.WEINRESS [Norm]            at 00:47 EST

Tomas!  Welcome back to the land of the living.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 72        Fri Feb 19, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 03:36 EST

Terry,
 I dunno.  I asked John what could be done with sound and all kinds of ideas
came out.  You never know know what might happen.  Interesting you should
mentions animals.  Jim Allen had an interesting idea involving monkeys at the
conference the other night.  <grin>
 ===Tomas===
 February 19, 1993 @  0:23:07 am PST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 73        Fri Feb 19, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 10:26 EST


 Norm,

 >Tomas!  Welcome back to the land of the living.

 Oh, you heard I've been sick, eh?  Well, thanks for the welcome. The accounts
of my surmise have been premature. <g>
 ===Tomas===
 February 19, 1993 @  7:21:18 am PST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 74        Fri Feb 19, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 21:39 EST

Ooo, squeaking monkeys?  ;^)

I was checking out a few After Dark modules today.  There is a Swarm module,
which is probably where John Dillenburg got the idea.  But John's Swarm is 10
times better than the Mac version -- at least in mono.  In fact, I've _really_
grown to like John's Swarm module, save for the few things I've pointed out.

There is a neat module that I think would be fairly easy to do as an EOS
module.  It darkens the screen and then random lightning starts hitting the
screen.  The lightning is pretty realistic, and it also has the sound of
thunder in the background.  You're allowed to configure the number of 'forks'
in the lightning.  Even without the sound it would be a neat module, but the
sound does add a lot too it.

There is also a GREAT module called Warp that reminds me of John Stanley's
screensaver.  How about a conversion, JLS?  :^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 76        Fri Feb 19, 1993
MYECK.WATERS [myeck]         at 23:23 EST

John E.:

Oh, man, you are s-o-o-o close with this Dropout module, Reflex-wise!
 What's the difference between the graphics methods you're using with this and
the others, like Mandala, that draw garbage on my screen?


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 77        Fri Feb 19, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 23:36 EST

 Terry,

 >Ooo, squeaking monkeys?  ;^)

 No, I think it was "Flying Monkeys" as in "Yeah, and monkeys might fly
outta..."
 ===Tomas===
 February 19, 1993 @  8:03:42 pm PST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 78        Sat Feb 20, 1993
W.DEAN4 [D'noski]            at 20:16 EST

HI  Jonn I hope that you recieved the shareware payment that I sent you last
week...I now waiting on my key...Keep up the good work..D'noski
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 79        Sun Feb 21, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 16:09 EST

Myeck,

Have you tried increasing the size of Dropout's blocks (5x5)?  That's how
you'll have the best chance that it will work on the Reflex.  Do you have any
technical data on the Reflex?  What are the horizontal and vertical
resolutions?  How many colors?  How many planes?  Are they interleaved?

Each module we write uses a slightly different technique to output its
graphics, but many of them write directly to the screen.  Because of that,
they are generally quite resolution dependent -- at least dependent on the
ST's method of interleaved bit planes.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 80        Mon Feb 22, 1993
MYECK.WATERS [myeck]         at 00:41 EST

John;

The Reflex Card is a 1-bitplane device.  I run it at 800x592. Looking through
the manual I see horizontal resolutions of 640, 800, and 1024 pixels,
vertically I see 480, 496, 592, 608, 768, 800, 870, 960, 1008, 1034.

Here's a little bit from the manual:

"...horizontal screen lines may be any length, but must be spaced in memory by
a power of two.  For example, an 800 wide screen will have a line wrap of
1024..."

"Make sure, therefore, that screen size values are taken from DEVTAB[0] and
DEVTAB[1], -692[a0] and -690[a0], but line wrap is taken from LINE_WR, i.e.
2[a0]."

Does that help?  This would seem to be the problem in the 10-column modes:
the little "pushing out" bit appears perfectly placed, but the actual falling
blocks are spaced for a horizontally larger screen.

Anyway, as far as changing the size of blocks goes: although it is happy as a
clam running in 10-columns by 5, 10 or 20 rows, the 5 and 20-column modes
create onscreen garbage and a system crash (to the point that the keyboard
reset doesn't work).

thanks. And sorry about all the bother.

<May not be reprinted, in whole or in part, by any publication whose editor
refers to him/herself as a "babe" or "stud muffin".>

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 81        Mon Feb 22, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 21:20 EST

myeck,

Aha...I see where the problem lies then.  All of our graphics routines assume
that there are no wasted bytes at the end of each line.  We use what they call
"LINE_WR" (Atari calls it WIDTH) to determine the width of the screen.

It's too bad that the developers of the Reflex card use such an unconventional
means of storing the screen data or they'd have a lot more compatibility.  I
suppose they must have their reasons though.

I suspect that Flying Shapes may work for you...we'll see.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 82        Tue Feb 23, 1993
J.TREVETHAN [John]           at 00:26 EST

I am having a problem with EOS: it won't work with Fatspeed. If Fatspeed is
present and EOS kicks in I get a strange flickering on my monitor. Then if I
move the mouse the screen is restored but with no mouse pointer. I then tried
to see if the pointer was still there by moving the mouse to where I knew I
should get the Desk menu to drop down . . . nothing.

So next I set Warp 9 to load before Fatspeed and then Fatspeed won't install.
Can these programs be made to get along with each other?

I have TOS 1.2 and 4 megs of ram. Warp 9 is version 3.75 and Fatspeed is 1.09.

John T.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 83        Tue Feb 23, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 03:16 EST

John Trevethan,

I just ran some test with Fatspeed 1.09 running on a Mega 4 with TOS 1.2 and
loaded about a dozen different Extend-O-Save modules with no problem
whatsoever.  Have you tried removing some of your other resident software to
see what's causing the problem?

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 84        Wed Feb 24, 1993
J.TREVETHAN [John]           at 00:10 EST

John,
 Weird: I just tried running my system with only Warp 9 and Fatspeed...it
still crashes. With Flying Shapes (fantastic job, I am retiring my all time
favorite screensaver- Bildsparer) all the shapes cycle through at a very high
speed with no tails. Then when I move the mouse a shape just freezes on the
screen and all is locked.

 The only other item running on my system is Mouseboot. I'm going to make a
floppy with W9 and Fatspeed to do a test boot from.

 Maybe my Fatspeed or Warp 9 programs are corrupted?

John T.

Again, Flying Shapes is great- I'm off to check out Puzzle!

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 85        Wed Feb 24, 1993
MIKE.KELLER [ST Aladdin]     at 00:32 EST

I also have NO problems with EOS and Fatspeed. I have a TOS 1.0 1040
 with four megs installed.


 ; Desk Manager: Basic Setup


 ; DESKTOP.INF File
 MEDDESK.INF


 ; AUTO Programs
 FATSPEED.PRG
 WARP9_ST.PRG
 CODEKEYS.PRG
 HOTWIRE.PRG
 LGSELECT.PRG


 ; ASSIGN.SYS File


 ; Desk Accessories
 DIARY24B.ACC
 CAL63.ACC
 MAXIFILE.ACC
 CONTROL.ACC
 CODEKEYS.ACC
 WARP9_CP.ACC


 Run Warp 9 first AFTER Fatspeed, then the W9 accessory last.


  mike.k


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 86        Wed Feb 24, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 10:48 EST

John Trevethan,

Perhaps your hard disk driver is causing you problems.  What are you using?

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 87        Thu Feb 25, 1993
D.BULLOK [dan]               at 00:40 EST

Charles: I downloaded Flying shapes 1.1 and 1.2 and I'm having a strange
problem with both of them.  When I save my configuration with flying shapes as
the default saver and then reboot, The warp9 acc doesn't appear on the DA
list.  If I then run warp9cnf, it appears!  This happens with NOTHING in the
auto folder but warp9, and no accessories except warp9_cp. I'm using a 4MB
1040STe with TOS 2.06 and a Hard drive (ICD software). By the way, this is a
VERY cool saver, thanks. Dan Bullok
  (woodhead@uiuc.edu)
  (woodhead@delphi.com)
  (GEnie:  D.BULLOK) 23:34:26, 24 Feb 1993 CST
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 88        Sat Feb 27, 1993
J.SNYDER7 [Cali-Co.]         at 11:46 EST

Could someone (perhaps at CodeHead) upload a CURRENT shell for EOS modules
that includes explanations on,  and perhaps examples of, the LEGAL ways to get
at the graphics primatives.
  I.E. :
        Ploting a Pixle in a color
        Determining the colro of a Pixle
        Drawing Lines,Boxes,Circles Etc.
        Getting & Placing Screen Sections
        Working with a Module Configure Pannel.
        Setting up an Alternate Screen for Graphics.
        Displaying Text.
        (The Winning Lottery numbers for the Local Lottery)

        and any other small thing that I may have missed.

Thanks Josh @ Cali-Co.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 89        Sat Feb 27, 1993
W.DEAN4 [D'noski]            at 13:13 EST

Cali-Co. That sound like a good idea...I'm with it..D'noski
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 90        Sat Feb 27, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 15:59 EST

Josh,

That's quite a list!  Your message kind of sounds like, "here's a disk --
would you guys please copy everything you know onto it?". <grin>

What programming language do you use?  Have you looked at the Extend-O-Save
documentation we supplied with Warp 9?  Have you tried modifying and
reassembling any of the code we provided?

Extend-O-Save modules must do most of their output directly to the screen.
Some of the graphics we've done with Line-A, although to use Line-A you must
understand the limitation as prescribed by Atari.

Could you possibly be a little more specific and selective in your request for
information?  Perhaps then we can help you?

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 91        Sun Feb 28, 1993
J.SNYDER7 [Cali-Co.]         at 18:13 EST

  I regularly use GFA because of speed (Of development).  But I have done some
C programming.

The thing is that I am no good at wrighting graphics "Primitives", and that is
the main reason that I use GFA.  all the "Fiddly bits" regarding teh Graphics
are already done.

Perhaps thare is a set of EASY to use graphics primatives already out thare.
But I havent run across them.

I was really NOT looking forward to starting at a "take a chunk of ST lorez
screen ram and figure out how to plot a pixle to it,  and then work all the
way up to lines/fills etc." stage.  I guess I am just a part of the MTV
genaration.  I want to CREATE _N_O_W_!  Not after doing days-weeks-months of
BORING primative codeing/debugging.

Josh @ Cali-Co.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 92        Sun Feb 28, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 22:08 EST

Josh,

There is currently no way to right Extend-O-Save modules in GFA.  As for easy-
to-use graphics primatives, that's what the VDI is all about.  Your choices
are either to use the VDI or Line-A.

I'm not sure that answers your question.  It kind of sounds like you want
someone else to write your code for you.  :^)

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 94        Tue Mar 02, 1993
J.SNYDER7 [Cali-Co.]         at 00:08 EST

I know that I can't wright EOS modules in GFA... That's why I will have to
work in C

The point is:  Alright so thare is te VDI and the Line-A,  What can I use in
an EOS module, LEGALY and HOW can I use it!

as for someone else to wright my code for me,  Whell yes and no,  I want to
wright the REAL stuff,  and have all the Piddley stuff that EVERYBODY has to
do/wright already done for me!  Why should EVERY auto designer have to start
by reenventing the whele?  the truth is that thay DONT thay simply go and get
a whele that is the same as everyone elses,  what the designer does do is all
the Creative stuff abought how to put togeather the wheles and motors and
stuff into something that is pleasing/salable/preforms well,  Etc.

Josh @ Cali-Co.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 95        Tue Mar 02, 1993
CODEHEAD [Charles]           at 01:27 EST

Josh,

  You really need to ask more specific questions.  Have you read the Extend-O-
Save developers' documentation?  There's quite a bit of information in there
about what you can do in an EOS module; if you read this document and come up
with more specific questions, I think we'd be able to help you more.

  During a module's kick-in, periodic, and kick-out routines, it's not a good
idea to use the VDI, since the VDI is not reentrant and the system is
constantly calling VDI functions.  However, one thing the EOS docs don't
mention (because I wasn't aware of it when I wrote them) is that it is
possible to use the Line A graphics primitives... with one caveat: you must
save and restore the documented Line A variables before/after using the calls.
For example, Flying Shapes uses the Line A "Arbitrary Line" call, and Sliding
Puzzle uses the Line A BitBlit call.

- Charles @ CodeHead Tech
  Monday, March 1, 1993  10:24 pm

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 96        Sun Mar 07, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 00:03 EST

OK, a problem with the "No Alarms" button. I have had this problem for awhile
but was hoping I could figure it out.

I want  alarms and thus deselect it and save Warp 9 Acc. However, next time I
boot up it is select again!! I have tried the acid test by running Warp 9 on a
clean system without any change in this problem. I have version 3.75 and I use
Hotwire, MDD, and MaxiFile. However, like I said, even with no auto or acc it
does the same thing?? This is obviously not right? Or is it me [grin]?

                                *******Brian*********
        Written on Sunday 07 March 1993 at 00:57 a.m. AST

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 97        Mon Mar 08, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 03:34 EST

Brian,

It sounds like you're mixing versions of Warp 9.  If you're using a CNF file
left over from a previous version, you might have this problem.  Also make
sure that you're using v1.4 of the Warp 9 CP with v3.75 of the PRG.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 98        Mon Mar 08, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 20:38 EST

John,

 >It sounds like you're mixing versions of Warp 9.  If you're using a CNF file
 >left over from a previous version, you might have this problem.  Also make
 >sure that you're using v1.4 of the Warp 9 CP with v3.75 of the PRG.


        Nope. I double and triple checked and I do have v1.4 and v3.75. Also,
I deleted my configure file and rebooted. No luck. Ieven tried it twice more.
I wonder what it could be??

                                *******Brian*********
        Written on Monday 08 March 1993 at 09:19 p.m. AST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 99        Wed Mar 10, 1993
F.GORON [Frank]              at 21:46 EST

John,Charles,

I just ran across something weird & I thought you might have a thought about
it. When I had my Yamaha R5 drum machine hooked up with the TT in a 2-way Midi
hookup, the screen saver is disabled. I immediateley thought Active Sensing,
but according to the R5's Midi Implementation Chart, the R5 doesn't transmit
or receive it. I tried this out with a few other synths and none of them acted
this way. This isn't any kind of a problem, just wondering what might be
causing it. Any ideas?

Thanks

Frank
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 100       Fri Mar 12, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 10:06 EST

Frank,

Turn off the MIDI button in Extend-O-Save if you want it to kick in when MIDI
is being used.  (Your drum machine may be sending out MIDI clock bytes even
when it's not playing.)

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 101       Sun Mar 14, 1993
F.GORON [Frank]              at 18:05 EST

John,

I was aware of the MIDI button, in fact with the button off this wouldn't even
be an issue. I was talking about why the drum machine would inhibit the screen
saver even when there was no APPARENT activity. Do you think it could really
be MIDI clock bytes? That had never occured to me, but it makes sense since
the drum machine is the only unit to do this.

Frank
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 102       Sun Mar 14, 1993
CODEHEAD [Charles]           at 20:26 EST

Frank,

  If your drum machine inhibits the screen saver even when there's no apparent
activity, then that drum machine is definitely sending _something_ out over
the MIDI port.  If you turn off Warp 9's MIDI watch flag and the screen saver
kicks in correctly, then there's the proof.

  There are some utilities in the library here that let you see what kind of
MIDI data is coming into the computer; one I know about is MIDIMON, by Larry
Herzberg.  If you're curious, you could use one of these programs to see what
that drum machine is putting out.

- Charles @ CodeHead Tech
  Sunday, March 14, 1993  5:18 pm

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 103       Sat Mar 20, 1993
LEXICOR2 [Ringo]             at 18:37 EST

Something new happen today. After rendering an animation with Chronos and
viewing it with the animation player the Screen saver kick in while the
animation was playing! Boy was that a mess.

 Ringo
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 104       Sun Mar 21, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 02:24 EST

Ringo,

It depends on which module you were using.  If you use one with "Alt. Screen",
it won't mess up your display.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 105       Sun Mar 21, 1993
LEXICOR2 [Ringo]             at 11:56 EST

Thanks John!
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 106       Sun Mar 21, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 22:34 EST

Any more thought on why I can't save the hotwire alarm button in the off
position on a clean system?

                                *******Brian*********
        Written on Sunday 21 March 1993 at 08:43 p.m. AST

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 107       Mon Mar 22, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 16:58 EST

Brian,

I had hoped that someone else would enter the discussion with a similar
problem, or a solution.  I seem to remember that this problem existed only if
you mixed versions and/or config files.  You mentioned that you are sure
everything is fresh.

The surefire way to find out is to create a floppy with an AUTO folder, copy
WARP9_ST.PRG into it and WARP9_CP.ACC to the root, and boot from this disk
(bypassing the hard drive).  I think you'll find that you'll be able to save
the state of the HotWire alarm button correctly on that floppy.  You can then
figure out which element you overlooked in your hard drive setup.  It should
have to do with your config file(s) because I believe that's where the setting
is saved (CNF files are located in the same directory as the ACC).  Have you
tried deleting or renaming your CNF files so Warp 9 creates fresh ones?

Hmmm...is it possible that HotWire has to be installed in order to save a
setting change?  I haven't tried booting without HotWire [the thought
frightens me].  :^)

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 108       Mon Mar 22, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 19:00 EST

Thanks John. I never thought of a floppy boot. I did reinstall the whole warp
9 package without success. I will try the floppy install next. I tried it with
and without Hotwire.

                                *******Brian*********
        Written on Monday 22 March 1993 at 07:48 p.m. AST

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 109       Sun Mar 28, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 00:11 EST

 Atari Computers / Atari Chat (FidoNet), #310 of 323
 Date: 26 Mar 93  17:54:20
 From: Glen Kelly of 1:3807/42
 To:   John Pendleton
 Subj: Re: Lava Saver...

In a message of 25 Mar 93  03:39:42, John Pendleton wrote:

 JP> ROTFLMAO!! Your comment caught me just right!!!  By the way, do you
 JP> have a lava lamp screen saver??? I think I still have some incense in
 JP> a closet...

If some enterprising programmer out there would come out with a "Lava-lamp"
screen saver for my ST, I'd gladly buy it!  If it was Shareware, I'd register!
I DO have incense on the bar in my trailer, I just need a good lava lamp
screen saver to stare at while enjoying the lovely odor of French Vanilla or
Wild Orchid incense! Dear...Where are my bell-bottoms?

 JP>  No joke, some guy just uploaded a clone program to my BBS, it's a bug
 JP> zapper on a pole. Just like sitting in the back yard, watching the bugs
 JP> flying around the light then 'ZAP'! And thats all this program does!
 JP> Watched it for an hour to make sure that all it did! <GRIN>

I'd buy that one too!  But not for $40.  Same goes for the top one. But $10 to
$15 sounds reasonable.  Of course, free sounds the best, but we need to stay
in reality!  Not because we WANT to, I assure you. <G>  Later...Glen

 --- FIDOdoor+ 3.2.6 [IOSmail 0.89]
  * Origin: >>Level 42<< 318-478-3960 9p-3a CST (1:3807/42.0)
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 110       Wed Apr 14, 1993
STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS]        at 05:17 EDT

For the time being, I've decided to disable Extend-O-Save due to problems with
the screen locking up (i.e. the normal screen doesn't come back the way it's
supposed to, but the system is still running normally otherwise).  So far,
this has only been with Flying Shapes v1.3 and Mandala, but those were the
only two I was using.  Has anyone else had these problems?  My system setup is
as follows (on a 1040STE w/ TOS 1.62 and 4MB RAM):

 AUTO programs
 -------------
 WARP9_ST.PRG
 KEYCLICK.PRG
 SERFX20.PRG
 UIS_III.PRG

 desk accessories
 ----------------
 BUTTNFIX.ACC
 EDDA.ACC
 XCONTROL.ACC
 STALKER.ACC
 CALL_UIS.ACC
 WARP9_CP.ACC

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 111       Wed Apr 14, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 07:35 EDT

No, Steve, I've seen nothing like that. Check to see if you have the latest
version of UISIII.

Al

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 112       Wed Apr 14, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 18:06 EDT

Steve,

What is KEYCLICK.PRG?  Do you have the problem if you remove it?  Or maybe
you've got an ill-behaved CPX?  Or maybe it's just a TOS 1.62 problem.  Has
any other 1.62 user had this problem?

  ...

      ...

          Nope, I guess not.  <grin>

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 113       Wed Apr 14, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 22:14 EDT

KEYCLICK turns off the key click on bootup.

Al

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 114       Thu Apr 15, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 19:50 EDT

  AAACCCCK!  No Keyclick?  How do you know when you are typing?  :-)

  That's one pet peeve I have with some of the European programs, they turn
off the keyclick and then don't return your machine to the same state when
they exit.  I prefer keyclicks on.

          Wayne

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 115       Thu Apr 15, 1993
J.TREVETHAN [John]           at 23:54 EDT

Codeheads,
  I still am having a conflict with EOS. I posted a while back and someone
replied that they had no problems with my combination. I have TOS 1.2, Mega ST
4, Megafle 30, and AHDI 5.0. EOS does not seem to like Fatspeed 1.09.

 The only other thing in the system is Mouseboot. I used Mouseboot to disable
everything to test my conflict. I have not yet had the time to make a floppy
boot to see what happens. I'll do that now. . .

 I'm back: O.K. here's what I've got. Floppy boot with nothing but Fastspeed
1.09, Warp 9 3.75 and the Warp 9 .ACC...everything OK. So I rebooted with the
hard drive and tried loading a different EOS module (I have been using Flying
Shapes, I loaded Dissolve). Didn't work. My symptoms are Flying Shapes: as
soon as it kicks in it cycles through a bunch of shapes at a high rate of
speed. The shapes have no tails- just a single box or triangle etc. When I
move the mouse or press a key the shape freezes on the screen and everything
is locked. No mouse pointer either. Dissolve: same deal except when pressing a
key I get only the desktop that was under the Warp 9 set up box.

 As soon as I pull Fatspeed everything is OK. it must be something to do with
AHDI. I have a conflict with AHDI and Kevin Houser's Conductor. Is my
SHDRIVER.SYS corrupted. Other than this I have had no problems.

John T.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 117       Fri Apr 16, 1993
K.HOUSER [Kevin MQ Def]      at 01:23 EDT

John T.,

Did you try MidiOSEX+Conductor with fatspeed removed too? Hmm... Try
reinstalling your HDX stuff from your master copy & then try EOS. If it still
doesn't work... Dump fatspeed etc... and get the ICD "PRO" software. :)

--Kevin
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 118       Fri Apr 16, 1993
STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS]        at 02:25 EDT

J.EIDSVOOG1 - (re: KEYCLICK.PRG) What Al said!  I've also had it happen
without XControl installed, so I doubt if it's an ill-behaved CPX.  Maybe I'll
try and create the problem without anything except Warp 9 and the Warp 9
Control Panel.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 120       Fri Apr 16, 1993
M.WEILERT2 [matt]            at 03:43 EDT

Hi sportsfans, I'm having some trouble with EOS interfering with disk
operations that I think I'm causing by my choice of "preferences": rs-232 is
the only thing I have checked, and on Cleanup-ST and the Calamus SL print
screen, the TT showed an old screen when I jiggled the mouse to remove EOS. On
both cases it didn't crash, I just had to "hunt around" for where the exit box
should be, since return didn't seem to bring me back.

Any help, even "read pp ___" in the manual, is most appreciated. Oh, I was
running "Pyrotechnics" when these snafu's occurred. Regards,

Matt
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 121       Fri Apr 16, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 04:55 EDT

John Trevethan,

Perhaps there's a conflict between AHDI 5.0 and Fatspeed.  If so, it's the
first conflict I've ever heard of with Fatspeed.  It's always been a sturdy
workhorse in my experience.

I'm sorry, but we don't have AHDI 5.0 here for testing.  Maybe someone else
can help.  Do you have an earlier version of AHDI that you could try?

Have you tried it on your hard drive with nothing but Fatspeed and Warp 9 (no
Mouseboot)?

Steve,

That's a good idea (trying to create your problem without anything except Warp
9 installed).  Why didn't _I_ think of that?  <grin>

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 122       Fri Apr 16, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 11:18 EDT

matt,

That's the way it works.  If you have screen activity which does not "kick
out" the screen saver, the screen activity may draw right on top of the screen
saver.  Many of our newer modules have a button named "Alt. Screen".  You
won't have a problem if you use one of these modules with Alternate Screen
selected.  Or you can enable the "watching" of other events so that the screen
activity kicks the screen saver out.  It's your choice.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 123       Fri Apr 16, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 19:25 EDT

 >    some of us have feeling in our fingers....  Grin.

  Are you calling me "numb"?  Them's fighting words pal!  :-)  I used to have
a toggle switch on my old Atari 800 for the speaker.  I rented a house with
several others and they complained about the keyclick noises, so I would
toggle it off for those late night sessions.

 ------

Al,
  When the letters what?  I can't think straight all these funny looking
symbols are appearing on my screen.  Hmmm strangely enough it seems to happen
every time I hear a click from my speaker which happens just as I press a key.
Do you think there's a connection between these events? :-)

         Wayne

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 124       Fri Apr 16, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 20:36 EDT

Wayne,

Oddly (maybe). I type much faster and more accurately when I am listening to
music (Bach, Rachmaninoff, Steely Dan, Chet Atkins) on my reference
headphones. The fact that I can't hear even the sound of the keys of my TT,
not to speak of an amplified keyclick, helps me somehow.

Al

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 128       Sat Apr 17, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 19:40 EDT

Al,
  I can understand that.  At work they have daisy wheel typewriters for doing
the daily reports at the firehouse.  I just can't type on those things.  The
daisy wheel is tooooooooooooo SLOW!  The sound of the daisy wheel banging out
the character gets WAY behind my typing and throws me off.  In that case I
would definitely prefer something to drown out the noise.  Although I'd much
prefer Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, or many other options over Bach or Chet
Atkins.  We can agree on Steely Dan. :-)

        Wayne

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 129       Sat Apr 17, 1993
MYECK.WATERS [myeck]         at 19:55 EDT

Steve j;

I had the problem with an EOS module not giving up control when I started
using the computer again, but only with Mandala, and only when I had been away
for quite a while.

I switched to Puzzle (the only one that works properly on my graphics card),
and have had no problems at all.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 130       Sat Apr 17, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 22:47 EDT

Wayne,

Dire Straits I'll go along with. And Pink Floyd. I was one of the first audio
critics to champion PF all too long ago, and I am going through four PF CDs on
my changer now.

(Where are the topic cops? Maybe we're OK if we can suggest that the 'Heads
add audio to the EOS system...)

Al

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 131       Sun Apr 18, 1993
STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS]        at 01:09 EDT

J.EIDSVOOG1 - While I didn't have the Flying Shapes module lock up with just
Warp 9 and the Warp 9 Control Panel installed, I HAVE been able to remove
XControl (or a .CPX module) and EDDA.ACC from the list of causes.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 132       Sun Apr 18, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 04:15 EDT

I've had mandela occaisionally refuse to return control a few times too...
after the computer has been on all night.

 -Tom McComb
  {4:11 am}  Sunday, April 18, 1993


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 133       Sun Apr 18, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 13:57 EDT

=Tom=

 >I've had mandela occaisionally refuse to return control a few times too...
 >after the computer has been on all night.

Gee, I am not the only one.

 ~~~~Brian....  Written on Sunday 18 April 1993 at 01 p.m. AST


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 134       Sun Apr 18, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 14:47 EDT

Al,
  Wow, Pink Floyd to Bach.  You do have "dynamic range"!  :-)  I have a pretty
wide range also, but mine doesn't extend to the "classics", heavy metal, or
Rap.  Just about anything else is at least tolerable if not enjoyable.

  I like the idea of EOS giving us the option of sound as well. CodeHeads, we
want sound to go with our pretty pictures.  Some of the instrumental Pink
Floyd stuff would go quite well with Mandella!

            Wayne

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 135       Sun Apr 18, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 15:38 EDT

Al,
 Sound will be added to some future modules.  Stay tuned for Extend-O-Pak!

 ===Tomas===
 April 18, 1993 @ 12:37:15 pm PDT


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 136       Sun Apr 18, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 15:51 EDT

Wayne,
 It's possible that MIDI Spy could be hooked up with with EOS to do full-blown
audio.  Would that be of interest?  Of course, on the Falcon, anything is
possible.

 ===Tomas===
 April 18, 1993 @ 12:44:20 pm PDT


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 137       Mon Apr 19, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 00:18 EST

 >>full-blown audio.  Would that be of interest?  Of course, on the   <<
  >>Falcon,  anything is possible.                                     <<
   Yeah, EXCEPT GETTING ONE!


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 138       Mon Apr 19, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 01:06 EDT

Hey, if you release Extendo-Pak at the Ct AtariFest, it may pay for your
traveling expenses to attend.

Just a a subtle hint that we want the 'Heads there.

  -Tom McComb
  {12:58 am}  Monday, April 19, 1993


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 139       Mon Apr 19, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 09:28 EDT

If Mandala is locking up after running all night, it must be caused by an
external source (or possibly a TOS version we don't use).  I've left Mandala
installed on my TT for weeks at a time and not had a lockup.

There are a number of things that could cause it to lock up, such as another
screensaver installed (MACCEL, HotSaver, and don't forget built-in
screensavers in programs like Tempus or Neodesk).  Or perhaps another resident
program is conflicting.

MIDI Spy has built-in hooks so that an EOS module could start playing a song
in only a few instructions.  It could even load a song (which could be
anything -- even a sound effect).

We've also got at least one EOS module here that uses the sound chip.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 140       Wed Apr 21, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 20:40 EDT

Tomas,
  I'm not very up on Midi Spy.  Given the name of the product I "ass"umed that
I needed a midi device to utilize the product.  Most other things I've seen
with MIDI in the title (except MIDI MAZE) required a Midi keyboard or similiar
device.
  Would the Midi Spy/EOS marriage require a Midi device, or would it play
through a standard ST's speaker as well as the DMA sound of the STE/TT and the
Falcon's sound capabilities?

 ---------

=Tom=,
  Yep, we do want the 'Heads at CT Fest!  It's going to be a make or break
time for myself.  I've been sitting on the Clone fence for quite a while being
amazed at the games on my friends (all EX-ST'ers) Clones.  I've decided to
wait until after the CT Fest to make my final decision on whether to go Clone
or not.  No matter what happens there will only be one computer on my desk.  I
hope it's an Atari product, but I won't keep my head in the sand any more.
It's time for Atari to put up or shut up!  So far they've been pretty quiet.
<sigh>

         Wayne

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 141       Thu Apr 22, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 03:00 EDT

  That's right Wayne, you need a MIDI device to use MIDI Spy.  You wanna buy a
used MT-32?  <grin>  Actually, the Roland Sound Canvas is the thing to have.

And, if it's that important to you, would you be upset if the only CodeHead to
show was, well... ME?

 ===Tomas===
 April 21, 1993 @ 11:55:13 pm PDT



 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 142       Thu Apr 22, 1993
STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS]        at 04:32 EDT

Well, I'm sorry to have to say this, but I HAVE 'succeeded' in getting Extend-
O-Save to 'lock-up' with only Warp 9 and the Warp 9 Control Panel installed
(using Flying Shapes v1.3).  There are two kinds of lock-ups that I've had
happen:  1) the screen turns completely black when the mouse pointer is moved
away from the "DON'T FADE" corner (after the 'Timeout' time has been met w/o
any activity); or 2) while Flying Shapes is doing its thing, moving the mouse
causes the shapes to freeze in position (white shapes on a black screen),
though the computer still operates (e.g. if it freezes and you press Ctrl-X
while in ST Aladdin, it will exit ST Aladdin) and moving the mouse pointer
(though you can't see it) to the "FADE NOW" corner, EOS will resume (though
moving the pointer back out of the corner just freezes the screen again).

This is on the following system:

 1040STE w/ 4MB RAM and TOS 1.62

 ICD HD auto-booter v6.0.4

 WARP9.PRG in C:/AUTO/ folder
 WARP9_CP.ACC in C:/ directory

 medium resolution

 Warp 9 Control Panel is set as follows:

   'Screen Accel.' and 'Fastload' are selected and no 'Mouse Effects'
   Mouse acceleration setting #3 is selected w/ the following settings:

      02 06 12 20 30 42 56 72 90 99
      01 04 09 16 25 36 49 64 81 99

   Extend-O-Save Preferences:

     All 'disable EOS' events selected
     FADE NOW corner set to top right
     DON'T FADE corner set to bottom left
     Timeout set to 5 minutes

     Flying Shapes v1.3 configuration:

       2 Boxes
       Speed: 4
       Length: 8
       Left delta  : 1-2 RANDOM
       Top delta   : 1-3 RANDOM
       Right delta : 1-6 RANDOM
       Bottom delta: 1-3 RANDOM
       Cycle time: 0 secs.
       'Use Alternate Screen' selected


One thing I should point out is that it has only locked up by moving the mouse
and not by typing something on the keyboard (or at least it hasn't been
witnessed freezing at any time other than by moving the mouse).
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 143       Thu Apr 22, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 11:32 EDT

Wayne,

Yes, MIDI Spy requires a MIDI device.  The code to control MIDI Spy will be so
little that it might be included in every EOS module.  If you want a song to
play during kick in or out, or during the periodic interval, you could just
use a predetermined filename or something.

There's also a chance that if someone writes a DSP synthesizer for the Falcon,
MIDI Spy could play it.

John

P.S.  Why just one computer on your desk.  I've got four encircling me now.
It's pretty wild to see Flying Toasters on a Mac, PC, and TT all at the same
time as I'm typing this message on my Mega.  <grin>
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 144       Thu Apr 22, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 18:18 EDT

Steve Johnson,

Thank you for the detailed report.  I'm unable to recreate your Extend-O-Save
lockup and I'm beginning to wonder if it's a TOS 1.62 specific problem.  I
wonder if anyone else with TOS 1.62 is able to reproduce this lockup (we don't
have 1.62 here).  Were there any other factors involved, like RS-232 coming
in, or printing?  Is there some activity that requires you to prohibit Extend-
O-Save from kicking in (DON'T FADE)?

Have you thought about getting TOS 2.06?  In my opinion there's no software or
hardware value in the Atari market that gives you more for your money than the
$60 chip upgrade from 1.6x to 2.06.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 145       Thu Apr 22, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 19:36 EDT

 >And, if it's that important to you, would you be upset if the only CodeHead
to
 >show was, well... ME?

  Muse, I'd be happy to see you there and meet you.  Would you be coming in an
official capacity, or just flying around the country? :-)

 ----------

John,

 >P.S.  Why just one computer on your desk.  I've got four encircling me now.
 >It's pretty wild to see Flying Toasters on a Mac, PC, and TT all at the same
 >time as I'm typing this message on my Mega.  <grin>

  I already spend WAYYYYYYY too much time on this machine while
procrastinating about doing things that need to be done around the house.  If
I do buy a Clone there would be little reason to keep the ST other than
telecomm.  I've never seen any telecomm program on the Clones worth the disk
it came on.  Besides I'd be spending so much time playing games and
simulations (flight, racing, etc) that I'd never boot the Atari.
  I'd love to stay with Atari because I truly loathe the Clone world, their
ignorance of all other types of computers, and general smugness.  However they
have products to buy, and we don't on the Atari.  That's Atari's fault, pure
and simple.  There are still great people supporting the Atari in the
applications and utilities areas, but there just aren't any games and
simulations for the Atari that are up to date.
  I've decided to wait until after the CT Fest to make my final decision.
That gives some time for Falcons to get into peoples hands here in the states
for feedback, some ramp up time for new software and hardware, and about a
month and a half more to see what (if anything) Atari is going to do to save
their butts.

       Wayne
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 146       Fri Apr 23, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 01:47 EDT


 Wayne,

 > Would you be coming in an
 > official capacity, or just flying around the country? :-)

  Some of both, I think.

 ===Tomas===
 April 22, 1993 @ 10:46:30 pm PDT


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 147       Fri Apr 23, 1993
K.CAVAGHAN2 [OakSprings]     at 07:35 EDT


 >J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 11:32 EDT

 >I've got four encircling me now.  It's pretty wild to see Flying
 >Toasters on a Mac, PC, and TT all at the same time as I'm typing
 >this message on my Mega.  <grin>


Hmmm...  There's that Flying Toaster comment again.

You gonna open up soon John?  Or are we going to have to start a chant session
<G>?

EOS..

Flying Toaster..

EOS..

Flying Toaster..

EOS..

<ad nausem (G)>

Kent

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 148       Fri Apr 23, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 15:15 EDT

Kent,

As I mentioned before, we have a version of Flying Toasters here at CodeHead
but it can't be released to the public because of trademark laws.  Sorry.

I wrote it to verify that it could be done with EOS.  We'll have something
similar, but I don't know what it will be yet.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 149       Fri Apr 23, 1993
J.BRENNER1 [See Flat]        at 19:31 EDT

John E.
       I remember a bunch of great suggestions about Flying (insert). a while
back but I don't remember anyone mentioning flying Elvis'
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 150       Fri Apr 23, 1993
WAYNED. [Wayne]              at 19:33 EDT

  Since we can't do flying toasters, how about Flying Leonards?  :-)

        Wayne
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 151       Fri Apr 23, 1993
C.OINES1 [Chazz]             at 19:36 EDT

How about flying hamsters? Spinning severed heads? I could work something up
in my spare time - I'm a professional sprite artist, don'cha'know...

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 152       Sat Apr 24, 1993
STEVE-J [Steve @ NLS]        at 02:29 EDT

J.EIDSVOOG1 - No, there shouldn't be any other factors involved.  I have
things hooked up to the ACSI, RS-232, parallel, and MIDI ports, but the
'freeze-up' has happened with all devices on those ports turned off.  Also,
it's only an occasional occurrence and may not happen for several days in a
row.  Also, I probably won't have my STE in the near future, so it's not
really been worth it to me to go ahead and get TOS 2.06.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 153       Sat Apr 24, 1993
K.CAVAGHAN2 [OakSprings]     at 09:35 EDT

John,

No problem, I'll be waiting for you when you guys get everything worked out
<G>.

Kent
 (I still think that was a neat chant though <G>)

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 154       Sat Apr 24, 1993
D.GEPPERT [MR.DON]           at 13:55 EDT

  John....

Re "Flying Toaster's etc...)

Why not consider making the module so the user could import a common picture
format into it and get whatever they want on the screen to fly around. I
understand the difficulty with flapping wings etc.. so maybe a format that
includes wings on the picture and one that doesn't. This way if one want's to
find and/or make their own picture of a toaster...you're module just makes it
fly. I'm sure there will be some very "strange" things flying around the
screen.

Also....a la "after dark"....any chance for a fish tank ??

Anyway.......just food for thought.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 155       Mon Apr 26, 1993
M.WEILERT2 [matt]            at 04:14 EDT

I just came across a nasa jpl animation sequence that I'd like to turn into an
EOS mod, outside of the file included with warp 9, where should I turn? I've
no programming experience outside of a college fortran course. thanks.

Matt
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 156       Tue Jun 08, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 19:37 EDT

Hi everyone

        I'm working on a EOS screen saver that shows a 3-d star field zooming
by.  Everything seems to be working fine except that with fewer than 100
stars, the bottom of the screen is blank.  For, example with only about 70
stars, the bottom half of the screen is black.  With about 25 stars, only the
top 20% or so of the screen is displayed.  I know the basic routines work
because I developed them as a prg.  Everything was perfect until I copied the
routines into an EOS module format???  BTW I'm writing this in assembly.

        Anyone have any ideas as to what is wrong?!?!?

HELP! Scott

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 157       Wed Jun 09, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 12:18 EDT

Scott,

It sounds like you've just got a bad branch or simple mistake in your code.
Perhaps you're using signed comparisons when you need unsigned ones (or vice
versa).

For instance, if you're using "blt" (Branch Less Than), you might try using
"blo" (Branch Lower).  The result of these two instructions vary when the high
bit of the operand is set.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 158       Wed Jun 09, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 20:38 EDT

John,
        Thanks for the quick response.  I've looked at the code up and down
and cannot find anything wrong.  I even copied the periodic routine back into
the loop in the prg version of the program and again, everything work
perfectly???  All I did went I wrote the eos version was to take everything in
the loop in the prg version and copy it into the periodic routine.  Everything
before the loop I put in the kick_in routine along with the screen copying
code from picfade.s.  The init routine simply finds the xbios table and sets
up the object tree for the dialog along with the backdoor setup.

This is a very strange problem.  It works as a prg and not as an eos module??

Scott
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 159       Wed Jun 09, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 22:20 EDT

Scott,

I thought you said the program was in GFA and the EOS is in assembly. If this
is the case, you didn't just "copy" it into the periodic routine, you
translated the code.  You'll have to carefully trace your routines to
determine the problem.

A good tool to use is Templmon (or AMON, if you have Devpac).  You can put an
"illegal" instruction in your code and start tracing your instructions to see
what's causing the dropout of the lower section. This assumes you understand
how the routine works.  When I do this, the problem usually becomes apparent
almost immediately.

Welcome to assembly.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 160       Thu Jun 10, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 18:32 EDT

John,
        The prg version is in assembly, and the periodic portion is the same
as the loop in the prg version becasue I just copied and pasted it in to the
periodic routine.  I would use MON (I have Devpac 3), more with the eos
version but the system doesn't like me breaking in the periodic routine.  When
I do break in, I break into the drawing routine that draws the dots. I us a
simple breakpoint.  I set it by running MON from the desktop and seaching
through memory for my name( which is in the module header, though I have been
finding it right after the backdoor?).  Anyway, the movem instr. at the end of
the routine dosn't replace the regesters correctly and the system quickly
crumbles.  This happens only when I break into the module like this.  The
module works perfectly other that the blanked out protion of the screen.

I know I'm missing something simple, but like I said, the routines are the
same in the prg and eos versions (and yes both in assembly)

Thanks again for the help, I'll just have to keep trying to find something:)

Scott

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 161       Fri Jun 11, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 00:47 EDT

Scott,

Don't use MON, use "AMON".  Put it in your AUTO folder so that it is resident
all the time.  Then add an "illegal" instruction in your source code at the
point you want to start tracing.  As soon as that point is reached, you will
pop into AMON and you can begin tracing. You will be within the vertical
blank.

BTW, when I say "illegal" instruction, I don't mean to use an instruction that
is illegal.  "illegal" is an actual 680x0 instruction.  You should put it
right into your source code, e.g.:

     move.l    d0,d1
     illegal
     cmp.l     d1,d2

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 162       Sat Jun 12, 1993
T.MAGEE1 [Todd]              at 01:04 EDT

Could an EOS module (since it is executable) get a virus stuck in it?

Todd

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 163       Sat Jun 12, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 10:22 EDT

Todd,

Yes, it's possible for someone to attach a virus to an EOS module, just like a
PRG or ACC.  But with all of the problems in the world, I think that a virus-
infected EOS module would probably be one of the last things I'd ever worry
about (after the death of Mickey Mouse, the possibility of Haiti developing
nuclear weapons, waking up one morning as a member of the opposite sex, or
finding out that Santa Claus doesn't exist).  <grin>

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 164       Sat Jun 12, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 11:25 EDT

John,
        Thanks for the reminder about AMON.  I thought I remembered a way of
keeping MON resident from when I started assembly during Christmas, but the
last semester of college has dulled my memory on such thing.  I didn't have
time to do any programing, LOTS of homework.

Well, at least I can break into the code now and trace it with out crashing
the system.

Scott



 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 165       Sat Jun 12, 1993
CODEHEAD [Charles]           at 11:31 EDT

Todd,

  The only way an EOS module could become "infected" with a virus would be if
the virus was specifically written to hook into EOS modules.  EOS modules are
not executed in the same way as normal programs, so the chance of viral
infection is very slight.

- Charles @ CodeHead Tech

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 169       Sun Jun 13, 1993
T.MAGEE1 [Todd]              at 15:33 EDT

John,

I guess my questions on viruses are going beyond curiousity these days.  But
never having a virus, I feel kind of left out, or maybe just crazy?  :)

Todd

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 170       Sun Jun 13, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 19:04 EDT

Todd Magee,

If you really feel left out, maybe someone could whip up a special virus just
for you.  :^)

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 171       Sun Jun 13, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 23:21 EST

 >>  I guess my questions on viruses are going beyond curiousity      <<
  >>these days.   But never having a virus, I feel kind of left out,   <<
  >>or maybe just crazy?  :)                                           <<
   Gee, Todd, it's kinda like not having AIDS. WHO WOULD WANT IT?
 Ron


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 172       Mon Jun 14, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 20:51 EDT

Hi guys, yep its me and may problem again

        I've tried AMON and can't seem to find anything.  I have found that my
problem is speed dependent.  ON my MegaSTE at 16Mhz with cashe, a 100 stars
fills about 80% of the screen (I have made some speed improvements).  At 8Mhz,
100 stars fills the whole screen.
 This is not just dependent on processor speed either.  The same results occur
when I add null loops into the periodic routine.  In general, the slow the
code, the more the screen is covered???

        This may be why I cannot find anything with AMON.  Tracing makes the
code go slow.

        Any ideas???

Scott <Hopefully awaiting a solution>

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 173       Tue Jun 15, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 07:01 EST

Scott,
    Having trouble with the cache on leads me to believe you might be
 committing the cardinal sin, self-modifying code.  If so, when it
 gets into the cache, that portion of the code can't be self-modified.
  Is that possibly your problem?


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 174       Tue Jun 15, 1993
C.OINES1 [Chazz]             at 07:15 EDT

This may be obvious, but strikes me as one of those obvious things that people
consistently forget...


Did you remember to wait for the vblank at the end of the main loop?
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 175       Tue Jun 15, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 08:35 EDT

Scott,

Without knowing exactly how your code works, it's hard to offer suggestions
for fixing it.  If the code works as a program but not as an EOS module, it
sounds like you may be trying to do too much in the periodic routine, which is
called in the vertical blank (Chazz, no need to wait -- EOS has already done
the waiting).  Are you clearing the screen at the beginning of the periodic
routine?  Try splitting your tasks up across several iterations of the
periodic routine.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 176       Tue Jun 15, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 18:38 EDT

Now why is it that you guys answer the problem just hours after I found the
solution?

The vertical blank was the whole problem.  I thought it was from the very
beginning and tried waiting for the blank at the end of the periodic routine.
Of course, since EOS pretty much takes care of this (the program was smoother
with the extra wait though??), adding the wait at the end of the periodic
routine didn't solve the problem.  My routine draws the stars first and then
at the end of the periodic routine, it erases them.  So what was happening, as
far as I can tell, was that I erased the stars at the bottom before the
mointor could show them.  The problem is fixed temporily by putting a vertsync
call in between the drawing and the eraseing of the stars. The final fix will
be simplly reversing the routine, erasing and then drawing.  EOS can then take
care of the vertsync stuff.

Now why couldn't I see that to start with??? :)

Scott <happly continuing development>  Thanks guys

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 177       Tue Jun 15, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 23:31 EDT

Scott,

You should definitely _not_ erase your graphics in the same routine that draws
them.  It's also apparent from the description or your problem that your
routine is taking longer than one vertical blank to execute.  Otherwise, you
wouldn't even see any stars at all.

As you said in the end of your message, you should begin your routine by
erasing any existing stars.  Then draw new ones.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 178       Wed Jun 16, 1993
K.HOUSER [Kevin MQ Def]      at 00:17 EDT

I've never had a virus on my ST. Except when I got Spectre GCR and some of my
old Mac disks were infected. I zapped those and live in a virus free computing
environment. <G>

--Kevin
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 179       Thu Jun 17, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 20:32 EDT

John,
        At the moment, the module is working fine.  The periodic routine
however, does take longer than the vertical blank.  I'll have to work on that.
BTW, about how long is the vertical blank?  Knowing that would help me gauge
how much I can do in one pass through the routine.  Also, are there any major
problems with the periodic routine running longer that the blank?

Scott


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 180       Fri Jun 18, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 15:29 EDT

Scott,

The vertical blank occurs at 60 times per second on a color monitor and 70 on
a mono.  There's no problem with using a routine that runs longer than 1/60th
of a second.  Mandala is a good example.  When you set it on high speed,
you'll notice that it may take a while for Mandala to finish and return
control to you.  This is all in one vertical blank and sometimes goes longer
than a full second.

Modules that take up that much time are the kind that cause problems with
downloading or printing because the module won't give up any time to the main
process.  The amount of activity you want in each vertical blank depends upon
the speed you want to achieve.  If it's a starfield, I don't think you want
more than one frame to occur. That's how Extend-O-Save is designed.  You draw
one "frame" in the periodic routine.  Then you tell Extend-O-Save how fast you
want the frames played.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 181       Fri Jun 18, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 23:22 EST

Scott,
    If memory serves, the vertical blank interval is about 16ms, or
 some such.

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 182       Sat Jun 19, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 10:45 EDT

Well, since having my periodic routine run longer that the vertical blank will
not cause any major problems, I'll just leave it like it is. The routine does
draw only one frame, but with alot of stars, it can take more that 1/60th a
sec.

 I'll clean up the code today and hoply upload it tonight or tomorrow.  I have
tried to make it fully ST and TT compatible, but since I don't have access to
a TT, I can only hope that is works in the TT's resolutions.  I would like to
make it Falcon compatibe as well. I am currently using the XBIOS(4) call it
check the resolution.  What are the numbers returned by the Faclon resolutions
and the max X, max Y and number of bit planes for these resolutions?

Scott
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 183       Sun Jun 20, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 01:51 EDT

Scott,

You can't (and shouldn't) rely on the resolution numbers if you want to be
compatible with all machines.  I believe that the Falcon returns a "2" (ST
High) for all of its video modes.  This will not give you what you want.  You
should use either the VDI or Line A to get the resolution and number of
planes.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 184       Sun Jun 20, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 03:09 EDT

Tim Davis-

Just loaded up your WRAP/WARP EOS.  Good stuff!!

One problem on this end.  I primarily use ST High, on an SM124.

The SM124 tends to fade to black after a few minutes if a reasonable
percentage of the screen isn't lit up.

SO your star filed tends to disappear in a few minutes even with all 150
stars.

Solution: instead of one pixel consider 2-4 pixels per star in ST High mode.

Get it to stay visible on my SM124 and I'll send off a $5 GOT. I like it!


                -Tom

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 185       Sun Jun 20, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 18:56 EDT

Well, here they come, bug reports. :)

Tom, I'll see what I can do.  Personly, I'm happy to see that it works
(somewhat) in a resolution I cannot check.

John, I thought I couldn't use the VDI.  Do I just open a workstation in the
init routine, store the returned info, and then close it?

It really feels strange to accually have a program I wrote on GEine and have
to support it.

Scott  (it case your wondering, I go by Scott because my father's name is also
Timothy Davis, different middle names of course);)

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 187       Mon Jun 21, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 01:08 EDT

Scott,

Yes, in the init_module routine you can use VDI.  But it's a lot easier to
just use line A:

      dc.w   $A000
      move   (a0),planes
      move   -4(a0),vert_res
      move   -12(a0),horiz_res

That's all there is to it.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 188       Mon Jun 21, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 10:19 EDT

The new Wrap EOS module suffers from a spelling problem.  All the keywords say
Wrap, even Wrap (sic) 9, but the module calls itself Warp.  <grin>  I'd like
to see some stars stay slow all the way to the edge of the screen.  As it is,
it looks like we're flying through a "tube" of stars with none in the
distance.
 I don't know if Charles and John have posted the secrets of including the
"use alternate screen" option that you'll find in the later modules, but it's
a nice feature.
 BTW, a program called Sebra from ST Applications magazine makes an excellent
monochrome emulator.
 I really like the configuration options in this module.

 ===Tomas===
 June 21, 1993 @  7:14:15 am PDT



 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 189       Mon Jun 21, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 19:22 EDT

Hi everyone,

I'm starting to know what developer feel like. A little anyway.

John,
        After I wrote that less message, I went ahead and tried using VDI,
and, of course, it worked.  Wouldn't it be a bad idea to use line-A
considering Atari's statments about it?

Tomas,
        I definitely would not be surprised to hear that I misspelled
something:)  I am studing it be a engineer and the ability to spell doesn't
seem to be common amoung engineers.
        The routine does include depth.  I fact, the routine does everything
in 3-d coordinates.  The 3-d coordinates are just tranlated to 2-d before they
are displayed.  I thing just increasing the size of the "tude" will give the
effect you want.  I would also like to add a slider to the config dialog to
allow you to ajust the perspective constant.
        I am not sure exactly what the alternate screen option does? I'll
added it if I can figure it out.  I will download Sebra tonight. I'm not sure
it will work though since I draw directly to the screen.

Scott
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 190       Mon Jun 21, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 21:08 EST

 >> BTW, a program called Sebra from ST Applications magazine makes   <<
  >>an excellent  monochrome emulator.                                 <<
   Tomas,
   I have also heard that Sebra is a great monochrome emulator,
 unfortunately, it refused to work at all on my machine.  Even booting
 from floppy with nothing else on the disk.  Go figure.  Monulator
 demo works great, and with my 16mhz machine is still almost 50%
 faster than a standard ST.  Now if I could just get the full package,
 rather than the demo...  Have the CodeHeads considered
 writing/marketing a good mono emulator?

  >>added it if I can figure it out.  I will download Sebra tonight.   <<
  >>I'm not sure  it will work though since I draw directly to the     <<
  >>screen.                                                            <<
    Scott,
    If Sebra doesn't work for you, try the 'monulator' demo.  Works
 fine for me.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 191       Mon Jun 21, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 22:04 EDT

Scott,

While, it's true that Atari has told us not to use Line A for future
compatibility, I've also found that 99% of what people use Line A for is still
being handled correctly, even in Falcon TOS.  We've tried to get Atari to tell
us exactly what part of Line A should not be used or to promise to maintain
certain parts of it, but they've been unresponsive.  I believe that it is
basically the Line A _calls_ that should not be used (although they all seem
to work, too, in instances where we've used them).

I suspect that Atari found too many compatibility problems would occur if they
totally eliminated Line A altogether, as some of the German color card drivers
have done.  It simply does not make sense to drop support completely for such
an important part of the operating system. There are some very basic variables
which will always be useful no matter how drastically video is changed.  For
instance, there will always a horizontal and a vertical screen resolution, as
well as an X and Y position of the mouse (even if a Z is later added), button
states, etc.  There's absolutely no reason for dropping this support in future
operating systems (other than laziness or incompetence).

I cannot advise you to go against Atari's word and use something they've told
you not to use.  All I can tell you is that many of our programs use Line A
(because Atari originally documented it and urged developers to use it) and we
will not denigrate the efficiency of these programs by removing all traces of
Line A until we see an ill effect or problem from its continued use.

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 192       Mon Jun 21, 1993
B.WILLIS3 [Bill]             at 22:35 EDT

Scott,
  It seems to work fine in TT medium resolution. Looks great. Thanks!
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 193       Tue Jun 22, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 00:35 EDT

Scott,
 You're doing a great job.  Don't be alarmed at the number of reports that
have come in.  People love the module or they wouldn't have comments.  John
did a some work on this type of effect a few months back but got diverted to
the MIDI Spy project.  I'm sure he's very happy to see this one!

 The alternate screen option keeps things like FujiWatch and DC Mouse Saver :-
) from poking through onto the module's screen.  Your Warp module doesn't seem
to suffer from this problem.  Also, Sebra won't help much with the dimming
stars effect because that is a fluke of the SM124.  Wrap works perfectly under
Sebra, BTW.  (So just forget I opened my big mouth. <g>)

 ===Tomas===
 June 21, 1993 @  9:20:43 pm PDT


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 194       Tue Jun 22, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 17:19 EDT


 >The alternate screen option keeps things like FujiWatch and DC Mouse
 >Saver :- ) from poking through onto the module's screen.

Also, the HOTWIRE clock.

However, I agree with Tomas, don't give up. It is great!


~~~~Brian ...   Written on Tuesday 22 June 1993 at 06:01 p.m. ADT

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 195       Tue Jun 22, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 18:24 EDT

Thanks for the incouragement.  There has definitly been alot of talk about my
module.  And very few if any major bug reports.  Most of you just would like
to see improvements.

I did try SeBra and it worked fine.  SeBra BTW is the best mono emulator I've
seen.  All the options the most emulator have you set at boot-up can be set on
the fly in SeBra.  Very Nice! I know I cannot use it to see the dimming effect
of the SM124 but I can use it to debug a new improvment.  I color resolutions,
I have the more distant stars colored light gray and the closer ones are
white.  This effect is of course lost in mono with v1.0, but v1.1 will
increase the size of the closer stars in mono. ( If I can get it to work :) )

Scott


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 196       Tue Jun 22, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 21:50 EDT

The Tempus II clock pokes through Warp, but aside from that, a very nice
module indeed.  Keep up the great work, Scott!

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 197       Tue Jun 22, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 23:44 EDT

Keep on working, Tim!

I'm ready to test v1.1!

Also, the alternate screen would help too.  My corner clock pokes through too.

 -Tom McComb
  {11:36 pm}  Tuesday, June 22, 1993


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 198       Wed Jun 23, 1993
J.GNIEWKOWSK [GE-Lamp ST]    at 00:02 EDT

Tomas,

I remember the 'dimming' problem on the 124, but the 147 has a similar problem
- the stars are just too danged tiny!  We need dome supernova sized suckers...

Scott,

This module is _SLICK_!  Thanks a million.

 John E. Gniewkowski
 Editor, GEnieLamp ST
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 199       Wed Jun 23, 1993
J.RENNER1 [Jim]              at 02:46 EDT

Neat saver, but i also have problems in TT medium res. Hope you can get access
to a TT cause i really want to use this.

Jim.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 200       Wed Jun 23, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 04:22 EDT

Right Brian.  Those pesky clocks!  <g>

 ===Tomas===
 June 23, 1993 @  1:16:20 am PDT


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 201       Wed Jun 23, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 07:07 EDT

Heck, I thought Wrap 9 was a cute pun!

Al

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 202       Wed Jun 23, 1993
J.EIDSVOOG1 [CodeHead]       at 11:45 EDT

Brian,

The HotWire clock should never poke through into an Extend-O-Save module
because Warp 9 turns it off before calling the module.  (It's one of the many
advantages of using HotWire).  If it's peeking through, then there's a
problem.

Scott,

If you increase the size of the closer stars, it may go a long way toward
eliminated the fading problem on a mono monitor.  The fading is caused by the
lowering of the overall illumination level so if some of the stars are
brighter and there are enough of them, the smaller ones may not dim either.

The Alternate Screen option is this:  For modules that write directly to the
screen, you would change the _physical_ screen address and write directly to
it.  Then if other programs are doing normal graphics while the screen saver
is kicked in (like FujiWatch or some clocks), their graphics will be drawn to
the hidden _logical_ screen and will not interfere with the visual display.
Your kickout routine would then be to simply set the physical address back to
the logical screen and you don't have to copy the screen to restore it -- it's
already restored (and perhaps even more up-to-date).

John
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 203       Wed Jun 23, 1993
T.DAVIS36 [Scott]            at 19:49 EDT

Alright, this is what I got so far.  I've added the ability to change to
perspective.  This will allow you to adjust the "tube" of stars to your
liking.  I have also changed the drawing routine to draw a 1x2 distant star
and a 2x2 closer star like:

       X  distant                 XX  close
       X                          XX

This happens only in monochrome resolutions.

I will work on add the alternate screen option, but I think it would be easier
just to change the physical screen and write to it without allowing any other
options, thus solving the problem with adding an option.  Is there a problem
with this idea John?

As far as the incompatibility in TTMed, I don't have a clue. Hopefully it will
be fix by the changes I'm making for the other stuff.

I'm well on track for releasing v1.1 this weekend :)

Scott

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 204       Wed Jun 23, 1993
CODEHEAD [Charles]           at 21:21 EDT

Scott,

  I've been pretty busy lately and haven't had a chance to check out your EOS
module until today, but it's very cool -- nice job!

  >> I think it would be easier just to change the physical screen and
  >> write to it without allowing any other options, thus solving the
  >> problem with adding an option.

  The trouble with this approach is that there are some video boards out there
that do not allow switching of their screen base; they always use the logical
screen (pointed at video memory on the board), and if you try to change the
physical screen with Setscreen(), there's no effect.  The board for the
Moniterm 19" monitor is one such beast; I think there are others.  I guess
it's up to you whether you think it's worth the trouble to add the option --
but I know Moniterm owners (of which I am one!) would thank you.  :)

  I missed exactly what the problem was in TT medium, but one thing to watch
out for is that the screen size in that resolution is quite large; make sure
you don't have any shorts or ints overflowing in a calculation somewhere.
It's a good idea to always use longs to do integer math related to screen
displays.

- Charles @ CodeHead Tech

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 205       Wed Jun 23, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 23:22 EST

 >>  If you increase the size of the closer stars, it may go a long   <<
  >>way toward  eliminated the fading problem on a mono monitor.  The  <<
  >>fading is caused by the                                            <<
   Seems to me the effect would look more realistic, too.


 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 206       Thu Jun 24, 1993
BRIAN.H [ST~SysOp]           at 00:57 EDT

HOTWIRE is the only clock I use.


~~~~Brian ...   Written on Wednesday 23 June 1993 at 11:24 p.m. ADT

 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 207       Thu Jun 24, 1993
B.WILLIS3 [Bill]             at 01:16 EDT

Jim,
  What problem are you having using the module in TT medium rez? It's working
fine for me.
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 208       Thu Jun 24, 1993
C.OINES1 [Chazz]             at 07:20 EDT

I recall seeing a starfield saver on the Mac a long, long time ago. After a
few minutes of watching it, a star appeared in the exact center. As it came
closer, it quickly grew into a smiley face and then disappeared...
 ------------
Category 32,  Topic 33
Message 209       Thu Jun 24, 1993
OUTRIDER [Terry]             at 10:22 EDT

Maybe instead of a smiley face, a Fuji logo.  :^)

     __
     /erry .\\ay

 ------------