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@AUTHOR "Thomas Landspurg"
## $VER: SuperDark.guide v1.4 (20.3.93)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main "SuperDark"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SuperDark
'Introduction'
'Installation'
'Utilization'
'Configuration'
'Modules'
'Improvement'
'Bug report'
'History'
'Address'
'Thanks to...'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction "Introduction"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Toc "Main"
What is SuperDark?
SuperDark is a Screen Blanker...Yet another one, but this has some
special features. It's based on the well-known program called
AfterDark for the PC and Macintosh World.
SuperDark_1.3, the version of SuperDark for Workbench 1.3 and 1.2,
is no longer supported. Get WB2.0!
Some characteristics:
- Many different effects (only one effect is loaded in
memory at a given time) examples:
o FireWorks,
o Flying Toaster,
o ASWarm,
o Classic ones like "Clock","Mistify",...
o More originals like Music, Shufffle, Spot,...
o etc...
- Password protected Screen Locking
- Immediate blanking
- Font sensitive
- Greatly improved since V1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation "Installation"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation
------------
To install SuperDark, just put the SuperDark directory somewhere on your hard
disk, and put the SuperDark program in your WBStartup drawer.
Then run superdark -- but don't forget to put the name of the directory where
all the blankers modules are into the DARK DIRECTORY string gadget. If all is
correct, you should now see a list with different modules in the main
configuration window.
If nothing happens, maybe SuperDark is running and the main configuration
window is closed. To open it, just run SuperDark a second time or press the
"hotkey" (look 'Configuration').
You can also open the window using your Workbench's "commodities exchange":
Select SuperDark and press the 'show' gadget.
Note: SuperDark uses reqtools.library if present, and especially the screen
format requester, only available with reqtools V38 or higher...
Note 2: SuperDark needs WB2.0 or higher
Tips:
- If you've put superdark in your WBStartup, and if there is this requestor
after reboot: "SuperDark not yet returned, keep waiting?" or something like
that, just add the ToolType DONOTWAIT in the .info of superdark.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utilization "Utilization"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
II Utilization
--------------
To modify the parameters, press the key <left shift> and the key <f3> -- a
window will appear...the explanation will be given next chapter Note: if you
start another SuperDark while another is running, the new program will exit,
but it will tell the older SuperDark to open its configuration window.
Immediate blanking: If you press the <left shift> key and the <f4> key at
the same time, there will be an 'immediate blanking', This means that the
screen will be instantly be blanked.
You can also put the mouse in the lower left corner of the screen to
blank the screen after 2 seconds.
If you put your mouse in the lower right corner of the screen,
the screen will never blank.
If don't touch your computer for some time (depending of the configuration)
it will be automatically go to a 'blanking state'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Configuration "Configuration"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 The main window configuration:
----------------------------------------------------------
| __________________ __ |
| | | | | SD V1.4 |
| | | | | |
| | 'modules' | | | |
| | | | | 'Smallmem' |
| | | | | |
| |__________________| 'Tempo' |__| |
| 'Topaz' |
| 'Param' Quiet '' |
| _____________________ |
| 'Dark directory' |_____________________| |
| _____________________ |
| 'CxPopkey' |_____________________| 'TaskPri' |
| _____________________ |
| 'Blankkey' |_____________________| |
| ____________ |
| Lock '' 'PassWord' |____________| |
| |
| |
| 'Remove' 'Save' ' Help ' ' Hide ' |
---------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DARKDIR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dark directory:
The first important thing in this window, is the 'SuperDark directory'. It's
the place where superdark will look for his blanking modules. So, if you see
nothing in the Modules list, fill the SuperDark directory with the correct
place where you've put the modules.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CXPOPKEY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You put in this gadget the hotkey used to open this window. This is a standart
Amigados 2.x key description, like "shift f2", or "ctrl f1", or
"left shift ctrl a".
Default is "shift f3"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLANKKEY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the gadget where you put the defintition of the hotkey used to make
an immediate blanking. Like the Cxpopkey, it's a standart amigados key
definition. But do not use the same hotkey than cxpopkey!
Default is "shift f4"
Note that you can also make an immediate blanking by moving your mouse
the lower left corner of the screen.
If you want to disable screen blanking, just move your mouse to the
lower right corner of your screen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MODMAIN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the modules list, you must see the superdark modules (like firework, effets,
ramdom,...).If no, look at the Dar directory paragraph!. With this list you
select the module that you eant to be active during the blanking. The current
selection is show at the bottom of the list.
Look at:'Modules'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PARAM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Param:
This button open the configuration window of the selected module.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tempo:
This slider gadget allows you to choose the inactivity time of the blanker, in
seconds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUIET
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quiet:
This little checkbox just tell SuperDark not to show the little window
when started, the window with: "SuperDark Started,....."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCK
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lock:
If you select this checkbox, a passwd will be asked after each blanking of
the screen. Example: you go somewhere else, but you don't want your computer
be used by someone else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PASSWORD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This gadget allow you to enter the password used to unlock the screen. Note
that the 'LOCK' gadget must be 'on' to use the password features.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TASKPRI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This slider allow you to change the priority of the blanking task. By default,
this priority is zero, but you can put it to a lower value, so the blanker
won't still any precious CPU time to the other task running at this time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOPAZ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topaz:
SuperDark can use default system font, or use a normal topaz 8 font. I
use this because sometime default fonts are too big, so I can just go
back to a small font quickly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMALLMEM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SmallMem:
This gadget allow you to choose if you want the module to be loaded only
during the blanking period. This use less memory when the blanker is
not used, but take a little bit to re-load the module each time, especally
with disk drive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PASSWD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passwd:
This gadget allow you to enter the Passwd needed to Unlock Screen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMOVE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove:
If you press this button, SuperDark will be removed (it will exit)...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save:
To Save the current parameters of SuperDark and the Random module.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help:
This will shows you a little information window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIDE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hide:
This button will close this configuration window. If you want to open
it again, just press <left Shift> and <F3> (or the CxPopkey you've defined) .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2 Blankings Modules
Note:
All the parameter window of the blanking module have the four following
buttons:
OK: to close the parameters window and to save configuration
TEST: to test the effect.
CANCEL:to close the parameter window, without saving configuration.
INFO: to have some information on this effect.
'Anim' 'Line' 'Slide show'
'ARexx' 'Line2' 'Spot'
'ASWarm' 'Melt' 'Star'
'Effets' 'Mistify' 'Text'
'FireWork' 'Music' 'Time'
'FracBlank' 'Plasma' 'Random'
'FlyingToaster' 'Plasma Cycle'
You can easyly add or remove modules, even when superdark is running.
May be you don't like the module "music", so you just can erease it using
your favorite disk tool, and then just select the "dark directory" field,
press return and the module list will be updated.
If you want to add new module, it's the same kind of operation, just
put new modules in the dark directory, select the dark directory string
gadget and presse return....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3d "3d"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.1 3d
This effect show you a 3d Object moving on the screen. That's all for
the moment, but this effect is still in developpement to be more attractive!
Note: that effect was called 'anim', but 3d is a most apropriate name!
* Medium cpu-user.
* small memory-user.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
anim "anim"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This module show IFF animations, but be careful, AND READ THIS:
- This module call an external anim player. I use mugiff, but you can
use the player you want, BUT THIS PLAYER SHOULD EXIT AFTER A CTRL-C
SIGNAL!!! PP_anim DON'T EXIT AFTER A CTRL-C, so DO NOT USE PP_ANIM!
Use MugIFF, it's small, and fine to use.
- Do not put more than one filemame in the file requester....If you
do this, the anim player will never exit!
- And at least, this I put this module in this distribution, but I'm not
shure that it will work perfectly....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARexx "Arexx"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.2 ARexx
This effect allow you to send an ARexx command at the beginning of the
blank, and another command at the end of the blanking period. This allow you
to start for example a music program, paint program or custom program during
blanking. I'am sure that a lot of poeple will find good idea for this effect!
AREXXPORT: This is the name of the ARexx port where the ARexx command are send.
CMD: This is the command send at the beginning of the blank.
ENDCMD: This is the command send at the end of the blank.
* Small CPU-Usage
* Small Memory-Usage.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASWarm "ASWarm"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.3 ASWarm
This module show you little things moving on screen....Just look at it
to understand! It's based on a Sun effect's, and it was made by Markus Illenser
and Matthias Scheler for another blanker.
SPEED=[Slow motion | Very Slow | Slow | Normal | Fast | Very Fast | Incredible ]
WASPS=[1-10] number of Wasps!
BEES=[1-500] number of bees!
TIGHTNESS=[1-10]
COLOR CYCLING=[ON|OFF]
AIM MODE=[ON|OFF]
* Medium to big cpu-user
* Small cpu-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effets "Effets"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.4 Effets
This in fact three different effects. But all these three effects have
been described in an old issue of the scientific america.
TYPE= [ INTERFERENCES | DRAGON | FRAC EFFECT | RANDOM ]
DUREE= [ 50-100]
* Big cpu-user
* Medium memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FireWork "FireWork"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.5 FireWork
This effect show you a FireWork on your screen....
* Big cpu-user
* Medium memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FlyingToaster
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.xx FlyingToaster
This effect seems to be greatly inspired from the well now AfterDark.
I've take the code from a PD ScreenBlanker, FlyingToaster, from xxx
* Medium CPU-user
* Medium meory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fracblank
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.6 Fracblank
Adapted from .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Line
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.7 Line
The screen will slowly disappears under the lines....
* Small cpu-user
* Medium cpu-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Line2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.8 Line2
This effect will show you multicolored lines...You can choose the number
of lines, their speed, etc....
* Big cpu-user
* Medium memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.9 Melt
Very nice effect! The current screen is suddenly moving in a very particular
manner...Look at this one!
Three type of effects are available:type1,type2,type3 (not very clear...)
* Medium cpu-user
* Medium cpu-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mistify
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.10 Mistify
Draw moving line on screen, once again...Based on the Window's effect...
NUMBERS=[1-3]
SPEED =[1-10]
* Medium to Big cpu-user
* Medim memory-usage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.10 Music
This effect is based on my old demo named "The PoiPoi". Four little guys
move with music, while PoiPoi musicians are playing the music...
You can select wich SoundTracker or protracker module to play, by
selecting it's name in the "Module" string gadget (sorry, no requester for
the moment).
Each of the musician have one or mor instrument assigned to him. Example,
right drummer can play instrument number 5,9 and 15. YOu can see the name
of the instrument by pressing the Instr. button. So you can easyly now witch
voice is playing wich instrument.
If the module can't find your module, or if the selected file is not a
protracker/stk module, a default module will be played (mod.wizardy).
Try this effect....Really nice!
MODULE=<name of the file to be played>
VOICE [1..32]=[0..5]
* Medium cpu-user
* Medim memory-usage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plasma
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.11 Plasma
This effect is based on plasma effect from the demos. But it's not a
perfect programming, so there must be some problems on some Amiga...
* Big cpu-user
* Big Memory-usage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plasma_Cycle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.xx Plasma_cycle
This effect also make plasma, but using a standarts bitmap after
cycle the colormap, so it must look nice...
* Big cpu-user
* Medium Memory-usage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shuffle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.12 Shuffle
Based on a blanking effect from the XSB program...
SPEED=[SLOW | MEDIUM | FAST | VERY FAST ]
* Small cpu-user
* Medium memory-usage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slide-show
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.13 Slide-Show
Rem: This effect is only available in WB2.0 or higher....
This effect allow you to make a slide show of your picture during blanking.
Useful if you are a gfx artist!
Some explanation:
You must select wich pictures are shown during blanking by pressing the
'Add' buttonm and then select the picture you want. Delete will remove the
selected filename in the list of the pictures.
Show will show you the selected picture during a few seconds.
NEW: Slide show now use WB3.0 datatypes. So if you have the good datatype,
SLide show use it, and can show any kind of image. If you don't have
datatypes, or if he seems that he can't use it, slide show use his old
IFF screen loader :-( .
Note: The list of the filename will be saved in the file s:slide-show.cfg
You can modify this file yourself if you want.
* Small cpu-user
* Medium to big memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
spot
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.x Spot
One or more spots will highlight the screen. If the module can
open a screen of one or more bitplanes than the actual one, you can change
the luminosity of the background.
You will see the real screen in the spot (I mean that if something
happens, something move in the screen, you'll see this in the spots).
SIZE = [1-80]
SPEED = [1-10]
NUMBER = [1-5]
DOUBLEBUFFER=[TRUE|FALSE] You can use or not dble buffer, but not in all the
cases.
SHADOW = [0-90] Percentage of luminosity for the background
* Medium Cpu-user
* Medium Memory-User
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Star
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.14 Star
This effect will show you a Starfield in your screen. You can change
number of stars and their speed.
STARS NUMBER=[10-150]
SPEED =[1-10]
* Big cpu-user
* Medimu memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Text
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Text
Not a very original effect, but evrybody need this one some days.
Just write a little text on your screen, and you can choose resolution screen
and screen font.
TEXT=<your text>
FONTS=<font used> (don't modify it from .info)
SCREEN=<screen used> (don't modify it from .info)
SPEEDX=[0..5]
SPEEDY=[0..5]
* Small to high cpu-user (dpend of the size font)
* Medium memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time
This effect show you a clock. You can choose three different clocks.
You can also choose the Font, but only for the digital Clock.
The Clock can move on your screen, if put something else than Zero
in the self-explaining fields SpeedX and SpeedY.
TYPE=[DIGITAL|NORMAL|MODERN]
SECONDS=[ON|OFF]
SPEEDX=0..6
SPEEDY=0..6
* Small cpu-user
* Medium memory-user
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random
This effect will choose randomly different other effects! You can
select the effect that you want to be 'choosable' in the selection list.
But if the All Checkbox is checked, all the effect are selectables!
The list of the selectables effects is saved in the file s:dark_random.cfg
NOTE:
----
The blankers modules are executales, so you can pack them with powerpacker
for instance!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Improvment "Improvment"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The future:
It would be nice to make a documentation in a correct english! :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------
More blankers, but also improve the old one.... They are now much more
better than the earlier one, but it's only little things, but this make
life easier for users.
o Idea of modules:
- Animation players (could have done using ppanim, but ppanim don't stop
after Ctrl-C....)
- "Look-like demos" modules...shaded bobs, plasma
- AGA specific modules
o Implementation of a Timeout, like in ASWarmIII, to prevent the blanker
to show only a 'static' image, because another program (like Raytracer) is
taking the whole CPU.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BugReport
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now bugs:
- bug with spot: Problem with interlace screen...(no crash,
but only look ugly)
Bug Report
Please, send me bug reports, or any information (idea, improvment,etc..)
I think there is some problems with A1200 or 4000, due to the DblPal mode..
I don't know a lot of this mode. If you have any information, or any problem
you know what to do!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History
01/01/93
v.09: -First version realised, on some BBS
30/01/93
v1.0: -Lot of bugs fixed, but a lot of bugs still here...
05/02/93
v1.1: - Crash if incorrect configuration fixed
- TaskPri control added
- "Mouse in the corner" functions
- New effect in line.dark
- New: Spot.dark
12/02/93
v1.2: - SuperDark for OS2.0 or higher is now a commodities
- Cx_popkey,and blankey can be modified
- Memory allocation error fixed in spot and anim
- New: Music.dark! GREAT...
- First version sent to FredFish and to BBS via SAN
25/02/93:
v1.21: - Bug fixed in module spot.dark: if the screen width was not a
multiple of 8 this cause a modulo problem...
- Bug fixed in the FireWork module, sometime the module never
exit.
- The 3d Amiga logo was in the wrong direction in the anim module
:-)
- French text removed in the effects and line 2 modules
- In overscan, Shuffle and line doesn't use the whole screen.
Corrected.
- Bug in slide-show: when the param window was opened the
first time, the file list wasn't correct. Fixed.
- The "Duree" field in the Random module was not correct. Fixed
- Source: I've finally got the last 2.0 includes files, and I've
changed my files to fit them. No more "convert.h" file.
08/03/93:
v1.22:
- New type of datas: IMAGE, and DATA_STRING
- choice of screen reolution in some modules, using reqtools
requester.
10/03/93:
v1.3:
- Pointer should now disappear...
- Bug fixed in Plasma (screen depth is now really zero )
- Music: Now music players should be visible in NTSC :-)
- Music: File selector (and wait...soon, more interesting things)
20/03/93:
v1.4
- Forgot to put UnLockPubScreen() ! Now fixed
- Look at the font size of window title bar.
- The famous Uppercase/Lowercase bug reported in Usenet
corrected. Now blankers modules are also recognise even
if they use uppercase letters.
- New type of data: FONT
- Bug removed in ASwarm if screen depth was less then 2 bitpl.
- Superdark_1.3 support stopped
- new: text.dark
25/03/93:
v1.4b
- Support for other fonts than topaz 8. (All interlace WB users
will be happy!)
- New features: choice between Topaz and default font
- New features and SmallMem
- Bug: I had also a famous _lock_ bug... forgot to UnLock()..
- bug: RemPort was used instead of DeletePort(), this cause some
bytes of mem to be lost...
- Fixed problem with mode who wanted a copy of workbench screen.
Now this copy look like the original WBench screen...
- UnLock screen is now in hires
- Changed place of a SetTaskPri, so now even if there is a high
CPU usage, you see the blanking module. But if there is
absolutly no CPU left, it could stop and not show anything...
next step: put a timeout and show a black screen...
27/03/93:
v1.5
- Size of superdark have been reduced from about 4k by writing
my own printf(using RawDoFmt of course, scanf, etc....
- Clock is now moving.
- Better look of the blanker in random mode...Last screen is
now taken as the current screen for effects like shuffle,melt...
- Also in random mode: all the selected effects are show once
No more seing twice the same effect, or never saw one..
- Music module is now in 4 bitplanes, instead of 5 before->
smaller, faster.
- GREAT (for me!): Slide show use WB3.0 datatypes, so now
is you have the good datatype, you can display any kind
of images, GIF,IFF,etc...
Now the slide show file requester can also use multiselection
05/04/93:
v1.5b
- The font requester is now the asl font requester, no more
the reqtools font req.
- Screen Mode requester, is now the ASL screenmode requester
if available (V38), or Reqtools screenmode req. if available.
- Use protos instead of CLIB -> smaller
- NEW: module anim (play animation, the old anim is renamed
to 3d)
11/04/93:
v.15c
- Correction of a bug in spot with WB3.0
- Main Window reorganisation, so all gadget are visible in NTSC
screen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adress
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact adress
Thomas LANDSPURG
9, Place Alexandre 1er
78000 VERSAILLES
FRANCE
FidoNet: 2:320/104.18
AMyNet: 39:180/1.18
UseNet: Thomas_Landspurg@ramses.gna.org
(better use UseNet...faster and seafer)
SuperDark may not be included with any commercial product nor may it be
sold for profit either separately or as part of a compilation without
my permission. It may be included in non-profit disk collections such as the
Fred Fish collection. It may be archived & uploaded to electronic bulletin
board systems as long as all files remain together & unaltered.
So you can use this program freely, but if you find it useful, just send
me a letter or postcard with your opinion,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Thanks:
Thanks to:
- Eric Delord, for his help!
- Frank Geider
- Per Jonsson
- Aeneas Verhe
- Chris Hurley
- Theodore A. Serreyn
- Peter Smets
- Carl Tashian