DIAMOND¢by S.J.Murray.¢¢¢ In previous Diamond columns I have featured an interview with Alan Reeve, the creator of Diamond, and information on where to obtain his system. This time I will look at Diamond for the beginner.¢¢ The interview with Alan Reeve gave you an in-depth look at Diamond. For an alternative viewpoint you should read the review of Diamond GOS in Page 6 New Atari User Issue 44 (June/July 1990). This back issue is available from Page 6 (see InfoFile).¢¢DIAMOND FOR BEGINNERS¢¢ The basic Diamond GOS package consists of the Diamond super-cartridge, a disk of Diamond utilities, a user's manual, and a programmer's manual (the Diamond Programmer's Kit). As I mentioned in a previous issue of Futura, I have also added Diamond Write and Diamond Paint to my system. All were bought second-hand from a fellow Atarian (cheers Dave!). This issue I will look at the process of setting up Diamond with your own computer system, i.e. the process of configuration.¢¢DOS Configuration¢¢ On the disk of Diamond utilities you will find various programs to assist you in configuring Diamond to your own system. The first thing to sort out is your DOS (Disk Operating System). The utilities disk is in DOS 2.X format.¢¢ The default DOS for the Diamond cartridge is DOS XE. To change the DOS being used you must follow this procedure:¢¢(1) Format two disks using the DOS of your choice.¢¢(2) Copy all the files from the DOS 2.X Diamond utilities disk onto one of these disks and name it 'Back-Up Utilities Disk'. For more information on how to do this consult your DOS manual (or use Multi-File Copy II from Futura 3).¢¢(3) Write DOS to the other formatted disk and name it 'Start-Up Disk'.¢¢(4) Exit to Atari BASIC.¢¢(5) Insert your 'Back-Up Utilities Disk' and type RUN"D:DOSCONFG.BAS". You will now be presented with a list of the DOS types supported.¢¢(6) Insert your 'Start-Up Disk', choose your DOS from the list and press RETURN. Your configuration will now be written.¢¢¢Mouse Configuration¢¢ Diamond is pre-configured for an ST Mouse in port 1. If you have one, use it. If not, follow this procedure:¢¢(1) Boot-up Diamond with your 'Start-Up Disk' in drive #1.¢¢(2) Load CONFIGUR.APP from your 'Back-Up Utilities Disk'. To load a program from Diamond you must move the pointer over to Drive A, double-click (quickly press the mouse-button twice) on it so that a window opens with a directory of files, and then double-click on the filename (CONFIGUR.APP) in the window. If you don't own an ST-mouse you can move the pointer with your keyboard arrow keys and double-click with the space-bar.¢¢(3) After loading CONFIGUR.APP, select 'Load Mouse Driver' from the menu. You will now be given a list of available mouse-drivers.¢¢(4) Select one of these drivers by double-clicking on it (e.g. JOYSTICK.DRV for a joystick).¢¢(5) Now select 'Save Configuration' and your new driver will be written to your 'Start-Up Disk'.¢¢¢Mouse Click Time & Port Number¢¢ You can also set the 'Mouse Click Time' and 'Port Number' by using CONFIGUR.APP. Click time is the delay inbetween presses of the mouse button. It is listed in jiffies (1/60th of a second) with a default of 12. To slow down the speed of double-clicking simply increase this default value.¢¢ The port number is the joystick port that your chosen input device is plugged into. Default is Port #1.¢¢¢Memory Configuration¢¢ The memory driver is described in the Diamond User's Manual as, "among the most powerful and complicated features of Diamond". This is because it allows access to a maximum of 16 MB of memory. You can configure the memory driver to your own system by using CONFIGUR.APP.¢¢¢Go For It!¢¢ Now that you have configured Diamond to your 8-bit system you are ready to explore the wonderful world of a Graphic Operating System (GOS). In the next Diamond column I will look at using a GOS. Till then, happy Diamond-mining!¢¢¢S.J.Murray,¢North Of Scotland Atari User Group.¢
