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GGGRAPH.DOC
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1991-04-09
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GGGraph 0.99... Copyright (c) 1991 by John Morris
What is GGGraph?
----------------
GGGraph is what is typically called a 'graphics shell' program which can
receive special character sequences and turn them into graphics commands.
GGGraph is not application-specific, but currently only works with TW2. TW2
release 11.10 was designed to use GGGraphs special graphics capabilities
to produce real graphics, along with ANSI graphics. Because GGGraph isn't
application-specific, you will not need to update GGGraph if TW2's graphics
commands change. You simply replace the old graphics command file with a new
one.
GGGraph has a specific set of functions it can run. The door programmer
simply has to create a command file (???.CMD) which tells GGGraph which
graphics commands to run when a certain sequence is sent thru the modem.
Two different door programs could theoretically send graphics sequence '1'
and GGGraph would produce two different results, depending on the CMD file.
In this way GGGraph could be used to see graphics by several different
doors by loading a different command file for each door.
Since the graphic sequences are only 2 bytes in length, the graphics
commands occur quite rapidly (No screen should take longer than 2 or 3
seconds to be drawn, and that's at 300 bps!).
What is required to run GGGraph?
--------------------------------
Since GGGraph will produce 'real' graphics, it uses video mode 16, which
is 640x350 with 16 colors. This mode is available on EGA, and VGA adapters
only. You MUST have an EGA, or VGA to run GGGraph.
A connection with the remote modem using the parameters: No parity, 8 data
bits, and 1 stop bit is required! This is because GGGraph uses a binary type
code to send the two-byte graphics commands. One byte must have a range of
0 to 255, so you must have 8 data bits.
GGGraph command line parameters
-------------------------------
GGGraph currently supports these command line parameters:
[option] -- Please note, items in double brackets are optional.
/Bxxx Sets the bps rate for use by GGGraph. /B2400 sets the bps rate
at 2400
/Cx[,ww,yy,zz] Set the communications port. /C1 means use COM1
GGGraph has defaults to:
COM1 - UART Base: 0x3f8 IRQ Mask: 0x10 Interrupt Vector: 12
COM2 - UART Base: 0x2f8 IRQ Mask: 0x08 Interrupt Vector: 11
For COM1 & 2 you can use 'short' form of the /C command
because the defaults are built in for them.
If you wish to use a port above COM2, you need to use the
long form of the /C command: /Cx,ww,yy,zz
x - The com port number. You must use a number above 2
to enable the long form of the /C command. The com port
number isn't really important. You can use the number
3 in any situation. What GGGraph really needs to know
are the following numbers.
ww - UART Base address (in hexadecimal format)
yy - IRQ Mask (in hexadecimal format)
zz - Interrupt Vector (in decimal format)
/Ffilename.ext Loads in a specific CMD file. If you don't use the /F
command then GGGraph will load TW2.CMD as the default.
If you use the /F command, you must give the complete
filename and extension. GGGraph will not run without a
CMD file loaded.
/N If you have a 16550A UART chip, you can use this command to
tell GGGraph NOT to use the FIFO buffers in the chip.
/S Tells GGGraph that it is okay to use sound. Using the speaker
in some situations isn't always good, so by default, sound
is OFF.
Examples:
GGGRAPH /B19200 /C2
This command sets the bps rate at 19200,N,8,1 on COM2
GGGRAPH /B1200 /C1 /S
means use COM1 at 1200,N,8,1, and it's okay to use the speaker
GGGRAPH /B115200 /C3,0x2e0,0x10,12 /N
means use COM3 where the UARTs base address is 0x2e0, and IRQ mask of 0x10,
an interrupt vector of 12, and don't use the 16550 FIFO buffers. Set the bps
rate at 115200,N,8,1.
Files that come with GGGraph
----------------------------
GGGraph comes with several files. 5 of them are TW2 11.10 specific. They are:
CLASS?.DAT, and TW2.CMD You must have these files in the current directory
if you are running GGGraph with TW2. To turn your graphics on or off in TW2
release 11.10 (and up) use the 'O' command at the 'TW2 Command?' prompt.
Non-specific files include GGGRAPH.DOC (this file), and MODERN.FON (font
file).
Commands available in GGGraph
-----------------------------
There are two basic commands available once you are inside GGGraph.
Alt-C Clears the screen not usually needed in graphics mode, as the
remote door program will clear the screen quite often.
Alt-S Toggles the speaker on/off. The remote end must be able to send
sound commands to GGGraph. (also see the /S command line switch)
Alt-X Exit GGGraph
What I use to make GGGraph
--------------------------
GGGraph started out as 'GSHELL' in late '89. I was then using Microsoft
C 5.1 to do my compiling.. but for some reason C5.1 couldn't compile the
GSHELL code.. An 'Internal Compiler Error' of all things popped up when
I tried to compile GSHELL. QuickC 2.0 compiled it fine.. but it didn't
support the memory models I needed.. so GSHELL was put on the back-burner
till I could get time to work on it again.. this time as GGGraph.
GGGraph is compiled with Microsoft C 6.00A, and uses Microsofts graphics
library.
For communications, I switched from a FOSSIL/Greenleaf CommLib combo to
the shareware MCOMM library by Mike Dumdei. I had used Mike's ANSIDRV
routines in TW2 for about a year, liked them, so I am trying the whole
MCOMM package out for the first time with GGGraph.
For sound, GGGraph uses my own little creation called Muzak which uses
a macro language very similar to BASIC's PLAY statement. Muzak is
written in C, and uses 'in-line assembly' liberally. Like the graphics
commands, Muzak gets the macro strings from the command (.CMD) file.