DesTerm V3.01 Release Notes Release notes for DesTerm v3.02 =============================== Contents: 1. Bug fixes since v3.01 2. About CMD partitions and directories (modified) 3. About VDC Settings See rel-301 for the previous release notes Bug fixes since v3.01 --------------------- - Saving files no longer crashes DesTerm (especially prefs.set) One section of the DesTerm code became a few bytes too large. Tiis caused the RS-232 routines to overwrite part of the code that dealt with saving files to be broken. DesTerm either crashed or saved an invalid file. The offending code has been streamlined. About CMD partitions and directories (modified) ----------------------------------------------- Notes: ====== - CMD define partition '0' as the 'currently selected' partition. - CMD define a filename with no path information as being in the 'currently selected' directory. Wheo DesTerm first loads its configuration files, it has no notion of the drive designations ('cos it hasn't loaded them yet). Thus, it relies on the fact that the 'current drive' and 'current directory' are set to where the configuration files can be found. The default configuration for all the drives ALSO sets the partition to '0' - since no assumptions about drive layout would be wise. As soon as the configuration file has been loaded, all of the drive definitions come inuo play. It is absolutely VITAL that the first thing that you do is to fully configure the various DesTerm drives to the proper partition and proper path. Then save these settings using 'Save Settings' in the 'User Settings' menu. The most common problem that people have reported when using CMD drives is due to the fact that they hadn't properly set the partition on the various drives that DesTerm supplies. For example: Drive A: (DesTerm Drive) 0: Drive B: (Download Drive) 2://downloads/ Drive C: (Upload Drive) 3://uploads/ Here, whenever drive B is accessed, partition 2 would be made the 'current partition'. When drive A is accessed, the partition and directory aren't changed (0 is the current partition, and no path). Thus, any configuration files saved by DesTerm will be put in the wrong place (and any of the DesTern modules won't be found). To correct the situation, A: shoubd be defined more fully: Drive A: (DesTerm Drive) 2://desterm/ If you wish to pick the 'root' directory of any particular partition, then it should be explicity set with '//'. About VDC Settings ------------------ DesTerm supports 8 screen lengths: 23, 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 52 and 62 lines (plus two for the status and ruler lines). The Commodore 128 usually generates 25 screen lines - the extra lines used by DesTerm use the VDC chip in a slightly expanded way. Different monitors react differently to the expanded number of lines. Atuempts have been made to supply a set of parameters that will work with most monitors - but users will most likely want to asdjust the parameters to exactly suit their system. There are two ways to adjust the picture: adjusting the monitor and adjusting the VDC settings. A mixture of both methods will probably work best. Most monitors have adjustment pots that allow the screen length and top offset to be adjusted. Minor adjustments here are easiest. Adjusting the screen to be slightly smaller and higher up on the display will allow DesTerm to display all its lines on the monitor (and will make only a small difference to the display on 'regular' 25-line programs). The second method is to adjust some of the timing values that the VDC sends. The SETUP program supplied with DesTerm allows limited modification of the VDC settings. Run the SETUP program and press 'V' to edit the VDC settings. The settings that relate to screen length are: Vert Total, Vest Total Adjust and Vert Sync Position. Modification of these three values should allow most monitors to display most modes. While the VDC editor program is running, the following keys have the following functions: 1 - switch to 25 line mode 2 - switch to 26 line mode 3 - switch to 27 line mode 4 - switch to 32 line mode (most monitors can't hack this mode) 5 - switch to 50 line mode 6 - switch to 52 line mode 7 - switch to 54 line mode 8 - switch to 64 line mode (most monitors can't hack this mode) R - Reverse the screen (acts as a toggle) useful for finding limits B - Changes to the next background colour - - Decrement the current register value + - Increment the current register value Up - Pick the previous register Down - Pick the next register L - Load the PREFS.SET from disk (use this to start-over) S - Save the PREFS.SET to disk (use this when you've finished editing) ESC - Reset all registers to the value they had before you started monkeying Q - Exit the VDC editor section of the program. NOTES: 1) This program can cause the VDC to send funky values to the monitor. Adjustment is not difficult, but be careful - leaving the monitor 'confused' for too long may cause permanent damage. 2) If you get into trouble, the ESC key should get you back to a viewable mode. 3) You can also play with various other settings - you may be able to get a more pleasing display. Just use a little caution. 4) The C128 Programmers Reference Guide is a useful book for VDC exploration. Page Contents last updated: 08-Jun-1998 This page and its contents ((C)) 1996-1998, Matthew E. Desmond