Mandala

                 An Extend-O-Save Module for Warp 9

                    ½ 1993 CodeHead Technologies
                 By John Eidsvoog & Oliver Broadway


Mandala requires Warp 9.  This module is freeware from CodeHead
Technologies and works in all resolutions on all monitors.  The idea for
the Mandala Extend-O-Save module came from a program called MANDALA.TOS,
by Oliver Broadway.  It produces random kaleidoscopic patterns in an
infinitely changing series of graphical movement.  MANDALA.TOS worked only
in ST High Resolution.  Some major additions and changes were made to
facilitate color and run in all resolutions. 


Configuration Options
---------------------

Mandala maintains four different setups, depending on the type of monitor
you're using.  The monitor types are as follows:

      ST Color
      ST Mono
      TT Color
      Big Mono

One of these four types will be shown at the top of the options
dialog box.  On an ST Color monitor, Mandala always switches to ST Low
resolution in order to give you 16 colors for more interesting patterns. 
On a TT Color monitor, the display will always appear in TT Medium
resolution (even if you are currently in ST High).  This provides 16
colors, with a 640 x 480 resolution. 


Size:
-----

There are four sizes available.  Due to the way that Mandala creates its
graphics, these sizes are multiples of each other.  Each size is twice the
size of the one before it.  In its natural state (size 2), Mandala is
contained within a six-point star shape.  As larger sizes are selected, it
fills the screen and the pattern is clipped. 


Colors:
-------

You can choose to use Mandala's internal colors or your current palette. 
Selecting "Ext." (External) causes Mandala to use your existing colors,
with the exception that color number zero (the background color) is set
to black.  This allows you to open up the Atari Control Panel, adjust the
colors, and view the results by moving the mouse to the "Fade Now" corner. 

Note that if you are using Warp 9 to display an ST Medium background
picture, you may only see four colors in Mandala.  This is because most ST
Medium resolution pictures (like Degas) contain zeroes for the 12 unused
colors.  One way to avoid this problem is to use a disk editor to edit the
colors in the picture file.  The color palette is stored as 16 2-byte
words beginning with the third byte in the file.

Another way to avoid the problem is to select "Int." (Internal).  This
will cause Mandala to use its own internal palette.

When Mandal installs, it will also look for a file called MANDALA.PAL in
the same directory which contains MANDALA.EXT.  If it finds such a file,
it will load the palette, assuming the format of a Degas Elite picture
(PI1, PC1, PI2, PC2, PI3, or PC3).  Mandala will load the 32-byte palette
starting with the third byte of the file.  This allows you to use the
palette of a picture that you like by renaming the file to MANDALA.PAL. 

This package also includes a number of palette files (34 bytes in length)
with descriptive names (like BLUES.PAL).  You can rename any of these
files to MANDALA.PAL to cause Mandala to load and use them.  You can also
use a disk editor to modify any of the colors if you feel so inclined. 
You must select "Int." in order to use the palette loading feature. 


Speed:
------

The speed box contains a short vertical line which denotes the current
speed setting.  You can click anywhere in the speed box to set a different
speed, or you can drag the mouse within the box.  There are 16 relative
speeds to choose from.  Depending on the speed of your computer and the
color resolution you're using, Mandala will generate its images at
different speeds. 

NOTE:  If you set the speed to a fast setting, Mandala may pause briefly
before restoring the screen when you move the mouse or hit a key.  You can
avoid this by using a slightly slower setting, which may not actually be
perceivably slower.


OK / Save / Cancel:
-------------------

Any of these buttons will exit the Options box.  If you click on Cancel,
none of the changes you make will take effect.  If you click on OK, the
changes will take effect.  If you click on Save, the changes you've made
will be saved permanently into Mandala.  Do not rename (or compress)
MANDALA.EXT or you will be unable to save your settings.  You cannot test
your changes to the options by moving to the Fade Now corner until you
exit the Options box with OK or Save.


Enjoy!