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- SpecialFX 1.04
- ==============
-
- by David Pilling
-
- with SpecialFX Setup by Richard Hallas
-
- --------------------------------------
-
-
- ************************************************************
- *** ***
- *** This is an ABRIDGED help file providing installation ***
- *** instructions. For full information, refer to the ***
- *** !Help file within the !SpecialFX application ***
- *** ***
- ************************************************************
-
-
- SpecialFX is a desktop enhancement module which provides three
- basic functions:
-
- 1. SpecialFX causes calls to the Draw module to be redirected
- to Computer Concepts' GDraw module, thus providing an
- anti-aliased display.
-
- 2. SpecialFX causes outline font painting operations to be
- performed with background blending.
-
- 3. SpecialFX can cause all printing to occur from low memory
- in applications which use dynamic areas. This provides a
- work-around for a problem in certain printer drivers, such
- as those for Calligraph direct drive laser printers, which
- do not work correctly with particular applications.
-
-
- Installation
- ============
-
- IMPORTANT: be sure to read the note below concerning
- additional support modules.
-
- If you have been using version 1.00 of SpecialFX, it is
- recommended that you delete it from your system to avoid
- problems, as the way in which SpecialFX is structured has
- changed significantly. However, if you have edited the
- SpecialFX choices, you may retain your changes. To do so,
- simply run SFXSetup (it will tell you that your version 1.00
- choices have been imported) and click Save. Then delete your
- old copy of SpecialFX.
-
- SpecialFX 1.04 consists of two components: the module itself
- and a configuration tool. These should be installed as
- follows:
-
- - !SpecialFX
-
- This is the resource application containing the SpecialFX
- module. It should be kept in the !Boot.Resources directory
- on all systems, regardless of the operating system version.
-
- - !SFXSetup
-
- SpecialFX Setup is compatible with RISC OS Configure, so on
- on a RISC OS 4, RISC OS Select or RISC OS 5 machine it is
- recommended that it should be kept within the Configure
- application. However, it may be used independently of
- Configure and hence may be stored anywhere convenient.
-
-
- Installing !SFXSetup in Configure
- =================================
-
- (You only need to follow these instructions if you wish to
- use !SFXSetup as a Configure plug-in.)
-
- If you are using a recent version of RISC OS (as supplied on
- a RISC OS Select CD, for example), the SpecialFX components
- may already have been pre-installed on your system. If not,
- proceed as follows:
-
- RISC OS 3.5, 3.6 or 3.7
- -----------------------
-
- !SFXSetup must be used as a stand-alone utility because
- RISC OS 3 Configure does not support plug-ins. Store !SFXSetup
- anywhere you wish on your hard disc.
-
- RISC OS 4.0x
- ------------
-
- If you are using RISC OS version 4.0x, you will need to copy
- !SFXSetup into the !Boot.RO400Hook.Res.Configure directory in
- order to install it into Configure.
-
- RISC OS 4.2+
- ------------
-
- If you are using RISC OS Select (RISC OS 4.2x or later),
- simply drag !SFXSetup into the Configure>Extensions
- window to install it into that group. Configure will place a
- copy in an appropriate place on your hard drive by itself.
-
- If you are using the initial Web-download version of Select
- (RISC OS 4.24), you will need to copy the supplied !ExtnSetup
- application (which can be found in the Extras directory) into
- !Boot.RO420Hook.Res.Configure, and then copy !SFXSetup into
- the newly-installed !ExtnSetup.
-
- RISC OS 5.0x
- ------------
-
- If you are using RISC OS version 5.0x, you will need to copy
- !SFXSetup into the !Boot.RO500Hook.Res.Configure directory in
- order to install it into Configure.
-
- Optional step: RISC OS 4.0/Select/5 Configure
- ---------------------------------------------
-
- The versions of Configure supplied with RISC OS 4.0x, RISC OS
- Select and RISC OS 5 all have different sprite styles for the
- plug-ins. RISC OS 4.0 uses jigsaw-puzzle icons; RISC OS Select
- uses more refined-looking jigsaw-puzzle icons (with elongated
- lugs); RISC OS 5 uses icons without jigsaw puzzle borders.
-
- Unfortunately, there is no way to make a Configure plug-in
- adapt its Configure icon for the version of Configure
- currently in use. As supplied, SFXSetup has RISC OS 5-style
- icons preinstalled.
-
- So, to make SFXSetup match the appearance of your other
- plug-ins, as an extra step you can install appropriate icons
- for your version of RISC OS. Look in the Extras directory; it
- contains "RISC OS 4", "RISC OS 4S" (i.e. RISC OS Select: 4.2
- or later versions) and "RISC OS 5" folders. Open the folder
- relating to the OS installed on your machine and drag the
- copy of SFXSetup that you find there over the copy that you
- have already installed on your own hard disc. This will update
- the sprites inside it to match your system.
-
- (The RISC OS 5 directory is supplied for completeness: the
- sprites in its copy of SFXSetup are identical to those stored
- in the 'main' copy.)
-
- Then...
- -------
-
- Once the two applications have been installed in appropriate
- locations, run the SpecialFX Setup tool and ensure that the
- 'Always load SpecialFX' switch has been turned on. This will
- cause the SpecialFX module to be loaded whenever the computer
- is booted up.
-
-
- Note on additional support modules
- ==================================
-
- For anti-aliasing to work, both the GDraw and DitherExtend
- modules must be loaded. It is also beneficial for a third
- module, GSpriteExtend, to be loaded, though this is not an
- essential requirement. These support modules are provided by
- various Computer Concepts products, such as the Impression DTP
- family and ArtWorks, but their primary source on modern
- systems is now the ArtWorks Viewer (AWViewer) program.
-
- When SpecialFX is run, the computer attempts to load these
- modules (if they're not present already) from one of the usual
- locations; primaryly AWViewer, followed by CCShared (which may
- be present inside the System application).
-
- It is strongly recommended that all users should install a
- copy of AWViewer inside the !Boot.Resources directory. Modern
- systems (those running RISC OS Select or RISC OS 5) will have
- the software pre-installed in the right place as standard.
- Should you need to download your own copy of AWViewer from the
- Web, the latest version of AWViewer can be found here:
-
- <http://www.mw-software.com/software/awmodules/awrender.html>
-