home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Archive Magazine 1996
/
ARCHIVE_96.iso
/
discs
/
mag_discs
/
volume_9
/
issue_12
/
welcome
/
!WelcomeA
/
!Help
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-10-02
|
5KB
|
183 lines
Documentation for WelcomeA, an alternative desktop welcome screen
Program and documentation are Copyright ⌐ Cy Booker 1993, 1994
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Requirements
============
RISC OS 3.00 or later
Knowledge of !Boot files
Risc PC users please see below
What's This
===========
This is a program that GENERATES a module. This module, will
provide an alterative "Desktop Welcome" screen. The standard
welcome screen is the one with all those fonts in it, you know,
the thing that made you save the font cache & load it in your
boot file :-)
Risc PC users
=============
With the advant of RISC OS 3.5 the boot sequence has been
radically altered, which affects the setting up and use of
WelcomeA significantly.
To install WelcomeA run !WelcomeA as per normal. This creates
a directory <Choices$Dir>.Boot.PreDesk.WelcomeA and places
various things in there.
This will cause the module to be loaded before the desktop is
started.
To `run' this now press CTRL-SHIFT-F12 and hit RETURN.
If you decide that you do not like WelcomeA then please run
the file !WelcomeA.RiscPC.DeInstall.
Please also read the Problems section below, particularly the
point about the 256 colour sprites.
One Second Guide
================
1. Run the application
2. Ignore the error message
3. CTRL-SHIFT-F12
4. RETURN
5. Read the documentation
Quick Guide
===========
0. If you have a Risc PC see your own section above
1. Alter your !Boot (*) file to include the line
RMEnsure WelcomeAnimate 1.10 RMLoad [path].!WelcomeA.Module
**BEFORE** the line that calls the desktop boot file.
Putting the above line in the DeskBoot file will NOT suffice
2. CTRL-SHIFT-F12
3. RETURN
4. Say "cor"
(*) See "About Boot Files" below
Not So Quick Guide
==================
1. Create a super spiffy sprite
2. Save this sprite as [path].!WelcomeA.Sprite
3. Run !WelcomeA.!Compile
4. Say "my, what a lot of flicker"
5. If you have a Risc PC then run !WelcomeA
6. CTRL-SHIFT-F12
7. RETURN
8. Say "that's more like it"
Bloody Long Guide
=================
1. Alter the values of the system variables set in the !Compile
script file so that the module is saved in !System.Modules
2. If you do NOT have a Risc PC then change your !Boot file so it
loads the module from the system directory
3. Load !WelcomeA.Source into your favourite editor
4. Fiddle about with the constants at the start
5. Repeat the Not So Quick Guide
About Boot Files
================
For Risc PC users please see your own section.
You'll have to look it up in the manual, as boot files are so
environment-specific. Basically you have an OBEY file called
!Boot in your root directory. This probably ensures various
modules are loaded and then executes your DESKBOOT file. You
need to make sure that the module generated by this program is
loaded BEFORE the desktop starts up.
Problems
========
You *must* ensure that the Sprite that's used is the same
screen mode / palette as the Wimp's desktop. In particular the
sprite distributed with WelcomeA is only 16 colours, so if your
desktop boots into 256+ colours then you won't see much. Note
that if you run !Compile on a 256 colour/large sprite then you
may (will) have to increase the numbers after the WimpSlot
command inside !Compile.
If your desktop boots into a large screen mode then you may have
to disable buffering (see !Compile). This is because there will
not be enough screen memory for two screens.
You must disable any other program that displays its own desktop
banner. The computer will only display one banner.
Updates
=======
18.06.1993 1.00 working, no documentation
27.06.1993 1.10 documentation
02.10.1994 1.20 documentation/files for Risc PC users
Author
======
This program is FREEWARE.
Any bugs/feedback most welcome.
Cy Booker
86 Church View
Main Road
Crockenhill
Swanley
Kent
BR8 8JW
U.K.
Internet: cy@cheepnis.demon.co.uk Arcade BBS: #1706