home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Collection of Tools & Utilities
/
Collection of Tools and Utilities.iso
/
ansi
/
hgcib202.zip
/
FEATURES.PRX
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1987-06-24
|
20KB
|
542 lines
/*
Athena Digital Video BIOS (T) Version 3.01
Copyright (C) Athena Digital, 1986, 1987. All rights reserved.
2351 College Station Road, Suite 567, Athens, Ga 30605
404/354-4522
This feature file dated May 29,1987
*\
/*
*** Trademarks / Owners ***
Athena Digital Video BIOS / Athena Digital
Microsoft, MS-DOS, CodeView / Microsoft Corporation
IBM, BASICA / International Business Machines Corporation
Hercules, RamFont, FontMan, InColor / Hercules Computer Technology
*\
/*
*** What is Athena Digital Video BIOS ? ***
Athena BIOS is a new software system designed to replace the
original Video BASIC INPUT / OUTPUT SYSTEM (BIOS) in IBM PC
compatible computers. There are many reasons for doing this.
IBM's original Video BIOS was an excellent program in it's day.
New video adapters and better versions of the old ones have
strained the capabilities of the original BIOS, but it is still
the only one available - and all of your application programs use
it. Athena Digital created this new BIOS to help computer users
and programmers get the most from today's AND tomorrow's video
hardware.
*\
/*
*** Athena BIOS Versions ***
This demo is an introduction to Athena's Video BIOS for MS-DOS
computers and MS-DOS application software. Two basic products
will be discussed. The first is the Device Driver for use by non-
programmers on MS-DOS machines. The second is Athena Video BIOS
Libraries for Programmers. Both products share the same program
"core", but the Library BIOS can be integrated with your own
application program, while Drivers are installed by the computer
user to support any application program.
*\
/*
*** What is a Device Driver ? ***
Device Drivers are control programs which automatically load and
become active when your computer starts up. In this case, Athena
BIOS automatically takes over from your existing Video BIOS to
give you faster screen display, allow you to run Color Graphics
programs on a Hercules Graphics Card, and numerous other features
high-lighted below.
*\
/*
*** What is a Programmer's Library ? ***
Programmers have the option of creating every piece of a program
they write or creating only the parts that make it unique and
salable. In most cases, low level support of special video
adapters is something programmers would prefer not to do because
it is not their specialty. Low level video support, on the other
hand is Athena Digital's specialty. Now programmers have the
option of allowing Athena Digital to handle the low level chores.
Athena Libraries allow Color Graphics applications to run on
Hercules Graphics Cards (among other things) just like the Device
Driver does.
*\
/*
*** Businesses Universities Institutions ***
Do all of your PC stations really need a Color Monitor ? Do you
already have a number of Hercules Graphic PCs or Leading Edge
computers ? Did you know you could run Color Graphics software
for only 35.00 per station or less ?
Athena Digital will provide sites such as yours with the BIOS in
bulk packaging at a substantial discount. Contact us about
details. Your bottom line will appreciate it.
*\
/*
*** Accelerate Application Programs ***
If you don't program - you still need the BIOS. The device driver
BIOS gives you faster screen output and eliminates flicker while
scrolling on modern Color Graphics Adapters. On Monochrome text
or Hercules Adapters, it can give you a display output speed
increase from 30 to 50%, not to mention running CGA programs on
your Hercules - even if it uses the Mouse.
Consider the cost of a Color Graphics Adapter and Display
Monitor. If functionality and quality text are your object, then
you may not NEED a color monitor and graphics card.
*\
/*
*** Especially for Programmers ***
You don't have to wait for everybody to boot with Athena BIOS.
You can have it now. If you are using this demo on a Hercules
Graphics Card, you have already seen one thing it can do for you.
This short demo was written entirely in QuickBASIC Version 2.00
(except the logo in true Hercules mode) and linked with the
Athena Library. Read on for a list of features and further
information about obtaining the BIOS for inclusion in your own
programs. Libraries are also available for "C" and the Macro
Assembler with others on the way.
*\
/*
*** What About Existing Applications ? ***
The Library is provided as an MS-DOS object file and comes with a
source file to get your application up and running in nothing
flat.
All that is necessary to convert existing program code to run
with Athena is to call an initialization subroutine at the
beginning and a detachment subroutine before exit.
*\
/*
*** What QuickBASIC Functions Will Work With Hercules ? ***
The BIOS QuickBASIC Library is compatible with BCOM or BRUN. ALL
of QuickBASIC's standard text and graphics functions work with
Athena BIOS, whether the display used is the Hercules adapter (in
Emulation mode) the Color Graphics adapter or the EGA adapter.
The source code to this demo is provided with the BIOS as an
example of use, an includable source file to get you up and
running, as well as complete BIOS documentation.
*\
/*
*** What if a Device Driver is Already Installed ? ***
The Libraries have a means by which to inhibit a resident Athena
Device Driver. This would be desirable if the Library BIOS is a
later version. If the resident Driver is a later version, the
Library will use it.
The decision is carried out automatically and ensures that your
program will always use the latest Athena BIOS available whether
it is the one you linked with or not.
*\
/*
*** What About The Hercules Graphics Modes ? ***
The first QuickBASIC Library (Version 23.01) allows you to
support the Hercules Cards with the standard BASIC graphics
functions at the CGA screen resolution. It also makes it easy for
you to support Hercules high resolution graphics through
QuickBASIC's standard text functions, and pixel-oriented graphics
through Athena BIOS functions. Future versions will offer
extended graphics support for Hercules Graphics screen
resolutions ... thus, Athena gives you a natural upward migration
path to bring your programs up to date and keep them there.
*\
/*
*** What About Other Languages ? ***
The Library is intrinsically compatible with any language
supporting object files and assembly language subroutine calls.
"C" and the "Macro Assembler" interfaces will probably be
released by the time you read this.
If you work with these or other popular languages and would like
to be able to include Athena BIOS with your product, then drop us
a line and tell us so. We will notify you when your language
interface becomes available.
*\
/*
*** How Effective Is The Emulation Capability ? ***
The list of compatible software includes programs like BASICA,
CodeView, QuickBASIC's Editor and about 95% of all others. It
will even run CGA text applications which ordinarily hang up the