Spektrum Graphics Adapter Color graphics for all Atari-ST(E)/TT-Systems User's Manual English translation by Marcel Schön, Switzerland, 2013
Table of Contents Hardware Installation.................................................................................................................................3 Installation in a Mega STE....................................................................................................................3 Installation in a TT................................................................................................................................4 Installation in a Mega ST.......................
Hardware Installation Installing the Spektrum graphics card is very easy. Below are the descriptions of how to insert the card into the various types of computers. Installation requires only a small screwdriver with a cross slot and a regular screwdriver. Should you have any doubts about your mechanical skills, we recommend having the card installed by a local spezialized dealer.
Installation in a TT For the installation in a TT, the protection cover of the VME bus slot must be removed first. The cover is labeled “VME” and held in place by two screws. As soon as these screws are loose, the cover can carefully be removed by pulling it backwards. There are two connectors for serial ports attached to this panel; remove them completely, or place them somewhere else in the TT case. Behind it is the VME slot with slide-rails to both sides.
Software Installation When using the Spektrum graphics card, a harddisc (HDD) is recommended as well. This chapter will explain how you can install the Spektrum software using the installation program. The Spektrum graphics card can be using with a harddisc drive as well as with a floppy disc drive. But in any case a special driver software is required for the operating system to be able to use the card.
Using the help function The help function can be used either with the mouse or the keyboard. You can click on underlined entries to see more information about the selected word By clicking on “<<<” you return to the previous word. An overview of the existing keywords of the “Help”-function can be found in the keyword index (“Stichwortverzeichnis”).
Installation keyboard usage Menu options can also be triggered through the keyboard. Each keyboard shortcut is listed at the corresponding menu option. The “^”-character means that the specified key must be pressed together with the CTRL key.
Functions that can be triggered through the mouse. Left mouse button: • left upper window corner: close window • upper window border: move window • right upper window corner: maximize window • scroll bar: scroll window contents • lower right window corner: change window size Right mouse button: • in a window: move window contents • lower right window corner: change window size • window border: move window By keeping the right mouse button pressed, even inactive windows can be used.
Using the Spektrum installation form The installation program copies all the required files of the Spektrum software to the correct locations on the harddisc drive. To start the installation, select the menu option “Neu” (“new”) under the main menu option “Datei” (“file”). This will trigger a form with the following setup options: • • • • “Monitor-Typ” (monitor type): Name of the INF-file which will be installed afterwards under the name “SPEKTRUM.INF” in the “AUTO”-folder.
Finally, the GDOS “AMCGDOS.PRG” will be copied into the “AUTO” folder and the control panel “XCONTROL.ACC” in the root level of the boot partition. This concludes the installation. If the installation finds files what would be overwritten during the installation process, an alert dialog box appears with three options: • • • “Ersetzen” (“replace”): The new file will be created, and the old file will be backed up into a sub-directory name “OLD”.
Testsoftware For the Spektrum graphics cards, the test software is not a separate application; the test functionality is integrated into the installation program. Under the menu option “Extra” is, besides the “Hilfe” (“help”) option, an option for the card testing functionality. Details about it can be found in the “LIESMICH.TXT”-File (“readme”) on your original floppy disk.
Installation of Charly-Image-software Each Spektrum graphics card comes with a demo-version of the software “CharlyImage”. This sofware allows to demonstrate the capabilities of the graphics card. By using the original floppy disk, you may simple launch the software; it is completely installed ready-to-use on the floppy disk. When using a harddisc drive, the contents of the entire floppy disk can just be copied into any folder on the harddisc.
Using the software Most GUI elements of the Spektrum software are implemented as CPX accessories. They will be installed by the Spektrum installation software. The Timing conrol panel With the help of the “Timing” control panel you can use almost any monitor with the Spektrum graphics card. It allows to freely change many parameters of the video signal created by the card. This way, even fixed-frequency monitors can be used with the Spektrum card.
Two other pop-ups allow to switch between different color modes and pixel frequencies. Depending on the type of card, the following options are available: • 256 colors (palette colors) • HiColor (65536 colors) • HiColor 2 (32768 colors) • TrueColor (16.777.216 colors) • HiRes (16 colors) • Monochrom (2 colors) • The available frequencies also vary from card to card. The HR- and the TC-card offer slightly higher maximum frequencies. The second page shows the resolution parameters.
With the “Test”-button you can test the newly configured settings. There are four different options: • • • • “Desk” - The desktop will be displayed with the new settings, as long as the left mouse button is kept pressed. “Bild” (“picture”) - Like “Desk”, but a test picture instead of the desktop will be displayed. “Set!” - The parameters will be accepted and activated, and will remain active until the next reset / reboot.
The fourth page is also a special page – for the vertical timing. Here, all parameters of the contoller can be freely configured. Gesamt = total Sichtbar = visible Sichern = save OK = confirm Abbruch = cancel In the lower area are graphical representations of the blank- and sync-area. The configured values will not be validated at all (beware of frying your monitor).
The color control panel The colors of the Spektrum card can be freely adjusted in all modes. There is an accessory that can be invoked at any time to do this. The color control-panel is a CPX-accessory, so it consumes memory only when it is actually used. Details about its installation can be found in the instructions for your control-panel. Changing the color palette The control-panel provides two pages for adjusting the colors.
With the functions on the second page, color gradients can be created: Verlauf = gradient Start = begin Grau = gray Reset = reset Laden = load Sichern = save OK = confirm Abbruch = cancel This allows to create a linear gradient between two positions in the color palette. To do this, one color entry (the “Start” color) must be selected first and the button “Start” must be clicked. This button's label will then switch to “Ende” (“end”).
Spektrum for advanced users Example for an ASSIGN.SYS file The ASSIGN.SYS-file used by GDOS has the following structure (TT version): PATH = A:\GEMSYS /* The folder with the fonts */ 01 VDI.SYS COUR10.FNT /* Optional: fonts */ 02 VDI.SYS 03 VDI.SYS 04 VDI.SYS 05 VDI.SYS /* All screen drivers... */ COUR10.FNT /* Another font... */ 06 VDI.SYS 07 VDI.SYS 08 VDI.SYS Files on the original floppy disk Start program: \AUTO\SPEKTRUM.PRG: Switches the card on after boot \AUTO\SPEKTRUM.
The SPEKTRUM.INF file This file contains the timing information for the timing control-panel. The structure of the file can change slightly between versions. For this reason, it is recommended only to change the documented values by hand. The first two lines define the maximum frequencies for the horizontal frequency in Kilo-Hertz and for the vertical frequency in Hertz. The value in the third line is an ID for a certain IC (microchip) on the graphics card.
Data structures of the Spektrum software The following data structures are created: typedef struct { long cookie; long product; int version; int x,y,w,h; } INFOVSCR; /* VSCR */ /* product name */ /* visible window */ typedefstruct { int palette[256][3]; } PALETTE; typedef struct { long magic; /* 'VINF' */ long version; /* 0x0100 */ long factory; /* 'JWME' */ long product; /* 'SPEK' */ long product_version; /* '1 ', '1 HC', '1 TC' */ long video_base; /* address of 1st pixel in video memory */ int width; /*
SPEKTRUM.PRG creates two cookies: • “VINF”: Is used for the communication with the rest of the Spektrum software. It contains a pointer to a VIDEO_INFO structure. • “VSCR”: Is used for the communication (among others) with the “FlyDials” of Julian F.Reschke and “Let'em Fly” of Oliver Scheel. It contains a pointer to a INFOVSCR structure. Special attributes of VDI and AES in HiColor and TrueColor: Each VDI workstation gets its own color palette with 256 (or, to be precise: work_out[13]) entries.
Memory structure For applications not conforming to the GEM rules, this chapter discusses the structure of the video memory. In monochrome mode, the memory is organized the same as with the Atari's integrated graphics. The video memory begins on all ST/TT computers at the address $FEC0 0000. The image data always begins in the upper left corner, i.e. directly at the start address. The 256 color mode is organized in 8-bit pixels; one byte in the video memory represents one pixel.
Extended Function of Spektrum VDI Due to their extended color possibilities, Spektrum graphics cards provide extended functions as well. This includes TrueColor functionality and the possibility, to transfer picture data into the image memory without conversion. In order to avoid compatibility problems, the software creates a so-called “Cookie”. This allows for any application to check if the graphics card is a Spektrum card. The structure of this Cookie has been described in the previous chapter.
Technical Specifications The specification of the Spektrum graphics card in short: • simply pluggable for Mega STE and TT; in other STs through additional adaptors • up to 16.777.
The various different versions The Spektrum graphcis card is available in four versions. The differ in supported screen modes and video resolutions. If you own one of the smaller cards, they can still be upgraded.
