Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    You cannot install a hard drive through the external floppy port; I'm
    not sure anyone ever explained why.  The Amiga reads an entire floppy
    track at a time rather than one sector at a time.  The blitter gets
    involved with processing some of the track data.  More technical
    types can give a better explanation.
    
    Most hard drives for the A1000 attach through the expansion buss,
    and the same will hold true for the A500.  Supra, C Ltd and others
    make SCSI slap-on-the-side adaptors for the A1000, and I think Supra
    is officially shipping versions for the A500.  The SCSI adaptor
    typically will accept a meg or two of expansion zero-wait state
    RAM.  Prices lately have become exhorbitant, so you might want to
    wait on the RAM.  It's usually a separate board anyway.
    
    AmigaDOS will accept Root:subdir/#? as a wildcard.
    
    Look for a far more powerful set of AmigaDOS commands real soon.
    Called the ARP (AmigaDOS Replacement Projetc) library, the intent
    is to replace all the BCPL AmigaDOS commands with faster, smaller,
    and more powerful C equivalents.  There are some pre-release ARP
    libraries around now, but I'll be posting the 'official' release
    as soon as it's available.
    
    Ed.

    Paul:
    
    Would you be willing to post (maybe as a separate note) a personal
    review of "The Works"?  I haven't invested in a word processor and
    "The Works" looks like a good value.
    
    ...Tim

    Software Shop is assembling Hurricane versions of A2000.  I mention
    this since I saw a C-Ltd SCSI interface with a 6xMB Hard Drive playing
    together in person.  With flicker-fixer and a flat Zenith monitor,
    it was a pleasure to see a muscle machine version.

    Not that it has anything to do with this topic (we do get off track
    a lot, don't we?), but the combination of the de-interlaced display
    and the 68020/68881 CPU board makes for about the nicest, most flexible
    workstation in the universe for under $6000.  I think I'd much prefer
    this combo (assuming that I could afford it) to a color Mac ][,
    which would come in at a bit higher price.
    
    I have high hopes that the de-interlacer design will be done by
    other companies at much lower cost, as a plug-on for tha A500 and
    A1000.  This seems reasonable to expect (remember $1400 20 meg hard
    drives from the early A1000 days).
    
    I also continue to hear about the new non-interlaced Denise chip
    working, but no rumors on availability.
    
    Ed.
    

Re: .4

>    I have high hopes that the de-interlacer design will be done by
>    other companies at much lower cost, as a plug-on for tha A500 and
>    A1000.  This seems reasonable to expect (remember $1400 20 meg hard
>    drives from the early A1000 days).

I talked to the guy that designed the FlickerFixer.  He is hard at work
doing a 500/1000 version which will be cheaper.  Unfortunately, it will
only be able to display 16 colors.  The 2000 version is only able to
display a 4096 colors because the Amiga 2000 video expansion slot
makes available all 12 bits of RGB information.  On the 500 and 1000, that
information is not available.

One of the reasons why the FlickerFixer is expensive is that it buffers
an interlaced screen in its own memory.  Since memory prices are high,
it will keep the price of the FlickerFixer high.  On the plus side for
500 and 1000 owners, the display limitations of the version for those
machines will require less memory and thus be cheaper.

>    I also continue to hear about the new non-interlaced Denise chip
>    working, but no rumors on availability.

No that I am an expert on this, but I find it hard to believe in the
400 line non-interlaced Denise.  It would just require sooo much
memory bandwidth.

I believe that the way that Amigas are going to get higher
resolution is via FlickerFixer from Microway or the high res
1008 by 800 monitor (which uses the same sort of idea as flicker
fixer) from Commodore.

Of course, if Commodore comes out with a new high end machine with
a wider, faster bus, they could devote more memory bandwidth to
resolution.

    As I remember, The Works includes Scribble! as the word processor.
    I never liked Scribble!  Their user interface uses their own 'language'
    making use by a new user confusing.  
    
    Kind Words is a good word processor at a good price.
    
    Randy
    

    Re: .5
    
    Actually, I'd be ecstatic to have a 640 x 400 4 plane non-interlaced
    display.  HAM mode isn't much of an issue, since the gentle transition
    from line to line causes little or no flicker anyway.
    
    The whole topic of a display stealing buss bandwidth is a bit
    confusing.  For example, would a Mac ][ using a 640 x 480 x 8 plane
    (256 colors) run slower than the same Mac ][ using a single bit
    plane?  Or is this issue unique to the Amiga with it's dual buss
    design...  Randy, a short dissertation would be very informative...
    
    Ed.

	Welcome to my note :-)

        Re: - a few,
    
    	Thanks for the info on the Hard Disk - my dealer has just told
    me that no hard-disks are yet available, but should be in a couple
    of months (20Mb for #400), and the RAM is in at #100 for an extra
    512k (including real time clock - for what its worth).
    	So in the mean time I'll get the extra floppy-drive anyway.(#110)

    Re: a review of The Works...
    
    	Altho' I 'own' a copy (I've paid for a complete package), CBM
    have not yet distributed the 'package' to the dealers - so I just
    took the computer and monitor - the rest I'm going to pick up this
    weekend (only two weeks after CBM advertised the package as available
    !)
    	But, when I have got it, a review will be no problem.
 
    Re: Required Reading..
	So far the following have been suggested..
    
    	AmigaDOS manual				#23
    	Amiga ROM Kernal manual (parts 1 and 2) #33, #24
    	Intuition manual			#??
    	Amiga Hardware manual			#??
    	Kickstart Manual			#13
    
    	Or all except the kickstart manual (the developers package) for
    	approx. #100 - choke !

    Any advances ? (or contradictions ?)

    Finally - the first things I plan to do are
    
    1) rewrite the DOS commands (directory, delete....) to look like VMS
    2) rewrite the CLI to accept abbreviations(/foreign) of commands (like
	    VMS)
    3) Write an EDT lookalike

    - Will the manuals that I have mentioned give enough information
    for these tasks ?
    
    - Will they give too much (could I get by without some of them)

    - I don't want to spoil the ship for a hapeth of tar, but having
    spent #950 ( and about to spend another #210 on RAM and floppy drive)
    it seems my original #1000 budget is going to well and truly blown.
    
    Many thanks
    
    Paul Perrin

    ps #=pound sterling....

Re: .7

Lets continue the discussion of higher resolution in note 1227 which
is on that subject.

>    Finally - the first things I plan to do are
    
>    1) rewrite the DOS commands (directory, delete....) to look like VMS
>    2) rewrite the CLI to accept abbreviations(/foreign) of commands (like
	    VMS)

    Why not use the Drew/Dillon shell which already has these capabilities?


>    3) Write an EDT lookalike

    Oh boy!  If you do this, I have two requests:

	a) support both the A1000 and the A500/2000 keyboards
	b) support the serial port AUX: driver so that I can
	   connect a VT220 to my Amiga and do useful work

    regards,
    -jim

    If you have the time you could build your own hard disk interface.
    There was an article in March Computer shopper about a company called
    Palomax that sells the software and schematics for a hard disk
    interface and expansion slots for the Amiga 500/1000/2000.  The
    package cost $169.00 and then you have to purchase the parts elsewhere.
    There advertisement claims you can build the disk interface for
    a 16Mb for around $400.00.  I have been seriously thinking about
    it.  I have and old Rainbow power supply and an RD50 (5MB) that
    should make it a little cheaper to start out with.  A 5Mb should
    make a dandy system disk but not much else.  This thing can have
    up to two controllers and two drives per controller. It can also
    pass the 86 pin expansion bus for the A500 and A1000 or configure
    for the A2000/Zorro II or Zorro I 100 pin expansion.  Has anyone
    else out there had any dealing with this company if so I would
    appreciate your comments.  I will post there address here.
    
              Palomax Inc
              424 Moreboro Rd.
              Hatboro, Pa. 19040
              
              215-672-6815
                                                         
    
    Alan
    

OK,
	I've spent 75 quid on manuals ( discounted from 102 :-) )

	AmigaDOS, Intuition, Exec, Device and Library...

	Now where do I find out the boot sequence.....

	ie. Which files and directories on the boot disk are used,
	    for what, and in what order - many I can work out but some....

	So far :-

	When DF0:S/STARTUP-SEQUENCE is executed
		what is the path at this point ?
		what are the assignments at this point ?
		which order are these set up in ?
		how does it decide which assignments to make ?
			ie, Can I have a disk set up thus :-
				DF0:	DOS	/S
						/C
						.
						.
					MYDIR1	/MYSUB1
						/MYSUB2
	Which device drivers are built in ?
		The disk-handler must be to have got
		this far, but I know the RAM handler isn't
		whats the disk-validator (I booted with out this file,
			and I noticed no problems when I swapped disks)
	What directories does DOS require, and what files are required to
		be in them ?
	How come a 23 pound manual (cost not weight) - AmigaDOS
		doesn't document this ?

	Currently, I am trying to set up a Bootable disk, with the minimum
	workbench, DOS, etc files, to leave plenty of room for symbol
	and link files.

	I have a FULL disk of Compiler, Linker, Editor etc, a FULL disk of
	library symbol and link files... and with two disk drives, I still
	have to swap disks so I can write programs !

	I have a nasty feeling I need the KICKSTART manual, two weeks, one extra
	diskdrive, one memory upgrade and many manuals later - I still can't set
	up a conveinent development enviroment - and I haven't even started
	coding...... who wrote these books !!!!

	Home Computers, dontcha just luv 'em.

	Any info much appreciated....

	Paul Perrin

	PS. 	I want to rewrite the CLI and write an EDT lookalike
    		for fun and to learn about the machine - but thanks
    		for the info on the shell.
    

    The following assigns are built inot the system. How? I don't know.
    If there is a way to remove them, it would involved replacing part
    of the AmigaDOS internals.
    
    In any case, the following are hardwired:
    
    assign c:		boot:c
    assign s:		boot:s
    assign l:		boot:l
    assign devs:	boot:devs
    assign fonts:	boot:fonts
    assign libs:	boot:libs
    
    where boot is the disk you booted with.
       
    You can change it by using assign. No other way unless you rework
    something....
    
    assign c:	boot:amigados/c
    
    etc.
    
    In order to boot you need:
    
    ... to install dos (INSTALL df0: with the right disk in the drive)
    ... any commands you want to execute in C:                            
    
    s:startup-sequence should have SOMETHING in it.
    
    devs:mountlist
    devs:system-configuration
    devs:keymaps/usa1	(if you have an A500 or 2000 and want the extra
   				 keys)
    
    l:*handler		(you don't need ram-handler if you don't want
    				 RAM:)
    
    fonts: nothing unless you want some fonts besides the standard topaz
    		garbage!
    
    libs: all libraries except narrator, which you don't need if you
    can afford to trash "say"
    
    
    

    .14:
    
    Those assigns are created by the initial CLI on system startup.
    (Why they'd have the first CLI assign them and not the normal DOS
    library startup, I don't know, but the initial CLI startup does
    a lot of other things I wouldn't have expected).
    
    This gleaned from several hours straining my eyes at ROM disassembly.

    
    I figured I'd add to this note rather than start a new one since
    the answer to this may be so simple.  I have an Amiga 500 with 1meg
    memory, a Panasonic KP-1080i and Dpaint II (plus other stuff,
    unimportant to this question)
    
    What I'd like to do is print out my drawings (final versions) on
    an LN03 (laser printer) here at work, however my Amiga is at home.
    I have a modem with Diga telecomunications package and a VAX
    account here at work.
    
    Is there a way to dump the drawing to a file, upload it to the
    VAX and send it to the Laser printer...successfully?
    
    This would be a real boon to my work since I have to create all
    thetraining manuals for the programs I conduct and laser'd art
    sure beats dot-matrix.  Can anyone help?
    
    						Don
    						 ~
    

    	Re -1
    
    		I have done what you are trying to do. Two options I
    have used are taking my drawing (In IFF format), and creating a
    postscript file with a PD conversion program. There are AMIGA and
    VAX versions. I upload my IFF file, run the conversion program on
    the VAX, and send my postscript file to a postscript printer. Now,
    not all LNO3 can do it, there are some additional options, I believe,
    that you need. Or use an LPS40, if one is available.
    
    	Another option is creating a sixel file, the details of which
    are somewhere in this notesfiles, and you might be able to print
    it in any LNO3 ( at least it works on the ones we have here).
    
    	But postscript output is MUCH BETTER, and you have flexibility
    on the size and position of your picture on the page. I don't remember
    the name of the IFF to POSTSCRIPT converter, but I have the VAX
    version somewhere in this account. If you are interested, I can
    tell you where to copy it.
    
    Miguel A. Alvarez

    If you have an LN03R you can use the IFF-to-PostScript convertor
    described in .17.  If you have an LN03-PLUS you can use the IFF-to-
    sixel convertor.  However, if you have an ordinary LN03 you will
    be disappointed.  The LN03 does not have the 1MB of page buffer
    that is needed to produce full-page arbitrary graphics.  As a result
    it is severely limited in the complexity of graphics it can produce.
        John Sauter

    The IFF to Postscript convertor is called CLAZ and work very well.
    What is the name of the IFF to sixel convertor and can you give
    me a pointer to it please...
    
    Thanx		Phil

    	There is no IFF to sixel program. It's a procedure which I'll
    summarize as follows:
    
    	1. Get a copy of the LA50 printer driver and install. Make sure
    you select it as your printer.
    	2. Get a "print capture" program. What this program does is
    "intercept" the driver output and save it to a file. There are two
    PD programs I know of, but I don't remember their names.
    	3. Do a graphics dump of your picture, but using 2., save the
    output on a file. You know have a sixel file.
    	4. Upload to VAX and run Rob Pfister's addcr program.
    	5. View on VT or print on LNO3.
    
    	Again, a more detailed discussion of this happened some time
    ago in this notesfiles.
    
    Miguel A. Alvarez

    
>    	Again, a more detailed discussion of this happened some time
>    ago in this notesfiles.

In note 1074

Did anything ever get done on retaining color in the sixel file?

John

    
    I looked at it and never bothered.  The real reason I wanted to
    use it was to get to the LCG01 we have here and the availability
    of this printer went away so...
    
    The main difficulty with color sixel is that pixels are still grouped
    into six vertical pixels at a time.  However by firing only one
    of these "wires" at a time and making six passes for each line you
    could perform single pixel graphics (otherwise all six pixels
    get the same color).  Whenever there is a color change between two
    consecutive pixels you will need to send a sequence to select a
    different color.  The LCG01 supports 256 color registers (I think)
    so if we could come up with the correct color conversion formula,
    we shouldn't have any problem printing non-Ham pics.  If anyone wants
    to do this they could easily start with the Claz source and hack that up.
    
    - steve