Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    There is a run only version of AMOS on the Extra's disk. It also comes
    with a few extra example programs, 600 sprites and includes some
    enhancements in the actual program and file selection system. I never
    used the 1.1 version so I can only go by the differences stated in the
    1.2 manual.
    It mentions in the manual that the Complier is due in the beginning of
    next year along with the 3D program.
    If you have 1.1 it should be possible to upgrade to 1.2 either through
    Mandarin or the AMOS user group.
    
    
    						Geo.

    Hi,
      
      Several AMIGA magazines here in the UK have recently included AMOS
    upgrades on the free cover disk. I cannot remember exactly what they
    are at the moment, as I have only just got an AMIGA ( for my son's
    christmas present, honest ). I will check it out when I get home.
    
    Regards,
    
           Colin.

     Any chance (as long as it's okay, ie: legal) of uploading the
    upgrades?
       I'd imagine if they are on a number of magazine disk's that they
     must be public domain.
    
    							Ed
    

Maybe not,

it could be distributed so that only registered users could
legally use it ??

I expect there is some covering licensing info.

Mike

    Well, the first time I saw Amos, was on a UK magazine disk (forget wich
    one) anyway.. it was a fully working version from what I could see.
     The article that accompanied the program indicated that without the
    (extensive) manual, the program would be of limited value.
     Again, this may not apply to the upgrade versions on the magazine
    disk(s).
     I only felt that if the upgrade was offered on "Unrelated" Magazine
    disks.. then perhaps the upgrade was a free one - like the Cross-Dos
    upgrades here in the U.S.
     
     I guess I'm just not shure of the kind of upgrade support I'll be able
    to get here in U.S.
     I don't believe Mandarin has an exclusive U.S. distributor that would
    be able to provide support, (Am I wrong?).
    
    							Ed
     
    
    

    Okay fellow Amos users in the UK, I've got a few questions for you....
    
    Is the Amos Compiler out?
    
    Is the Amos 3D Modual available?
    
    Is the book on using Amos out, the one mentioned in the newsletter that
    acompanies the program disk?
    
    Whats the cost of the above items?
    
    Whats the Title of the Amos book, and who's the author? What about the 
    "IBN?" number for ordering the book.
    
    						Thanks;
    							Ed-in-USA
    

    ED,
    
    Quoting a UK rag:
    
    "The Amos compiler should be out at the end of june, and I hear that
    AMOS 3D is not far behind"
    
    The AMOS add, says that the compiler is "new in June", and 3D is "NEW
    for July"
    
    Phone is 051-357-1275
    
    Greg-in-the-UK-wishing-he-was-in-the-States-cos-it's-cold-over-here
    
    
    :^)

     What timing!!!
    I thought they were supposed to produce these items last year......
     Anybody here about the companion book yet?
    

   For all you AMOS users out there, I saved all the manual examples that come
 on the "Extras Disk" as ASCII, and Uploaded them two Tape::Amiga:[upload].
   The file name is AMOSEX.lzh.
	Now you can use your favorite "Que" to print out a hard copy of the
 manual Examples.
   			
							Ed

    
    Now if only i can figure out how to get hardcopy of my own programs.
    I can't seem to make the print commands work at all (either in the
    program or in direct mode.)
    
     Has anybody else ever gotten a listing of a program?
    
    brien

    You might try saving it as ASCII to a file on disk, then print it using
    some other utility from workbench.
    
    								Ed
    

    You can also mark the entire program as a block of text and print the
    block.
    
    Alan
    

    
     RE.  last 2. Finally found it in the docs. Under the editor
          I can mark a block of text and save the block as ascii.
          I guess is just wasn't where I expected to find it.
    
          Thanks. You have eliminated 1 of my 2 complaints about AMOS.
    	  
    	  Anybody want to try the last one ??  Can you make calls to 
          a library? - I have a Midi library - Midi.lib from Pregnant
          Badger. I have used it very succesfully from AmigaBasic.
    	  Can I use it from AMOS? The Docs seem to imply that I can
          if I know the entry points. Guess I just don't know enough
          about the structure of a Library. Any good books on the subject?
    
          brien.
    

     Just got the AMOS Compiler. 
     I'll post a review when I get to play with it some more.
     An Update disk is included to update Amos Vers 1.X to Amos 1.3.
     The Update highlights are :
    	Turbo Charged Bob and Screen copy routines.
        Serial Port Support.
        Interlace Screen Support.
     Some new Utility Programs... SpriteX a updated sprite editor.
     An Amos.Assembler is Also included on disk.
    
     							Ed
    				

    P.S....
      It looks like Amos 3D will be in the states soon. Anybody in the UK
    have any comments about it?
    
    						Thanks;
    							Ed
    

Any info on the cost of the 1.3 upgrade?

     The upgrade itself comes free with the compiler.
     I'm not shure what the upgrade price alone is.
     I picked up the Compiler for $62.00
    

     Off the back of the Amos Compiler box.
    
     "Typically most programs will double in speed - some commands are more
    than 5 times faster."
     "In addition, Amos Compiler comes with an incredible compacter wich
    will squash the size of your programs by up to 80% (60% compression on 
    average)- and in a matter of seconds!"
    
     Update to Amos 1.3
     "...improved extension handeling, smoother multitasking, plus new
    sprite flipping routines and bob and screen copy routines."
     
    "Amos Assembler - a powerful new module which allows you to incorporate
                     68000 assembley commands in your AMOS programs.
    
    							Ed
    

   Does anyone know if the the tutorial book for Amos ever came out?
   It was mentioned in the original Amos program I purchased as being written.
   Seeing how it's a UK outfit,, I figured some of the European Amos users
   could get me an ISBN# or a Title and Author, or a publisher so I could 
   order it.

     On another note, I picked up Amos 3D.
     First the bad news... The "Object Modeler" is in Pal, rendering the
    last row of buttons unusable, I was told that they all came into the
    store that way.
     Fortunately if you have Palboot or a similar program for using a Pal 
    screen, this is not a problem.
     I'm not shure if they didn't make an NTSC version yet or if the store
    I got this from got the wrong shipment.
     I filled out the registration card and sent it in, I outlined the
    problem and asked them to send me a corrected version for ntsc.
     We'll see what happens.
     In the mean time I'm using a Pal mode emulator in order to use the
    Object Modeler.
    
     With the above mentioned exception, the overall package is Fantastic.
     I used one of the example Objects from the disk and was controling it
    with my mouse on screen in a matter of minutes, (about 15, cause I had
    to re-reference the manual a couple of times.)
     The Object Modeler is a bit different than most 3D Programs I've used.
     It is completely mouse driven with no pull down menu's, you biuld
    objects from 5 primitives provided, 3 of wich are flat.   
     By following the tutorial in the manual, it introduced me to almost 
    every button, a real nice feature is the ability to add detail to an 
    object, it's strait forward and quick.
     When executing a 3D command in a program, it's as smooth as Machine
    Language on screen.
      
     I'm glad I bought it, and I hope to upload some demo's real soon.
    
    							Ed
    
     
         
							Thanks;
								Ed

 Well I thought I'd add a few things about Amos 3D.
  Some stuff I'd like to see...

  1. As stands, there are 5 primitives that can be manipulated into objects by
   gluing stretching, and squashing.
     3 of these are flat shapes, a square, a circle, and a pentagon.
     The remaining 2 shapes have volume, a cube and a pyramid.
   Although I believe the objects are limited to these primitives for efficiency
   reasons.. (redraw speed within a executable program), I think I would of 
   liked a sphere and cylinder object too if possible.

  2. I'd of like some keyboard equivalents or hotkeys for the "Object Maker 
    Program".
  
   I'm still glad I purchased this add on for Amos, the library of objects that
  come with the program shows what a little imagination and elbow grease can
  create. I must admit that they look as good as any 3D space ships I've seen in
  commercial programs.
   I'll upload a couple of demo's tomorrow.

								Ed

Ed, please upload the demos - I'd be interested in seeing them.

Thanks, Steve

    The Demo's are uploaded in EOT::AMIGA:[UPLOAD]AM3DEX.LZH.
    There is also a small text file AM3DEX.txt.
    
    
    
    								Ed
    

     A new working version of the demo's (amos3d) has been uploaded.
    							sorry for the 
    							 faulty one;
    									Ed
    

  At one time I saw a colection of Amos written programs available FTP.
  Now for the life of me, I can't remember where...
  Anybody know where they might be?
  							Thanks;
								Ed

 I recieved a letter the other day from Europress Software.
 I'm not shure if Mandarin was bought out by Europress, or they just changed 
 thier name.
  They said that they were aware of the NTSC problem with the Object Modeler
 and had already sent out updates to thier American distributers.
  They also told me that if I returned my original Object Modeler disk to
 the dealer where I bought it, that they'd replace it free of cost.
  So if you're going to by this software now, make shure that you get the 
 NTSC updated version.

 On a side note, I was a little disapointed that they didn't just send me the 
update.
 After all I'm registered.

								Ed

    re: .25
    
    I don't know about this case specifically, but in general you can't be
    sure that the dealer will give you an update free of cost.  Only if the
    distributors are willing to send sufficient quantities of the disks to
    each dealer free of charge can the dealer afford to give you one
    without charge.
    
    It may be that the manufacturer is trying to get the dealers to absorb
    the cost of updating his customer base by promising you that the dealer
    won't charge you.  Dealers get annoyed by such tactics, since the
    customer comes to the dealer's store with expectations that the dealer
    can't (usually) meet.
    
    To take an example from recent Commodore software history, the update
    for A3000 users to AmigaDOS 2.04 was sent to the dealers by Commodore
    at no charge.  However, only one copy was sent to each dealer, so the
    reproduction of the disks must be done locally.  Fortunately, Commodore
    didn't promise customers that the update would be free.
        John Sauter
    

    re .25
    	This of course also requires that the dealer HAVE a copy to
    distribute. I know I like to have original disks from the developer
    as opposed to just a copy of the latest version. I suppose if the
    dealer was supplied a master, AND you bought the software there AND
    you bought in your original to write over it could work. I don't feel
    a dealer is obligated in any way to update software not purchased at
    their dealership. They have no direct affiliation with the software
    developers, and less with a person that purchased a product from
    another source. It looks like AMOS just tokk a turn in the wrong
    direction. 
    								bill

     
       I agree a dealer isn't obligated to update a disk/program you've
    bought someplace else.
       However, since I bought the program there, I would think he would
    either copy the disk to my original or take back the "defective" software
    and exchange it for a working copy. (with reciept of course).
       Anyhow, I'd be carefull who I'd mail order this product from.
      and yes, it's pretty cheesy the way (eurosoft) they handled it.
    
    								Ed
       

    Remember that the "defective software" is not his domain. My dealer
    will work with the person that buys software that is physically bad,
    or won't run, as long as it is returned promptly. However if the
    software don't perform to your expectations, or a later version is
    released it is not his problem. I don't think that my dealer would have 
    this latest update at this time. You have to remember that there is a
    distributer level in the loop. So we are faced with will the dealer
    ever get a latest rev copy for update distribution. I never deal with
    people uotside the states because I haven't found a product that seemed
    to outweigh the aggravation I had one time a while ago. If I can't
    reach someone here in the U.S. or Canada I don't bother.
    							bill

     I don't think the dealer will be all that upset with my request.
     After all, I own the original, have a reciept, and also taked to him 
    about the NTSC problem before and after purchase.
     I'll give him a call and see whats up.
    
    								Ed
    

 Has anyone else been experamenting with Amos 3D?
 I been having a problem displaying a foreground over a 3D object.
 The screen I'm using have been 32,16,4 and even ham.
 I get varying results although they are similar in some respects.

 1. When using a 4 color foreground picture the 3D object behaves correctly,
   disapearing when obscurred by the foreground.
    This is true for an 8 color screen as well.

 2. When using a 16 color screen, the object shows through the fore ground 
    except actually replacing "Blocks" of the foreground with it's own back
    -ground color, there is perhaps one or 2 colors in the foreground that
    behave the correctly.

 3. The results in 2 repeat themselves in any screen with more than 8 colors.
    The manual says to set up a minimum 16 color screen to display the 
    foreground and object. It says that when using a iff picture as a fore-
    ground it uses bit plane 3 as a mask.. does this mean I'm limited to
    8 color IFFS for the foreground?

								Thanks
									Ed

 

This looks like the right note to tack this onto.

The last round of fish disks had some games written in AMOS (554, I believe;
it's "minewalker" and "submarine", or some such).

On the 3000, they sorta-kinda work. The first thing I notice is that
the WB screen goes jittery when I start the application. I assumed that
was AMOS frying the copper list before it started. Sometimes the games leave
imagery behind, crash the system, or in general misbehave. I assume the
author didn't intend for them to behave that way.

I'm just trying to find out why this is happening, and if there's something
that can be done (short of buying a 500) to fix it.

	Thanx,
	<mike

     Hmmm, They work on mine (500 1.3), some of these or also in pal.
     I'll have to check'm out, a friend of mine has 2.0 on an A500, at
    least it'll tell if it's 2.0 or 3000 incompatability....
     One other thing to try is to put the 3000 into pal mode and try the
    games again...
    								Ed
    

    There is a U.S. based Amos Club mentioned on Usenet. It's $10 a year
    for 6 issue's of the news letter and the catalogs of Amos pd software.
    It's supposed to contain News and Tutorials for Amos.
     There is also mention of a BBS in the furure.
      
      make check or mo out to Martin Robaszewski and send to:
    
    Amos USA Club
    PO Box 761
    Pine Brook, NJ 07058
    
      This club is created with the support and help of Mandarin/Europress.
    
    						       		Ed Doyle
                                                                

 I'd like to see if Mr. Peters could make a directory on EOT for Amos related
 uploads and downloads.
 This way, those of us who use Amos could have an area to hold games,utilities
 and examples of Amos related programs, and those of us who are not interested
 in Amos won't have to deal with them in the Upload section.
 However, I wouldn't want to bother him with this request if I'm the only one
 here interested in doing this.
 On another Amos related subject, I tried joining the Amos USA club mentioned
 in an earlier reply, sent in my ten buck fee, but haven't heard anything
 yet. (Course they haven't cashed my check yet either).
 Anyhow, I'm just adviseing caution if anyone else was interested in this club
 and I'll post if anything new happens.
 In the mean time I'll compose a letter to Sandra Sharkey who is in charge 
 the Amos PD club to see if there is a way I can start getting the PD disks.
 I'll also write Eurosoft to see if there are any Amos support clubs in the
 U.S. that they help support.
 (while I'm at it I'll ask'em if that Amos Book that was mentioned in original
 newsletter that came with Amos ever came out).
  
								Ed

Good idea Ed.  I also sent in my $10.00 but its too soon for any response being
only two weeks ago.

Alan

 
 By the way, I found the fix for my 3D woes back in rep:31 to get the ship to 
display in the background on the view screen, without corrupting the foreground,
 I used the screen copy command and stopped trying to use the TD_Foreground
 command. I'll save that for the Sights. It allows me to use any of the 
resolutions for the foreground.
 								Ed

 

    Steve gave us the new directory, I moved the amos related files there.
    I also found a bank that does international money orders (for a $10
    fee! Ouch), So I'll be joining the UK users group soon.
     Also, there is a UK mag that I got here in the U.S. called Amiga
    Shopper that has a monthly column on AMOS.
     I'll probably be subscribing to this also (it's a pretty good Mag).
    
    									Ed
    
     
    		

 Okay, here's a question for Amos programers.

 I've created a rainbow by reading the color values in from data statements.
 I got this idea from the example in Amiga Shopper.
 Reason for this was so I could use the rainbow command, and give the illusion 
 of depth to the screen by  A.) graduating the color values, B.) altering the
 number of scan lines progressively for a simulated distance.
 I use the bottom illustration for an example.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Each line outlines a shade graduation from dark to light.
 Now I'd like to cycle the rainbow to give the illusion of movement, however 
 because of the the colors invovlved, I can't use "shift" to cycle the colors
 so that they don't effect the other parts of the screen.
 Because of the difference in hieght of the graduations, the usual amal routines
 look rather (used to SCROLL rainbows ) bogus.
 I was thinking that perhaps using one of the "data" commands like "restore" I
 could move the data pointers often enough to cycle the colors, however
 this would be an involved loop and would probably slow down the program 
 considerably.

 Anybody have any Idea's using AMAL?

							Thanks
								Ed

 Yesterday there was a letter in the mail from the AMOS USA Club, it was
 marked "NewsLetter #0".
 
 It was more of an introductory letter outlining the goals of putting this 
 club together, and how we the users can contribute.
 He (Martin Robaszewski) also gives a little background on himself.
 It was about three pages long with a questionaire on the back that they
 asked to fill out and send back.

  Some of the highlights of the next issue (#1) included: 
  Amos support BBS list in USA
  Amos Euro PD List- List of Amos PD Suppliers in the USA.
  New program news...
 
 He also talked about the AMOS Club BBS, which will charge $2.00 a Meg for
 downloads.
  
 For those club members that wish to contribute a program, they will recieve 
 a 25% discount on there next order of 1-5 disks.
  
 He closes out this introductory newsletter by breaking down the $10.00 
 sign up fee into his miscelaneous expenses.
 I'll be waiting for Newsletter #1.
						Ed 
  

  

    
    
    I picked up Amos 3D and the AMos compiler last night. the compiler
    is working fine. 
    
    amos 3d is presently unusable - I can't access the bottom row of
    buttons - the mouse just won't go that low.  I tried using PalBoot
    but it did not help.  When using Palboot the screen image shrinks
    but the mouse still won't reach the lower buttons - It will however
    go above the top of the screen.
    
    Is there something else I need to do? Palboot mentions a
    super AGNUS requirement which i do have - at least I do have
    1 meg of chip mem.
    
    Is Amos 3d really in PAL mode? I can "see" the entire screen just
    can't click on the buttons.
    
    Any word from Europress/Mandarin about the NTSC version?
    
    any alternatives to Pal boot that might be worth trying?
    
    brien 
    
    

     There is supposed to be a new version of AMOS 3D, it should have been
    in the stores by now, it fixes this bug in the OM modeler program.
     If I were you I'd bring it back and ask for the newer version.
     However, there is a fix for it on EOT::Amiga:[amiga.amos].
     The name escapes for the moment, I'll take a look and repost the name
    of it.
      The utility allows you to adjust the physical screen hieght.
      I've found that a hieght of 210 works for me.
    
    								Ed
    

    re: -1
     It's called A3DPatch.lzh.
    								Ed
    

    
    re. last 2
    
     I'll try the patch tonite  ( prefsII ). Meanwhile I called the dealer
    and they are mailing me an update disk for the OM. It seems they had
    these updates in stock but the "weekend" crew was not aware of them.
    
    thanks for the help
     
     brien