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ModeInfo user guide
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User, please note
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ModeInfo is Freeware, i.e. it is free software, but not public domain.

Copyright notice
================

The copyrights (c) of this program belong to John Kortink. All rights are
reserved.

You may not make changes to this program (except for documented configuration
changes). If you distribute it, you may only distribute the complete and
unchanged original copy (as you first received it). You may distribute this
program freely, but must obtain written permission from me if it is to be
distributed as part of, or alongside, any product that is meant to generate
profits. This program is provided 'as is'. Fitness of this program for any
particular purpose is not implied. Using it is entirely at your own risk.


//
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// Introduction
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//

Features :

- Provides low level screen mode information (like size, geometry, and
  horizontal, vertical and other video timing).

Note that the information presented by ModeInfo is very 'involved' and is not
discussed any further here. For more details, please refer to the Video chapter
(pages 5a-99 onwards) of the RISC OS Programmer's Reference Manual and/or the
VIDC data sheets.


//
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// Compatibility
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//

ModeInfo should be compatible with :

- RISC OS 3.1 and later
- ARM 2 and later processors (26-bit architectures only)


//
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// Using ModeInfo
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//

Start !ModeInfo. Click MENU on ModeInfo's iconbar icon.

ModeInfo's iconbar menu pops up, showing the following entries :

- 'Info' and 'Quit' require no explanation.
- Clicking 'Modes ...' opens the 'Modes' window.

Clicking either SELECT or ADJUST on ModeInfo's iconbar icon will (re-)read the
current mode's information and (re-)open the 'Mode Information' window.

The windows mentioned are discussed in detail below.


//
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// The 'Modes' window
//
//

Clicking SELECT on a mode number in this window (unavailable modes are greyed
out) provides an alternative way of obtaining information about numbered modes
(see below). Clicking ADJUST on a mode number changes to that mode.

Normally, you should change to the mode that you want to examine and click
SELECT or ADJUST on ModeInfo's iconbar icon. This is the only way to obtain
information about a mode that is not selected by number.

For numbered modes the Modes window provides an alternative. The information
displayed in the 'Line rate', 'Frame rate', 'Pixel rate', 'Hsync' and 'Vsync'
fields is then slightly different. Clicking a number in the Modes window will
show the values as read from the RISC OS ROM, not accounting for overclocking
(the VIDC reference clock is assumed to be fixed at 24 MHz, while in reality it
can also be switched to, e.g., 36 MHz), while clicking ModeInfo's iconbar icon
will show the 'real' values (i.e. as measured by running a timed loop, counting
vertical sync pulses). To indicate that the values have been measured, they are
displayed in red instead of black.


//
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// The 'Mode Information' window
//
//

This will display information about the selected mode. To understand the
information shown in this window please refer to the RISC OS Programmer's
Reference Manual (pages 5a-99 onwards).

Note that if a mode is based on another mode (i.e. it is a numbered mode that
is provided by a module running under RISC OS 3.1 or earlier), the values for
the base mode are shown in grey behind the values for the selected mode (and
only if they differ). Note that if you load such modules while running
ModeInfo, you must click ADJUST on 'Modes ...' to re-run the check for
available modes.

ModeInfo supports the ViewFinder graphics card for the Risc PC and A7000. If
ViewFinder is running, the values shown in the Mode Information window are
always exact, and 'VF' will be shown behind 'Mode :' (if ViewFinder is not
present or running, the mode number (if any), or 'HI' will be displayed).


//
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// Epilogue
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Updates of ModeInfo (if any appear) will be made available by (in order of
preference) :

- World Wide Web : visit web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink
- Electronic mail : email kortink@inter.nl.net

Enjoy !


John Kortink



