SpecialFX 1.05
==============

by David Pilling

with SpecialFX Setup by Richard Hallas

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


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***                                                      ***
*** This is an ABRIDGED help file providing installation ***
***  instructions. For full information, refer to the    ***
***    !Help file within the !SpecialFX application      ***
***                                                      ***
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SpecialFX is a desktop enhancement module which provides three
basic functions:

1. SpecialFX causes calls to the Draw module to be redirected
   to Computer Concepts' GDraw module, thus providing an
   anti-aliased display.

2. SpecialFX causes outline font painting operations to be
   performed with background blending.

3. SpecialFX can cause all printing to occur from low memory
   in applications which use dynamic areas. This provides a
   work-around for a problem in certain printer drivers, such
   as those for Calligraph direct drive laser printers, which
   do not work correctly with particular applications.


Installation
============

IMPORTANT: be sure to read the note below concerning
additional support modules.

If you have been using version 1.00 of SpecialFX, it is
recommended that you delete it from your system to avoid
problems, as the way in which SpecialFX is structured has
changed significantly. However, if you have edited the
SpecialFX choices, you may retain your changes. To do so,
simply run SFXSetup (it will tell you that your version 1.00
choices have been imported) and click Save. Then delete your
old copy of SpecialFX.

SpecialFX 1.05 consists of two components: the module itself
and a configuration tool. These should be installed as
follows:

- !SpecialFX

  This is the resource application containing the SpecialFX
  module. It should be kept in the !Boot.Resources directory
  on all systems, regardless of the operating system version.

- !SFXSetup

  SpecialFX Setup is compatible with RISC OS Configure, so on
  on a RISC OS 4, RISC OS Select or RISC OS 5 machine it is
  recommended that it should be kept within the Configure
  application. However, it may be used independently of
  Configure and hence may be stored anywhere convenient.


Installing !SFXSetup in Configure
=================================

(You only need to follow these instructions if you wish to
use !SFXSetup as a Configure plug-in.)

If you are using a recent version of RISC OS (as supplied on
a RISC OS Select CD, for example), the SpecialFX components
may already have been pre-installed on your system. If not,
proceed as follows:

RISC OS 3.5, 3.6 or 3.7
-----------------------

!SFXSetup must be used as a stand-alone utility because
RISC OS 3 Configure does not support plug-ins. Store !SFXSetup
anywhere you wish on your hard disc.

RISC OS 4.0x
------------

If you are using RISC OS version 4.0x, you will need to copy
!SFXSetup into the !Boot.RO400Hook.Res.Configure directory in
order to install it into Configure.

RISC OS 4.2+
------------

If you are using RISC OS Select (RISC OS 4.2x or later),
simply drag !SFXSetup into the Configure>Extensions
window to install it into that group. Configure will place a
copy in an appropriate place on your hard drive by itself.

If you are using the initial Web-download version of Select
(RISC OS 4.24), you will need to copy the supplied !ExtnSetup
application (which can be found in the Extras directory) into
!Boot.RO420Hook.Res.Configure, and then copy !SFXSetup into
the newly-installed !ExtnSetup.

RISC OS 5.0x
------------

If you are using RISC OS version 5.0x, you will need to copy
!SFXSetup into the !Boot.RO500Hook.Res.Configure directory in
order to install it into Configure.

Optional step: RISC OS 4.0/Select/5 Configure
---------------------------------------------

The versions of Configure supplied with RISC OS 4.0x, RISC OS
Select and RISC OS 5 all have different sprite styles for the
plug-ins. RISC OS 4.0 uses jigsaw-puzzle icons; RISC OS Select
uses more refined-looking jigsaw-puzzle icons (with elongated
lugs); RISC OS 5 uses icons without jigsaw puzzle borders.

Unfortunately, there is no way to make a Configure plug-in
adapt its Configure icon for the version of Configure
currently in use. As supplied, SFXSetup has RISC OS 5-style
icons preinstalled.

So, to make SFXSetup match the appearance of your other
plug-ins, as an extra step you can install appropriate icons
for your version of RISC OS. Look in the Extras directory; it
contains "RISC OS 4", "RISC OS 4S" (i.e. RISC OS Select: 4.2
or later versions) and "RISC OS 5" folders. Open the folder
relating to the OS installed on your machine and drag the
copy of SFXSetup that you find there over the copy that you
have already installed on your own hard disc. This will update
the sprites inside it to match your system.

(The RISC OS 5 directory is supplied for completeness: the
sprites in its copy of SFXSetup are identical to those stored
in the 'main' copy.)

Then...
-------

Once the two applications have been installed in appropriate
locations, run the SpecialFX Setup tool and ensure that the
'Always load SpecialFX' switch has been turned on. This will
cause the SpecialFX module to be loaded whenever the computer
is booted up.


Note on additional support modules
==================================

For anti-aliasing to work, both the GDraw and DitherExtend
modules must be loaded. It is also beneficial for a third
module, GSpriteExtend, to be loaded, though this is not an
essential requirement. These support modules are provided by
various Computer Concepts products, such as the Impression DTP
family and ArtWorks, but their primary source on modern
systems is now the ArtWorks Viewer (AWViewer) program.

When SpecialFX is run, the computer attempts to load these
modules (if they're not present already) from one of the usual
locations; primaryly AWViewer, followed by CCShared (which may
be present inside the System application).

It is strongly recommended that all users should install a
copy of AWViewer inside the !Boot.Resources directory. Modern
systems (those running RISC OS Select or RISC OS 5) will have
the software pre-installed in the right place as standard.
Should you need to download your own copy of AWViewer from the
Web, the latest version of AWViewer can be found here:

<http://www.mw-software.com/software/awmodules/awrender.html>
