KRUYSBER@HNYKUN53.BITNET (09/22/89)
A while ago I've read something about a program called EASELST. It changes the default gray desktop background with a Degas PI3 file. I tried the demo version, and it worked perfectly. The only 'but' was that the program was something more than 100K. Three pictures (one for each resolution, so 3 * 32K is already 96K) were kept in menory. Since I only have a monochrome monitor this is a waste of 64K. So I tried to develop such a program on my own. After doing a lot of dirty oldfashioned peeking and pooking around the lower memory areas I found out what happened when the desktop was drawn. I replaced this with drawing the picture. It worked out fine. Another difficulty was how to restore the desktop when windows were moved or changed in size or icons were changed. This lead to some nice assembler routines. Putting it all together lead to a program called DESKTOP.PRG, with size no more than 947 bytes! It has to be installed in the AUTO folder, and a file DESKTOP.PI3 has to be in the same AUTO folder or in the root directory of the boot device. I've had no problems with it; everything works as it should. There are no interactions with GDOS or whatever other routine. This program is called version 1.0! The second step was to make it possible to load a new picture after the boot session. This implied the use of a accessory. This accessory (called DESKTOP.ACC, version 2.1, 4130 bytes) makes it possible to load a new PI3 file or to switch the old gray background on again. The next and at the moment last step was to make it possible to use PC3 files instead of PI3, for disk space savings sake only. So DESKTOP.ACC version 2.2 (4506 bytes) has seen the light. Because of the fact that these are accessories they install the new GEM vector (with XBRA id N_DP) before or after some other accessories did the same. This can lead to some really heavy bombing on your screen. In that case you'll have to stick to the AUTO program. These programs are part of my learning process of programming assembler. The accessories are a combination of assembler and C. Since I don't have the intention to get rich any more, they are to be considered as Public Domain. Anybody who is interested can obtain them by emailing me. Noud van Kruysbergen NICI P.O. Box 9104 6500 HE Nijmegen The Netherlands kruysbergen@hnykun53.bitnet
KRUYSBER@HNYKUN53.BITNET (10/06/89)
I've had an overwhelming amount of mail of people all wanting me to post the DESKTOP programs and accessories to them. Some of them adviced me to post them to comp.binaries.atari.st, and that is exactly what I did. Anyone who is willing to try these programs can obtain them at that adress. The sources are send to comp.sources.atari.st, so you can take a look at it and try things for your self. The programs and sources are known as DEGADESK over there. Noud van Kruysbergen NICI Nijmegen The Netherlands kruysbergen@hnykun53.bitnet
larserio@IFI.UIO.NO (LarsErikOsterud) (10/07/89)
What about a program to load both P?3, P?2 and P?1 depending on your current resolution ?? Can anyone make such an AUTO-folder program ? Lars-Erik / ABK-BBS +47 2132659 / ____ ______ ________________________ Osterud / larserio@ifi.uio.no / /___ / The norwegian ST __________/ ______________________/ ____/ / Klubben, user association
bob@cmpfen.UUCP (Bob Breum) (10/12/89)
larserio@IFI.UIO.NO (LarsErikOsterud) writes: >What about a program to load both P?3, P?2 and P?1 depending on your >current resolution ?? Can anyone make such an AUTO-folder program ? Wouldn't it be a lot simpler to part with a mere $19.95 for EASEL/ST? It has provided this capability for a couple of years now. Why the sudden interest now? Sour grapes from EASEL/ST's soon-to-be-extinct publisher... -- Computer Fenestrations Bob Breum Post Office Box 151 {uiucuxc|hoptoad|petsd|ucf-cs}!peora!cmpfen!bob Lake Monroe, FL 32747 USA +1 407 322-3222 (if a modem answers, try 322-2002) "C is the new BASIC"