[comp.graphics] Direct Memory Video on a PC, help please

draper@cpsin1.uucp (Patrick J Draper) (08/05/90)

I'm trying to learn how video memory is arranged for various screen
modes on an IBM VGA card.
Currently, I know how to write to memory on the first page, but
accessing other pages and flipping between them is something I can't
figure out so far.

Could somebody point me in the right direction and give me titles of
complete and comprehensive references?

Thanks in advance,

Patrick Draper  ----  Michigan State University

P.S. I know that writing directly to the screen is evil, but this is
strictly for curiosity that I want to learn how it's done.

ekalenda@cup.portal.com (Edward John Kalenda) (08/06/90)

A good, fairly easy reading book is:

"Programmer's Guide to PC & PS/2 Video Systems"
Richard Wilton
Microsoft Press

A somewhat more difficult, but more detailed book is:

EGA/VGA  A Programmer's Reference Guide
Bradley Dyck Kliewer
McGraw-Hill

The first is in a tutorial type format, good for reading and learning. The
second is a reference, good for the details but I find it hard to learn
from. Best save it for after you have the basics well in hand (or mind).

If you have specific questions, feel free to mail them to the address below.
I'll get you answers as I have free time. Just don't load the conference
with direct questions unless you want to ask everybody.

Ed
ekalenda@cup.portal.com

stoft@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Dave E. Stoft) (08/07/90)

Another good text is:
	Programmers Guide to the EGA and VGA Cards
	Richard F. Ferraro
	Addison-Wesley

Note: I have had some difficulty with graphics/text page flipping with
VGA using Turbo C as they 'hard-wire' some page addressing....so yes this
can be tricky stuff.

-Dave

wildbill@oldcolo.UUCP (Billy Dunlap) (08/14/90)

      I need help on screen masks does anybody known of any good books
on screen masks and cursor masks.   Input/ouput of these through the return
registers and calling registers ?