[comp.os.os2.misc] dual monitors for debugging PM apps on PS/2s

nico@Micrognosis.Los-Gatos.CA.US (Speaker-to-Workstations) (05/31/91)

It's probably a well known technique when debugging PM programs to use two
monitors: one to display the PM app, the other exclusively displaying
codeview. This prevents the nasty double page flick between codeview's
screen and the desktop when you step, set breaks, etc.

Although this environment is easy to set up on a PC, I have so far had
zero success setting it up on a PS/2. My config is a PS/2, an 8514/A
adapter card, and two monitors - one plugged into the 8514/A and the other
into the PS/2's standard onboard VGA connector.

IBM claim that using codeview with 2 monitors is impossible. From my
foolings around, this may indeed be true (for PS/2's, mind you).

Anyone ever had success in this area?

nico
--
 nico@micrognosis.los-gatos.ca.us
 Vique's Law: "A man without religion is like a fish without a bicycle."

Michael R. MacFaden (06/03/91)

I run this configuration. The 8514/a and display run BGA mode, the 8513 monitor runs
full screen. The trick was to get your config.sys and display.dll set up properly. Believe
me, it is a nightmare if you don't get it right during OS/2 install. (Unix does much cleaner
with good old /etc/ttys thank you).

Here is my config.sys 
   REM * 8514/A w/additional VGA display     
   SET VIDEO_DEVICES=VIO_IBMVGA,VIO_IBM8514A  
   SET VIO_IBMVGA=DEVICE(BVHVGA)             
   SET VIO_IBM8514A=DEVICE(BVH8514A)       
  
I have in my c:\os2\dll has the following display dlls. I think these are all you need, but be careful,
I may not have the complete list...
---A-  Dec  3  19:16:48  1990       7898       8192  bvh8514a.dll  
---A-  Dec 14  12:26:54  1990      32746      32768  bvhvga.dll 
---A-  Dec  3  18:56:32  1990     283856     284672  display.dll
---A-  Dec  3  19:08:28  1990       8116       8192  bvhinit.dll 
---A-  Nov  3  11:45:40  1990       6553       8192  bvhwndw.dll

When I bring up CodeView 3.0, it displays on the VGA monitor. Currently OS/2 PM suffers from the
fact that it can't handle multiple displays like X does, so you get the unique *feature* of
watching one tube's display Freeze while the other has focus. When the VGA has focus,
you have to use CTRL+ESC or terminate the full screen program to switch back to the PM
monitor.

Hope this helps,