I'm trying to document the bit patterns for the Q68 colour modes. Specifically for the COLOUR_NATIVE command.
When I saw that the high and low bytes of MODE 33 seemed to be the wrong way round in the documentation I downloaded, I wondered if the Q68 was different to the Q40/60, and if the intensity bit was implemented.
Martin_Head wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 11:32 am
But my main question is the 'I' intensity bit. It does not seem to make any difference to me. But it might just be my eyesight.
It should make a difference. Probably easiest to see if you write 64 different grey levels.
Thanks for that, I will have another play. At least I now know that the intensity bit should work.
Derek_Stewart wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:28 am
Hi Martin,
I can not find the reference to FLASH bit working in DISP_MODE 0 or 512x256 Mode 8
There is an error in the Q68 Board Manual dated 10/2020
Page 2:
Video Modes
0. Standard QL MODE 8 256x256 pixel (8 colours)
this should read:
Video Modes
0. Standard QL MODE 8 512x256 pixel (8 colours)
This is corrected in the SMSQ/E manual dated 11-2017
I will correct this, which means editing the PDF file.
Derek,
QL MODE 8 is indeed 256 horizontal physical pixels, even if SBASIC uses logical coordinates to stay aligned with MODE 4 and allows you to set a BLOCK at 511,255. SBasic simply divides the x coordinates by 2 before setting the pixel in MODE 8. SCR_XLIM will return "512", because it uses logical coordinates as well.
Martin_Head wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:13 am
Is the FLASH command supposed to be supported in DISP_MODE 0/MODE 8 in the Q68?
If I enter, FLASH 1 : PRINT "flashing" it does not flash. But if I POKE the display file, I can get flashing lines on the screen.
Under Minerva, flash does work
After making the post. I tried Minerva, and it worked OK in that.
I have also tried renaming my BOOT program, so I can get a clean system boot. And FLASH still does not work in SMSQ/E.
So it looks like a bug in SMSQ/E.
I'd rather call it a "deliberate non-implement". Most of the graphics drivers seem to be derived from the QPC one, that (obviously) doesn't have hardware support for FLASH.
I asked Wolfgang Lenerz, who maintains Q68 SMSQ/E, who thinks FLASH is not implemented, which is consistant with the current SMSQ/E and Q68 hardware documentation.
So no SMSQ/E bug, just not implemented.
The only implementatation of FLASH on the Q68 is in Minerva, which Jan has very kindly implemented.