Instructions for: RUN VT! (v1.0) PUBLIC DOMAIN Program runs on: All Amstrad CPCs and CPC+s, tape or disc. Program written by: Michael Beckett, June 1992 11 Steeple Gardens, Steeple Road, Antrim Co Antrim, N Ireland, BT41 1BW. ---------------------------COPYRIGHT NOTICE--------------------------- Although RUN VT! has been donated to the PUBLIC DOMAIN, the programmer retains full copyright of the software. This means that the program may be freely distributed and copied, AS LONG AS NO CHARGE IS MADE (other than a small copying charge) and NO ALTERATIONS ARE MADE TO ANY PART OF THE PROGRAM. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you require assistance with the program, please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope with all correspondance. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.0 INTRODUCTION ------------ RUN VT! is a video titling program which allows you to create text displays on the screen, for adding to your own videos - credits for your latest home video production, for example. A variety of effects are available for joining frames - fades, wipes etc. A "frame" is simply the name given to a screenful of titles. A complete collection of frames is called a "sequence". You can have up to 27 frames stored in RAM at any one time, which should be more than ample for most people's needs. RUN VT! is designed principly to work with the CPC-VIDEO lead produced by W.A.V.E. (originally a hardware project in the July 1990 Amstrad Action). It can also be used with an RGB-SCART lead, although the fade options will not produce the desired effect. RUN VT! can produce text displays in normal and double size letters, as well as offering a block graphics facility, enabling simple graphics to be added. Note that throughout these instructions, keypresses are shown in [square brackets]. For CPC 464 owners, [RETURN] means the large [ENTER] key. 1.1 GETTING STARTED --------------- From disc: - Insert the RUN VT! disc in drive A. - Type: RUN"VT [RETURN] - RUN VT! will load and run. From tape: - Insert the RUN VT! tape in the tape deck. - Type: RUN" [RETURN] - RUN VT! will load and run. Once the program has loaded, you should see the main menu on the screen. 1.2 CONTROL METHOD -------------- RUN VT! operates with a "point and click" interface. This works by moving a pointer around the screen to select a particular option. "Clicking" means choosing an option which you have moved the pointer to. When different options are to be selected, they will generally be selected by clicking on a "button" - a little box with the option displayed in it. There are two buttons which are used frequently - OK and CANCEL. If you click on OK, you have confirmed the option, and the program will start the task. If you click on CANCEL, the program will abort the task, usually returning you to the main menu. Often, when the program requires the user to set some attribute (such as frame display style - fades etc) a list of options will be displayed along with a little circular "tag" beside each one. The option which is currently set is indicated by having the circle filled in. To change the setting, just click on another tag. RUN VT! is controlled using the following keys:- Cursor keys - Moves the pointer. If the pointer is too slow, hold down [SHIFT] at the same time to speed it up, or [CTRL] to turbo-charge it. [SPACE] } [ENTER] }- Clicks - ie selects the option under the pointer. [RETURN] } Note that if you click the pointer on an illegal area, the computer will make a "ping" sound, and ignore the selection. 2.0 MAIN MENU --------- This is where all the major options are presented. Also displayed is the number of frames currently set up. This will read 0 when RUN VT! is loaded. The options are as follows:- 2.1 New sequence 2.2 Add frame 2.3 Delete frame 2.4 Swap frames 2.5 Save 2.6 Load 2.7 Catalogue 2.8 Baud 2.9 Action! 2.10 Exit 2.11 Backup To select an option, move the pointer to it and click. Some of the options require frames to be set up before they will operate - the message "No frames set up!" will be displayed. Click on the OK button to remove this message and return to the menu. 2.1 NEW SEQUENCE ------------ This will wipe all frames currently in memory. You will have to confirm that you do actually want to start again, as the frames cannot be recovered once a new sequence has been started. Click on OK if you are sure - if not, clicking on CANCEL will ignore the option and return you to the menu. 2.2 ADD FRAME --------- This enables you to add a new frame to the end of the sequence. A sub-menu will appear giving you a number of options:- - New frame (start a frame from scratch) - From file (add a frame which you have previously saved onto tape or disc) - OK (go ahead) - CANCEL (return to the main menu) If the maximum number of frames has already been set up, the message "No room in file: you can't add a frame" will be displayed. Click on OK to return to the main menu. 2.2.1 NEW FRAME --------- If you decide you want to start a totally new frame, select this option. The screen will clear and you will enter the Frame Editor (see section 3.0). This enables you to design the frame. 2.2.2 FROM FILE --------- If you wish to add a frame which you have previously saved to tape or disc, select this option. The screen will clear and you will have to specify the name of the frame. Tape machines Enter the name of the frame and press [RETURN]. To ------------- abort, press [ESC] and you will be returned to the main menu. When the name has been specified, you will be instructed to insert the data tape in the tape deck. Click on OK when you're ready to load the frame. If you don't want to load the frame, click on CANCEL. Once you have done this, the frame will be loaded, and you will enter the Frame Editor (see section 3.0) Disc machines A list of suitable files on the disc will be ------------- displayed. If there are too many files to display at once, you can scroll through the list by clicking on the up and down arrows beside the list. Moving the pointer over the files will highlight the name of the file under the pointer. Click on the file name to select it. If you want to load from a different disc, insert the new disc and click on the NEW DISC button. If you do not wish to load a frame, click on CANCEL to return you to the main menu. If the message "Disc read error!" is displayed, this means that RUN VT! was unable to access the disc drive. This will normally mean that you haven't inserted a disc properly. Click on RETRY when you have rectified the problem. CANCEL will take you back to the main menu. Once you have sucessfully loaded a frame, you will enter the Frame Editor (see section 3.0). 2.3 EDIT FRAME ---------- This option enables you to change a frame which you have previously set up. You will first have to select the frame you wish to edit. To do this, click the pointer on the up and down arrows to select the frame number. Click on OK when you are ready, or CANCEL to go back to the main menu. Once you have selected the frame, you will enter the Frame Editor (see section 3.0) 2.4 DELETE FRAME ------------ Should you wish to remove a frame from the sequence, choose this option. First, select the frame you want to delete - this is achieved in the same way as you select a frame to edit (see section 2.3). If you confirm that the frame is to be deleted, then it will be removed from the sequence. Note that once a frame has been deleted, it cannot be recovered - use this option wisely. 2.5 SWAP FRAMES ----------- Choose this if you want to swap the position of two frames in the sequence. You will first need to select the two frames to swap. Do this by clicking on the up and down arrows beside the frame numbers. Click on OK when you're ready, or CANCEL to go back to the main menu. Once you have confirmed your choice, the two frames will be swapped and you will be returned to the main menu. 2.6 SAVE ---- This option saves the entire sequence to tape or disc. Enter the name of the sequence and press [RETURN]. To abort, press [ESC] and you will be returned to the main menu. Once the name has been entered, you will be prompted to "Insert a disc or tape to save on." Click on CANCEL to go back to the main menu. If you click on OK, the sequence will be saved and then you will be returned to the main menu. For disc owners, if the message "Saving Error!" is displayed, this normally means that there isn't a disc on the disc drive, the disc is write-protected or there is no room left on the disc. 2.7 LOAD ---- Note that loading a sequence will destroy any frames that you have already set up. Tape machines Enter the name of the sequence and press [RETURN]. To ------------- abort, press [ESC] and you will be returned to the main menu. When the name has been specified, you will be instructed to insert the data tape in the tape deck. Click on OK when you're ready to load the sequence. If you don't want to load the sequence, click on CANCEL. Once you have done this, the sequence will be loaded, and you will be returned to the main menu. Disc machines A list of suitable files on the disc will be ------------- displayed. If there are too many files to display at once, you can scroll through the list by clicking on the up and down arrows beside the list. Moving the pointer over the files will highlight the name of the file under the pointer. Click on the file name to select it. If you want to load from a different disc, insert the new disc and click on the NEW DISC button. If you do not wish to load a sequence, click on CANCEL to return you to the main menu. If the message "Disc read error!" is displayed, this means that RUN VT! was unable to access the disc drive. This will normally mean that you haven't inserted a disc properly. Click on RETRY when you have rectified the problem. CANCEL will take you back to the main menu. Once you have sucessfully loaded a sequence, you will be returned to the main menu. 2.7 CATALOGUE --------- This performs the equivalent of the Basic CAT command. Tape machines The screen will clear and you will be prompted to ------------- "Press PLAY and any key". The tape will be catalogued as usual. Press ESC when you are finished. Click on the OK button to return to the main menu. Disc machines The screen will clear and and the disc will be ------------- catalogued. Click on the OK button to return to the main menu. 2.8 BAUD ---- (Disc users can ignore this) This allows the tape save speed to be set. Click on the tag beside the SPEED WRITE which you want. Click on the OK button to return to the main menu. 2.9 ACTION! ------- This runs the sequence of frames, for recording onto video tape or for previewing. If you are recording the titles, you should now connect the computer RGB output to the VCR. In the case of the W.A.V.E. lead, this entails connecting the RGB plug to the back of the computer (into the monitor plug), and the BNC or PHONO socket to the VIDEO IN socket on the VCR. You can add sound from your stereo/CD system by connecting its AUX or AUDIO OUT to the VCR's AUDIO IN. Start the music when you are recording, and you will have sound as well as graphics. For the RGB-SCART lead, connect the RGB plug to the back of the computer, and the SCART plug to the SCART/EUROCONNECTOR/AV socket on the back of the VCR. If you don't wish to run the sequence, click on CANCEL, otherwise click on OK. The screen will clear. If you are recording, you should put the VCR into RECORD mode. Once you have done this, press any key on the computer to start the sequence. The sequence will now run, with all the effects which you have specified. If you want to abort the sequence, pressing [ESC] will return you to the main menu after the current frame. When the sequence has finished, the screen will clear. STOP the VCR , then press any key on the computer to return to the main menu. 2.10 EXIT ---- Choose this option when you are finished using RUN VT! The prompt "Reset the computer?" will be displayed. Click on OK if you are sure. If not, clicking on CANCEL will return you to the main menu. Once you have quit RUN VT!, any data which you have set up will be erased from memory, and will not be recoverable. Be careful when you are using this option. 2.11 BACKUP ------ This will create a backup copy of RUN VT! for you, on a new tape or disc. Once you have clicked on BACKUP, you will be instructed to insert a tape or disc. At this stage, clicking on CANCEL will return you to the main menu. Click on OK to go ahead with the backup. Once the program has been re-saved, you will be returned to the main menu. 3.0 FRAME EDITOR ------------ The Frame Editor is used for setting up and changing frames. It can be thought of as a simple text editor, but there's more to it that that. The editing area is 40 characters across and 25 lines down. The current position is indicated by the cursor - a flashing square. There are several different aspects to the Frame Editor:- 3.1 Text entry 3.2 Block graphics 3.3 Double size text 3.4 Frame Editor menu 3.1 TEXT ENTRY ---------- To enter text, move the cursor to the desired position using the cursor keys, then type away. When you type past the right side of the screen, the text will continue at the start of the next line down. A (c) Copyright symbol can be produced by holding down [CTRL] and pressing [C]. [DEL] - delete the character to the left of the cursor [CLR] - clear the character under the cursor, and shift the rest of the line to the left. [CTRL]+[SPACE] - insert a space at the current cursor position, shifting the rest of the line to the right. [CTRL] or [SHIFT] with cursor keys - move the cursor to the edge of the screen. [RETURN] - move the cursor to the start of the next line. [ESC] - calls up the Frame Editor menu 3.2 BLOCK GRAPHICS -------------- The Frame Editor incorporates a method of producing simple block graphics. Each block is the size of one character, and each quarter of the block can be independantly switched on and off. The block is defined by pressing the keys f4 f5 f7 and f8 (or 4 5 7 and 8 on the CPC 464's numeric keypad) to toggle each part of the block on or off. eg To produce a solid block, press f4 f5 f7 and f8. eg For a top left to bottom right line, press f7 and f5. 3.3 DOUBLE SIZE TEXT ---------------- The frame editor also enables double size text to be included in a frame. To do this, type the | (bar) character at the start of the line, and the entire line will be displayed in double sized text when it comes to running the finished sequence. To get the | character, hold down [CTRL] or [SHIFT] and press [@]. The | can only be entered in the first column of a line, and cannot be inserted on the last line of the screen, as the double size text would not fit. The next twenty characters of the line will displayed when running the sequence. Anything after this will be ignored. Also, anything you enter on the next line won't be displayed, as it would be obliterated by the large text on the previous line. eg Columns 1111111111222222 Lines 1234567890123456789012345 10 11 | THE NEXT PROGRAM 12 13 | FOLLOWS SHORTLY... 14 This will display the message in double size text in the middle of the screen. 3.4 FRAME EDITOR MENU ----------------- Pressing [ESC] will bring up the Frame Editor Menu. This may look daunting at first, with a bewildering number of options, but DON'T PANIC! 3.4.1 EFFECTS ------- There are two columns of options which relate to the way the frame is displayed (Entry) and cleared off the screen (Exit). To change the display/clearing method, click on the tag beside the option you wish to select. The Entry methods are:- Straight - Simply displays the frame with no special effects Fade in - Fades the screen up from black to the set colours Build up - This builds the screen up from a jumble, gradually getting more ordered, until the proper frame is displayed. The Exit methods are:- Straight - Just clears the screen normally Fade out - Fades the screen to black from the current colours Build down - Opposite of build up - jumbles the screen until it disappears. Frizzle - "Disintegrates" the screen Blind - Gives a Venitian blind-type effect Horizontal wipe - Clears the screen from left to right Vertical wipe - Clears the screen from top to bottom Note that the fade options will produce undesirable effects if you are using an RGB-SCART lead. 3.4.2 DISPLAY TIME ------------ This is the length of time, in seconds, for which the frame will be displayed. To change the time, click on the arrows on either side of the time. 3.4.3 INK COLOURS ----------- This allows the you to set the display colours of the frame. The PEN is the colour of the text, and the PAPER is the colour of the background. To change the colour, click on the arrows beside the colours. If you are using the W.A.V.E. lead, the colours will produce a grey- scale effect. 3.4.4 OK -- This will return you to the frame edit mode. If you have set both pen and paper to the same ink colour, you will not be able to use this option. 3.4.5 QUIT ---- This will return you to the main menu. If you have set both pen and paper to the same ink colour, you will not be able to use this option. 3.4.6 SAVE ---- This saves the current frame onto tape or disc, for loading in the "Add frame from file" option (see section 2.2.2). Enter the name of the frame and press [RETURN]. To abort, press [ESC] and you will be returned to the Frame Editor menu. Once the name has been entered, you will be prompted to "Insert a disc or tape to save on." Click on CANCEL to go back to the Frame Editor menu. If you click on OK, the frame will be saved and then you will be returned to the Frame Editor menu. 4.0 TECHNICAL INFO -------------- The main RUN VT! program consists of one file:- File type: Binary Start address: &6D00 (27904) Length: &2E00 (11776) Exec address: &6D00 (27904) Each frame takes up 1005 bytes in RAM:- The text data is 1000 bytes long (40x25) The display data is 5 bytes long (Entry, Exit, Time, Pen, Paper) The display data is held in a table at the start of the free RAM, and is 150 bytes long. 5.0 ALL ABOUT ME ------------ RUN VT! was written in a 10-day programming frenzy in June 1992, after I finished my A-Levels (phew!). RUN VT! was written entirely in machine code using the MAXAM Assembler ROM from Arnor. Another program of mine which you may have seen is TOOLKIT, a machine code monitor/disassembler, which was published on the AA covertape in June 1991. As for me: I am 18 years old, have owned a CPC 464 since 1987, and a 6128+ since September 1991. I also used to own a Grandstand Super Sportistic games machine. I'm a member of WACCI, the very best user group around (thanx to Uncle Clive!). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Beckett, July 1992.