
                            M o r n i n g   S t a r

                                    DEMO/v0

                               December 11, 1991



              "I am ... the bright Morning Star" (Rev 22:16, NIV)



         Introduction
         

              Morning Star is the second generation version of the
         popular DOS screen saver called VGAMoire.  Morning Star
         includes many large advances in technology.  VGAMoire was
         limited to drawing a Moire line design on VGA video cards.
         Morning Star can draw any of its designs on any video card
         it has a video driver for.

                   NOTE:  If you have any difficulties with
                   Morning Star, please be sure to read the
                   "Features" section before contacting us.

              Morning Star uses "saver modules," which are tiny
         programs that draw a design.  Morning Star also has a
         randomizer which can switch between different modules at
         random.  It requires EMS memory to operate.

              This is the first DEMO version of Morning Star.
         Morning Star has been under intensive development for
         approximately eight months and has much to boast about.  The
         demo version is crippled in two minor ways.  First, the
         randomizer cannot be used.  Second, it will not allow a
         saver module to run continuously for more than ten minutes.
         Nevertheless, the demo version is certainly sufficient for
         evaluation or even full-time use.  If you try this demo
         version out, please send us your comments and suggestions!

              The instructions in this file are minimal.  Complete
         documentation will be included with the production release.
         Also included with the production release will be a kit for
         writing your own device-independent saver modules (in 80x86
         assembly language, preferably with Turbo Assembler), source
         code for various sample modules, video drivers for 256 color
         and 16 color VGA modes, and roughly twelve finished saver
         modules.



         Comments, More Information
         

              All comments, suggestions, criticisms, etc. are welcome
         and requested!  To speak your mind or request more
         information, write to:

                          Christopher Antos
                          2115 Windsor Drive
                          Ann Arbor, MI  48103-5652
                          U.S.A.

         UofM MTS-UB email:  Christopher_Antos
         internet email:  antos@behemoth.engin.umich.edu

              In particular, if you have problems or success using
         Morning Star with a network, please relate your bad/good
         news to me!

              When giving bug or success reports, please indicate the
         kind of network and what version of the network software you
         are using, the version of Morning Star you are using (in
         this case DEMO/v0), the options you specified when
         installing Morning Star, and, if at all possible, your
         AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.  Also helpful are the DOS
         version your computer is using.



         Installing Morning Star
         

              For a list of valid options, type:
                   MORNSTAR ?

              Morning Star will not install itself unless you
         specifically tell it to.  To install it, use the /I option.
         Using the /I option alone will install Morning Star with the
         default settings or, if a MORNSTAR.INI configuration file
         exists, it will attempt to load custom settings from that
         file.  To install it type:
                   MORNSTAR /I
         Other options allow you to customize the behavior of Morning
         Star.  See the "Features" section for more information on
         the available features.



         Overview
         

              Morning Star is mouse-aware, telecommunications-aware,
         disk-aware, and keyboard-aware.  It waits until there has
         been no mouse activity, no telecommunications activity, no
         disk driver activity, and no keyborad activity for a
         specified amount of time, and then it will engage.  When
         Morning Star engages, it first checks to see if it will be
         able to draw a design.  If there is not enough free memory,
         or the screen is in an unrecognized video mode, or if there
         is a carrier signal present on your modem, then Morning Star
         will beep and will only blank the screen; it will not draw a
         design.  When Morning Star blanks the screen, it allows DOS
         programs to continue processing in the background.  This is
         ideal for telecommunications, because your connection is not
         broken, and you can prevent screen burn-in even while
         transmitting large files.

              If Morning Star determines that everything is in order,
         then it will load a saver module and run it.  The saver
         module then draws a design until you move the mouse or press
         a key.



         Features
         

              Morning Star has features that no other DOS screen
         saver can compete with.  We'd like to list just a few of its
         many features...

               draws many designs!
               high quality, very inexpensive!  ($15)
               pop-up configuration panel!
               uses less than 8k of conventional memory!
               uses EMS memory for data!
               can allow DOS programs to process in the background
                 when the screen is blanked - ideal for
                 telecommunications!
               optional password protection!
               fully restores the previous video mode (no other DOS
                 screen saver does it as well)!
               mouse-aware!
               telecommunications-aware!
               disk-aware!
               flashes the border color when your phone rings (if
                 you have a modem attached)!
               good service!
               shareware - try before you buy!


              Morning Star has a number of command-line switches you
         can use to configure how it operates.  If you do not like or
         do not understand how to use the DOS command-line, then see
         the "Configuration Panel" section, which explains how to use
         Morning Star's pop-up Configuration Panel to change its
         settings.

              The table below lists Morning Star's command-line
         switches and their functions.  Follow a switch with a minus
         sign to turn it off (eg, M- to turn off mouse awareness).

          Switch   Function
         Ŀ
         ?       displays a list of valid switches and Morning    
                  Star's current settings.                        
         Ĵ
         I       install Morning Star.                            
         Ĵ
         U       uninstall Morning Star.                          
         Ĵ
         Wn      wait for n minutes before engaging.              
         Ĵ
         M       set mouse awareness.                             
         Ĵ
         V       set video awareness.                             
         Ĵ
         B       only allows screen blanking; no designs may be   
                  drawn (also allows DOS programs to continue     
                  processing while the screen is blanked).        
         Ĵ
         P       activates password protection (password can be   
                  set using the Configuration Panel (see "Options"
                  heading in the "Configuration Panel" section);  
                  the production release will include a utility to
                  allow you to set the password without using the 
                  Configuration Panel, for users who do not have  
                  EMS memory).                                    
         Ĵ
         T       tell current settings.                           
         Ĵ
         F       blanks screen by fading out to black; may draw   
                  designs after screen has faded out, depends on  
                  other settings and the current video mode.      
         Ĵ
         Zn      set telecommunication awareness (watches         
                  activity on specified COM ports).               
                    use Z0 to clear list of COM ports to watch.   
                    use Zn (n=1,2,3,4) to add COM port n to list. 
                    eg:  Z012  watches only COM1 and COM2.        
                    eg:  Z13  adds COM1 and COM3 to watch list.   
                    eg:  Z2- removes COM2 from the watch list.    
                    eg:  Z0  disables telecommunication-awareness.
                  Note:  If you have a serial input device (mouse,
                  light pen, touch pad, etc), DO NOT tell Morning 
                  Star to watch the COM port which the input      
                  device is attached to:  the results will be     
                  unpredictable.  Direct connections to mainframes
                  or networks (line drivers) may confuse Morning  
                  Star, although some connections which have been 
                  tested work well.                               
         Ĵ
         D       disable Morning Star completely (provides        
                  Windows compatibility).                         
         Ĵ
         E       enable Morning Star after disabled with option D.
         Ĵ
         -       disable timed screen blanking, still allows      
                  blanking by hotkey (can be nested for batch file
                  usage).                                         
         Ĵ
         +       enabled timed screen blanking after disabled     
                  with option -.                                  
         Ĵ
         S       save current settings (can be nested up to 8     
                  times for batch file usage).                    
         Ĵ
         R       restore saved settings.                          
         Ĵ
         R-      forget all saved settings.                       
         



         Hotkeys
         

              Key                 Action
             Ŀ
             [ctrl]-[alt]-[<]   Turn Morning Star OFF.        
                                 Morning Star will beep once  
                                 to signal that it is off.    
             Ĵ
             [ctrl]-[alt]-[>]   Turn Morning Star ON.         
                                 Morning Star will beep twice 
                                 to signal that it is on.     
             Ĵ
             [ctrl]-[alt]-[/]   Pop up the Configuration      
                                 Panel.  Will beep to signal  
                                 that it cannot if the screen 
                                 is in text mode.             
             Ĵ
             [leftshift]-       Blank the screen.  Depending  
             [rightshift]        on Morning Star's settings,  
                                 what the current video mode  
                                 is, and how much EMS memory  
                                 is available, Morning Star   
                                 may or may not draw a design.
             

              In the final production release of Morning Star, there
         will be a utility which lets you select your own custom
         hotkeys for Morning Star.



         The Configuration Panel
         

              When you press [ctrl]-[alt]-[/] to pop up the
         Configuration Panel, Morning Star first checks to make sure
         the screen is in text mode.  If it is not, or if the screen
         is in an unrecognized, nonstandard text mode (as on some
         SuperVGA cards), then it will beep and will not pop up the
         Configuration Panel.

              The Configuration Panel will pop up in the middle of
         the screen on top of whatever else you are doing.  If you
         have a mouse, you will see an arrow-shaped mouse pointer,
         with which you can click buttons (move the pointer onto the
         button and click the left mouse button).  Pressing the right
         mouse button records any changes you have made and closes
         the Configuration Panel, removing it from the screen.

              The "mouse cursor" is an arrow-shaped pointer.  The
         "flashing cursor" is a short, flashing underline.  When you
         press a key, it affects the control that the flashing cursor
         is on.  When you press a mouse button, if affects the
         control that the mouse cursor is on.

              Controls
              

                   A control is simply any button, checkbox, listbox,
              value box, edit box, etc.

                   A button looks a little bit like a button, and has
              a descriptive (maybe?) word on it.  Clicking on a
              button activates the button, which may cause an action
              to occur (such as popping up a dialog box).
                   A checkbox is a tiny box which can have a
              checkmark in it.  If there is a checkmark, then the
              checkbox is on.  If it is empty, it is off.  There is
              usually a piece of text next to it, which describes the
              function of that particular checkbox.
                   A value box has an arrow pointing left at its left
              end and an arrow pointing right at its right end.
              Between them, a value is displayed.  Often this will be
              numerical, though it may be something else.  For
              instance, it might read "Big" if there are three sizes,
              big, medium, and small.  Clicking on the left arrow
              decreases the value (eg, "big" to "medium").  Clicking
              on the right arrow increases the value (eg, "small" to
              "medium").
                   An edit box holds a string, which can be editted.
              Use the keyboard to enter text.
                   A listbox holds a list of many items.  The list
              can be scrolled upward or downward by clicking on the
              up and down arrows of the scrollbar on the right side
              of the listbox.  To select an item in the listbox,
              simply click on it (or use the up and down arrow keys
              to hilight it).


              Keys
              

               Key              Action
              Ŀ
              [Tab]           move cursor to next control (button,
                               listbox, checkbox, etc).           
              Ĵ
              [BkTab]         move cursor to previous control.    
              Ĵ
              [Space]         activate the button or checkbox that
                               the flashing cursor is on.         
              Ĵ
              right/left      increase or decrease the value if   
              arrows           the flashing cursor is on a value  
                               box.                               
              Ĵ
              up/down arrows  move the hilight bar up or down if  
                               the flashing cursor is on a        
                               listbox.                           
              Ĵ
              [Esc]           cancel the operation (close a dialog
                               box or the Configuration Panel).   
              


              The Layout
              

                   The box in the upper left-hand corner is the
              credits box.  If you click here, you will see the
              credits display.
                   The upper right-hand corner has three controls:
              the power switch, the "Options" button, and a button
              which says "Video".  The power switch checkbox can be
              used to turn Morning Star off and on.  Clicking on the
              "Options" button pops up a dialog box which lets you
              change certain settings.  If you save them, they will
              be used as defaults whenever you install Morning Star.
              See the "Options" section (below) for more information.
                   The "Video" button will be discussed shortly.
              First, we have to explain about a couple things.
                   Below the credits box is a listbox which lists the
              available modules.  A module may display extra controls
              (usually used to configure the module's design) in the
              box to the right of the module listbox.
                   The box on the bottom displays credits for the
              selected module.  If you click here, you will see an
              information window for the selected module.


              Video Drivers
              

                   Now we'll discuss the "Video" button.  If you
              click here, the module listbox will change and will
              display the available video drivers.  The "Video"
              button will also change and read "Modules".  Simply
              hilight the video driver you want to use.  Be sure to
              select the appropriate video driver for your video
              card!  We cannot be responsible for any damage which
              occurs from using an incorrect video driver!  Probably
              all that would happen is the display would be haywire
              until you turn the machine off and back on, but we
              cannot be responsible for any damage which may occur!
                   When you have selected the video driver you want
              to use, click on the "Modules" button to return to the
              module list.


              Options
              

                   Clicking on the "Options" button presents you with
              a dialog box with several configuration settings.  In
              the lower righthand corner are six buttons (Colors,
              Password, Load, Save, Ok, Cancel).  The "Colors" button
              has not yet been implemented in this demo release.
              Clicking on "Password" lets you set or change the
              current password.  "Load" loads settings from the
              settings file.  "Save" writes the current settings into
              a special file, and whenever you install Morning Star,
              these settings are used as defaults (though they may be
              overridden with command-line switches.  See the table
              in the "Features" section).  Clicking "Ok" accepts your
              changes; clicking "Cancel" rejects your changes (you
              can make changes, save them, and then revert to the
              prior settings, but the saved settings will not
              revert).
                   In the "General" box, you can select the amount of
              time that the computer must be idle before blanking the
              screen.  When the "Password checking" checkbox is
              checked, Morning Star will require the password to be
              entered before unblanking the screen.
                   The "System Activity" box lets you toggle video-
              awareness and mouse-awareness on and off.
                   Telecommunication awareness is controlled by the
              "COM Ports" box.  You can check the COM ports you want
              Morning Star to watch for activity.
                   "Blanking Options" controls exactly how the screen
              is blanked.  If "Blanking only" is checked, the screen
              will only be blanked and the design will never be drawn
              (this allows DOS programs to continue processing while
              the screen is blanked--this is ideal for
              telecommunications).  "Hardware blanking" should be
              checked unless you have a true IBM VGA or an ATi VGA
              (some other VGAs may work; VGAs based on the Tseng Labs
              chipset require "Hardware blanking" to be checked).  If
              "Fade to black" is checked, Morning Star will blank the
              screen by fading it out to black.




         Uninstalling Morning Star
         

              To uninstall Morning Star, use the command:
                   MORNSTAR /U
         If any programs have been installed on top of Morning Star,
         it will complain and ask you if you're sure you want to (it
         could cause a system crash).



         Not Implemented
         

              The Options dialog box has a button labeled "Colors."
         Clicking on this button sounds a beep but does nothing else.
         Although configurable colors are already implemented, the
         dialog box for configuring them has not been coded yet.



         Windows 3.0
         

              Morning Star is not designed to work in conjunction
         with Microsoft Windows.  You must disable Morning Star
         before starting Windows.  To do this, use the /D option.  An
         example of a batch file to use to start Windows:

                   MSWIN.BAT
                   @echo off
                   mornstar /s /d           ; save settings, disable
                   it
                   cd \win
                   win                      ; start Windows
                   mornstar /r              ; restore settings



