POVMOD Virtual Memory Utility for POV-Ray 2.10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This file contains a utility program for the POV-Ray IBM-PC protected mode executable compiled with Intel's "Code Builder Kit" 32 bit "C" compiler. It is not of any use for exectuables compiled with any other compiler. It's purpose is to expand (or reduce) the amount of virtual memory available to POV-Ray during it's operation. ***************************** NOTE ******************************************* If you get a message about running out of memory (allocation failure...., memory exhausted......, insufficient memory.... etc) you should use this utility. It's *un-needed* until your image models become complex enough to to require more than the 3072K of virtual memory that POV-Ray uses as it's distribution default. ****************************************************************************** The "region size" consists of the physical RAM *PLUS* the amount of disk space allocated to a swapfile for POV-Ray. The unmodified POV-Ray will render approx. a 15,000 triangle file. (Supports 3072K of memory. In a machine with less than 4 megs of RAM the VMM may be used to raise it to that amount. In a machine with *more* than 3072K of RAM it will go ahead and use it, if available, when run "stand alone". I.E. when not running under a DPMI host such as Windows, OS/2 2.x or QEMM w/ QDPMI installed.) To expand the amount of virtual memory available, more Hard Disk space must be allocated to POV-Ray. POVMOD will list the amount of physical RAM available in the machine PLUS the free space on the hard disk. Any or all of this can be allocated for POV-Ray's use during a trace. (Note: These amounts may not reflect the actual amount installed in the machine when running under a DPMI Host. They are the amounts reported by the host and must be configured in the setup of the host. For instance the amount of XMS and DPMI memory is set under the DOS SETTINGS for an OS/2 2.x DOS session.) Use of POVMOD. -------------- Place POVMOD in the same directory as POVRAY.EXE. From the command line type: POVMOD POVRAY.EXE The program will run and present a list of the current parameters that POV-Ray operates under. The number in the upper right corner of the table (The one labeled "Region Size:") is the amount of memory (Both virtual and physical combined AT THAT TIME.) that POV-Ray can use. I.E. The current setting. Press (M)odify to change the parameters. Press (E)nter to alter the region size. You can then manually enter the amount of memory you would like to have available for the program to use. Generally a value of 6M to 10M will cover all but the most complex images. The (A)ccept key will configure the region size for the largest possible swap file size. (NOTE: (A)ccept is not the best choice in most cases. If there is a large amount of free space on your HD it could result in a *very* large swap file.) The (C)reate option will create a -permanent- swap file. *** Remember you need enough free disk space to write out your image *** *** file as it is created though!!! *** The POV-Ray executable file will then be modified to reflect your choices. Since much of this "memory" is usually a swap file on your hard disk you will get *much* better performance with a recently de-fragmented disk. The program will NOT allow you to allocate a larger region size than can be created AT THAT TIME. I.E. if you have 6 Megs of combined RAM/Hard Disk space avail. you cannot make the region size any larger than that. Also if the region size is set to a particular amount and your hard disk is later filled to the point that the free disk space is not large enough for the required swap file to be created, the program will *NOT* run. It will error with an insufficient memory message. You will need to modify the region size to accommodate the smaller amount of disk space available. An environment variable is used to "point" to the location of the swap file. The DEFAULT swap file is C:\XMSWAP.TMP. To set it to another location the following must be added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET SWAP=d:\[subdir]\XMSWAP.TMP Where d: is the drive and [subdir] is the subdirectory you wish to use for the swapfile. You will need to reboot the machine for this parameter to take effect. (Note: The test triangle files referred to were generated with FRGEN 1.1.) -------------------------------- OS/2 2.x Note -------------------------------- When running POV-Ray under OS/2 2.x you need to set the DPMI_MEMORY_LIMIT value under the DOS SETTINGS for the session to a value GREATER than or EQUAL to the Region Size you set in the POVRAY executable with this program. See IBMPCEXE.DOC for further information. Bill Pulver CIS : 70405,1152 <---- Most often used. InterNET: 70405.1152@compuserve.com AOL : BPulver Less often used: Delphi : BILLP Prodigy: NCCJ93A Genie : B.Pulver 9/26/93