README.SET MATROX GRAPHICS INC. December 16, 1994
The MGA MicroStation Driver
Revision 1.23
This floppy disk contains the MATROX MGA MicroStation 4.0 and 5.0 driver.
This driver supports all MGA Impression and Ultima boards including the
new Impression Plus and Impression Lite. It also supports configurations
with two MGA boards.
Floppy contents:
README.MGA This file
INSTALL.EXE Installation program
PKUNZIP.EXE File decompression utility
FILES1.ZIP Driver files
Product files:
README.MGA This file
US_MGA.MGL Driver identification file for USCONFIG program
MGA1.CFG Driver identification file for USCONFIG program
MGA2.CFG Driver identification file for USCONFIG program
US_MGA.EXE Configuration program
US_MGA.MA Driver MDL program
US_MGA.EXP Driver EXP program
US_2MGA.BAT Procedure to set up systems for two MGA boards
Installation:
-------------
The installation program takes care of copying all the necessary files to
the \USTATION\DRIVERS subdirectory. If two MGA boards are present in the
system, it will detect it, and prepare your system so that you can
configure each board separately.
If you install a second MGA board later, your \USTATION\DRIVERS subdirectory
must be modified. You can either reinstall the MGA MicroStation driver from
scratch, or you can quickly run the US_2MGA.BAT file to set you up properly.
Configuration:
--------------
The MGA is configured by running the USCONFIG program which requires
approximately 500 kbytes of DOS memory to execute. Once you select
the MGA driver, USCONFIG will invoke the MGA specific configuration
utility. However, if you don't have enough memory, the MGA specific
configuration utility will not start. The workarounds are : a) free DOS
memory by cleaning your CONFIG.SYS, or b) run USCONFIG anyway, then switch
to the \drivers subdirectory and run the US_MGA.EXE program to complete
the configuration.
Possible Configurations:
------------------------
You can use an MGA in single or dual screen configuration. In dual screen
configuration, the MGA can be either the "right" or "left" screen; the other
display adapter can be a VGA, another high-res adapter, or another MGA board.
As for any MicroStation device, you configure the MGA board through the
MicroStation USCONFIG program. When selecting MGA, the Matrox Configuration
Utility will be called, to let you select a mode (resolution and pixel depth).
If two MGA boards are present in your system, you will have to identify which
board will be used for the right and left screen. You can use the SETUP
program supplied with your MGA package (directory \MGA\SETUP) to determine which
board is connected to which screen.
Also, you will have to select a mode (resolution and pixel depth) for each
screen. The selected mode will be validated immediately; if it is not supported
on your particular model you will be able to select another mode.
In a single screen configuration, the SWAP screen feature of MicroStation is
supported by this MGA driver, but only in 8bpp (256 color) mode.
Windows Connection on MicroStation 5.0:
---------------------------------------
When using the Windows Connection with one board, the configuration is straight-
forward. You just select the Windows Connection as the display adapter for the
right screen in the USCONFIG program, and you are done. In this case, this
MicroStation driver is not used.
If you have two MGA in your system:
- The Matrox Windows driver will use the board having the highest
address mapping. So the adapter with the Windows Connection
will always start on that board.
- The board having the highest address mapping must have the VGA
switch enabled to avoid sharing the MicroStation dedicated screen
with Windows in text mode. Refer the DUAL SCREENS section of the
MicroStation document INTRODUCTING MICROSTATION PC, page 6-13 for
more information.
- When you select the MGA driver for the MicroStation dedicated screen,
the Matrox config utility will start and you must tell it to use the
board having the lowest address mapping.
Driver history:
---------------
1.11 version
- Fixed line weight problem with MicroStation 5
- Fixed random crash in MATDWALK (3D)
- Improved configuration utility, for the dual-MGA user
- Fixed driver to support two MGA with one using Windows Connection
(see limitation below)
1.12 version
- Support for MGA rev. 3 accelerator (without 3D)
- Fixed DOS shell in 8 bpp, when swap screen feature is ON
1.13 version
- Fixed problem related to programming of ATT ramdac
- Fixed video display problems at certain resolutions
- Support for new PCI bus chip
1.20 version
- Added support for the Impression+/PCI
- Removed the 3D module (see below)
1.21 version
- Support for the Impression Lite/VL and /PCI
1.23 version
- Added support for Impression+/AT
- Minor low level fixes regarding video shift
- Bug fix corrects problem with solid weighted lines causing
artifacts on "wide text".
- Bug fix to correct width of weighted lines. Previously, line weights
were interpreted as is with the exception of weight 0 which was
interpreted as 1 (weight+1). Now all line widths are interpreted as
the weight+1.
TIPS, BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
--------------------------
- There is a known problem with weighted styled lines. The line
style is not continued properly from one line segment to the next.
As a result, lines having length smaller than the style length
may appear solid for certain line styles.
- If you have 2 MGA VL-bus boards and want to use Windows Connection on
one of them, be aware that NONE of the boards can be mapped at the (default)
AC00 base address, otherwise the MGA "DOS" driver will not be able to
work.
- When reconfiguring MicroStation 4.0 to change the MGA mode
(resolution or pixel depth), it is not necessary to reboot your system
before restarting MicroStation. However, when changing the drivers or other
parameters in USCONFIG, the system must be rebooted for the changes to take
place.
- Matrox has developped a 3D Module, which is not included in this release.
This module can be used by MGA-I users running MicroStation 4.0 only.
MGA-I boards include: MGA-IMP/3/A(/Z), MGA-IMP/3/V(/Z), MGA-PRO/4.5/Z.
For those who have those models and are upgrading to 1.2x drivers, the
3D Module which was included in earlier versions of the driver is still
compatible. If you do not have an earlier version, the file will be
available shortly through our BBS. Contact Matrox Technical is necessary.
Any other MGA models, including the new Impression-Plus one do not
support the old 3D Module.
Matrox is in the process of rewritting a new MicroStation 5.0 driver, which
will support 3D acceleration on all MGA boards with 3D hardware, including
the Impression-Plus. These drivers, however, will not include Dyaview/3D
functionality.
