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Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:07 am
by Sebright
Hi, as a newb/returning user, I've never had a play with the more advanced graphics modes available on the more modern QL variants.
Since I'm using Q-emulator, which I understand can emulate these modes, I'd like to explore that a bit. Basically, I need to get a pointer to some reference explaining the relevant SuperBASIC commands. Stuff like setting window sizes, font sizes, loading and saving graphic screens, etc.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Alan
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 3:45 pm
by Derek_Stewart
Sebright wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:07 am
Hi, as a newb/returning user, I've never had a play with the more advanced graphics modes available on the more modern QL variants.
Since I'm using Q-emulator, which I understand can emulate these modes, I'd like to explore that a bit. Basically, I need to get a pointer to some reference explaining the relevant SuperBASIC commands. Stuff like setting window sizes, font sizes, loading and saving graphic screens, etc.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Alan
Hi,
You could try looking at the QL Homepage, the link for this is at top of Forum page.
Try looming at thd online Superbasic manual:
https://superbasic-manual.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
The manual describes all Superbasic and toolkit keywords, can be read online or saved as PDF file.
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 5:34 pm
by Sebright
Thanks Derek, wow, that's a lot of reading lol
If there were any SuperBASIC demos I could dissect, that might be an easier way in, but I will get there one way or another.
Cheers,
Alan
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:03 pm
by tofro
Q-Emulator won't push into High-Colour-Mode with QDOS or Minerva (which wouldn't support it anyways). You need to run SMSQ/E.
A download link and a short guide on how to have SMSQ/E up and running on Q-Emulator can be found
here (bottom of the page).
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 10:20 pm
by Sebright
tofro wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:03 pm
Q-Emulator won't push into High-Colour-Mode with QDOS or Minerva (which wouldn't support it anyways). You need to run SMSQ/E.
A download link and a short guide on how to have SMSQ/E up and running on Q-Emulator can be found
here (bottom of the page).
Ah thanks, so I need SMSQ/E to access the higher res modes. That is a step too far at the moment, so I'll stick with what I know (sort of!).
Cheers,
Alan
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:15 am
by tofro
Sebright wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 10:20 pm
tofro wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:03 pm
Q-Emulator won't push into High-Colour-Mode with QDOS or Minerva (which wouldn't support it anyways). You need to run SMSQ/E.
A download link and a short guide on how to have SMSQ/E up and running on Q-Emulator can be found
here (bottom of the page).
Ah thanks, so I need SMSQ/E to access the higher res modes. That is a step too far at the moment, so I'll stick with what I know (sort of!).
No need to shy back: SMSQ/E is just QDOS with another name.
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:50 am
by Derek_Stewart
Hi,
QPC2 is a good QL emulator that uses SMSQ/E by default, and can run on Windows, Linux with Wine.
It can run in a 4/8/65536 colour mode and have variable resolutions.
This may be will give the development progression that you need and the emulation is free with no restrictions.
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:54 am
by pjw
While QPC2 is the best QL platform yet, let me also plug
SMSQmulator in an honourable second place, which runs on anything(?) that can run Java, ie Windows, Linux, etc..
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 5:14 pm
by NormanDunbar
While QPC2 does indeed run perfectly on Linux under Wine, be aware that I updated to Wine 10 from Winehq online and not through my Linux Mint repositories.
QPC2 runs, but the mouse cursor will not move when running under version 10. It works perfectly under 6.0.3 which is the current Mint version.
I have not tried any versions between these two to find a more recent version which works.
HTH
Cheers,
Norm.
Re: Beyond Mode 4/8
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 6:15 pm
by Derek_Stewart
NormanDunbar wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2025 5:14 pm
While QPC2 does indeed run perfectly on Linux under Wine, be aware that I updated to Wine 10 from Winehq online and not through my Linux Mint repositories.
QPC2 runs, but the mouse cursor will not move when running under version 10. It works perfectly under 6.0.3 which is the current Mint version.
I have not tried any versions between these two to find a more recent version which works.
HTH
Cheers,
Norm.
Hi,
I use Wine 8 on Linux Mint 21.3, and a cheeky glass of Chardonnay...