I've received the following query, can anyone help me with the reply,
as I don't have a system (QL or Aurora) set up at this moment to test
with basic pointer environment.
===========================================================================================
I have downloaded a program from your website which say it needs the
new
colour system. Presumably this means the colour drivers and the new
window
manager I read about.
The program does not run on my system, which is a Super Gold Card
QL.
I thought this program should run in old mode 4 colours (by the
documentation),
but I get out of range and invalid parameter errors when it tries to
run on my system.
Is there anything that can be done? My system has got pointer
environment, but is
old v1.61.
Thomas."
==================
Here is my proposed reply, but I'd be grateful if anyone can confirm
if I'm right as I don't have a QL set up to test this (the point I'm
trying to make is that software which uses the System Palette may run
on a QL if you have the latest pointer environment on your QL):
"Programs like the one you describe use the System Palette, a method
of describing pre-defined colour schemes to help provide standardised
appearances for program displays. Although this existed to some extent
in older pointer environments (you can see the standardised
appearances or 'colourways' in QMenu menus, QPAC2 menus and so on),
the older pointer environments like the version you mention probably
don't support everything needed by the new Window Manager 2.
It is worth upgrading to the latest pointer environment v2.01 which
implements some of the Window Manager 2 requirements on a QL system -
this can help programs for the new environment to run to some degree
with no or fewer errors on an older system which does not have the new
8-bit or 16-bit colours. If I remember correctly, the facilities you
need were introduced at v2.00 of the Pointer Environment. You
obviously won't get 16 bit colour on a QL, but at least the programs
should run in old mode 4 colours.
Pointer Environment files ptr_gen, wman and hot_rext can now be
distributed free of charge. You can get the latest versions from
Wolfgang Lenerz's SMSQ/E website at www.scp-paulet-lenerz.com/smsqe/
(follow link from the opening page, as the files are on a separate
page there) or from my download site at www.dilwyn.uk6.net/index.html
(navigate to the Pointer Environment page where you can download the
latest PE I have). As it is a free download it is worth everybody
getting the latest version of pointer environment anyway.
Most of my new QL software will now make use of System Palette
colours, so will only run on a system with WMAN2 (pointer environment
files v2.00 or later). Since PE is now free, everyone should get the
latest version for their system as it will help users to run the new
software on older hardware."
Dilwyn Jones
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