Re: how to switch from 40-column mode to 80-column mode?

[Mr Nukem <mrnukem@gmail.com>]

On Aug 24, 11:33 pm, "Michael J. Mahon" <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:
> Mr Nukem wrote:
> > On Aug 23, 1:06 pm, "William Garber" <willy4...@garberstreet.com>
> > wrote:
>
> >>"Paul R. Santa-Maria" <paul...@buckeye-express.com> wrote in message46CDE2BF.144AC918@buckeye-express.com...:poppyer">news:46CDE2BF.144AC918@buckeye-express.com...:poppyer wrote:
>
> >>: > When I boot into ProDOS, it says it do have a 80-column card in Slot 2.
> >>: > But still operator in 40-column mode.
> >>: > How do I switch to 80-column mode (by command?)
> >>:
> >>: If you really mean slot 2, and not slot 3 (the
> >>: normal 80-column slot), then try PR#2 to activate
> >>: the 80-column card.
> >>:
> >>: --
> >>: Paul R. Santa-Maria
> >>: Temperance, Michigan USA
>
> >>Thanks, Paul R.
>
> >>Duh, I skimmed right over the fact that he has his
> >>80-column adapter in slot 2. In that case, yes, you
> >>say "PR#2" from ']' and C200G from '*'.
>
> >>William Garber
> >>Email Address - willy4...@garberstreet.com
> >>Alt. Email - willy4...@comcast.net
> >>Web address -http://www.garberstreet.com
>
> > This question is on a real Apple 2 that I have recently got up and
> > running. I have it plugged into a composite type monitor input but
> > when a program goes into 80 column mode I can not read the text . It's
> > there but just very tiny and blury. I have a combo RAM 80 Column card
> > in the apple.
>
> This is correct behavior--80-column text requires more bandwidth than
> a composite monitor can provide (there is one exception:  the AppleColor
> Composite Monitor, which has special circuitry to increase the bandwidth
> of the luminance channel when a color burst is not present (text).
>
> > Is there a way with key combinations to force a program that auto
> > boots to 80 column mode to boot up to 40? Or will I have to exit out
> > of the program each time and run some system commands then reload it?
>
> If the program has a configuration mode that allows you to select
> 40-column text, that would be the way to do it.  This was quite
> common, since people using color monitors could not view 80-column
> text.
>
> Otherwise, if the *application* selects 80-column text, and you can't
> change it, you're stuck.
>
> >  The program I am having most trouble with is Modem Manager which is a
> > Pro Dos autoboot disk and it comes up in 80 column mode,
>
> During the ProDOS boot sequence, the machine is initialized to
> 40-column mode, so if it switches to 80-column mode, it's being
> done either by the startup program or by the application itself.
>
> After ProDOS boots, it runs the first .SYSTEM file in the root
> directory.  If that is BASIC.SYSTEM, then after it loads, it runs
> a BASIC program called "STARTUP" in the root directory.  If the first
> .SYSTEM program is not BASIC.SYSTEM, then you may not be able to modify
> its call to initialize the slot 3 (80-column) firmware easily.
>
> See if there is a "STARTUP" program on the disk.  If it's Applesoft you
> may see a PRINT CHR$(4)"PR#3" statement and can add CHR$(27)CHR$(17) to
> the end of the line.  This enters 40-column mode leaving the 80-column
> firmware active, so mousetext, etc., still works.
>
> It all comes down to modifying the application, or the state of the
> machine when the application is run, if it doesn't actually set the
> mode itself.
>
> -michael
>
> NadaPong: Network game demo for Apple II computers!
> Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/
>
> "The wastebasket is our most important design
> tool--and it's seriously underused."


Thank you for the detailed reply and help Michael.