DLD-VGA AutoCAD ADI 4.0 display list driver for the AVGA1 Card 
(for AutoCAD Release 10 and 11 DOS and AutoShade DOS versions)

IMPORTANT:

The DLD-VGA 320x200x256 resolution is supported with AutoShade, but not with 
AutoCAD.

The DLD-VGA does not support AutoCAD Release 9 since this version of AutoCAD 
does not support display list drivers.

The DLD-VGA display list driver does not support AutoShade 386 "Quick Shade" 
option.

This file covers the following topics:

*    Set-Up Utility with context sensitive help
*    Environment variables and files used
*    CustomColors utility
*    Support for 256 color modes
*    Current drawing color indicator
*    Font Selection
*    DLDCLEAN
*    Avoiding REGENs
*    Memory Requirements and usage (via DLDUSAGE)
*    AutoCAD Environment Variables
*    Problems loading slides

Set-Up Utility (DLDSETUP.EXE)
-----------------------------
To help answer set-up questions to the DLDSETUP program at any prompt, just 
hit the question mark ("?") to get help specific to the prompt you are at. 
The help text is stored in a file called DLDSETUP.HLP.

Screens pop-up instantaneously, while the "ESC" key backs you out, one menu 
at a time. The set-up utility reads your current configuration (if one exists) 
and uses those values as a default.

You must first run the INSTALL.BAT file from your floppy (which copies all 
the files on the diskette to a directory on your hard disk) or manually copy 
all the files to the desired directory. Once the DLD-VGA software is resident 
on the hard disk you should run DLDSETUP to configure DLD-VGA.

Enviroment Variables (DLDCFG) and DLD-VGA Files
-----------------------------------------------
Running DLDSETUP will create two files: DLDSETUP.DAT - the DLD-VGA 
configuration file; and a file called FASTACAD.BAT - a batch file containing 
all the commands needed to run DLD-VGA.  Among the commands in the batch file 
is a line that sets an environment variable called DLDCFG. DLDCFG is set to 
point to the directory containing the DLD-VGA software, and is used by 
DLDSETUP, COLOR16, COLOR256, DLDVGA, and DLDVG256, to locate the files 
DLDSETUP.HLP, DLDCOLOR.HLP, DLDSETUP.DAT, and DLDCOLOR.DAT.  If DLDCFG is not 
set, those files are assumed to be in the current directory. The FASTACAD.BAT 
is always assumed to be in the current directory, regardless of whether or 
not DLDCFG is set.

CustomColors Color Configuration (COLOR16 & COLOR256)
-----------------------------------------------------
In using CustomColors, you can configure all your AutoCAD object colors, such 
as menus, pull-downs, and dialog boxes, as well as your drawing colors and 
physical colors, all in a simulated AutoCAD screen, with context  sensitive 
help at every prompt.  Using CustomColors could configure your colors such 
that all text were fuchsia and all backgrounds were mauve.  COLOR16 is 
CustomColors for the 16 color VGA modes, and COLOR256 is for 256 color VGA
support.

256 Color Support
-----------------
The DLD-VGA software supports both 16 and 256 colors under AutoCAD.  Just 
select how many colors you want when you set-up DLDVGA. Make sure to also use 
the correct version of CustomColors after you have finished configuring the 
software.  If you want to run in the 256 color modes, make sure your VGA 
supports a resolution of at least 320x200 with 256 colors.

Current Drawing Color Indicator
-------------------------------
To resolve the problems that occurred when a drawing color of blue was 
selected (the entire status line would virtually disappear), we have changed 
the indication of the current color to a small box on the left edge of the 
status line. This white-outlined box will always reflect the active drawing/
layer color.

Font Selection
--------------
You can select from three different fonts for your AutoCAD menus and prompts: 
a small 8x8 font, the standard 8x14 font, or even a slightly larger 8x16 
font. This selection occurs in DLDSETUP, in the Driver Configuration Menu.

DLDCLEAN
--------
Type DLDCLEAN to remove all erased objects from the display list at the 
AutoCAD command prompt, and the whole screen will be redrawn while the 
DLD-VGA software cleans up its display lists.  This operation is 
substantially faster than a REGEN, and is especially useful if you are 
erasing or moving large portions of your drawing.  It is recommend that you  
run in the Overwrite mode for display list processing.  Note that if you are 
running with multiple viewports, all viewports and their display lists will 
be cleaned up.
   
REGEN Avoidance
---------------
Since DLD-VGA is a true ADI 4.0 driver, and therefore is completely AutoCAD 
transparent, it  has no control over REGENs.  This means that doing a ZOOM 
All or ZOOM Extents will still cause a REGEN, because AutoCAD does not keep 
track of various boundaries necessary to avoid the REGENs. But, REGENs can 
be virtually eliminated by using two regular AutoCAD features.  The first 
turns off automatic REGENs when you ZOOM in too far or PAN too far over, and 
is called REGENAUTO. Just type REGENAUTO OFF at the ACAD prompt to prevent 
automatic REGENs.  To avoid the REGEN incurred by ZOOM ALL and ZOOM EXTENTS, 
use AutoCAD's VIEW feature to save the view when zoomed all the way out 
(i.e. VIEW SAVE ALL), and then just restore it (VIEW RESTORE ALL) when you 
want to see the big picture again.

Memory Requirements
-------------------
A clarification of the memory requirements for DLD-VGA is necessary. The 
driver, when configured to use at least 64K of EMS/expanded memory, uses 
approximately 45K of DOS memory. If DLD-VGA is configured to use only 
extended memory (and/or disk), another 32K will be allocated by the driver 
to use, resulting in a total of 77K in use. This effect can be negated by 
using a utility like QEMM-386 or hardware like the ALL Chargecard. Both of 
these items allow you to 1) Convert extended memory to expanded, and 2) Load 
the driver into memory above the 640K mark.

Also, once your system is fully configured and running with DLD-VGA, you 
may want to adjust your display list memory allocations by using the DLDUSAGE 
command at the AutoCAD command prompt while you are in a drawing. The 
DLDUSAGE command will provide you with information about how much memory 
is actually in use by both the display list and the fast redraw list.

Environment Variables
---------------------
When the installation program creates the FASTACAD.BAT files, it also 
includes settings for the AutoCAD Release 10 memory variables. If you happen 
to be running AutoCAD 386, these variables can be ignored, as AutoCAD 386 
does not use them and DLD-VGA should be pre-allocating the memory it requires. 
The variables are, however, required in order to run DLD-VGA with Release 10.

Slide Loading Bug
-----------------
One problem you might encounter if using older versions of AutoCAD Release 10 
(R10c2, for  example), is that slides containing solids are not loaded 
properly. Instead, you get a small blob of color in the lower left corner 
of the display. This is due to a problem in the older AutoCAD  versions, not 
this driver.  Upgrade to c7 to fix the problem.

