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80 columns in text mode

The machines supported by blueMSX have 2 text modes : SCREEN 0 (maximum 40 or 80 columns) and SCREEN 1 (maximum 32 columns).

Using of SCREEN 0 with 80 columns gives a more professionnal look to the emulated machine, but it's not automatic on MSX2, MSX2+, MSXturboR and normally not possible on MSX1, SVI, SF-7000.

MSX2, MSX2+ and MSXturboR computers

These machines have a clockchip that can keep in his memory some settings.

As some machines boot by default in SCREEN 1, you need to use the following serie of MSX-BASIC commands to switch to SCREEN 0, select the 80 columns mode and keep the new settings in the clockchip memory :

SCREEN 0
WIDTH 80
SET SCREEN

After the introduction of the 3rd command, you need to reset (F12) the emulated machine to save the settings in the clockchip memory (actually a .cmos file in the SRAM subdirectory).

MSX1 computers

For the MSX1 computers, you have the choice between 2 different 80 columns cards :

- Microsol VMX-80
This 80 column card has two ROMs, character data and BIOS.

You need to
- insert the BIOS rom (VMSX80.ROM) in a cartridge slot
- start or reset the machine by pressing on F9 or F12

The 80 column mode is automatically initialized when booting the MSX, including for the characters (the character rom, GCVMX80.ROM, is included in the Machines / Shared Roms subdirectory).

- SVI-727
This 80 column card has only one ROM file and it only contains character data.

You need to
- put the SVI727.ROM in a cartridge slot
- insert in drive A a MSX-DOS disk with the file "MODE80.COM"
- start or reset the machine by pressing on F9 or F12
- type MODE80 on the MSX-DOS command line

In both cases, you can check the 80 columns mode in the Options/Video Source out menu.

SVI-328 computers

For the SVI-328 computers, it's very simple :

- select one of the two SVI-328 machines with 80 columns in Options / Emulations or in Tools / Machime Editor;
- insert in the drive a CP/M-80 disk or a disk that contains the SV extended BASIC;
- start or reset the machine by pressing on F9 or F12

Automatically, the machine will switch from the normal graphic card (TMS9929A) to the 80 columns graphic card (CRTC6845) and you can check that in the Options/Video Source out menu.

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