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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
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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).
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.
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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