AUTODIM ======= Autodim is a small TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) program which will blank a VGA (Video Graphics Array) screen after a predefined time interval. The program offers no options for shooting stars, swimming fish or fancy patterns, it simply blanks the screen. So what features might make this program any better than any other screen blank utility? * It works for any screen mode, even those special modes that don't have a mode number. It works for both text and graphic modes. It works for VGA, SVGA and EVGA modes and up to 256 colours. * It is both keyboard and mouse aware. By default it recognises only the keyboard, but can optionally respond to mouse (rodent) movement. * It is Windows 3.1 aware. By default it can hear Windows start up in either Standard or Enhanced mode and will disable itself until Windows shuts down. It can be made to recognise Windows in Standard mode (Windows 3.00) through the use of an option switch. * It will operate as a Windows 3.1 screen blanker by loading a Windows program within the Windows environment. It will work with any of the internal Windows screen blankers, allowing the patterned and password protected screen blankers to be blanked. * When used with Windows 3.1 it will provide screen blanking even when using a Full Screen DOS Window. * It can be made to recognise the execution of any program and automatically disable itself until the program shuts down. * It can be made to recognise a change in video mode as a bright up signal. This allows a simple procedure to restore the screen without operator action. * It can be made to bright up under the control of a batch file, allowing a simple user procedure to restore the screen without operator action. * It has a fully documented program interface allowing control from within your own programs. * It is small, approximately 3.5Kb when resident. ( The shareware version requires approximately 9.5Kb ) Why a Screen Blanker?? ====================== Many users don't believe that their colour screens are prone to the same problem that occurred with older monochrome screens. If the screen is left for long periods with a static display full of bright colours, it will eventually 'burn' the image into the face of the screen. In effect what happens is the phosphor used on the screen is damaged by the continuous high current flowing at this spot. The visual effect is a stained image visible even when the screen is turned off, and a marked drop in brightness in that area when the screen is on. Colour screens such as your TV are not subject to the same stress, as the picture is continually changing. With a TV screen, the overall brightness of the picture drops, but it tends to be consistent across the whole screen, and therefore not noticed as much. With the wide use of software such as Microsoft Windows and other packages with menu, titles and status bars on the screen, the possibility of screen damage is increased. Most of the current software tends to leave much of the information in a static position on the screen, and if saturated or bright colours are used, and the screen brightness is high, damage may occur. There is a proliferation of Microsoft Windows based screen blanking utilities available, some of dubious value as they use very bright patterns as their 'blanked' condition. There are few DOS level blanking utilities that will co-exist with the Windows environment, or that work for all modes. Autodim will allow screen blanking to be available at all times. It will handle the blanking requirements of the majority of Windows and DOS level programs. A screen blanker has the additional benefit of allowing the colour monitor to be left powered on. This has the advantage of reducing the stress to which the monitor is exposed during switch on and off. Referring again to the similarity with a colour television, very few TV's switch off completely. Most assume this feature is just to provide the required 'quick start', but it does significantly extend the life of the picture tube. As computer monitors increase in resolution and colour capabilities the time taken for the screen to stabilise when turned on becomes more noticeable. Leaving the monitor powered on may reduce this time from 10-15 minutes to just a second or so. Some VGA screens have a visible bright raster if the PC is turned off, which may in itself damage the monitor, so leaving the PC powered on becomes necessary too. It is here that a dependable screen blanking utility is required. The Autodim release consists of: Autodim.com The DOS level program Autodim.doc The documentation file Register.doc The registration form Autodim.exe The Windows program Autodll.dll The Windows DLL These programs are shipped as a single self extracting archive called AUTOPAK.EXE. Quick Installation ================== Copy AUTOPAK.EXE into a utility directory or other directory of your choice. CD into the directory and enter AUTOPAK at the DOS prompt, this will then unpack all the files shown above. In your Autoexec.bat append the following: C:\UTIL\Autodim 10 /VR (insert the correct path for your location) This will install Autodim (DOS) with video and mouse sensing and DOS level blanking enabled. When you re-boot (CTL-ALT-DEL) your computer Autodim will be started automatically. If you are only using DOS (non-Windows) applications, you are now fully operational. If you are using Windows, then one further step must be performed. Start Windows and add a program to the Accessories group: Name Autodim Program Autodim.exe Path where it is Options none OR: Do a File-Run and run Autodim.exe Autodll.dll must be in the same directory as Autodim.exe When Autodim.exe is started, Configure should show that Autodim has Windows Enable turned off. If you turn on Windows Enable the screen will now be blanked by Autodim after 10 minutes. If you require Autodim to be started automatically whenever you start Windows, drag the Autodim Icon from the Accessories group to the Startup group. Once installed as an Icon and loaded automatically on Windows startup the Autoexec.bat line may be modified to: Autodim 10 /VRW This will mean that Windows Enable is set on startup of Windows. The /K switch (documented later) should never be needed, but will remain for some other poorly behaved DOS programs. Installing AUTODIM ================== To start the program you simply type the name followed by the required options you wish to apply. If you enter the program name without any parameters, and it is not already resident, you get a basic help list, but the program will not install itself. To get the program to install it must have a valid command tail. C:\> autodim Autodim Rev SHARE 2.00 7/92 (c) Jack Creasey 1992 Non-Registered Shareware revision. Refer to documentation for registration details. AUTODIM will only work on VGA video cards. Activate using AUTODIM N /KPRVW ( or /D, /DF, /E ) where N = 1-60 minutes before blanking occurs. K to enable non-vectored key detection. P to blank using Palette functions. R to enable mouse detection. V to restore the video on any mode change. W to enable blanking for Windows 3. X to reset the Mouse for Autodim. ie. AUTODIM 6 /V ...6 min timeout with mode sense. AUTODIM 6 /VR...6 min timeout, mode and mouse sense. AUTODIM 6 /VRW...6 min, mode, mouse and Windows. D to disable AUTODIM. DF{filename} disables AUTODIM when filename is executed. Do not enter the brackets. E to enable AUTODIM. ie. AUTODIM /D .....disables AUTODIM AUTODIM /DFc:\dos\windows\win.com will disable AUTODIM when Windows is started in any mode. AUTODIM /E .....enables AUTODIM The /D, /E and /X switch will only work after AUTODIM is installed. AUTODIM /? ....will return this help screen. Setting the Timeout Value ========================= If you enter the program name with a numerical value of 1 to 60, it will install itself and use that timeout value if not already installed. If it was already resident, then the value you append becomes the new timeout value. C:\> autodim 5 Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 (c) Jack Creasey 1992 Non-Registered Shareware version. Screen will blank in 5 minutes. Blanking is enabled. Installed!! In the basic installation shown above the screen will be blanked after 5 minutes if there is no keyboard activity. Any keyboard keys hit cause the timeout count to start again. The screen will bright up whenever any key is struck, the keys are not filtered in any way so any key struck will be passed to the operating software. If the screen is blank, it is safest to hit one of the none action keys (Control, Alt, Shift or Caps Lock) first to bright up the screen. If mouse sensing has been selected, then moving the mouse or pressing a mouse button will also bright up the screen. There are five switches which can be appended during the first install of the program....... Non BIOS Key checking ===================== /K or /k will allow the program to do non-BIOS key activity checks. If the /K switch is not used then Autodim monitors keyboard activity by 'capturing' the keyboard interrupt chain and monitoring the keystrokes as they are passed to BIOS. Some programs take over the interrupt chains and do not allow other functions to receive the data. If you use any program that does not restore the video when you hit a key after Autodim blanks the screen then the /K switch may fix the problem. With the /K applied, Autodim will check in the BIOS database to see if any of the CTL, SHIFT, ALT, NUMLOCK, SCROLL LOCK or CAPS LOCK are used on every clock tick. This does mean that your functionality is reduced, as the only keys that restart the blanking time are those mentioned before. Palette function blanking ========================= /P or /p will install the program and only use Palette functions to save and restore the video information. If this switch is not applied, the program uses a video switch for turning the video off. If you use Autodim on a portable with an LCD screen you may have to use the /P switch, as these are rarely register compatible to the required level. Autodim blanks the display by writing directly to the VGA registers for both the video switch and palette methods of blanking. Enabling Mouse detection ======================== /R or /r will enable the mouse (rodent) detection option. With this option selected, any movement of the mouse will bright the screen if it was blanked or re-commence the timeout value if it was not. This option will only work if the mouse responds to a reset command, which requires that a valid mouse driver be installed prior to installing Autodim. This means that you must have MOUSE.SYS or MOUSE.COM specified in your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files, please consult your mouse installation documentation if you are unsure. Some software packages come with a mouse driver built in, in these cases Autodim may not recognise the mouse. If the software package will use an external mouse driver, then configure it this way if you require Autodim to be mouse aware. The DOS 5.00 SHELL is such an application, it has a small built in mouse driver, but will use the external driver (MOUSE.SYS or MOUSE.COM) if it is installed. C:\> autodim 5 /R Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 (c) Jack Creasey 1992 Non-Registered Shareware version. Screen will blank in 5 minutes. Blanking is enabled. Mouse... responded. Installed!! Enabling Video Mode detection ============================= /V or /v will enable the video mode sensing option. On any call to INT10(AH=00), which selects a screen mode, the screen will bright up if it was blanked. If the screen was not blank at the time, the only effect is to re-commence the timeout value. C:\> autodim 5 /V Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 (c) Jack Creasey 1992 Non-Registered Shareware version. Screen will blank in 5 minutes. Blanking is enabled. Video Mode change sensing is ON. Installed!! Windows mode functionality ========================== The /W or /w switch allows Windows functionality to be enabled. Autodim comes with a Windows module, AUTODIM.EXE, and this should be added to your Accessories group within Windows. If you install AUTODIM.EXE and move it to the Startup group it will be started each time you start Windows. Under default conditions AUTODIM.COM will disable itself when Windows starts up, thus requiring you to enable the Windows blanking in the Configure option of AUTODIM.EXE. If you add the /W or /w switch to AUTODIM.COM then the blanking will be enabled when you start Windows. If you do not start the Windows module, the screen will blank and you will not be able to restore it. It is advisable to initially NOT append the /W switch to the AUTODIM.COM installation in your AUTOEXEC.BAT until you have the complete DOS and Windows install verified. Then go back and add the /W switch. If the /K switch works for your system then the addition of the /W switch allows all mode of Windows to be blanked and restored using the keys noted in the /K description. Autodim will not respond to mouse movement under Windows unless the Windows module is installed, even if you have applied the /R switch. Windows replaces the mouse and keyboard interrupts, so to obtain full functionality a Windows DLL or program must be used. Care must be taken when using the /W switch as it bypasses the disable that occurs when Autodim hears Windows start up. If you are using AUTODIM.COM and AUTODIM.EXE you should not require the /K switch, it should only be used for poorly behaved DOS programs. NOTE ==== If multiple options are desired then they must be entered as one global switch option. C:\> autodim 5 /VRW Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 (c) Jack Creasey 1992 Non-Registered Shareware version. Screen will blank in 5 minutes. Blanking is enabled Mouse... responded. Video Mode change sensing is ON. Installed!! In the above example the AUTODIM install will use Video modes sensing, Rodent sensing and will remain enabled when Windows starts up. If it is desired to suppress the install and option messages the output may be directed to NUL. C:\> autodim 5 /VR > NUL Post Installation Options ========================= Once AUTODIM is resident in memory it's action may be modified by three more command line switches. Disabling AUTODIM ================= /D or /d will bright the screen if it was blank, and will disable the screen from blanking further. This may be used in a batch file to disable AUTODIM before starting a particular program. C:\> autodim /D Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 Non-Registered Shareware version. Autodim is already installed. Autodim has been disabled. Enabling AUTODIM ================ /E or /e will bright the screen if it was blank and re-commence the timeout countdown if it had been halted. This may be used in a batch file to bright the screen at the users discretion. C:\> autodim /E Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 Non-Registered Shareware version. Autodim is already installed. Autodim has been enabled. Reset the Mouse Driver ====================== /X or /X will cause a Mouse Driver reset to occur. This switch only needs to be used if you do not have a completely Microsoft compatible mouse driver. Some mouse drivers will be reset when leaving Windows and Autodim will then not respond to the mouse movement. If you include Autodim /X in the batch file used to launch any product which gives this problem, the driver will be set back to a normal state controlled by Autodim. Program execution detection =========================== /DF or /df will use the trailing text on the line as a filename and path for a program, which if executed will disable the screen from blanking. This will only work for .COM and .EXE files, it will not work for .BAT files. C:\> autodim /DFc:\windows\win.com Autodim Rev 2.00 7/92 Non-Registered Shareware version. Autodim is already installed. File disable C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM. If the file specified is C:WINDOWS\WIN.COM then AUTODIM will be disabled whenever WINDOWS 3.0 is started in any mode. AUTODIM will be re-enabled when WINDOWS is shut down. If the Path for your WINDOWS directory is not as shown, enter the full path/filename for your correct location. If AUTODIM has been disabled by the execution of a selected file it cannot be re-enabled by the /E switch. It will not blank the screen again until the program stops execution. DO NOT use a TSR as a trigger program as it may not be possible to re-enable AUTODIM without re-booting the PC. Enter the /DF switch without any file name to disable filename sensing. Autodim automatically senses the start and stop of WINDOWS in STANDARD and ENHANCED mode, file sensing is not needed. You only need to apply the /DF option to enable sensing of WINDOWS in REAL mode, as it sends no messages advising of starting or stopping. Installing AUTODIM in your AUTOEXEC.BAT ======================================= AUTODIM may be installed in low memory by simply adding the required selection to your AUTOEXEC.BAT... C:\UTIL\AUTODIM 5 /VR C:\UTIL\AUTODIM /DFc:\windows\win.com AUTODIM may optionally be installed in the upper memory blocks on a 386 or above based cpu by using LOADHIGH (DOS 5) or LOADHI (QEMM 5.1x, 6.xx) to load the program...... C:\QEMM\LOADHI C:\UTIL\AUTODIM 5 /VR C:\UTIL\AUTODIM /DFc:\windows\win.com Notice that the second line loads AUTODIM in a transient state, only while the filename is transferred to the resident copy. The User Interface ================== To detect the presence of AUTODIM.COM in it's resident state, or to access the programmable functions the user must communicate via the INT 2F (Multiplex) vector. The Multiplex vector is used by many processes and programs to communicate either with one another or with DOS. In most protocols register AX is loaded with predefined information and an INT 2F performed, on return to the user program the registers will usually have been changed in some manner if the information was recognised. This family of TSR programs respond on the basis of information passed in the AX, BX, DX, and CX registers and will return information in any of AX,BX,CX and ES:DI (used as an address pointer). All of these TSR's require AH=FE on entry with a predefined unique Product Code in BX for all bar Broadcast commands. The Product Code used for AUTODIM.COM is 00A1(HEX). AUTODIM.COM will respond to the following INT 2F possibilities. Installed check =============== On Entry: AX = FE00 BX = 00A1 (Product Code for AUTODIM.COM) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = 00A1 ES = xxxx (AUTODIM Segment address) DI = xxxx (AUTODIM Database pointer) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged NOTE: ES:DI are used as a double word SEGMENT:OFFSET pointer to the storage area for the internal database used by AUTODIM.COM. User accessible data is layed out as follows: [ES:DI] WORD (Reserved ) [ES:DI]-2 WORD (Ticks left before dim ) RW [ES:DI]-4 WORD (Ref Timeout value ) RW [ES:DI]-6 WORD (Screen state,0=bright ) RO [ES:DI]-8 WORD (Reserved ) [ES:DI]-A WORD (Reserved ) [ES:DI]-C WORD (Reserved ) [ES:DI]-E WORD (Disable flag,0=enable ) RW NOTE - The flags on the end of the lines above indicate RO = Read only, RW = Read Write. Users should use caution when altering these values and always do so with interrupts turned off. When altering the RW locations be aware that the action will not take place until the next RTC interrupt occurs. ie. Setting the Disable flag to non-zero will bright the screen on the next clock tick. Product Broadcast ================= On Entry: AX = FEF0 BX = 0000 CX = 000F On Exit: ( If ANY of this family of TSR's present ) AX = FEFF BX = 00xx (xx=number of TSR's ) CX = 000F ( If NONE of this family of TSR's present ) All registers unchanged Execute Command =============== On Entry: AX = FEFE BX = 00A1 (Product Code for AUTODIM.COM) CX = 000x ( where x is the command ) DX = xxxx ( data for the command if required) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = xxxx ( returned data ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Commands ======== For all commands sent to AUTODIM you should assume that all ( AX, BX, CX, DX and ES:DI ) will be altered. You should ensure that any registers are saved and restored before calling AUTODIM functions. No Operation ============ On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0000 ( No operation ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Un-Blank Screen =============== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0001 ( Set time to max and un-blank ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Blank Screen ============ On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0002 ( Set time to zero and blank ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Read Current Time ================= On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0003 ( Read current max time ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = xxxx ( returned time value ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Write Max Time to Blank ======================= On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0004 ( Write Blank time ) DX = xxxx ( new Blank time ) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Read Current Disable State ========================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0005 ( Read Disable State ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = xxxx ( returned disable value ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Write Disable State =================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0006 ( Write Disable State ) DX = xxxx ( new Disable state ) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Read Windows Disable State ========================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0007 ( Read Windows Disable State ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = xxxx ( returned disable value ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Write Windows Disable State =========================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0008 ( Write Windows Disable State ) DX = xxxx ( new Disable state ) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Read Key-Check State ==================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 0009 ( Read Key-Check State ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = xxxx ( returned Key-Check value ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Write Key-Check State ===================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 000A ( Write Key-Check State ) DX = xxxx ( new Disable state ) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Read Timeout Count ================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 000B ( Read Timeout Count ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF BX = xxxx ( returned value in 18.2Hz ticks ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Write Timeout Count =================== On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 000C ( Write Timeout Count ) DX = xxxx ( new Timeout in 18.2Hz Ticks ) On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged Read Revision and Registered flag ================================= On entry: AX, BX as above. CX = 000F ( Read REV and REG ) DX = xxxx On Exit: ( AUTODIM.COM is resident ) AX = FEFF DX = xxxx ( 2xxx = registered xxx = rev ) ( AUTODIM.COM not resident ) All registers unchanged NOTE ==== All Command values of CX ( 000D-000E ) not shown above will react as for CX = 0000. They are reserved for future use. Integrity Checking ================== AUTODIM includes its own CRC check on loading, any alteration to the program (ie. due to a Virus) will in most cases cause the program to abort the installation. ******************************************************************* If AUTODIM does advise that there has been a violation of its code, it is advised that you delete the file and reload a new copy from your backup disc. ******************************************************************* While the protection scheme built in will protect AUTODIM.COM from most attempts to modify the code, this works only during the installation phase. Your system should include a Virus protection scheme to provide more complete system wide coverage. Problem determination ===================== AUTODIM must take over certain interrupts to provide it's services. A basic installation with no switches appended to the command line will result in INT 09,1C,21 and 2F being used. The addition of the /V switch will take over INT 10, and the mouse detection switch, /R, will result in INT 33 being captured. If problems with any software is experienced begin with a basic install and then add /V and /R to attempt to ascertain where the problem is introduced. The most likely problem to be found is interference with the mouse. While care is taken to do this at times which do not interfere with any other software using the mouse, some software (particularly games) seem to use the mouse driver in most creative ways. If problems do occur under these conditions, AUTODIM may have to be used without mouse sensing, or disabled using the /D switch before starting the software. Entering the Setup utility (either in ROM or as a utility) for your PC is another area where problems may occur. Depending on the BIOS implementation in your machine, the screen may blank and not recognise either mouse or keyboard action. This does not appear to be a problem in the mainstream BIOS implementations. If entering Setup from a command line use the /D switch to disable AUTODIM before invoking the Setup utility if your BIOS shows problems. When doing a Windows install, (ie. running SETUP) either disable AUTODIM or set the timeout value to a large number. When Windows goes into the last phase of the install a Windows environment is started, but AUTODIM cannot tell it has started, and so may blank the screen and you will not be able to bright it up. ( If you use the /K switch then hitting any valid key will work ) Some Mouse Menu utilities can cause problems or refuse to work when Autodim has mouse sensing enabled. Logitec (c) mouse menus will not work because they look to see if INT33 points to their mouse driver, if it does not then the menu utility will abort. If you wish to use these programs mouse sensing will not be possible with Autodim. Some graphics programs write directly to the VGA hardware and will not allow Autodim to blank the screen. In many cases the /P switch will allow Autodim to function with these programs, but some may defeat either mode of operation. Windows Operation The Windows 3.1 operating environment is very complex. Because Autodim is a TSR which is loaded at base level (before Windows), there is a well defined set of rules governing its abilities. Windows operates in Protected mode on both 286 and 386+ machines. The operation in Standard and Enhanced (286,386) modes is as follows: Standard Mode ============= On a 286 in Standard mode the System machine is machine 0 (base level). Within Windows, altering the Autodim configuration will alter the machine 0 copy of the program. This means that if you start Autodim set at 10 mins blank time, start Windows and reset this to 2 mins using Autodim.exe(Configure)....when you exit Windows the blank time at base level DOS (machine 0) will be 2mins. Enhanced Mode ============= On a 386 in enhanced mode the System machine is the first allocated VM on starting Windows (usually VM1). When Windows starts it copies Machine 0 into the System machine (VM1) and machine 0 is put to sleep. As new VM's are created (DOS in Windows), the System machine is copied to each new VM, so there may end up being several DOS machines running, each with a copy of Autodim. The VM's who are not the System machine are allowed to do I/O input, but not I/O output, so they cannot blank the screen, but they do have to tell the System machine that they exist, and their status. They do this by sending INT2F messages to Autodim in the System machine. Because the VM copies of Autodim are prevented from blanking the machine, you may alter the time to blank for Autodim in a DOS Window, but it will be ignored. If you use Autodim.exe(Configure) to set the time to blank, or Enable/Disable Windows blanking, this action takes place on the System machine (VM1). The system machine will blank the screen for Windows, DOS in Windows and DOS Full Screen, so will operate as you would expect. However when you exit Windows, the System machine (VM1) is destroyed, and the original copy of Autodim is restored to operation, so the status of Autodim is returned to whatever was set when Windows started. While the above may appear complicated it can be summarised in a simple rule set: Configuration changes in REAL and STANDARD mode made to Autodim by the Windows program (Autodim.exe) will remain in effect when Windows is stopped. Configuration changes made in ENHANCED mode by the Windows program will be lost when Windows is stopped. WARRANTY ======== This product is supplied on an 'as is' basis and no responsibility as to its merchantability, functionality or applicability for any purpose can be accepted by the author or any associated persons or companies. No liability for any damages, either SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL or CONSEQUENTIAL will be accepted by the author or any associated persons or companies arising out of or related to the use of this product or related documentation even if previously advised of the possibility of such damage or loss. Copyright Notice ================ (C) Copyright Jack Creasey 1992. All rights reserved. All other Commercial and Copyright programs mentioned are recognised as Copyright to their respective manufacturers. Revision Information 1.00 Released 11/91 First release, used only for OEM supply. Used only BIOS blank/un-blank. 1.10 Released 03/92 First Shareware release. Used only the direct video cut-off. There was no support for BIOS blank/un-blank due to speed. 1.12 Released 03/92 Second Shareware release. Used direct video and palette blank/un-blank. Fixed bug with input time on command line, input was in HEX. Extended INT2F functionality to include command support. Limited Windows support added. 1.14 Released 04/92 Third Shareware release. Mouse Reset added for those mouse drivers left in a dirty state on Windows exit. 2.00 Released 07/92 Fourth Shareware release. Full Windows 3.1 functionality added. Mouse button sensing removed from DOS level operation to prevent possibility of unexpected program action. You must move the mouse to bright the screen.