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5. Loadable drivers

The names in the parentheses denote the symbols to be used for static linking of the drivers.

5.1 Graphics drivers

atari10.tgi (atari_10)
atr10p2.tgi (atari_10p2)
atari11.tgi (atari_11)
atari14.tgi (atari_14)
atari15.tgi (atari_15)
atr15p2.tgi (atari_15p2)
atari3.tgi (atari_3)
atari4.tgi (atari_4)
atari5.tgi (atari_5)
atari6.tgi (atari_6)
atari7.tgi (atari_7)
atari8.tgi (atari_8)
atr8p2.tgi (atari_8p2)
atari9.tgi (atari_9)
atr9p2.tgi (atari_9p2)

Many graphics modes require more memory than the text screen which is in effect when the program starts up. Therefore the programmer has to tell the program beforehand the memory requirements of the graphics modes the program intends to use. This can be done by using the __RESERVED_MEMORY__ linker config variable. The number specified there describes the number of bytes to subtract from the top of available memory as seen from the runtime library. This memory is then used by the screen buffer.

The numbers for the different graphics modes presented below should only be seen as a rule of thumb. Since the screen buffer memory needs to start at specific boundaries, the numbers depend on the current top of available memory. The following numbers were determined by a BASIC program.


graphics modereserved memory
01
11
21
31
41
5182
61182
73198
87120
97146
107146
117146
12162
131
143278
157120
161
171
181
191
201
21184
221192
233208
247146
257146
267146
277146
28162
291
303304
317146
reserved memory required for different graphics modes

The values of "1" are needed because the graphics command crashes if it doesn't have at least one byte available. This seems to be a bug of the Atari ROM code.

5.2 Extended memory drivers

atr130xe.emd (atari_130xe)

5.3 Joystick drivers

ataristd.joy (atari_stdjoy)

Supports up to four standard joysticks connected to the joystick ports of the Atari.

atarim8.joy (atari_multijoy)

Supports up to eight standard joysticks connected to a MultiJoy adapter.

5.4 Mouse drivers

Currently no drivers available (in fact, the API for loadable mouse drivers does not exist). There is a static driver you can use.

5.5 RS232 device drivers

Currently there are no RS232 loadable drivers available for the Atari platform. There is a static driver you can use.


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