============================================================================ 

miro Computer Products AG                                     Nov, 13th 1996

mirocad - High speed drivers for CAD

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Current Information - Win disk release 1.01
===========================================

Contents of disk
----------------
The disk includes the following drivers: 

miroGTI 13 Win for AutoCAD R13 Win 3.x/95/NT      Release 2.04 (13-Nov-1996)
miro3D-VIEWER for 
 AutoCAD R13 [C4]    Win 3.x/95/NT                Release 2.22 (26-Apr-1996)
miro3D-VIEWER for 
 AutoCAD R13 [C1-C3] Win 3.x/95/NT                Release 2.22 (26-Apr-1996)

miroGTI 12 Win for AutoCAD R12 Win 3.x            Release 1.2  (28-Mar-1995)
miro3D-VIEWER for AutoCAD R12 Win 3.x             Release 2.1  (26-Apr-1996)

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The drivers are available for the following miro graphics boards:

miroCRYSTAL 20SD twin    
miroCRYSTAL 22SD twin

miroCRYSTAL 20SV twin
miroCRYSTAL 40SV twin
miroCRYSTAL 44SV twin

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Information on the miroGTI 13 Win driver for AutoCAD R13 Win 3.x/95/NT
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The WinG-Windows extension is required for proper operation of the miroGTI 
13 Win driver. You can find a copy of this extension on your AutoCAD CD-ROM 
in the path \WING\DISK. Enter SETUP to install the extension on your 
system.

Information on the miroGTI 12 Win driver for AutoCAD R12 Win 3.x
----------------------------------------------------------------
The replay of a TGA-picture from disk is currently not working properly.

============================================================================ 

Driver Modifications
====================

miroGTI 13 Win for AutoCAD R13 Win 3.x/95/NT
--------------------------------------------
Modifications on Release 2.04:
+ Crashes that occurred when users started miroSPOTVIEW while running 
  Windows NT 4.0 and AutoCAD R13 C4 have now been remedied.
+ In addition to the driver name, the version number of the driver is now 
  shown when selecting miroGTI 13 Win in the AutoCAD configuration menu.

Modifications on Release 2.03:
+ Various improvements when using the AutoCAD plug-in Genius 13:
  - Reticle cursor can be moved more smoothly with various Genius functions
  - When the Genius coordinate display at the reticle cursor is activated, 
    there are no longer left-over pixels at the bottom of the screen.

Modifications on Release 2.02:
+ The miroGTI 13 Win toolbar contains now at least the four standard buttons
  (Driver configuration/miroBIRDEYE/miroSPOTVIEW/Info) even if the toolbar
  was closed and opened hereafter by "ami_gti" and the miro help file 
  (dsmiro??.hlp) or the miro3D-VIEWER (miro3dw.arx) could not be found
  
Modifications on Release 2.01:
+ Tile mode changes from 0 to 1 and more view ports in tile mode 1: 
  Viewport margins are now displayed

Modifications on Release 2.0:
+ The miroGTI 13 Win toolbar contains the following five (mirowin)
  resp. six (mirocad) buttons: 
  - Driver configuration (hotkey configuration)
    - When the configuration box is open, the button is disabled. 
    - Separate check boxes for F3/F11/F12 (in the previous version the 
      buttons could either be enabled or disabled)
  - Activating the miro3D-VIEWER (only mirocad disk)
  - Opening/closing miroBIRDEYE
    - If miroBIRDEYE has been started, there is a small red cross in the 
      button. 
  - Switching miroSPOTVIEW on/off
    - If miroSPOTVIEW is open, there is a small red cross in the button. 
  - Online help (if it exists for the corresponding AutoCAD country version
    it will be automatically detected)
  - Driver information (release version/release date, etc...)
    - If the info box is open, the button is dimmed.
  - Enables tool tips (black text on yellow background) for the buttons, 
    when the cursor is placed on the button for a while. (If the cursor is 
    not placed on a button or if you click the button, the tool tips are 
    disabled). 
+ Info box: 
  - In addition to the driver information, the driver date is shown. 
  - The Help button calls the context-sensitive help for the key commands.
+ Key commands:
  - ami_gti and ami_local call the miroGTI 13 Win tool bar, if it is not 
    open already. 
  - ami_help calls the online help (contents)
  - ami_about calls the info box
+ AutoCAD command "_config":
  - The configuration box displayed before will not be shown during the 
    configuration, because the hotkeys can be switched on/off during an 
    AutoCAD session
  - Configuration parameters are not managed by AutoCAD anymore, but by 
    the driver in the dsmiro13.ini file
+ miroSPOTVIEW:
  - Menu bar: <-> and <+> are provided with a hint concerning the hotkeys 
    (F11) and (F12), if these hotkeys can be also switched on during the 
    configuration or by entering the ami_hoton command. If these are 
    switched off (also during operation), the miroSPOTVIEW menu bar changes
    also.
  - Menu bar: Menu items for context-sensitive help and info box 
    (help for miroSPOTVIEW/Info)
+ miroBIRDEYE: 
  - Menu bar: Hints on hotkeys (F11/F12) in the Birdeye menu only appear 
    if the hotkeys are switched on during the configuration or through the 
    ami_hoton command
  - ZoomIn and ZoomOut items have been swapped
  - New menu item Help (Help for miroBIRDEYE): For context-sensitive help
  - New layout for Birdeye info box
+ Context-sensitive online help: 
  - F1/Help button in the miroGTI 13 Win tool bar/Help button in the Info 
    box: 
    The contents page of the online help is called
  - Help button in the configuration box:
    The help function for the configuration is called
  - F1 if the window/miroBIRDEYE menu bar is active (help for miroBIRDEYE)/
    Help button in miroBIRDEYE Info box: 
    The first help page for miroBIRDEYE is called
  - F1 if the window/miroSPOTVIEW menu bar is active (help for 
    miroSPOTVIEW)/Help button in the miroSPOTVIEW Info box: 
    The help page for miroSPOTVIEW is called

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miro3D-VIEWER for AutoCAD R13 [C1-C4] Win 3.x/95/NT
---------------------------------------------------
Modifications on Release 2.22:
+ Now menus and help are also available in French (formerly only English and
  German)
  
Modifications on Release 2.21:
+ Action/Clipping: Objects are only clipped at those planes, which were
  chosen in the "Clipping" menu, and no longer at all 6 clipping planes
+ Clipping Menu: After leaving the menu with "OK" the settings you've made
  take now an effect 
+ The AutoCAD version is displayed in the about box of the 3D-VIEWER
+ New icons 

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miro3D-VIEWER for AutoCAD R12 Win 3.x
-------------------------------------
Modifications on Release 2.1:
+ Now menus and help are also available in French (formerly only English and
  German)
+ Clipping Menu: After leaving the menu with "OK" the settings you've made
  take now an effect 
+ The AutoCAD version is displayed in the about box of the 3D-VIEWER
+ New icons 

============================================================================

Glossary 
======== 
 
This glossary contains the most important concepts from the field of  
computer hardware. Cross-references are marked by this symbol ~. 
 
Address 
All memory positions in a computer have numbers (addresses). Through these  
addresses each memory position can be addressed directly. Some addresses are 
reserved for certain ~ hardware components and must not be used. If two  
hardware components use the same address, there is an address conflict. 
 
ANSI 
American National Standards Institute. ANSI character set (~ Font): used by  
Microsoft Windows and Windows applications. The character assignation only  
differs slightly from the assignation of the ~ ASCII character set. 
 
ASCII 
American Standards Committee of Information Interchange. ASCII character set 
(~ Font): standard character set used by IBM and compatible computers.  
The ASCII character set consists of 256 characters, the first 128 of which  
are standardized.  
 
AUTOEXEC.BAT 
A special DOS ~ batch file which is processed automatically after the  
computer has been started. The file contains among other things commands  
which load the country-specific keyboard driver (~ Driver), set the time or  
load programs automatically. 
 
Batch file 
A ~ DOS file where a sequence of commands is processed one after the other. 
 
BIOS 
Basic Input Output System. Number of basic input and output commands stored  
in a ~ ROM, PROM or EPROM. The ~ operating system uses these commands.  
The basic task of the BIOS is to control the data input and output. After  
starting the system the ROM BIOS performs some tests (checking the  
~ interfaces, the disk drives, etc.). 
 
Bit 
Binary Digit. Smallest information unit in a computer. One bit can take on  
two states: 0 and 1, two bits can take on two to the second power= 
four states and three bits two to the third power =eight, etc. In a computer 
those states are realized by 0 V (no current = 0) and 5 V (current = 1). 
To display a character (letter, number etc.), 8 bits = 1 ~ byte are  
required. 
 
Bus 
In a computer, busses provide for the communication between the ~ processor  
and the installed hardware (hard disk, graphics board, etc.). Depending on 
the bus width, the bus transfers a different amount of information. An 8-bit 
bus can transfer 8 ~ bits (= ~ byte = one character) at a time. 
 
Byte 
One byte consists of eight ~ bits. One byte represents exactly one character 
(letter, number etc.). The characters are binary-coded with zero (0) and  
one (1). The character E has the ~ ASCII code 01000101 or 45h  
(hexadecimal). 
 
CGA 
Color Graphics Adapter (IBM). Graphics board which displays four colors in  
the graphics mode. 
 
Clock frequency 
Rate at which individual commands are processed in a processor. The higher  
the ~ clock frequency, the quicker the commands are processed. 
 
CLUT 
Color Look Up Table. Color table which contains all indexed color values. 
 
Color depth 
Number of ~ bits used to represent the color information for each ~ pixel.  
At a black and white display 1 bit color depth displays two to the first 
power=two colors. At a color depth of 8 bits two to the 8th power=256 colors 
are available and at 24 bits two to the 24th power=16,277,216 (~ TrueColor)  
colors are available. 
 
CONFIG.SYS 
A ~ DOS configuration file which is processed automatically when the system  
starts. The CONFIG.SYS file includes ~ drivers which control the output to  
the monitor and the keyboard and the mouse. 
 
DIP switch 
Dual Inline Package switch. A row of small switches designed to make certain 
hardware presettings. 
 
DOS 
Disk Operating System. The most common ~ operating system for PCs (Personal  
Computer). MS DOS is the Microsoft version of DOS. 
 
Driver 
Programs which integrate the hardware (e.g. driver for a CD-ROM drive) in  
the computer and which adapt the software to the hardware (e.g. driver for  
a graphical user interface, such as Microsoft Windows). The software then  
uses the features of the graphics board. 
 
EGA 
Enhanced Graphics Adapter (IBM), graphics board which displays 16 colors  
in the graphics mode. 
 
EISA bus 
Extended Industry Standard Architecture. 32-bit bus: The EISA bus can  
transfer an amount of data of 33 ~ MB per second at a ~ clock frequency  
of 8.33 MHz. 
 
Fixed-frequency monitor 
Monitor operating at a very small frequency range (~ multifrequency  
monitor). 
 
Font 
Character set in a certain type, size and style, e.g.  
Times New Roman 11, normal; Times New Roman 11, italics;  
Times New Roman 11, bold; Times New Roman 11, bold, italics. 
 
Graphics board 
Graphics boards are the link between the computer and the monitor. Without 
a graphics board no image appears on the screen. Graphics boards operate  
in two modes: the text mode and the graphics mode. In the text mode only  
~ ASCII characters are displayed. The ASCII character set includes some  
simple graphical characters to display simple graphics. The graphics mode  
uses individual ~ pixels. The more pixels are available (the higher the  
~ resolution) the more detailed characters and graphics can be displayed. 
 
Hardware 
The hardware includes all computer components which are hard, such as  
the monitor, the hard disk, the keyboard, the mouse and the printer. 
 
HGC 
Hercules Graphics Card, monochrome (black and white) graphics board. 
 
Horizontal scan rate 
Number of horizontal scans of the electron beam per second required to  
create a new line. The higher the ~ resolution the higher the required  
horizontal scan rate. 
 
Interface 
Link between two parts of a system or between two systems where information, 
pulses and signals are adapted in a way that the receiving part can  
understand the sending part. For example, signals which the computer sends  
to the printer have to be adapted by an interface so that the printer  
understands what it has to print. 
 
Interlaced 
Image refreshing technique: the screen is subdivided into lines. When  
refreshing the image first all even lines and then all odd lines are  
refreshed. 
 
ISA bus 
International Standard Architecture. 16-bit bus which transfers 8 ~ MB of  
data per second at a ~ clock frequency of 8 MHz. 
 
Jumper 
Jumpers can set up or interrupt electrical leads. To establish electrical  
leads with a jumper, the jumper has to be mounted, to interrupt the lead  
the jumper has to be removed. 
 
KB 
1 KB (Kilobyte) is equal to 1024 ~ bytes. Here K (kilo) is always equal  
to 1024. 
 
MB 
1 MB (Megabyte) equals 1024 ~ KB. 
 
MDA 
Monochrome Display Adapter. Monochrome (black and white) graphics board. 
 
Multifrequency monitor 
A multifrequency monitor adapts itself automatically to different  
frequencies supplied by the graphics board (~ fixed-frequency monitor) and  
can display different ~ resolutions. 
 
Operating system 
The operating system provides for the communication between ~ hardware,  
~ software and the user. The tasks of the operating system are among others  
the file and the program management. 
 
Parallel interface 
The parallel or Centronics ~ interface transfers data through an 8-bit data  
line. This means that 8 ~ bits (1 ~ byte) can be transferred at a time.  
The transfer through the parallel interface is considerably faster than  
the transfer through the ~ serial interface, over long distances the  
parallel data transfer is, however, more susceptible to interference.  
Parallel interfaces are designated by LPT and a number (e.g. LPT1). 
 
PCI Local Bus 
Peripheral Component Interconnect. Local Bus concept by IBM: 32-bit bus,  
a PCI bus can transfer 132 MB per second at a ~ clock frequency of 33 MHz. 
 
Pixel 
Picture element. Pixels are the smallest elements of a monitor image  
(~ resolution). 
 
RAM 
Random Access Memory. An RAM is a read-write memory component from which  
data can be read and to which data can be written any time. The computer  
memory is equipped with RAM components. The memory is a so-called volatile 
memory meaning that the memory contents are removed as soon as the computer  
is switched off. 
 
Refresh rate 
Also vertical scan rate. Number of image refreshes per second measured in  
Hertz (Hz). The higher the vertical scan rate the less flicker. 
 
Resolution 
Number of ~ horizontal and vertical pixels. 1408 x 1024 means that  
1408 horizontal pixels and 1024 vertical pixels are displayed on  
the monitor. The higher the resolution the more details the monitor  
can display. 
 
ROM 
Read Only Memory. A ROM is a memory component which can only be read but  
which cannot be modified. The ROM's contents remain in the component also  
after the computer has been switched off. All functions which have to be  
available immidiately after switching the computer on, e.g. the data for  
the system test, the character output on the screen, etc. are stored  
in ROM components. There are also PROMs (Programmable ROM) EPROMs (Erasable  
PROM) and EEPROMs (Electric EPROM). 
 
Serial interface 
Also RS232. The serial interface transfers data through a data line bit  
by bit (all ~ bits of a ~ byte one after the other). The serial data  
transfer is considerably slower than the transfer through the ~ parallel  
interface but it is less susceptible to interference. Serial interfaces  
are designated by COM and a number (e.g. COM1). 
 
Software 
General term for all programs a computer can run (system programs,  
application programs, ~ drivers etc.) and files. 
 
TrueColor 
16.7 million colors can be displayed at a time (~ color depth). 
 
VESA 
Video Electronic Standards Association. Committee founded in 1988 in  
the USA which establishes common standards for the computer technology.  
 
VESA Local Bus 
Bus concept defined by the ~ VESA committee: 32-bit bus operating at  
a ~ clock frequency of up to 50 MHz. At a clock frequency of 33 MHz  
the VL bus transfers up to 132 ~ MB per second. 
 
VGA 
Video Graphics Array (IBM), graphics board which displays 256 colors in  
the graphics mode.
