This is the README file for v2.0 of DLD-VGA(tm), part of Panacea
Inc.'s line of low-cost, high-performance Display List Drivers
(DLDs(tm)).  Please read it before running the software.

Copyright (c) 1990-91  Panacea Inc. - All Right Reserved

IMPORTANT:
=========
This version of DLD-VGA supports only the AVGA1 and AVGA2.
Support for any other EGA, VGA 8514/A, TIGA, or XGA graphics board
can be obtained directly from Panacea Inc.  Please see end of this
file for more information.

The DLD-VGA 320x200x256 resolution is supported with AutoShade, but
not with AutoCAD.

The DLD-VGA does not support AutoCAD Release 9 since this version
of AutoCAD does not support display list drivers.

The DLD-VGA display list driver does not support AutoShade 386
"Quick Shade" option.  Use the DLD386-VGA display list driver with
AutoShade 386 for this option.

This file covers the following topics:

*    Set-Up Utility with context sensitive help
*    Environment variables and files used
*    CustomColors utility
*    Support for 256 color modes
*    Current drawing color indicator
*    Font Selection
*    DLDCLEAN
*    Avoiding REGENs
*    Memory Requirements and usage (via DLDUSAGE)
*    AutoCAD Environment Variables
*    Problems loading slides

Set-Up Utility (DLDSETUP.EXE)
=============================
To help answer set-up questions to the DLDSETUP program at any
prompt, just hit the question mark ("?") to get help specific
to the prompt you're at. The help text is stored in a file
called DLDSETUP.HLP.

Screens pop-up instantaneously, while the "ESC" key backs you
out, one menu at a time. The set-up utility reads your current
configuration (if one exists) and uses those values as a
default.

You must first run the INSTALL.BAT file from your floppy
(which copies all the files on the diskette to a directory on
your hard disk) or manually copy all the files to the desired
directory. Once the DLD-VGA software is resident on the hard
disk you should run DLDSETUP to configure DLD-VGA.

Enviroment Variables (DLDCFG) and DLD-VGA Files
===============================================
Running DLDSETUP will create two files: DLDSETUP.DAT - the
DLD-VGA configuration file; and a file called FASTACAD.BAT - a
batch file containing all the commands needed to run DLD-VGA.
Among the commands in the batch file is a line that sets an
environment variable called DLDCFG. DLDCFG is set to point to
the directory containing the DLD-VGA software, and is used by
DLDSETUP, COLOR16, COLOR256, DLDVGA, and DLDVG256, to locate
the files DLDSETUP.HLP, DLDCOLOR.HLP, DLDSETUP.DAT, and
DLDCOLOR.DAT. If DLDCFG is not set, those files are assumed to
be in the current directory. The FASTACAD.BAT is always
assumed to be in the current directory, regardless of whether
or not DLDCFG is set.

CustomColors(tm) Color Configuration (COLOR16 & COLOR256)
=========================================================
CustomColors(tm) is a revolutionary color configuration.
Using CustomColors, you can configure all your AutoCAD object
colors, such as menus, pull-downs, and dialog boxes, as well
as your drawing colors and physical colors, all in a
simulated AutoCAD screen, with context sensitive help at every
prompt.  Using CustomColors, if you were so inclined, you
could configure your colors such that all text were fuchsia
and all backgrounds were mauve.  COLOR16 is CustomColors for
the 16 color VGA modes, and COLOR256 is for 256 color VGA
support.

256 Color Support
=================
The DLD-VGA software supports both 16 and 256 colors under
AutoCAD. Just select how many colors you want when you set-up
DLDVGA. Make sure to also use the correct version of
CustomColors after you have finished configuring the software.
If you want to run in the 256 color modes, make sure your VGA
supports a resolution of at least 640x480 with 256 colors - a
resolution not available with a plain-vanilla VGA, such as
that in the IBM PS/2s.

Current Drawing Color Indicator
===============================
To resolve the problems that occurred when a drawing color of
blue was selected (the entire status line would virtually
disappear), we have changed the indication of the current
color to a small box on the left edge of the status line. This
white-outlined box will always reflect the active
drawing/layer color.

Font Selection
==============
You can select from three different fonts for your AutoCAD
menus and prompts: a small 8x8 font, the standard 8x14 font,
or even a slightly larger 8x16 font. This selection occurs in
DLDSETUP, in the Driver Configuration Menu.

DLDCLEAN
========
Since our Remove mode for erasing objects is quite slow when
moving or erasing sizeable portions of a drawing on large
images, and Overwrite increases display list sizes quite
rapidly, but with no display list clean-up, we have added a
function to remove all erased objects from the display list.
To perform this operation, just type DLDCLEAN at the AutoCAD
command prompt, and the whole screen will be redrawn while the
DLD-VGA software cleans up its display lists. This operation
is substantially faster than a REGEN, and is especially useful
if you are erasing or moving large portions of your drawing.
As such, we now recommend that you run in the Overwrite mode
for display list processing. Note that if you are running with
multiple viewports, all viewports and their display lists will
be cleaned up.
   
REGEN Avoidance
===============
Since DLD-VGA is a true ADI 4.0 driver, and therefore is
completely AutoCAD transparent, it has no control over REGENs.
This means that doing a ZOOM All or ZOOM Extents will still
cause a REGEN, because AutoCAD does not keep track of various
boundaries necessary to avoid the REGENs. But, REGENs can be
virtually eliminated by using two regular AutoCAD features. The
first turns off automatic REGENs when you ZOOM in too far or PAN
too far over, and is called REGENAUTO. Just type REGENAUTO OFF at
the ACAD prompt to prevent automatic REGENs. To avoid the REGEN
incurred by ZOOM ALL and ZOOM EXTENTS, use AutoCAD's VIEW feature
to save the view when zoomed all the way out (i.e. VIEW SAVE
ALL), and then just restore it (VIEW RESTORE ALL) when you want
to see the big picture again.

Memory Requirements
===================
A clarification of the memory requirements for DLD-VGA is
necessary. The driver, when configured to use at least 64K of
EMS/expanded memory, uses approximately 45K of DOS memory. If
DLD-VGA is configured to use _only_ extended memory (and/or disk),
another 32K will be allocated by the driver to use, resulting in
a total of 77K in use. This effect can be negated by using a
utility like QEMM-386 or hardware like the ALL Chargecard. Both
of these items allow you to 1) Convert extended memory to
expanded, and 2) Load the driver into memory above the 640K mark.

Also, once your system is fully configured and running with DLD-
VGA, you may want to adjust your display list memory allocations
by using the DLDUSAGE command at the AutoCAD command prompt while
you are in a drawing. The DLDUSAGE command will provide you with
information about how much memory is actually in use by both the
display list and the fast redraw list.

Environment Variables
=====================
When the installation program creates the FASTACAD.BAT files, it
also includes settings for the AutoCAD Release 10 memory
variables. If you happen to be running AutoCAD 386, these
variables can be ignored, as AutoCAD 386 does not use them and
DLD-VGA should be pre-allocating the memory it requires. The
variables are, however, required in order to run DLD-VGA with
Release 10.

Slide Loading Bug
=================
One problem you might encounter if using older versions of
AutoCAD Release 10 (R10c2, for example), is that slides
containing solids are not loaded properly. Instead, you get a
small blob of color in the lower left corner of the display. This
is due to a problem in the older AutoCAD versions, not our driver.
Upgrade to c7 to fix the problem.

Other Panacea Products
======================

Panacea products can be ordered through your local dealer.  For
more information on these products and the name of a dealer near
you, call Panacea sales at 800-729-7420.

	       Comments, etc., can be addressed to:
    
			   Panacea Inc.
			Post Office Square
		      24 Orchard View Drive
	       Londonberry, New Hampshire 03053-3376

	    Voice: (603) 437-5022  Fax: (603) 434-2461

