MASTER CMOS RAM RESET
After the Master series have had either their batteries or EEPROM replaced
it will normally be necessary to perform some sort of re configuration. This
document describes all the configuration options available and what the
default settings are when the computer is supplied by Acorn.
*CONFIGURE Baud <0 - 8>
Description : Sets the speed of the RS232 serial interface.
Options : 0 9600
1 75
2 150
3 300
4 1200
5 2400
6 4800
7 9600
8 12000
Default : 4 (1200)
*CONFIGURE Caps / NoCaps
Description : Sets the keyboard caps lock.
Options : Caps
NoCaps
Default : Caps
*CONFIGURE Data <0 - 7>
Description : Specifies the data format used by the RS232 interface
according to the specified value.
Options :
Value Word Length Parity Stop Bits
0 7 even 2
1 7 odd 2
2 7 even 1
3 7 odd 1
4 8 none 2
5 8 none 1
6 8 even 1
7 8 odd 1
Default : 4
*CONFIGURE Delay <0 - 255>
Description : Sets the keyboard auto-repeat delay to the specified number
of hundredths of a second.
Default : 30
*CONFIGURE FDrive <0 - 7>
Description : The computer is fitted with either a WD1770 or a WD1772 disc
controller. FDrive defines the step time and, for ADFS, use of
precompensation.
Options :
Value track to track precompensation
step time (ADFS ADFS only)
WD1770 WD1772
0 or 4 6ms 6ms yes
1 or 5 6ms 6ms no
2 or 6 30ms 3ms yes
3 or 7 30ms 3ms no
Most drives require 6ms step time. Older drives may need the 30ms step time; mod
ern drives may be able to operate at 3ms - consult your disc drive documentation
.
Default : 0
*CONFIGURE File <0 - 15)
Description : Defines the default filing system by means of its ROM socket
number.
Options : Standard Master 128.
ROM F TERMINAL 01
ROM E VIEW 04
ROM D Acorn ADFS 50
ROM C BASIC 04
ROM B Edit 01
ROM A ViewSheet 02
ROM 9 DFS 79
ROM 8 ?
ROM 7 ?
ROM 6 ?
ROM 5 ?
ROM 4 ?
ROM 3 ?
ROM 2 ?
ROM 1 ?
ROM 0 ?
The ROM numbers A - F are in HEX and correspond to Decimal 10 - 15.
Default : ADFS = &D (14)
*CONFIGURE Hard / Floppy
Description : If the system has both floppy disc(s) and a Winchester disc
connected, *CONFIGURE FLOPPY causes ADFS to initialise with drive 4 (floppy
discs) selected. If the system has both floppy disc(s) and a Winchester disc
connected, *CONFIGURE HARD causes ADFS to initialise with drive 0
(Winchester) selected.
Default : Floppy
*CONFIGURE Ignore <0 - 255>
Description : Defines the 'printer ignore character' (ie the character which
is not to be directed to the printer), by means of its ASCII code. If the
character code is omitted, all characters are sent to the printer when
enabled.
Default : 0
*CONFIGURE InTube / ExTube
Description : Causes either an internal or external TUBE to be selected in
preference to the other.
Options : InTube
ExTube
Default : InTube
*CONFIGURE Lang <0 -15>
Description : Defines the default language by means of its ROM socket
number.
Options : Standard Master 128.
ROM F TERMINAL 01
ROM E VIEW 04
ROM D Acorn ADFS 50
ROM C BASIC 04
ROM B Edit 01
ROM A ViewSheet 02
ROM 9 DFS 79
ROM 8 ?
ROM 7 ?
ROM 6 ?
ROM 5 ?
ROM 4 ?
ROM 3 ?
ROM 2 ?
ROM 1 ?
ROM 0 ?
The ROM numbers A - F are in HEX and correspond to Decimal 10 - 15.
Default : BASIC = &C (12)
*CONFIGURE Quiet / Loud
Description : Sets the BELL (CTRL G) Volume.
Options : Quiet
Loud
Default : Quiet
*CONFIGURE Mode <0 - 7> or <128 - 135>
Description : Defines the default MODE setting. MODEs <0 - 7> non Shadow
screen modes. MODEs <128 - 135> Shadow screen modes.
Options :
Mode Text Rows Text Columns Character Graphic Pixels Colours
Set
0 (128) 32 80 ASCII 640 x 256 2
1 (129) 32 40 ASCII 320 x 256 4
2 (130) 32 20 ASCII 160 x 256 16
3 (131) 25 80 ASCII - 2
4 (132) 32 40 ASCII 320 X 256 2
5 (133) 32 20 ASCII 160 X 256 4
6 (134) 25 40 ASCII - 2
7 (135) 25 40 TELETEXT - -
DEFAULT : 7
*CONFIGURE BOOT / NOBOOT
Description : Set the Boot action of the machine on switch on. Boot tells
the machine to attempt to run the !Boot file on a disc on switch-on or CTRL
BREAK. NOBOOT reverses the action of BOOT.
Options : BOOT
NOBOOT
Default : NOBOOT
*CONFIGURE NODIR / DIR
Description : Causes ADFS to initialise with a directory selected (either
the root or, if ADFS has been used since power-on, the previously selected
directory).
Options : DIR
NODIR
Default : NODIR
*CONFIGURE NOSCROLL / SCROLL
Description : NOSCROLL enables the scroll protect option (ie prevents hard
screen scrolling if a character is placed in the last character position of
the bottom screen line, depending on the current mode.
Options : SCROLL
NOSCROLL
Default : SCROLL
*CONFIGURE Print <0 - 4>
Description : Defines the printer output port according to the value
specified.
Options :
0 Sink (No output printed)
1 Centronics (Parallel) port
2 RS232 (Serial) port
3 user printer driver
4 Econet (network printer) port
Default : Sink (0)
*CONFIGURE Repeat <0 - 255>
Description : Sets the keyboard repeat rate to the specified number of
hundredths of a second.
Default : 8
*CONFIGURE Tube
Description : Check for the presence of an internal or external co-processor
and, if fitted, take the action specified by either the INTUBE or EXTUBE
option.
Options : TUBE
NOTUBE
Default : NOTUBE
*CONFIGURE TV <0 - 255>,[<0 - 1>]
Description : Alter the vertical screen alignment and set or reset the
interlace option. The first parameter is interpreted as a signed byte ie. 1
means a movement of 1 line up and 255 (-1) means a movement of one line down.
If the first parameter is 0 no adjustment is made to the vertical screen
alignment. If the second parameter is 0 the screen interlace option is switched
ON; if it is 1, the screen interlace is switched OFF. If the second parameter
is omitted the value zero is assumed.
Default : 0,1
The following options only apply to systems fitted with the ANFS ( Advanced
Network Filing System) ROM.
*CONFIGURE FS <x.xxx> or <Name>
Description : Used to selected the default fileserver for logging onto.
Options : FS Number
FS Name
eg.
*CONFIGURE FS 0.254
or
*CONFIGURE FS TecSupport
Default : 0.254
*CONFIGURE PS <x.xxx> or <Name>
Description : Used to selected the default network printer server.
Options : PS Number
PS Name
*CONFIGURE FS 0.235
or
*CONFIGURE FS Laser
Default : 0.235
*CONFIGURE SPACE / NOSPACE
Description : On the BBC Master Series pages &B00 and &C00 are allocated
as workspace to be used by the Econet filing system. On previous models
these areas were used as buffers. Some existing software may try to use these
areas and conflict with the operating system use of the space. The Econet
system can be configured to claim other areas thus leaving pages &B00 and
&C00 free for use with any application programs which are found to make
inappropriate use of these areas.
Options :
SPACE - Pages claimed for transient commands. Effect on PAGE, OSHWM
rises by &200.
NOSPACE - PAGEs are not claimed and therefore the OSHWM is not
increased.
Default : NOSPACE
The following option only applies to BBC Master Compact and to BBC Master
128's that are fitted with the optional System ROM (3.50).
*CONFIGURE View Setup <xxx>
Description : Define how View should start up.
Options :
F - Format mode is on when View starts (an F will appear at
the top left of the screen)
J - Justify mode is on when View starts (a J will appear at
the top left of the screen)
I - Insert mode is on when View starts (an I will appear at
the top left of the screen)
Default : FJ
General Information
The *CONFIGURE commands must always be followed by a CTRL BREAK to
initialise the settings in the machine.
It is possible to use Edit supplied with the BBC Master to create a
standard file which contains all the *CONFIGURE options which could be used
to re configure the machine in one go by using the *EXEC Command.
The Master Compact EEPROM has a limited life of 10,000 write operations. The
chip is easily replaced when this limit is reached.
Acorn recommends that in the BBC Master the batteries are replaced every 12
months.
If ROMs appear in the ROM table as being unplugged it is possible to re-
insert them using the command *INSERT followed by the ROM Socket number eg.
*INSERT 13
(The ROM table is displayed by using the *ROMS command. Note that after using
the *INSERT command, the ROM will not be available until after the next hard
reset, ie CTRL/BREAK or power-up. Cluke )