              (c) Copyright International Computers Limited 1992




                                 HRA

                   The ICL HRA Video Setup Utility

                             Version 3.5


1. Abstract

        The HRA utility is a simple tool to configure the HRA board.
        There are two major classes of configuration items:

                 * Compatibility, or hardware emulation.

                 * Ergonomics.


2. Hardware Compatibility modes.

        It is possible to select a VGA-compatible mode or a  selection
        of  emulation modes,  or   extended  VGA  text modes  with 132
        columns.

        The  emulation  modes  are  available mainly for compatibility
        reasons.  Old applications  that access the hardware  directly
        require  that the hardware  looks as it should.  The emulation
        modes available are:

                 * EGA, supports EGA-modes 0 - 7, 13 -16.
                 * CGA, supports CGA-modes 0 - 6.
                 * MDA, supports MDA-mode 7.
                 * Hercules  is  an  extended   MDA-mode,  which
                   supports a graphics resolution  of 720 by 348
                   monochrome.

3 Ergonomics

        The  ICL VGA  Extensions give the  user an  environment that
        is less  straining  during  prolonged use.  These features are
        available with ICL monitors DU151, DU146 and VE17C in VGA operation.
        The selectable features are:

                 * Image  background  color may be set to either
                   paperwhite or  black as in standard VGA. This
                   selection is  divided into two,  one for text
                   modes and one for graphics modes.

                 * Border  color.   Decreases  contrast  between
                   image and border.  Can  be  set  to the  same
                   color as the background, or to any  of the 16
                   predefined colors. The  user  can also create
                   a customized color of his choice.

                 * A choice of whether the border  color  should
                   be  enabled  or  not  in 256  color  graphics
                   modes.  When  enabled,  the  selected  border
                   color is displayed,  unless an application is
                   run which  uses  all 256 available colors. In
                   this case, it is recommended that you disable
                   the border color.

                 * A selection of locks.  These  are  intended to
                   protect the current  setup  from  access  that
                   might alter it.  Some  of  the  locks  are set 
		   automaticaly when entering an emulation mode.

                             !! WARNING !!

                       The locks can affect the compatibility
                       of the Video Adapter.  Use  only  when
                       absolutely necessary.

                             !! BE WARNED !!


4. Usage

        The HRA utility can be used in two different ways:

                 * Command line operation.

                       -OR-

                 * Menu operation.

         If HRA is started with input parameters:

                 o  no menues are shown,
                 o  hardware settings are made directly and
                    only temporary.

         If HRA is started without input parameters:

                 o  a menu with options is displayed,
                 o  the menu bar has three choices:
                      - Video, where all the settings are chosen,
                      - Info, shows settings detected by system,
                      - Help, gives general and more specific help.
                 o  no hardware except border color is affected
                    until exit. 
                 o  it is possible to save the setup in two ways:
                      - Temporary, saves the changes until
                        next hard boot.
                      - Permanent, saves all changes.
                        The new settings will survive all
                        subsequent hard boots.

4.1 Menu Operation.

        When the HRA is started without input parameters, it will
        enter the menu-operation mode. Example:

                 C:> HRA <enter>

        The  menus are selected with the arrow-keys and the  ENTER key
        will open submenus  or  toggle menu-fields.  The ESC-key  will
        exit menus.  An alternative  way of entering main menus  is to
        hold the <ALT>-key down while pressing <V> for video page, <I>
        for information page and <H> for help page. These 'navigation'
        methods are the  same as for the 'Resident Setup'-program used
        to configure ICL system boards.

	There are a few shortcut keys to switch between menu pages :

		ALT V		Show Video page
		ALT I		Show Info page
		ALT H		Show Help page
		ALT Q		Quit without update
		ALT X		Exit and update temporarily.
	
        To prevent inadvertently changing the configuration, there are
	no shortcuts to exit and save permanently. 

        For a detailed description  of  each menu, please refer to the
        HELP screen in the menu bar.

        Please  note  that  the  following  options  CANNOT  be stored
        permanently:

                 - the 132 column VGA modes,
                 - the locks.

	Also  note  that  the  display  of  border  colors  during the
        selection  is  only  possible  if  HRA  is  started  with  ICL
        Features enabled.

4.2 Command Line Operation.

        When HRA is started with input parameters, for example

                 C:> HRA EGA <ret>

        The hardware will be affected immediately, but only temporarily.
        In  this example the Video adapter will go into EGA  emulation
        in the  current color or monochrome mode.
        If you wish you might type:

                 C:> HRA EGA MONO <ret>

        to force the video adapter into EGA monochrome mode.

        Note that HRA handles only one command at a time.

        For  details  on  each  command, please type  HRA HELP or
        HRA ?  for a display of available commands. The help text
        is  available in the  HRA.HLP file, which can be  printed
        and saved as a reference.

        The  syntax  description  in this help text uses the following
        symbols:

                  [<abcde>]   Meaning 'abcde' is an optional argument.
                [<abc|def>]   Meaning that one of 'abc' or 'def' is
                              optional argument.
                  <abc|def>   Meaning that one of 'abc' or 'def' is a
                              required argument.
			      In those examples 'abc' etc should be 
			      replaced with the actual command or 
			      option.

             [color | mono]   Meaning the words 'color' or 'mono'
			      should be used.

