CompuServe Messages

Stephen, I have been away on a remote project for a few days and I am just now catching up on my ASOFT messages. It sounds like you may have no good way to incorporate switching between 3DS and your desktop. The implimentation of SVGA modes by Vibrant and IBM may differ greatly. In such cases, matching the resolution between OS/2 and 3DS may not work. This will be especially true with graphics accellerators. If you do not find a way, you may do the following: Create a 3DS-VGA.SET file that is configured for plain-vanilla VGA. When you want to render a job in the background, start up 3DS in this generic VGA mode so that you will have the ability to switch back to the desktop cleanly. I use the above technique myself. Since, I too, have found conflicts at higher resolutions. I have one object (icon) which loads 3DS with nice high-color/rez drivers for modeling. Then, I have another object with set=3ds-vga.set in the parameters box, which I use for background rendering. Besides, you can lower your shaper and lofter settings in this dedicated SET file to free up memory for the renderer this way. I think Bailey Brown is more familair with OS/2's video. I believe he has also configured his sytem to run two versions of 3DS simultaneously – one as an editor and one as a slave. This way, he can send render tests to the background slave and continue to edit. Personally, I do not like any perfomace hits when I model, so I have not tried such a setup. Just out of curiosity, what happens when you configure 3DS for a 16 color mode for Main Display and then try ALT-ESC? BTW, try the CTRL-ALT-DEL for reboot instead of that reset button. This will give OS/2 a chance to close some system files and will reduce the potential for data corruption. — James — MAP —