GRiD Systems Windows for Pen Computing README File -------------------------------------------------- The following items are of importance to users of GRiD's pen-based computers running Microsoft Windows 3.1 for Pen Computing. * New GrayScale VGA Display Driver * The GRiD Model 2260 video panel is capable of displaying up to 16 different gray levels. The standard Windows display driver, though, only distributes its colors across 4 different gray levels. GRiD has provided a modified display driver that uses all 16 gray levels available on the internal display. The modified driver does not, however, support color on an external monitor. You may switch the active display driver by using the GrayScale control applet found in the Control Panel. If you normally use an external monitor, you will probably want to keep the standard display driver and its color support. If you usually use your Convertible display, you will probably wish to use the improved gray scale display driver. * Simultaneous Pen and Mouse Use * Windows for Pen Computing allows you to use a mouse as an input device in addition to the pen. During installation of the Pen Computing extensions, you are asked whether you wish to use a mouse, in addition to the pen, with your machine. Based on this choice, the setup utility will install one of two drivers on your system. The GRiD Model 2260 has Windows for Pen Computing loaded at the factory with pen only selected. A problem arises if you choose to use a serial mouse with your system, but don't have a physical mouse attached at all times. Some Windows applications, such as Word for Windows and Write, check for the physical mouse. If the mouse is not found, the application turns off the cursor. Therefore, if you choose pen and mouse use during the setup routine, and you don't always have a physical mouse attached, your cursor may disappear. If you choose a pen only configuration, you should experience no problems. Since you originally installed as a pen-only system, you must make the following changes to your Windows configuration if you wish to use an external mouse. If you wish to use an external serial mouse along with a pen on your system, the following line should appear in the [boot] section of your SYSTEM.INI file: mouse.drv = mouse.drv Remember that this setting, while more convenient, may cause the cursor to disappear. If you wish to change back to only using a pen as your input device, the following line should appear in the [boot] section of your SYSTEM.INI file: mouse.drv = yesmouse.drv Please note that these driver settings are mutually exclusive. You may modify this setting at any time to change your functionality. * Using GRiD Pen-based applications in a Windows DOS box * While running Windows in enhanced mode, it is possible to run GRiD's DOS pen applications within a DOS compatibility box (e.g. PenRight!, PadKbd, etc). There are a number of important restrictions to remember: 1) Only full-screen support is provided. If you change your DOS box to a windowed format (e.g. Alt-Enter), the pen application will not work. 2) You cannot use PadKbd in a DOS box to execute the Windows hot-keys (e.g. ALT-TAB, ALT-SPACE, ALT-ENTER, etc). If you need to execute the hot-key sequences, use the physical keyboard instead. 3) PenMouse.com, the GRiD pen-mouse emulator utility, is not compatible with Windows for Pen Computing. Do not attempt to run this utility within a DOS box. Please note that GRiD Pen-based applications will not run in a Windows DOS box in Windows standard mode. Only enhanced mode operation is supported. * Ink-noise reduction system * GRiD has provided a software filter in its 2260 pen driver to reduce any "ink noise" (stray points, errant ink, etc) present in your system. In most cases, it will not be necessary to enable this feature. If your system does exhibit undue "ink noise", you may enable the filter through the Configure dialog box located in the Pen Control Applet, which exists in the Control Panel. * PC Speaker Wave Driver * GRiD has installed the PC Speaker version of the Wave Guide driver. The use of this driver allows you to play the Windows Wave-based sounds built into the system. Because this is not a part of the retail release of Microsoft Windows, GRiD does not automatically enable this driver. If you wish to enable your PC speaker for Windows sounds, follow these steps from within Windows: 1) Enter the Drivers applet within the main control panel. 2) Press the Add button. 3) Select the PC Speaker Wave Driver entry in the driver list. 4) Press the OK button. 5) A dialog box explaining that the driver is already present on the system appears. Press the Current button. 6) The PC Speaker setup dialog box appears. Configure the speaker to your personal taste. Press the OK button when complete. 7) Windows must be restarted to enable the speaker. When prompted, press the Restart Now button. You may now customize your system sounds through the Sound applet located in the main control panel. WARNING: SINCE THIS IS A NON-STANDARD WINDOWS COMPONENT, USE THIS DRIVER AT YOUR OWN RISK. * MS-DOS w/Keyboard Icon * When the GRiD Model 2260 is configured at the factory, an icon is added to the Microsoft Pen Tools group to support an MS-DOS prompt with on-screen keyboard. If you ever reinstall Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing on your system, this icon may not appear automatically. If the icon does disappear, you may reinstall the icon by following these steps from within Windows. 1) Enter the Microsoft Pen Tools group in the Program Manager. 2) Select New from the File menu. 3) From the New Program Object dialog box, select the Program Item button and press OK. 4) In the Description field, type MS-DOS w/Keyboard 5) In the Command Line field, type DOSKBD.PIF 6) Press the OK button.