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Configuration of the Master Series

Configuration guidelines for the Master Series

Table of Contents

This section is taken from Support Group Application Note No. 203, Issue 1 dated 27th February 1992

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.

This only applies to the BBC Master 128, 512, ET and Compact models.

*CONFIGURE

On the master series, the configuration is managed with the *CONFIGURE command. This takes one or two parameters, the setting to set and an optional value for that setting.

Like other commands it can be shortened as *CONF.
Note the . at the end is required when using the shortened version.

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 created 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.

If ROMs appear in the ROM table as being unplugged it is possible to re - insert then using the command *INSERT followed by the ROM Socket number eg. *INSERT 13

Default configuration

Configuration Default value Description
BAUD41200
BOOT/NOBOOTNOBOOTDo not boot on power up
CAPS/NOCAPSCAPSCaps lock on
DATA48N2
DELAY300.30s
DIR/NODIRNODIRDo not initialise directory
FDRIVE06ms, ADFS precompensation enabled
FILE13ADFS
HARD/FLOPPYFLOPPYDefault to floppy disk
IGNORE0No ignore character
INTUBE/EXTUBEINTUBEInternal Tube Interface
LANG12BASIC
Printer0Sink
QUIET/LOUDQUIET
MODE7Teletext Mode 7
REPEAT80.08s
SCROLL/NOSCROLLSCROLL

1 - ANFS specific options

*CONFIGURE options that are available if ANFS is installed

The following options only apply to systems fitted with the ANFS (Advanced Network Filing System) ROM.

*CONFIGURE FS <x.xxx> or <Name>

Options: FS Number
FS Name

e.g. *CONFIGURE FS 0,254

ot *CONFIGURE FS TecSupport

Default:0,254

*CONFIGURE PS <x.xxx> or <Name>

Options: PS Number
PS Name

e.g. *CONFIGURE PS 0,235

ot *CONFIGURE FS Laser

Default:0,235

*CONFIGURE SPACE/NOSPACE

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

2 - View specific options

*CONFIGURE options that are available if System ROM 3.50 is installed

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>

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

3 - *CONFIGURE Baud <0-8>

Sets the speed of the RS232 serial interface
Options:
OptionBaud rate
09600
175
2150
3300
41200
52400
64800
79600
812000
Default:4 (1200)

4 - *CONFIGURE Boot / NoBoot

Sets the Boot action when the machine is switched on
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

5 - *CONFIGURE Caps / NoCaps

Sets the keyboard caps lock
Options: Caps
NoCaps
Default:Caps

6 - *CONFIGURE Data <0-7>

Specifies the data format used by the RS232 interface
Options:
ValueAbbrevWord LenParityStop Bits
07E27even2
17O27odd2
27E17even1
37O17odd1
48N28none2
58N18none1
68E18even1
78O18odd1
Default:4 (8N2)

7 - *CONFIGURE Delay <0-255>

Sets the keyboard auto-repeat delay
Default:30

8 - *CONFIGURE Dir / NoDir

ADFS: initialise with directory
Description:Causes ADFS to initialise with a directory selected (either the root or, if ADFS has been since power on, the previously selected directory).
Options: DIR
NODIR
Default:NODIR

9 - *CONFIGURE FDrive <0-7>

Defines the step time or the use of precompensation in ADFS
Description:For computers fitted with either WD1770 or WD1772 disc controllers. FDrive defines the step time and, for ADFS, use of precompensation.
Options:
Value track step time precompensation
ADFS only
WD1770WD1772
0 or 46ms6msyes
1 or 56ms6msno
2 or 630ms3msyes
3 or 730ms3msno

Most drives require 6ms step time. Older drives may need the 30ms step time; modern drives may be able to operate at 3ms - consult your disc drive documentation.

Default:0

10 - *CONFIGURE File <0-15>

Defines the default file system by its ROM socket
Options:

Standard Master 128 roms:

ROM Application Location
Dec Hex
15FTERMINAL 01MOS ROM
14EVIEW 04
13DAcorn ADFS 50
12CBASIC 04
11BEdit 01
10AViewSheet 02
9DFS 79
8?IC27 Internal socket
7?RAM or IC37
6?
5?RAM or IC41
4?
3?SK4 Front Cartridge Slot
2?
1?SK3 Rear Cartridge Slot
0?

The *CONFIGURE FILE command takes a decimal argument however the *ROMS command shows it as a Hex value.

On a normal BBC Master *CONFIGURE FILE 9 would switch the default file system to DFS.

The original Acorn documentation has the default as 14. However, ADFS is in ROM 0xD which is 13.
Default:13 (0xD ADFS)

11 - *CONFIGURE Hard / Floppy

Sets if a hard disk or floppy disk is selected
Description:

For systems that have both floppy disc(s) and a Winchester disc connected:

*CONFIGURE FLOPPY causes ADFS to initialise with drive 4 (floppy discs) selected.

*CONFIGURE HARD causes ADFS to initialise with drive 0 (Winchester) selected.

Default:Floppy

12 - *CONFIGURE Ignore <0-255>

Sets the printer ignore character
Options:

Defines the 'printer ignore character' (ie the character which is not to be directed to the printer), by means of its ASCII code. 1

If the character code is omitted, all characters are sent to the printer when enabled.

Default:0

13 - *CONFIGURE Lang <0-15>

Defines the default language by its ROM socket
Options:

Standard Master 128 roms:

ROM Application Location
Dec Hex
15FTERMINAL 01MOS ROM
14EVIEW 04
13DAcorn ADFS 50
12CBASIC 04
11BEdit 01
10AViewSheet 02
9DFS 79
8?IC27 Internal socket
7?RAM or IC37
6?
5?RAM or IC41
4?
3?SK4 Front Cartridge Slot
2?
1?SK3 Rear Cartridge Slot
0?

The *CONFIGURE LANG command takes a decimal argument however the *ROMS command shows it as a Hex value.

The original Acorn documentation has the default as 13 (0xC). However, BASIC is in ROM 0xC which is 12.
Default:12 (0xC BASIC)

14 - *CONFIGURE Mode

Sets the default screen mode
Options:

The default mode is one of 0…7 for non-shadow modes or 128…135 for shadow modes.

Mode Characters Char Set Graphic Pixels Colours
Normal Shadow Rows Cols X Y
01283280ASCII6402562
11293240ASCII3202564
21303220ASCII16025616
31312580ASCIIText only2
41323240ASCII3202562
51332540ASCII1602562
61342540ASCIIText only16
71352540Teletext2
Default:7

15 - *CONFIGURE Print <0-4>

Defines the printer port
Options:
ValuePort
0Sink (No output printed)
1Centronics Parallel port
2RS232 Serial port
3User printer driver
4Econet network printer
Default:0 (SINK)

16 - *CONFIGURE Quiet / Loud

Sets the Bell (CTRL G) Volume
Options: Quiet
Loud
Default:Quiet

17 - *CONFIGURE Repeat <0-255>

Sets the keyboard repeat rate in 1/100 second
Default:8

18 - *CONFIGURE Scroll / NoScroll

Sets the Scroll protect option
Description:SCROLL 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

19 - *CONFIGURE Tube/NoTube

Enables the Tube co-processor
Description:If TUBE is enabled then, via the INTUBE or EXTUBE option, check for its existence and enable it
Options: TUBE
NOTUBE
Default:NOTUBE

20 - *CONFIGURE TV <0-255>,<0-1>

Configure the TV output
Description:

Alter the vertical screen alignment and set or reset the interlace option.

The first parameter is interpreted as a signal byte ie. 1 means a movement of 1 line up and 255 (-1) means a movement of one line down. If 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 parameter is omitted the value zero is assumed.

Default:0,1