MODE 8

MODE 8 - 80x32x4

MODE 8 is a high-resolution screen MODE, selectable with the *MODE command or the NewModes sideways ROM module, that replicates the functionality of the native RISC OS MODE 8.

The MODE 8 code adapts the MODE 1 screen to provide a 4-colour version of MODE 0, 80 × 32 characters in 4 colours. It does this by redefining the character set to provide thin characters.

'MODE 8'

Type	Bitmapped
Resolution	Text	80 × 32 characters
	Graphics	160 × 256
Character size	4 × 8 pixels
Pixel aspect	1:2 (tall)
Bits per pixel	2
Default palette	Logical colour	Actual colour
	0	0 (black)
	1	1 (red)
	2	3 (yellow)
	3	7 (white)
Memory	allocated	20480 bytes
	on screen	20480 bytes
Address range	Model B etc.	&3000..&7FFF
Configuration	Video ULA control register	&98
	Video ULA palette register file	&07 &17 &26 &36 &47 &57 &66 &76 &84 &94 &A0 &B0 &C4 &D4 &E0 &F0
	CRTC register file	&3F &28 &31 &24 &26 &00 &20 &22 &01 &07 &67 &08

MODE 8 can be created manually with the following code running in the I/O processor.

   BASIC:
   MODE 1     :REM Base MODE
   ?&30A=79   :REM Characters per line
   ?&34F=8    :REM Bytes per character
   *FX154,152
   
   6502:
   LDA #22:JSR OSWRCH
   LDA #01:JSR OSWRCH           \ Base MODE
   LDA #&4F:STA &30A            \ Characters per line
   LDA #&08:STA &34F            \ Byte per character
   LDA #154:LDX #152:JSR OSBYTE \ Cursor width

The character set needs to be redefined to be four pixels wide, such as with the one used with NewModes.

MODE 8 - 10x32x16

MODE 8 is also the unofficial title of an ultra-low resolution screen MODE, a program for which appears on page 383 of The Advanced User Guide for the BBC Microcomputer (Bray et al., 1983) Another program, attributed to Ian Robertson, was published in The Micro User magazine (November 1985, p.123). It works on the BBC and Master but not the Electron, or the Archimedes/RISC OS (where MODE 8 is the official the 4-colour version of MODE 0).

The MODE 8 code modifies the MODE 5 screen to provide a 80 × 256 display in 16 colours. The MOS does not allow complete support of this MODE and some bugs can be seen: for instance, graphics drawn off the right-hand edge of the screen wrap around to the left, shifted down one text row; and text windows do not work correctly.

'MODE 8'

Type	Graphical ('ASCII')
Resolution	Text	10 × 32 characters
	Graphics	80 × 256 pixels
Character size	8 × 8 pixels, user definable
Pixel aspect	4:1 (wide)
Bits per pixel	4
Default palette	Logical colour	Actual colour
	0	0 (black)
	1	1 (red)
	2	2 (green)
	3	3 (yellow)
	4	4 (blue)
	5	5 (magenta)
	6	6 (cyan)
	7	7 (white)
	8	8 (flashing black/white)
	9	9 (flashing red/cyan)
	10	10 (flashing green/magenta)
	11	11 (flashing yellow/blue)
	12	12 (flashing blue/yellow)
	13	13 (flashing magenta/green)
	14	14 (flashing cyan/red)
	15	15 (flashing white/black)
Memory	allocated	10240 bytes
	on screen	10240 bytes
Address range	Model B etc.	&5800..&7FFF
Configuration	Video ULA control register	&E0
	Video ULA palette register file	&07 &16 &25 &34 &43 &52 &61 &70 &8F &9E &AD &BC &CB &DA &E9 &F8
	CRTC register file	&3F &28 &31 &24 &26 &00 &20 &22 &01 &07 &67 &08 (from table in MOS 1.20 at &C486..&C491)

MODE 8 can be created manually with the following code running in the I/O processor.

   BASIC:
   MODE 5     :REM Base MODE
   ?&30A=9    :REM Characters per line
   ?&34F=32   :REM Bytes per character
   ?&360=15   :REM Number of colours
   ?&361=1    :REM Pixels per byte
   ?&362=&AA  :REM Pixel left mask
   ?&363=&55  :REM Pixel right mask
   VDU 20     :REM Reset palette
   *FX154,224
   
   6502:
   LDA #22:JSR OSWRCH
   LDA #05:JSR OSWRCH           \ Base MODE
   LDA #&09:STA &30A            \ Characters per line
   LDA #&20:STA &34F            \ Byte per character
   LDA #&0F:STA &360            \ Number of colours
   LDA #&01:STA &361            \ Pixels per byte
   LDA #&AA:STA &362            \ Pixel left mask
   LDA #&55:STA &363            \ Pixel right mask
   LDA #20:JSR OSWRCH           \ Reset palette
   LDA #154:LDX #224:JSR OSBYTE \ Cursor width

See Also

• NewModes

References

Jgharston (talk) 17:25, 12 October 2016 (UTC) beardo 01:39, 13 December 2006 (GMT)