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Author Topic: VistaPro on expanded/RTG systems  (Read 2484 times)

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Offline mbrantley

Re: VistaPro on expanded/RTG systems
« on: October 13, 2015, 01:34:28 AM »
Probably already covered and I have not read everything today.... but here is the method I use to run VistaPro. Solves the problem on both my AmigaOS 4.x machines and my classic Amigas with RTG cards.... copied from an old writeup I did....

"Getting the old landscape creation tool VistaPro to run proved challenging, but I found the answer in a long AmigaWorld thread. The two-prong solution: First, use a hex editor to alter the VistaPro executable by searching for the one instance of the term "Workbench" and replace it with "Fakebench." Then use a screenmode promotion utility (ModePro, or perhaps the Screens prefs editor in AOS4.x) to create a screen called Fakebench that mimics an old-style Amiga screen, and VistaPro will launch. I use the program, along with the companion MakePath, to make 3D fly-through landscape animations reminiscent of the Genesis animation from Star Trek II."

I suspect what is happening is some lazy method VistaPro used back in the day to determine whether it is running on a PAL or NTSC Amiga. Not sure that is the case, but that's my theory. If it finds Workbench running in some "strange" RTG mode instead, it just goes out of its mind.

VistaPro is great on my X1000 ... very fast renders of 24-bit images and image sequences (find MakePath!) in high-definition resolution. Just get some modern utility to assemble the frames, and you are golden.

I did not create this method of making VP work with an RTG Workbench, so not claiming credit. But have relied on it for years.

EDIT: Suspect number6's links got you to this method quicker than I could copy and paste and post. ;)
 

Offline mbrantley

Re: VistaPro on expanded/RTG systems
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2015, 01:38:41 AM »
This is worth copying and pasting too: "One behavior worth noting as it has existed on my VistaPro installations on three OS4 machines. If I run VistaPro and then immediately quit my computer will lock up tight as a drum within seconds. But if I quit the program after first doing some actual work (even just loading a DEM file), then I can exit cleanly without locking up."

Weird, but both repeatable and avoidable.