Copyright (c) Hyperion Entertainment and contributors.
Configuring Workbench and AmigaOS
AmigaOS and the Workbench comes with a suite of program preferences to adjust Sound, Graphics, Text, Display, Font settings and more.
Contents
Configuring through the User-startup
The user-startup is a simple AmigaDOS script containing commands that will be executed everytime AmigaOS starts. It is optional but it is always used by the user as it is an easy way to add custom settings to the system.
The startup-sequence is so critical for the good start of the operating system that it is recommended to never modify it. On the contrary, the user can edit the user-startup to start his own programs or set his own settings.
As an example, if you want to create an assignation each time you boot AmigaOS just add the following line to your user-startup:
Assign myassign: Disk:mydirectory
Configuring through the Devs:...
The Save/Use/Test concept
In AmigaOS you can modify some settings and test them without storing the modifications on disk. This is very handy because you can modify a lot of settings but you can always go back very easily to your saved configuration. You don't need to keep a list of all the changes you do and there is no fear you break something. When you want to cancel all your tests, just restart the system and you automatically restore the previous (correct) settings. This way it's up to the user to decide when the settings will be saved. The operating system will never store modifications by itself.
To reflect this mechanism all preferences programs have the following 4 buttons (if possible):
- Save
This will save on disk the current settings so they will become permanent. The preferences program will also close.
- Use
When you click this button, the current settings will be applied on the system but not saved on disk. The preferences program will also close.
- Test
This button will apply the current settings but the program will stay open. This way you can immediately see the result of your settings and you can modify them again and do another test.
- Cancel
This will cancel any modification you did since the program was opened. Changes will be reverted and the program will close.
List of all the preferences programs you can use
AHI (Audio Hardware Interface) - Allows for control over the audio functions of your Amiga
AmigaInput - Setup for gamepads and joysticks
ASL - Allows for control over file requesters
Compatibility - Manages the 68K Just-in-time compiler settings
Console - Controls the settings for the Amiga Shell
DefIcons - Interface to allow behaviour of default icons
DOS - Manages DOS settings
Font - Controls Font selection for Workbench, Screens, and Windows
GUI - Used to control the look and feel of various elements of the AmigaOS 4 interface
Input - Controls the settings for the keyboard and mouse
Internet - Contains settings for the computer's network connections
Locale - Sets the user's preferred languages
Notifications - Controls the behaviour of Ringhio, the AmigaOS 4.1 pop-up notification system
Palette - Allows the user to adjust certain colours used for some on-screen elements
Picasso96Mode - Advanced controls for creating and modifying graphics modes
Pointer - Allows editing of the mouse pointer's image
PopupMenu - Settings controlling the look and behaviour of the system's pop-up menus
Printer -
ScreenBlanker - Preferences for the system's screen saver / screen blanker
ScreenMode - Settings for screen resolution and colour depth
Screens - Allows the setting up and control of custom screens for applications
Serial - Sets the default settings for the serial port
Time - Allows the user to set the system's time and date
Timezone - Allows the user to set their current timezone and Daylight Saving Time preferences
UBoot - Advanced settings concerning the computer's initial booting system
USB - Contains USB preferences and information
WBPattern - Settings for the background of the Workbench screen and directory windows
WBStartup - Controls which programs are launched when Workbench starts
Workbench - Settings which control certain aspects of the Workbench's behaviour
