🚀 go-pugleaf

robert@solan.unit.no (Robert Schmidt) writes:
>frampton@vicuna.ocunix.on.ca (Steve Frampton) writes:
> > For those people experiencing keyboard problems under BC++ 3.0 (and other 
> > software products), if you are using the Quarterdeck QEMM Memory Manager 
> > software, try adding the following:
> >   IGNOREA20 UNUSUAL8042
> > to your 'device=c:\qemm...' statement in your CONFIG.SYS file.
>
>I have yet to try if this helps me, but did you get any explanation on what
>was wrong/what those options actually do?

I called Quarterdeck to ask about it, since as the author of the INT 9
handler in BC++ 3.0 I've been going crazy trying to figure out why
people are reporting this problem that I can't reproduce here. I know
that it has something to do with the IDE running in protected mode and
switching to real mode to handle the interrupt, and with interrupts
coming in faster than they can be processed. Well, these options make
sense, since IGNOREA20 tells QEMM not to do some processing that it
otherwise does on every real/protected mode switch, and UNUSUAL8042
says that there is something nonstandard about the keyboard
controller, which is what is involved in the switch between real and
protected mode. The tech support person I talked to wasn't much more
specific than that, but it's enough to convince me that those options
make sense in this case.

I asked the Qualitas people if 386MAX has any similar options and they
said no. It would be interesting to see if anyone who is using 386MAX
experiences this problem.

I would like to hear from anyone who does experience the sticky shift
problem with the BC++ 3.0 or TC++ 3.0 IDE (Usually the symptoms are
that typing the cursor keys marks blocks as if you were holding down
the shift key, or perhaps sometimes inserts a digit) if you are *not*
using QEMM or if it *doesn't* clear up by adding the IGNOREA20 (which
can be abbreviated IA) and/or the UNUSUAL8042 (abbrev. U8) options.
Oh, and remove any keyboard enhancer software like buffer extenders or
typeamatic rate setters before reporting it to me, in case they are in
conflict.

 -- Sidney Markowitz <sidney@borland.com>
    Borland International (Languages - R&D)