Copyright: VideoLogic Ltd 1997


SmartDisplay

SmartDisplay gives you control over your monitor’s display. You can center the display, show the current display mode, and, if you are running standard Windows, you can also change the refresh rate.


Center

Center your monitor’s display by clicking the directional arrows, or the arrow keys on your numeric keypad. Hold the mouse button or the keypad buttons down to auto-repeat.

If you want to reset the display to the default position, click Reset.


Current Display Mode

This shows the display mode that you are currently running.

A display mode is made up of three elements: the refresh rate, the resolution, and the color depth. As the modes available are dependent on the amount of video memory available, very often you will have to strike a balance between these three elements to get the display you want.


Refresh Rate

The refresh rate shows how quickly your display is being redrawn each second, expressed in Hertz (Hz). For example, a refresh rate of 70Hz means that your display is being redrawn 70 times per second. A higher refresh rate is usually easier on the eye. Low refresh rates can flicker.

If you are running standard Windows 95, you can also change your display's refresh rate through SmartDisplay, by clicking the refresh rate list. Later versions of Windows, such as OSR2, have this function already available.


OSR2

OSR2 (OEM Service Release 2) is an updated version of the standard Windows 95, which includes some enhancements and changes from previous versions. Unless you are a developer, you are most likely to be running OSR2 because Windows was already installed on your computer; you cannot buy it off the shelf in a retail store.

The System Properties window shows which version of Windows you are running, in the General tab, under the System text.

If the version number is 4.00.950 or 4.00.950a, you are running a standard Windows build, and can change the refresh rate in SmartDisplay, by clicking the refresh rate list. Close the System Properties window now.

If the number is 4.00.950b, you are running OSR2, and you can change the refresh rate in Windows. To do this, close the System Properties window, and open the Display Properties window. In Display Properties, click the Settings tab, and click Advanced. Make sure you have the right monitor selected in the monitor tab and, when you have changed the refresh rate, close the Display Properties window.


Resolution

The resolution is expressed in pixels, and shows how large the display is. Typical resolutions are 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high (640x480), 800x600, and 1024x768. The higher the resolution, the clearer the display, but this requires more memory.


Color Depth

The color depth shows how many colors your graphics card is displaying. Typical color depths are 16, 256, 65 thousand and 16 million colors, often expressed in the number of bits needed to generate them (so 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit respectively). Sometimes 16-bit color is referred to as 'high color', and 24-bit or above as 'true color'. As with resolutions, the number of colors is dependent on the amount of memory available.


Reset

The current mode is that shown in the Current Display Mode information box. If you want to reset just this mode, click Current.

If you want to reset all modes, click All.

Otherwise click Cancel to return to SmartDisplay.


Support Information

This gives information that you might find useful if you have a problem with any VideoLogic product.


Version

This shows the version of SmartTools you are running, and the release date. Quote this to technical support if you have a problem, or use it to find out whether you’re running the latest version.


Contact

Use this to find details of your nearest VideoLogic support team.

If you have an Internet connection and a browser, a VideoLogic Online button is displayed. Click it to go to the VideoLogic web site. This holds the latest support information and software, as well as general VideoLogic news and product updates.