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AmigaOS 4.0 - About OS4 - Preferences

SCREENBLANKER Preferences Editor
The ScreenBlanker Preferences editor enables you to configure the optional screen blanker facility which can be made to invoke when there is no activity for a specified period of time.

When the ScreenBlanker Preferences editor is invoked it will display the following window:

Modules

In normal operation, ScreenBlanker will cycle through the 'Active modules', using the specified 'Module Preferences' (if applicable). If you do not want a particular module, simply move it to the 'Inactive modules' using the > button. If you click on the >> button, this will move ALL modules to the 'Inactive modules'. Conversely, you can move them back again using the < and << buttons.

Selected module simply shows the version and author information for the module highlighted above.

Module Preferences

Most, but not all, modules will have an option to set the preferences, but these will differ markedly from one module to the next, depending on the variables that the module provides.

In this example, we can see the Module Preferences for the 'Flower' module as highlighted above. The variables are listed down the the left hand side and the values shown depict the low and and values of the range for each variable.

After you make changes you must click on 'OK' to save them, or 'Cancel' to lose all changes. Clicking on 'Defaults' will simply reset the values to their original defaults but does not save them.

Timing

This window is used to set the parameters for when the ScreenBlanker should become active, measured in seconds.
  • Blank delay (s) sets the period of inactivity that should occur before the ScreenBlanker takes over the display, but this only applies when the box on the right is ticked.
    Default is activate after 5 minutes.
  • Stand-By delay (s) sets the period of inactivity that should occur before the ScreenBlanker switches the screen into standby-mode, but this only applies when the box on the right is ticked.
    Default is activate after 10 minutes.
  • Suspend delay (s) sets the period of inactivity that should occur before the ScreenBlanker switches the screen into suspend-mode, but this only applies when the box on the right is ticked.
    Default is activate after 15 minutes.
  • Power-off delay (s) sets the period of inactivity that should occur before the ScreenBlanker powers the screen off, but this only applies when the box on the right is ticked.
    Default is activate after 20 minutes.

Hotkeys

This window is used to set the hot-keys that can be used to activate or deactivate the ScreenBlanker.
  • Blank-Hotkey can be used to immediately activate the ScreenBlanker.
    Default is either Shift Key plus F1.
  • Off-Hotkey can be used to immediately turn your display off.
    Default is either Shift Key plus F2.
  • Quit-Hotkey can be used to immediately deactivate the ScreenBlanker.
    Default is either Shift Key plus F3.
You can either type the corresponding keywords into the requester, or you can click on the Learn button followed by the key combination of your choice. Keywords available include any single key on the keyboard, (e.g 1, q, SPACE, ESC, F1, CURSOR_UP, etc) or these can be combined with the Left-Shift key (LSHIFT), Right-Shift key (RSHIFT), either Shift key (SHIFT), Ctrl key (CONTROL), Left-Amiga key (LCOMMAND), Right-Amiga key (RCOMMAND), Left-Alt key (LALT), Right-Alt key (RALT) etc. Experiment to see what works for you.

Misc

This window is used to set other miscellaneous parametrs for the ScreenBlanker.
  • Module Order specifies whether the selection of modules shown be Random or Sequentially.
    Default is Random.
  • Ignore mouse when in DPMS mode can be used to prevent triggering by moving the mouse when the monitor is in Display Power Management Signalling mode. When this is ticked ScreenBlanker only reponds to keyboard activity.
    Default is not ticked.

PLEASE NOTE:

  1. In order for the ScreenBlanker to work, the ScreenBlankerEngine Commodity needs to be running. Simply copy sys:Tools/Commodities/ScreenblankerEngine to the WBStartup drawer and it will work (after a restart) or double-click on it to enable it immediately. If you double-click on it again it will shut down the ScreenBlankerEngine.

  2. There is a bug in ScreenBlanker that has been fixed but didn't make it into Update #4, in that ScreenBlankerEngine calls LockPubScreen() and doesn't unlock it again. This means that if you, or an application that you run, attempt to change the screen resolution of the public screen, WorkBench will throw up a requester stating "Intuition is attempting to reset the WorkBench screen. Please close all windows, except drawers". The only way to make the change take effect is to shut down the ScreenBlankerEngine.

Return to Preferences Selection

Disclaimer: Amiga Auckland have prepared the above information for the use of its members based on our experiences and as such is subject to revision at any time. Amiga Auckland cannot guarantee any of the information and cannot be held accountable for any issues that may result from using it.

Copyright © 2006 Amiga Auckland Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: February 9, 2006.