Commodore Amiga Reference manual

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AMIGA
In troduction to
Amiga
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COPYRIGHT
This manual Copyright © 1985, 1986 Commodore-Amlga, Inc., All Rights Reserved. This document may not, In
whole or In part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine
readable form without prior consent, In writing, from Commodore-Amlga, Inc.
All software described In this manual Copyright © 1985, 1986 Commodore-Amlga, Inc., All Rights Reserved. The
distribution and sale of these products are Intended for the use of the original purchaser only. Lawful users of these
programs are hereby licensed only to read the programs, from their media Into memory of a computer, solely for
the purpose of e)(ecutlng the programs . Duplicating, copying, seiling, or otherwise distributing these products Is a
violation of the law.
DISCLAIMER
COMMODORE-AMIGA, INC., MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLlEO, WITH RESPECT TO
THE PROGRAMS DESCRIBED HEREIN, THEIR QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS
FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SOLD "AS IS." THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THEIR
QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE IS WITH THE BUYER . SHOULD THE PROGRAMS PROVE DEFECTIVE
FOLLOWING THEIR PURCHASE, THE BUYER (AND NOT THE CREATORS OF THE PROGRAMS,
COMMODORE-AMIGA, INC., THEIR DISTRIBUTORS, OR THEIR RETAILERS) ASSUMES THE ENTIRE COST OF
ALL NECESSARY DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT WILL COMMODORE-AMIGA, INC., BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT,
INDIRECT , INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN THE PROGRAMS
EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBLITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THE
EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LlABLITIES FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY.
Amlga and Graphlcraft are trademarks of Commodore-Amlga, Inc.
Commodore and CBM are registered trademarks of Commodore Electronics Limited.
Alphacom Is a registered trademark and Alphapro Is a trademark of Alphacom, Inc.
Brother Is a registered trademark of Brother Industries, Ltd.
Centronics Is a registered trademark of Data Computer Corporation .
Diablo Is a registered trademark of Xero)( Corporation.
Epson Is a registered trademark and FX-aO, JX-80, and RX-aO are trademarks of Epson America, Inc.
Hayes Is a registered trademark of Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc.
IBM Is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
LaserJet and LaserJet PLUS are trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Oklmate 20 Is a trademark of Okldata, a division of Okl America, Inc.
Qume Is a registered trademark of and LetterPro 20 Is a trademark of Qume Corporation.
WARNING: Thl ,s equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class 8
computing device, pursuant to subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules. Only peripherals
(computer Input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to comply with
the Class B limits may be attached to this computer. Operation with non-certified
peripherals Is likely to result In Interference to radio and TV reception.
The last four digits of the Amlga serial number Indicate the month and year of manufacture.
Printed In U.S. A.
CBM Product Number 372100-04 Rev. D 2-12-86

Contents
Chapter 1:
Chapter
2:
Chapter
3:
Chapter
4:
Chapter
5:
Chapter
6:
Chapter
7:
Appendix
A:
Appendix B:
Appendix C:
Glossary
Index
Introducing the Amiga 1-1
Setting Up the Amiga 2-1
Getting Started 3-1
Using the Workbench 4-1
Adding to the Amiga 5-1
Caring for the Amiga 6-1
Reference 7-1
Workbench Tools
A-1
AmigaDOS Messages
A~23
Changing the Pointer A-25
G-1
1-1

Chapter 1
Introducing the Arrtiga
Welcome! You're about to meet an extraordinary personal
computer. It's powerful, yet it's easy to learn and use. It's
agile: it can work at several tasks all at the same time. It's
colorful and musical. In this manual, you'll meet the
Amiga and learn how you can use it both at work and at
play.
Introducing the Amiga 1-1

About This Manual
This manual is for everyone who uses an Amiga. Chapter 2, "Setting Up
the Amiga," shows how to put your Amiga together. If you're using an
Amiga for the first time, read Chapter 3, "Getting Started," to learn the
basics.
Chapter 4, "Using the Workbench," describes many of the important tasks
you perform when using an Amiga.
Chapter 5, "Adding to the Amiga," describes printers, extra memory, and
other add-ons available for your Amiga.
Chapter 6, "Caring for the Amiga," tells how to keep your Amiga in good
working order.
Chapter 7, "Reference," includes specifications for the Amiga, as well as
information about:
• how to change many of the settings for your Amiga
• the Amiga input/output connectors
Appendix A, "Workbench Tools," tells about:
• the Amiga's built-in clock, calculator, and notepad
• tools that demonstrate the Amiga's graphics
• a tool for changing Workbench icons
Appendix B, "AmigaDOS Messages," lists Amiga error numbers and what
to do if you get one.
Appendix C, "Changing the Pointer," shows you how to modify the image
that moves on the display when you move the Amiga's mouse.
1-2 Introducing the Amiga

At the end, you'll find a glossary of important terms and an index. Terms
from the glossary are shown in italics where they first appear in the text.
For More Information
See the Graphicraft, Textcraft, and Amiga Basic manuals to learn how to
use these tools. If you are interested in developing software for the Amiga,
or if you'd like to learn the details of how the Amiga works, see the Amiga
Hardware Manual, the Amiga ROM Kernel Manual, the AmigaDOS
Manual, and Intuition: The AMIGA User Interface. These manuals are
available from your Amiga dealer.
Introducing the Amiga 1- 3

Chapter 2
Setting Up the All1 iga
Your Amiga takes only a few minutes to put together. Here
are the things you'll find packaged with the Amiga:
• the main unit
• the AC power cord
• the keyboard
• the keyboard cable
• the mouse
• three microdisks
• manuals, including the one you're reading now
• warranty information
Setting Up the Amiga 2-1

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Main
Unit
Power
Cord
Keyboard
Cable
Where to Find t he C onne ctors
On the back of the main unit, you ' ll find a number of c onnect ors . These
are places where you attach cables and other devices:
Parallel Audio
TV Modulator
Connector Connectors
Connector
Keyboard Disk Drive Serial RG8 NTSC
Connector Connector
Connector Connector
Connector
2-2 Setting Up the Amiga

On the right side of the main unit, you'll find two more connectors labeled
"1" and "2":
Before You Start
Before putting your Amiga together, be sure to read each instruction
carefully. While it's not difficult to assemble the Amiga, it is possible to
damage it if you don't follow the instructions.
When you attach any of the cables or insert anything into a connector,
remember: use a minimum of force. You can tell when a cable and
connector are properly mated when the end of the cable first slides into the
connector, then stops when it is in as far as it will go . Always start by
pushing gently on the end of a cable. If the cable doesn't slide inward,
check the cable and connector to make sure they match and that they're
properly oriented before applying more force.
Setting
Up the Amiga 2-3

Attaching the Keyboard
Find the keyboard cable, the coiled cable that's straight at one end. Plug
the straight end into the keyboard connector on the back of the Amiga:
Now put the rest of
the keyboard cable
underneath the
main unit. There's
a square opening
for the cable to
pass through:
Finally, plug the other end of the
keyboard cable into the keyboard:
2-4 Setting Up the Amiga

You can change the tilt of the keyboard by folding down the two legs on the
bottom. Try both positions to find the tilt that's most comfortable:
With the legs folded up, you
can slide the keyboard under
the main unit. This helps save
space on your work surface
when you're not using the
Amiga:
Setting Up the Amiga 2-5

Attaching the Mouse
Before attaching a new mouse, turn the mouse upside down and pull out the
piece of foam that holds the mouse ball in place. (If you don't get all the
foam out, see the" Cleaning the Mouse" section in Chapter 6 to find out
how to uncover the mouse ball.)
To attach the mouse, just plug the end of the mouse's cable into the
connector labeled" 1" on the right side of the main unit. (It's a tight fit;
this
helps keep the plug in place. Be sure to press firmly.)
If you're right-handed, you'll probably want the mouse to the right of the
keyboard. If you're left-handed, try putting the mouse to the left. Make
sure that the place you set aside for the mouse is at least 12 inches by 12
inches (30 centimeters by 30 centimeters) and that it's clean and flat.
2-6 Setting Up the Amiga

Atta ching th e Vid eo Monitor
The video monitor displays visual information. There are three kinds of
video monitors you can use with the Amiga:
• an RGB monitor. The Amiga Monitor available from Amiga
dealers is an RGB monitor. RGB monitors normally produce
the best-quality display.
•
an NTSC (composite video) monitor. There are many kinds of
NTSC monitors made specifically for computers. In addition,
many newer televisions have NTSC connectors that allow you to
connect them directly to computers.
• a television. Conventional televisions (those without NTSC
connectors) can also be used as monitors for the Amiga.
When choosing a monitor, note that televisions and NTSC monitors cannot
display as much information as RGB monitors. RGB monitors can show 80
characters clearly on each line on the display, while most televisions and
NTSC monitors can show only 60 characters clearly.
Setting Up the Amiga 2-7

Attaching an RGB Monitor
To attach an Amiga Monitor, use the video cable supplied with the monitor.
Plug the small end of the video cable into the connector on the back of
monitor:
Plug the large end of the cable into the RGB connector on the back of the
Amiga:
To attach other RGB monitors, see your Amiga dealer for the correct cable
and instructions.
2-8 Setting Up the Amiga

Attaching an NTSC Monitor
To attach an NTSC monitor or a television with an NTSC connector to the
Amiga, use a shielded cable with a phono plug at each end. (You can get
this cable from your Amiga
dealer.) Plug one end of the cable into the
appropriate connector on the monitor, then plug the other end into the
NTSC connector on the back of the Amiga:
Attaching a Television
To use a conventional television as a monitor, you need:
• a TV modulator
• a TV modulator cable
• a TV switch box
You can get these from your Amiga dealer. You'll find instructions
packaged with them.
Setting Up the Amiga 2-9

Con necting Audio Equipment
The Amiga produces high-quality stereo sound. There are two connectors
on the back of the Amiga for connecting the Amiga to audio equipment:
Audio Connectors
Unless you've attached a conventional television to the Amiga with a TV
modulator, you need to connect the Amiga to either an audio system or the
audio connector found on some monitors to hear sounds produced by the
Amiga .
Connecting the Amiga to a Stereo System
To connect the Amiga to a stereo system, you need two cables . Each cable
must on one end have a plug that fits the input connector on your amplifier
or receiver (this is most often a phono plug) and on the other end have a
phono plug to fit into the Amiga.
2-10 Setting Up the Amiga

On most stereo systems, there are extra inputs, often labeled" Auxiliary" or
"Aux," to which you attach one end of each cable . . On the back of the
Amiga are two audio connectors, one for the left audio signal and one for
the right audio signal. Insert the other end of each cable into the
appropriate audio connector:
Sound Connections for Monitors
Some monitors, including the Amiga Monitor, have a built-in speaker. To
connect a monitor for sound, you need:
• a "Y" adapter that converts the two stereo channels from the
Amiga to a single channel
• a cable for connecting the "Y" adapter to the audio connector
on the monitor
You can get "Y" adapters and connecting cables from many stores that
carry radio and electronic parts.
Setting Up the Amiga 2-11