amiga-bootcamp/08_graphics/display_modes.md
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2026-04-23 12:17:35 -04:00

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Display Modes — Display Database, ModeID, Monitor Specs

Overview

OS 3.0+ provides a display database that abstracts monitor/chipset capabilities. Applications query available modes by ModeID rather than hardcoding HIRES/LACE flags.


ModeID Format

A ModeID is a ULONG:

bits 3116: Monitor ID
bits 150:  Mode within that monitor
ModeID Name Resolution
$00000000 LORES 320×256 (PAL) / 320×200 (NTSC)
$00008000 HIRES 640×256/200
$00000004 LORES-LACE 320×512/400
$00008004 HIRES-LACE 640×512/400
$00080000 SUPERHIRES 1280×256 (ECS+)
$00080004 SUPERHIRES-LACE 1280×512
$00039000 DBLPAL-LORES 320×256 (AGA scan-doubled)
$00039004 DBLPAL-HIRES 640×256 (AGA)
$00011000 DBLNTSC-LORES 320×200 (AGA)

Querying the Display Database

/* graphics.library 39+ */
ULONG modeID = INVALID_ID;
struct DisplayInfo di;
struct DimensionInfo dims;

while ((modeID = NextDisplayInfo(modeID)) != INVALID_ID) {
    if (GetDisplayInfoData(NULL, (UBYTE *)&di, sizeof(di),
                           DTAG_DISP, modeID)) {
        if (GetDisplayInfoData(NULL, (UBYTE *)&dims, sizeof(dims),
                               DTAG_DIMS, modeID)) {
            Printf("ModeID $%08lx: %ldx%ld, %ld colours\n",
                    modeID,
                    dims.Nominal.MaxX - dims.Nominal.MinX + 1,
                    dims.Nominal.MaxY - dims.Nominal.MinY + 1,
                    1 << di.NotAvailable ? 0 : dims.MaxDepth);
        }
    }
}

Best Mode Selection

ULONG bestMode = BestModeIDA((struct TagItem[]){
    { BIDTAG_NominalWidth,  640 },
    { BIDTAG_NominalHeight, 480 },
    { BIDTAG_Depth,         8 },
    { TAG_DONE, 0 }
});

References

  • NDK39: graphics/displayinfo.h, graphics/modeid.h
  • ADCD 2.1: NextDisplayInfo, GetDisplayInfoData, BestModeIDA