Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!faline!ulysses!gatech!hubcap!rchampe
From: rchampe@hubcap.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: How do I read the Joysticks?
Message-ID: <764@hubcap.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Nov-87 18:10:18 EST
Article-I.D.: hubcap.764
Posted: Wed Nov 25 18:10:18 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Nov-87 07:45:25 EST
References: <760@hubcap.UUCP> <816@sdcc18.ucsd.EDU> <2073@umd5.umd.edu>
Organization: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Lines: 44
Keywords: joysticks
Summary: Ahh... but I'm just hacking.

In article <2073@umd5.umd.edu>, louie@trantor.umd.edu (Louis A. Mamakos) writes:
> 
> This type of thing is NOT what the hardware manual is for.  There are defined,
> supported ways to this sort of stuff which will continue to work on newer
> models of the hardware (if/when they come out).  'cmon guys, this ain't no
> Apple II or C-64 where we go PEEKing and POOKing at random places in memory.
> 
> John Schultz:  I suggest that you get a copy of the devices and libraries
> or any of a number of very good books out there.  You'll find the proper way
> to diddle the joysticks/mice without confusing other applications that might
> happen to be running on your amiga at the time, and that are portable to newer
> Amiga products that might be available in the future.
> 
> 
> Louis A. Mamakos  WA3YMH    Internet: louie@TRANTOR.UMD.EDU
> University of Maryland, Computer Science Center - Systems Programming

Louis,
    I'm the one who requested the information about reading the joysticks.
I did read the ROM Kernal and it says on the first page of the chapter
on the gameport device:

   When the input device is operating, the left gameport connector is
   usually dedicated to that device.  Therefore, this chapter's examples
   concentrate on the right connector, which is not dedicated to the
   input device.  Note that if the input device is not started, the left
   connector, as gameport unit 0, can perform the same functions as shown
   below for the right connecter.

   To me, this says that unless your planning to take over the computer
from intuition, you won't be able to use the left joystick.  And if there
is a way, it sounds like it'd take a hell of a lot of complicated code.
   Now, all I'm planning to do, is write a few games and in the process,
learn more about programming on the amiga.  None of these games will ever
be sold, nor will they probably even be worthy to put out on public domain.
I agree that sold programs should not use these shortcuts, but 
I see no problem taking shortcuts in programs for my own use, which I
don't plan to distribute.  As far as I concerned, if it saves me coding and
debugging time, I'm all for it.  After all, I'm only hacking.

P.S.  Thank you John Schultz, for your help.  It was much appreciated.

Rich Champeaux
Clemson University