Here is an ENGLISH TRANSLATION of the Instructions (done by Gemini AI):

Introduction

Wedge80 is a program that allows you to create and view high-resolution graphic images using the VDC (Video Display Controller, MOS 8563) video interface of the Commodore C128. The name refers to the fact that this program utilizes a technique called a 'wedge', which allows the user to interact with it through the BASIC command interpreter. These commands can be entered in both direct mode and program mode and use the same instruction set as the BASIC V7 language, ensuring compatibility with existing software.

Installation

Wedge80 consists of a single file, which can be installed into the C128's memory in the following ways:

• BOOT "wedge80": loads and executes automatically. or:
• BLOAD "wedge80"
• SYS 4864 or:
• LOAD "wedge80",8,1
• NEW (necessary!)
• SYS 4864

Additionally, the provided .d64 image includes a 'BOOT' file, which allows you to start Wedge80 on the VICE emulator simply by dragging the disk image into the program window. During installation, some BASIC V7 graphic routines are copied into RAM and 'patched' so they can be applied to the bitmap graphics of the VDC chip, which has a different memory organization than the VIC-II.

Basic Usage

Once installed, the program prints a welcome message to inform the user that the system is ready for use. The 'HELP' command (accessible via the dedicated key on the C128 keyboard), while maintaining its original function, allows you to check if Wedge80 is active and view its version number. On the VICE 3.9 emulator, the 'HELP' key corresponds to the 'End' key, while in previous versions, it corresponds to the 'F5' key on the PC.

Wedge80 can be deactivated with the 'QUIT' command (which normally returns the 'unimplemented command' error message) without losing any BASIC program currently in memory. Furthermore, it can be reactivated at any time with the 'SYS 4864' command, provided that the user memory ($1300-$1bff) has not been cleared or overwritten.

With Wedge80 installed, traditional VIC-II graphics and extended VDC graphics can be used simultaneously. In fact, graphic commands are applied to the last graphic mode used, which is selected as follows:

• GRAPHIC 1: VIC-II bitmap (320 x 200, 2 colors per cell) or:
• GRAPHIC 6: VDC bitmap (640 x 200, 2 colors in total)

The GRAPHIC command can be quickly called from the keyboard using the 'F1' key. To clear the screen, simply add the option '1' to the GRAPHIC command, or use the SCNCLR command (corresponding to the 'F4' key).

To draw a line on the screen, use the DRAW command, which in BASIC V7 is based on the Bresenham algorithm: DRAW mode, x0, y0 TO x1, y1

The 'mode' option, which replaces 'source' (the color source in the classic version), indicates how pixels should be drawn on the VDC screen:

• 0 = 'off' pixels (to erase)
• 1 = 'on' pixels (to draw)
• 2 = performs an XOR with pixels already present on the screen

The coordinates represent the starting and ending points of the line. Initial coordinates can be omitted to continue from the last point drawn. For more details on the commands affected by Wedge80, see the "BASIC commands" section below.

Auto FAST mode

When Wedge80 is started, the 'autofast' function is enabled. This allows Wedge80's extended commands to execute in FAST mode (2 MHz) and then automatically return to SLOW mode (1 MHz) once the operation is finished. This function was added for user convenience, as in FAST mode, the 40-column screen (VIC-II) is disabled, and the latter is the only active text screen while the 80-column output (VDC) is in graphic mode. The 'autofast' function works in both direct and program modes and can be deactivated by 'forcing' the processor speed with the standard 'FAST' and 'SLOW' commands. To reactivate the 'autofast' function, enter the command 'FAST AUTO' (with or without a space between the two keywords).

ESC sequences

The Commodore 128 offers various functions accessible directly from the keyboard via ESCAPE sequences (the ESC key on VICE 3.9 corresponds to the 'F9' key on the PC). Among these, the 'ESC X' sequence allows you to quickly switch between 40-column and 80-column text modes (and vice versa). This necessitated an additional 'wedge' to monitor when the 'ESC X' sequence is called while the VDC is in bitmap mode.

Note that every time you switch from 80-column text mode to VDC bitmap mode (and vice versa), the information contained within is overwritten. This choice was made because Wedge80 was designed for use on a standard C128 (not C128 DCR), which has only 16 KB of dedicated VDC video RAM—just enough to represent a 640 x 200 pixel resolution with 2 colors. Nothing prevents expanding the memory manageable by Wedge80 to 64 KB in the future, or allocating swap memory in the C128's main RAM to avoid losing information (text or bitmap) whenever the mode is changed.

Extended BASIC

The commands whose functionalities are extended by Wedge80 are:

• GRAPHIC, SCNCLR, COLOR, DRAW, BOX, CIRCLE, PAINT, CHAR, SSHAPE, GSHAPE, LOCATE, HELP, FAST, SLOW, QUIT.

The affected functions are:

• POS(n), RGR(n), RCLR(n), RDOT(n).