This *Command sets the configured monitor type.
*Configure MonitorType n|Auto|EDID
n | Monitor type number |
Auto | Automatic monitor type selection via the monitor ID pins |
EDID | Automatic configuration from the monitor’s EDID |
The configured monitor type can also be set to one of the numeric types by holding down the corresponding key on the numeric keypad while the computer is switched on.
On RISC OS 3.5 and above, the configured monitor type is typically only relevant up until the point where the boot sequence loads a MDF (or EDID file) via *LoadModeFile, at which point the ScreenModes module will take care of managing the list of modes that are made available to the system.
Setting the configured monitor type to 7 (MDF) is not recommended as the kernel’s built in mode list does not contain any entries for that monitor type.
The “Auto” setting is only fully supported on Archimedes-era machines. RiscPC / IOMD machines do not implement the full monitor detection circuitry, and the introduction of Monitor Definition Files largely rendered the use of the numeric monitor types obsolete. Additionally, monitors which support EDID may confuse the detection system, and RISC OS 5.20 dropped support for the detection completely (any “Auto” monitor will be treated as type 3, VGA)
EDID support was introduced in RISC OS 5.23. Note that IOMD / VIDC hardware is unable to read EDID; setting the monitor type to EDID on such a machine is unlikely to be very useful.