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This Handbook provides guidance on implementing the software interface and command requirements established by DoD Instruction 1322.20 and MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D, to ensure interactive courseware (ICW) and authoring system portability. The requirements are implemented using the portability practices recommended in this handbook.

This handbook defines a standard set of software interface and related command protocol implementation practices. These implementation practices are intended for ICW manufacturers, systems integrators, authoring system developers, and software developers who wish to comply with the Interactive Multimedia Association (IMA) Recommended Practices adopted by the DoD.

The software interface and command requirements prescribed by Appendix D of MIL-STD-1379, and the ICW Portability Practices defined in this Handbook apply to ICW applications and authoring systems designed for delivery systems using Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS) version 2.0 or higher, or its functional equivalent; and the Intel 80×86 family of microprocessors or its functional equivalent. (See 4.3.2.1) These portability practices do not apply to ICW training systems that use exempted operating systems or microprocessor architectures.

This handbook provides information and guidance on DoD ICW portability initiatives and implementation of the Interactive Multimedia Association (IMA) Recommended Practices for Multimedia Portability (MS-DOS Based Systems), Release R 1.1 (hereinafter referred to as the IMA Recommended Practices). The IMA Recommended Practices address application program protocols adopted by the DoD. The information in Section 4, General Guidance, provides an introduction to the overall portability initiatives and provides general information pertaining to the IMA Recommended Practices. The Detailed Guidance, Section 5, presents software interface and related command implementation. The handbook appendixes contain information and guidance that supplements Sections 4 and 5.

This appendix provides specific guidance on implementing the system (sy) service group established by IMA, and required by MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D. These commands relate to overall VDI software operation.

This appendix provides specific guidance on implementing the visual-management (vm) service group established by IMA, and required by MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D. These commands relate to the visual management of the display screen.

This appendix provides specific guidance on implementing the videodisc (vd) service group established by IMA, and required by MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D. These commands control videodisc players.

This appendix provides specific guidance on implementing the XY-input (xy) service group established by IMA, and required by MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D. These commands relate to X-Y input devices such as mice, touchscreens, and light pens.

This appendix is reserved to support the implementation of the digital audio (da) service group requirements once they are developed and defined in MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D. These commands control digital audio devices.

This appendix is reserved to support the implementation of the audio management (am) service group requirements once they are developed and defined in MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D. These commands relate to system audio management functions.

This appendix presents a methodology for determining the default position of application program graphics in relation to video.

This appendix describes system error codes and presents a listing of the approved codes and their descriptions.

This appendix provides examples of VDI management implementation programming.

This appendix is a cross-reference of handbook paragraphs to related paragraphs in MIL-STD-1379, Appendix D, and the IMA Recommended Practices document.

MIL-HDBK-284-2 is Part 2 of three parts. Part 1, MIL-HDBK-284-1, Interactive Courseware (ICW) for Military Training, Manager's Guide for Development, Acquisition, and Management of, is used in conjunction with MIL-STD-1379 and this handbook to define and implement standard ICW portability protocol requirements. Part 3, MIL-HDBK-284-3, Interactive Courseware (ICW) for Military Training, Glossary for, contains definitions of all key terms, abbreviations, and acronyms used in MIL-HDBK-284-1 and MIL-HDBK-284-2. Part 3 also contains definitions of other terms related to military training and ICW.

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