I have not used the 297 298 combo for stepper for some time now but from what I remember
I did:
- connect them as figure2
- not used RS1, RS2 (tied 1,15 of 298 and 13,15 of 297 to gnd - but you should use RS1,RS2 0.5R)
- sync left floating (not connected to anything)
- control - this one is important but I don't remember if it should be high or low, but you have to connect it high or low, check both options
you cannot kill anything
- enable to high
- reset to high
- half/full - whatever you like but you have to tie it high/low, do not let it float
- cw/ccw - same as half/full - tie to high or low, do not let float
- get 555 to supply the clock
so the only thing I do not remember is control, I know I tried both options (high and low)
one more thing, the first time I connected it - the power was going trough but the stepper was not moving ... I then reversed 3/4 (initialy the 1,2 and 3,4 from the stepper were connected to 298's 2,3 and 13,14, as it was not working i reconnected them to 2,3 and 14,13)
I hope it is clear