multiple options for dma ioctl

I am trying to set up a dma transfer from memory to a peripheral. So i need to use the alt_dma_tx_ioctl() function. The problem is i want to have multiple options for the function. I need the ALT_DMA_TX_STREAM_ON and the ALT_DMA_SET_MODE_8 options. how would i go about setting both of these options. Is there a function other than the alt_dma_tx_ioctl() that can just set the option and not start the transfer. I tried setting the ALT_DMA_SET_MODE_8 manually by writing to the register but in the software it defaults to a word transfer without so the software still thinks it is a word transfer and gives me an error when i call the alt_dma_txchan_send() function.

THanks in advance for any help

Brett