Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/ansi/acolor.arj/ACOLOR.DOC

Text File | 1992-01-28 | 7.8 KB | 168 lines

ACOLOR.DOC                  ╓────────────────╖
                            ║   ACOLOR.COM   ║
                            ╙────────────────╜
                    (C) Copyright 1992 by Rand Nowell
                            RaLin Enterprises
                   40728 Sundale Dr. Fremont, Ca. 94538
                              [phone]

   A(nsi)COLOR......
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Command: acolor -or- color   (See below)
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Requirements: Color monitor for color display
   A line saying: Device=Ansi.sys is include in the Config.sys file
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   To Print Document: Copy Acolor.doc Prn -or- Type Acolor.doc>prn
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   ACOLOR.COM is a simple com file which displays a chart with the number
   values for text foreground and backround color ansi codes, along with
   the attributes for Bold, Blinking etc. Along with a couple of
   examples. The color names are shown in their respective colors,
   and are listed as to whether they can be used for foreground,
   backround or both.

   ACOLOR.COM  is not a resident program (TSR) and will not remain in
   memory and does not have a hotkey to call it. I figured this really
   wasn't a program that one would need available all the time. If I do
   decide to make it a TSR I will make the new version available.

   This utility came about from having to look up ansi code numbers and
   attributes whenever I needed to create color prompts or quick command
   displays. This chart saves a lot of time. You won't use it all the time,
   but when you need it, you'll be glad its there!

   There are several ways you could use this chart. Call it from the
   prompt, call from a programs shell command, or as in the QEdit editor
   program, you could create a macro to shell to dos, bring up the TCOLOR
   chart, then return to your text file. Such a macro in Qedit would be:

     MacroBegin SaveFile CurrentFileName Dos 'acolor' Return Return ---->
     EditFile CurrentFileName Return  (These two lines would be one
     continuous line in the Macro)

     You could also create a 'hotkey' using ansi escape sequences in your
     Autoexec.bat (Different commands than used in ACOLOR)

   One annoying problem when calling ACOLOR.COM from the command line, is
   after the chart is displayed on the screen, the prompt often overwrites
   a small portion of the chart. It doesn't always cover any important
   information, its just distracting. So I have included a batch file
   called COLOR.BAT which calls ACOLOR.COM and pauses. This eliminates the
   prompt problem.

   This program is distributed as FreeWare. You are not required to
   register for use. No fee is required. Copies may be distributed as long
   as all the original files are included. Please distribute the ZIP file.
   These original Files are:

          ACOLOR.COM     : The Color Chart
          VIEWDOC.COM    : View The Documentation
          COLOR.BAT      : To Run TCOLOR with pause
          ACOLOR.DOC     : This Document

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ACOLOR.DOC

   To give you an idea of what can be done with the Ansi codes, try the
   following. This is the prompt I created  for my system. I got tired of
   looking at the plain ol C:\> so I fixed up a more pleasing and
   informational one. Make sure Ansi.sys is loaded in the system and
   type the following on ONE LINE, you may have to reset the right margin in
   your text editor. Ansi code commands cannot be split on the lines, spaces
   in the command are included in the results.


prompt $e[1;37;44m Alt-F9 For Menu $_$e[33;44m $d  $e[0m$e[30;40m$_$e[33;
40m═════════════════$e[0m$_$e[33;40m$p$g$e[36;40m
/\
|-------continuation of line above...NO spaces

The $e is the ESC command for prompt design. If you are using ansi codes
to modify keyboard commands, for instance, $e wouldn't work. In those
cases you must insert an actual esc char. Most text editors such as Qedit
and Norton Editor allow you to do this by first pressing Ctrl-P then the esc
key which will insert the arrow sign for escape. IF you have an editor such as
one of these, then you've got it made!

  The above ansi commands (again, all on one line) create a prompt that looks
  like this:    My screen backround is black....

            Alt-F9 For Menu \  Top 2 lines, brite yellow on blue
            Tue 01-29-1992  /
            ═══════════════ \  Dbl line and prompt, Brown on black
            C:\TEMP3>       /
            ------------------Then the color is set to cyan on black,
            ------------------my default text color.

   You will notice some other commands in the prompt, such as $_
   these are your cursor control commands, which allow you to move
   the cursor down while writing the prompt to screen. Refer to your
   DOS manual for the codes and what they do. I just cannot go into all
   of them in this document.

   Try the above prompt out, experiment with different colors, make sure
   you space commands out exactly as above. If you want, after you have got
   it working, change the spacing and see what it does to the prompt.

   Now, rather than putting the above in your autoexec.bat and rebooting
   to see the results, put the above in a plain ascii text file and name
   it something like ptest....(leave off the word prompt) then to view it,
   at the prompt, just type: Type ptest & press Enter..............
   Walla!!! your custom prompt.
   Experiment, play, have a good time !!!!

  Suggestion: Place ACOLOR.COM + COLOR.BAT in a directory thats in your
              PATH statement.

  If you couple the ansi color codes with the cursor movement codes
  you can create some FANTASTIC prompts, custom messages, all kinds
  of trick things. Unfortunatly I cannot cover all those commands too.

  Also, I'd like to apologise for how crowded the Ansi Code Chart is
  on the screen, only have 24 lines to work with, and I tried to get
  as much as possible on the screen. Oh well............

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ACOLOR.DOC

  < * * * * * * * * * * * * *   DISCLAIMER  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >
  THIS PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED AS IS. RAND NOWELL AND/OR RALIN ENTERPRISES
  ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE TO FILES, SYSTEM, OR PEACE OF
  MIND RESULTING FROM THE USE OF ACOLOR.COM OR ACCOMPANYING FILES.
  < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| <P.S.> In the chart you will notice the word BLACK is in a gray      |
|        color...this is actually Bright Black..foreground color only. |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
  [ Coming:] There will be a more utilities coming as they are written.
  To remain informed of releases and updates see below.
  The companion program to this is TCOLOR.COM, a chart of
  Text Color Attributes. Look for it!

  If you are overcome with the desire to contribute a donation towards
  the continuation of programs such as these. The amount of $1.00 or more
  will be GREATLY appreciated !!

  Anyone contributing $5.00 or more will be notified by mail of the
  release and location of new updates and any other utilities made
  available to the public. Be sure to include your name and address!

  Contributions may be sent to: Rand Nowell via the address at the
  document beginning.

  Regardless of whether or not you send a donation, it is hoped that this
  small utility is helpful and that you enjoy it!

                      (Rand) -=[ RaLin Support! ]=-





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