

                             CHAPTER 2

                   INTRODUCTION TO COLOR CODES
                Two Easy Steps To A World Of Color

        Having a color monitor takes advantage of the color codes
        provided by the MS-DOS disk. These simple-to-learn codes
        will spark life into programs that you write and provide as
        many as 64 color combinations "free," just by typing a few short
        color codes.
        In the next sections, you will be creating color
        combinations and Menus that will contain Speed Keys. When
        creating these Menus you will also be adding a different color
        combination to each one.
      
        WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CHAPTER
        Ansi Escape Codes For Color
        How To Use These Codes

        HOW TO GET STARTED WITH COLOR
        STEP 1.
        You must copy from the MS-DOS disk a file called Ansi.Sys.
        This file takes your color codes and adapts them so that your
        color monitor can use them.
        The next step is to store Ansi.Sys in a special file called
        Config.Sys so that it will be available to DOS when the
        computer is turned on.

        STEP 2.
        The Ansi.Sys file must be stored in the Config.Sys file as
        outlined on the next page. With this accomplished you will
        have the necessary components to run the color codes and
        have color appear on your color monitor.
        You start by copying the Ansi.Sys file from the DOS disk
        as follows:

        Insert the MS-DOS into the Computer.

        Next to the A> Prompt, type the following:

              Copy  Ansi.Sys  B:      <Press the Enter key.>

        Follow the DOS prompts. Insert your disk when requested.
        A copy of the Ansi.Sys file from MS-DOS disk will be transferred
        to your disk.

        One More Step
        Leave your disk in the computer.

        In this next step, you are going to create a Config.Sys file
        in which you will put your Ansi.Sys command.
        To do this: type the following next to the A> Prompt, like this:

                Copy  Con  Config.Sys
                Device=Ansi.Sys
                F6        <Press Enter key to end the file.>
          ------------
        That's all there's to it!
        You now have the two files you need to get color.
                             -6-





        The ANSI Color Escape Sequences
        The word ANSI stands for the "American National
        Standards Institute"  which developed these codes.
        Below is a copy of the color Escape codes for setting
        color to the background and letters.

        These codes are called the ANSI Escape Codes,
        or Sequences for setting the foreground
        (letters or text) and background colors. Type as indicated.
        Don't use capital letters for the code.The Escape Code
        always starts:
        With a Dollar Sign ($)
        A Small (e)
        A Left Bracket ([ )
        And ends with the small letter (m)
   
        All of the above parameters are used on the next page.

        SPECIAL ATTRIBUTE COMMANDS
        $e[0m  Normal, white on black
        $e[1m  Bold, high intensity
        $e[4m  Underline if available
        $e[5m  Blink
        $e[7m  Reverse video

        These five commands are called attribute commands.
        They let you control the brightness, blinking and reverse video.


        THE COLOR CODES
        $e[30m  black letters      $e[40m  black background
        $e[31m  red letters        $e[41m  red background
        $e[32m  green letters      $e[42m  green background
        $e[33m  yellow letters     $e[43m yellow background
        $e[34m  blue letters       $e[44m  blue background
        $e[35m  magenta letters    $e[45m magenta background
        $e[36m  cyan letters       $e[46m  cyan background
        $e[37m  white letters      $e[47m  white background
                  
        The group of Ansi codes list 8 colors for the letters
        and 8 colors for the background. Simple math shows
        that 8 x 8 =64. Therefore, we have 64 possible
        color combinations.
                                                             
        HOW TO USE THESE COLOR CODES
        There are a few simple rules you must follow if you want the
        color codes to work:
          You must always start with the word "Prompt".
          Then the dollar sign, as the first entry after Prompt.
          Then the small e  (Yes, you can use a capital E here.)
          Then the left bracket.
          End with a small m.  (small m, please)
          Escape sequences may be combined by putting a
           semicolon after each item.

        YOUR FIRST ENTRY WILL BE TO CHANGE THE
        Screen Color to Black and White.

                              -7-





        To do this, type the following next to the A> Prompt, like
        this:
  
                Prompt  $e[0m  $p$g
               <Press the Enter key.>

        The $e[0m is the code to reverse all colors to black and
        white. This is known as reverse video. Your screen will
        remain black and white until you add some of your own
        color or use a commercial program that has its own color
        program, or restart your computer.

        You should now have your original black and white
        colors on your screen. If you still have color on your screen,
        recheck the way you entered the Ansi Escape codes.
   
        It is important that you type the codes exactly as shown.
        Make certain that:

          The first word is "Prompt.                    Prompt
          The second word is the dollar sign ($).       Prompt $
          The third word  is the small (e).             Prompt $e
          The next, the left bracket  ( [ )             Prompt $e[
          Then the code number                          Prompt $e[7m
          Finally,next to the code type $p$g            Prompt $e[7m $p$g
                  
        The $p$g gives you this subdirectory prompt A:\>.

        When you type Escape codes and can't get any color change
        on the screen, you must restart (boot) your computer to
        enter these new escape commands into the computer's
        "memory."
                          Press Esc key to return to Menu

                       GO TO CHAPTER 3  "Color Combinations"

























                                -8-
