

                            CHAPTER 3

                        COLOR COMBINATIONS

        In This Chapter You Will Learn:
        To Write 64 color combinations
        Experiment with 1 and 2-letter color codes
        Create A Color Menu

        WRITING YOUR OWN COLOR COMBINATIONS
        There are 8 colors that you will be using for the
        foreground (for letters) and eight for the background.
        This gives you 64 combinations from which to select your
        favorite colors.

        One approach to writing these codes is to use a simple
        formula for a set of 8 background colors and a set of 8
        foreground (letters). This is easily done by using the first
        letter of each color: for example, R for red letters, and
        RB for red background. This code will also serve as the
        name of the Batch file.

  
        A SPEED COURSE IN INSTANT COLOR
        The Batch Files that you will be writing have been
        designed by the Author to change foreground or background
        color individually or together.

        The Batch Files that you write will contain the commands
        Echo Off and Clear Screen (Cls). Other information about the
        Batch File is described below.
          The Echo off command will prevent the  codes from
        appearing on the screen.

          The Clear command will then clear the Echo Off
          command from the screen.

          When you enter a Letter command on the keyboard and
           press Enter, the Prompt and text will appear in that color.

          When you enter a Background command, the screen
           color will change.

          When you enter a letter (Y) and a background color
           (BB) the screen will show both color changes
           simultaneously.

          Each Batch File will contain a "Variable Parameter
           <%1>". This will make the Batch File accept another
           Batch File.  This is how you can have the two colors
           change at the same time.
 
           The Directory command "DIR" will be included each Batch
            File. Since this is the last command in each Bat file it will
            provide text material to view with the color changes.

            Note the second item in each Batch file uses the variable %1.
            This is where the second Batch file is activated
            (executes).
                              -9-





            For example, if you want yellow letters and blue background, the
            yellow letters execute first, then the blue background executes
            second from the variable %1.

        By using a variable you can substitute any color for %1. In
        the case above you could replace the blue background with any
        of the eight colors.

        The last item in each Bat file is the Directory command "DIR.
        This means whichever Batch file you use the program
        will always end with a display on the screen of the files
        in the directory.


        PUTTING COLOR CODES INTO A MENU
        Another way to check color is to put the list of color codes
        into a 2-letter Menu. Each time you make a color selection,
        you can return to the Menu by entering 2L.  This will give you
        some color to look at while making your next selection.


        HOW TO WRITE THE 2L MENU APPEARS BELOW.

        The Menu is Written Like This:
        Type next to the A> prompt the following, like this:

        Copy Con 2L.Bat
        Prompt $p$g
        Echo off
        Cls
        Echo:====== 1 and 2-Letter Color Codes ======
        Echo:
        Echo:  Select 1 color from either column, or 2 colors,
        Echo:  1 for Letters and 1 for Background
        Echo:       Then Press Enter Key
        Echo:
        Echo:   R...Red letters        RB... Red background
        Echo:   G...Green letters      GB...Green background
        Echo:   Y...Yellow letters     YB..Yellow background
        Echo:
        Echo:   B...Blue letters       BB...Blue background
        Echo:   M...Magenta letters    MB.Magenta background
        Echo:   CY..Cyan letters       CB...Cyan background
        Echo:
        Echo:   W...White letters      WB...White background
        Echo:   BLK..Black letters     BLB..Black background
        Echo:============================
        Press F6 key, then press Enter key to finish Batch file.
---------
        You have completed the 2L Menu Bat File.
        It will be used in all the color Bat files. When a color
        appears on the screen it will always display the 2L Menu.

        COLOR CODES
        The next lessons use many of the DOS commands that you
        have learned thus far. The Batch files contain a good
        variety of color codes, parameters, and DOS
        commands. You will enjoy how fast these Speed keys operate.
                              -10-





        WRITING THE COLOR CODE BAT FILES
        We'll Start With the Background Colors.
        Type the following next to the A> Prompt,
        Like this:          <Press Enter Key after each line.>

                Copy Con BLB.Bat     (Black background)*
                Prompt $e[40m $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
---------------

                Copy Con RB.Bat            (Red background)
                Prompt $e[41m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
----------------

                Copy Con GB.Bat       (Green background)
                Prompt $e[42m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
--------------

                Copy Con YB.Bat         (Yellow background)
                Prompt $e[43m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
--------------

                Copy Con BB.Bat         (Blue background)
                Prompt $e[44m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then presss Enter key.
---------------                                               
                                                 

                Copy Con MB.Bat     (Magenta background)
                Prompt $e[45m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
----------------

                             -11-





                Copy Con CB.Bat       (Cyan background>
                Prompt $e[46m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
---------------
                                                   
                Copy Con WB.Bat       (White background)
                Prompt $e[47m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, the press Enter key.
---------------
                                      
In The Next Group Are The Codes For The Letters (Foreground).

                Copy Con BLK.BAT           (Black letters)
                Prompt $e[30m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, the press Enter key.
--------------

                Copy Con R.Bat           (Red letters)
                Prompt $e[1;31m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
--------------

                Copy Con G.Bat           (Green letters)
                Prompt $e[1;32m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
---------------

                Copy Con Y.Bat            (Yellow letters)
                Prompt $e[1;33m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
----------------





                           -12-





                Copy Con B.Bat            (Blue letters)
                Prompt $e[1;34m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
----------------

                Copy Con M.Bat            (Magenta letters)
                Prompt $e[1;35m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
----------------
                                              
                Copy Con CY.Bat             (Cyan letters)
                Prompt $e[1;36m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
--------------

                Copy Con W.Bat         (White  letters)
                Prompt $e[1;37m  $p$g
                %1
                Echo off
                Cls
                2L.Bat
                Press F6 key, then press Enter key.
--------------

        This ends the writing of Batch Files for the 1 and 2 letter
        color-codes.
                   Go to Chapter 4 ...Testing Colors.























                               -13-
