Dos Window colors

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roger Johansson
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R

Roger Johansson

I find myself working in the dos prompt window often now.
Several programs use the dos window, like perl, minitrue, etc..

I would like some better background, font, colors and other
possibilities, like mouse support etc..

Is there some solution to this, like a dos console program, or some
other way to fix the dos environment to get better colors, etc?
 
Roger said:
I find myself working in the dos prompt window often now.
Several programs use the dos window, like perl, minitrue, etc..

I would like some better background, font, colors and other
possibilities, like mouse support etc..

Is there some solution to this, like a dos console program, or some
other way to fix the dos environment to get better colors, etc?

Have you considered loading ansi.sys? ansi.com is an alternative TSR,
easier to control.
 
Roger Johansson wrote in said:
I would like some better background, font, colors and other
possibilities, like mouse support etc..

Is there some solution to this, like a dos console program, or some
other way to fix the dos environment to get better colors, etc?

For fonts see DOSFON at: <http://www.uwe-sieber.de/english.html>

"DOSFon - Better fonts for the DOS-Box and editors - design like the
fullscreen DOS-fonts" <http://www.uwe-sieber.de/dosfon_e.html>
("freeware for private use")

For colors in console, see how-to here:

"Console color configurator."
<http://www.jsiinc.com/subc/tip1200/rh1266.htm>

Utility (not tried it my self):
CONSET from <http://home.pe.net/~fpw/freeware/>
See
"Freeware CONSET displays, sets, or deletes CMD.exe
environment variables, modifies console parameters, and
performs floating point mathematics."
<http://www.jsiinc.com/subl/tip5800/rh5895.htm>

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Bjorn Simonsen wrote in said:
For colors in console, see how-to here:

"Console color configurator."
<http://www.jsiinc.com/subc/tip1200/rh1266.htm>

I quess this how-to was written for NT. It says: "Using Control Panel
/ Console / Colors". In Win2k the settings can be found under
"Start/Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt" when selecting properties
for "Command Prompt" (right click). (I guess it is the same for XP -
if not then quite similar)

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Roger Johansson said:
I find myself working in the dos prompt window often now.
Several programs use the dos window, like perl, minitrue, etc..

I would like some better background, font, colors and other
possibilities, like mouse support etc..

Is there some solution to this, like a dos console program, or some
other way to fix the dos environment to get better colors, etc?

My OS is Win2k Pro, so this might work for me but not for you depending on
your OS.

Open the DOS window and look for the small icon in the upper left-hand
corner with "C:\" on it. Click once on that icon and a window will pop up
with the usual options to move, close, etc. After the usual Close option
there will be at least three additional options, namely Edit, Defaults, and
Properties. You might also get a fourth one, Hide Mouse Pointer. Open either
Defaults or Properties and you will be able to make lots of changes to
colors, fonts, layout, cursor size, etc. Fool with it a while to explore the
options.

Hope this helps.
 
It was a dark and stormy night when Roger Johansson <no-
I find myself working in the dos prompt window often now.
Several programs use the dos window, like perl, minitrue, etc..

I would like some better background, font, colors and other
possibilities, like mouse support etc..

Is there some solution to this, like a dos console program, or some
other way to fix the dos environment to get better colors, etc?

One posible alternative (not a solution/workaround for the DosBox,
mind you) is using rxvt, it's part of the Cygwin package.

rxvt allow you to:

* Set the size of the main window (columns x lines).
* Set the font to be used (works OK with non proportional fonts like
Andale Mono or Courier New).
* Set the foreground and background colours.
* Using the mouse: selecting text automatically copy it to the
clipboard, paste is done with a middle click.
* Scroll the text using either the scroll bar or the mouse wheel.
* Plus a few others ...

Another advantage of the Cygwin package is access to tried and true
tools like awk/sed/grep/make/etc.

The only downside is, if you don't like Linux-like enviroments then
you are not going to like Cygwin one bit.

The homepage is:
<http://www.cygwin.com/>

Hope this helps
 
Alan said:
Have you considered loading ansi.sys? ansi.com is an alternative TSR,
easier to control.

Right now it looks like ansi.sys/com is the best solution.

Thanks to Bjorn and Nil too, I will check up all tips and see if they
can help.

It is surprising that there is no replacement for the dos window as
interface to command.com.
I have seen some dos console type programs but they do not seem to
work with full interactivity, often they only send command lines to
command.com which opens the classical dos window.

I have to dig up some old Dos diskettes.
 
rir3760 said:
One posible alternative (not a solution/workaround for the DosBox,
mind you) is using rxvt, it's part of the Cygwin package.

That sounds like a very interesting alternative.
I have been close to installing cygwin several times before.
Maybe it is a big download which has hindered me, I will look into it.
 
Roger Johansson (e-mail address removed)> wrote:

About coloring up his DOS screen.

============================================

Run ... do not walk ... but, run to Timo's URL at:

http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/ts.html

In among his jewels, you will find somewhere a small 2.7K batch file
called Color.Bat It will do precisely what you intend to do.
 
Roger Johansson wrote in said:
Is there some solution to this, like a dos console program, or some
other way to fix the dos environment to get better colors, etc?

Just another tip: For alternatives/options (say like ansi.sys
replacements or enhancements etc.) and info/tips you might want to
search or ask in <- for Win9x, WinME, MS-DOS and
PC-DOS.

Or for Win NT/2k and XP in: <and/or
<
Try a search via <http://google.com/advanced_group_search?>,
like for example searching for console and color in:

alt.msdos.batch
<http://google.com/groups?as_q=console color&as_ugroup=alt.msdos.batch>

alt.msdos.batch.nt
<http://google.com/groups?as_q=console color&as_ugroup=alt.msdos.batch.nt>

microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin
<http://google.com/groups?as_q=console color&as_ugroup=microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin>

Edit/refine searches to suit your needs/questions.

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Bjorn Simonsen said:
I quess this how-to was written for NT. It says: "Using Control Panel
/ Console / Colors". In Win2k the settings can be found under
"Start/Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt" when selecting properties
for "Command Prompt" (right click). (I guess it is the same for XP -
if not then quite similar)

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen

In XP right clicking the DOS Title Bar gives an option to change the
background, text colour and window size.

===

Frank Bohan
¶ Does seven days running make one weak?
 
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