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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #2234)
[PCjs Machine "ibm5170"]
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Information about “VPT, VFONT, READ, SEL, SNOOP, V7CURS”
With this program, VGA or MCGA users can use the quarter-million
(262,144) available VGA colors. It's interactive and easy to use. It
has a graphic display -- there are no ``magic numbers'' to type.
Set any text-mode attribute to any color out of the quarter-million and
control the overscan (border) color (not available on MCGA
systems). The colors ``stick'' with almost all programs. Load and
save your favorite settings in color files, and use the program in a
command-line mode (for batch files).
VPT operates in text mode and allows setting of any or all of the
sixteen attributes available in text mode.
Tired of the default VGA text-mode font?
VFONT contains and loads replacement fonts for VGA systems. It
includes two variations of a ``modern'' font, and a handwritten
``scrawl'' font.
The DOS version is a TSR (memory-resident) program that takes up
approximately 4.5K of RAM, and works only in text modes. The OS/2
version calls the OS to request a new font, and works only in
full-screen sessions.
The four fonts are modern solid-line, modern-double-line,
scrawl-straight-line, and scrawl-scrawled-line. Modern is a pleasing,
sans serif font. Scrawl is a handwritten looking ``scrawled'' font.
VFONT remains in place even if your software sets the video mode. This
means the font won't go away as with some other font programs. The
OS/2 version is saved and restored by the OS when switching between
screen groups.
If you are a batch file writer who needs interaction and the use of
DOS' environment variables, here are utilities to make your life
easier.
Most batch file utilities return results in the ERRORLEVEL. These
utilities set an environment variable, which means direct character
results can be communicated between programs. If you ask for a Y or N
you can test for a Y or N.
READLN and READKEY are programs that get input from the keyboard and
place it in environment variables. They're perfect for making
interactive batch files and much easier to use than utilities that use
ERRORLEVEL to communicate the results.
READLN displays the prompt and waits for input. All input up to an
ENTER is placed in a specified environment variable. If the first
letter of var is capitalized, the input will be also.
READKEY displays the prompt and waits for input. ONE character is read
(no ENTER is needed) and it is placed in the environment variable var.
If the first letter of var is capitalized, the input character will be
also. If an extended key (function key, arrow keys, &c.) is pressed,
the ASCII representation of the hexadecimal scan code for the key is
placed in the variable. If a Carriage Return, Escape, BEL, or TAB is
pressed, the ASCII representation of the character's ASCII code is
placed in the variable.
SEL is an ANSI color selector for DOS or OS/2 for those who use any
ANSI screen driver (ANSI.SYS, NANSI.SYS, &c. under DOS; ANSI ON for
OS/2).
The program has easy color selection using mnemonics instead of
numbers, a random color selection mode, and sets the prompt to a
contrasting color.
This utility is not for beginners; it's for programmers and advanced
users who wish to snoop around the VGA BIOS.
SNOOP shows various EGA and VGA pointers maintained by BIOS, and
displays the contents of the tables these pointers point to. These
tables include the user palette override table, the alpha character
override table, and the SAVE_PTR table. The program also displays the
current contents of the VGA color registers.
V7CURS is for anyone who owns a VGA card based on the V7VGA chipset,
such as the FastWrite VGA or VRAM VGA and hates blinking cursors.
It exploits the non-blinking hardware cursor built into the V7VGA
chipset by Video-7/Headland Technologies. It is a small TSR (memory-
resident) program that turns off the blinking, leaving you with an XOR
cursor. This mode shows what's underneath the cursor.
FILE2234.TXT
Disk No: 2234
Disk Title: VPT, VFONT, READ, SEL, SNOOP, V7CURS
PC-SIG Version: S1
Program Title: VPT
Author Version: 3.50
Author Registration: $20.00
Special Requirements: VGA.
Anyone who wants to improve their color VGA system's look by setting
their own VGA color shades should try out VPT.
This program allows VGA or MCGA users to view the quarter-million
(262,144) available VGA colors. It's interactive and easy to use. It
has a graphical-type display, there are no "magic numbers" to type.
Users can also set any text-mode attribute to any color out of the
quarter-million; control the overscan (a.k.a. border) color (not
available on MCGA systems); have the colors "stick" with almost all
programs; load and save their favorite settings in color files, and use
the program in a command-line mode (for batch files).
VPT operates in text mode and allows setting of any or all of the
sixteen attributes available in text mode.
Program Title: VFONT
Author Version: 4.35
Author Registration: None.
Special Requirements: VGA.
This program is for anyone tired of the default VGA text-mode font.
VFONT contains and loads replacement fonts for VGA systems; it includes
two variations of a "modern" font, and a handwritten "scrawl" font.
The DOS version is a "terminate-and-stay-resident" program that takes up
approximately 4.5K of RAM, and works only in text modes. The OS/2
version calls the OS to request a new font. OS/2 version only works in
full-screen sessions.
The four fonts are modern solid-line, modern double-line,
scrawl-straight-line, and scrawl-scrawled-line. Modern is a pleasing,
san-serif font. Scrawl is a handwritten-looking "scrawled" font.
VFONT remains in place even if your software sets the video mode. This
means the font won't "go away" like with some other font programs. The
OS/2 version is saved and restored by the OS when switching between
screen groups.
Program Title: Read
Author Registration: None.
Special Requirements: DOS 3.3 or 4.0
If you are a batch file writer who needs interaction and the use of DOS'
environment variables, here are a couple of utilities to make your life
easier.
Most batch file utilities return results in the ERRORLEVEL. These
utilities set an environment variable, which means direct character
results can be communicated between programs. If you ask for a Y or N,
you can test for a Y or N.
READLN and READKEY are programs that get input from the keyboard and
place it in environment variables. They're perfect for making
interactive batch files and much easier to use than utilities that use
ERRORLEVEL to communicate the results.
READLN displays the prompt (which must be in double quotes) and waits
for input. All input up to an ENTER is placed in specified environment
variables. If the first letter of var is capitalized, so will the
input.
READKEY displays the prompt (again in double quotes) and waits for
input. ONE character is read (no ENTER is needed) and it is placed in
the environment variable var. If the first letter of var is
capitalized, so will the input character. If an extended key (function
key, arrow keys, etc.) is pressed, the ASCII representation of the
hexadecimal scan code for the key is placed in the variable. If a
Carriage Return, Escape, BEL, or TAB is pressed, the ASCII
representation of the character's ASCII code is placed in the variable.
Program Title: SEL
Author Version: 6.05
Author Registration: None.
Special Requirements: CGA, and ANSI driver.
SEL is an ANSI color selector for DOS or OS/2 for those who use any ANSI
screen driver (ANSI.SYS, NANSI.SYS, &c. under DOS; ANSI ON for OS/2).
SEL allows easy color selection using mnemonics instead of numbers; has
a random color selection mode; and sets the prompt to a contrasting
color.
Program Title: Snoop
Author Version: 3.93
Author Registration: None.
Special Requirements: EGA, or VGA.
This isn't an end-user program; rather, it's for programmers and
advanced users who wish to snoop around a part of the VGA BIOS. SNOOP
is a program to show various EGA and VGA pointers maintained by BIOS,
and display the contents of the tables these pointers point to. These
tables include the user palette override table, the alpha character
override table, and the SAVE_PTR table. The program also displays the
current contents of the VGA color registers.
Program Title: V7CURS
Author Version: 1.01
Author Registration: None.
Special Requirements: VGA with the V7VGA chip set.
For anyone who hates blinking cursors and owns a VGA card based on the
V7VGA chipset, such as the FastWrite VGA and VRAM VGA.
V7CURS exploits the non-blinking hardware cursor built into the V7VGA
chipset by Video-7/Headland Technologies. It is a small TSR that turns
off the blinking attribute, leaving you with an "XOR" cursor; this mode
shows what's underneath the cursor.
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< PC-SIG Disk #2234 VPT, VFONT, READ, SEL, SNOOP, V7CURS >>>> ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ To print documentation for VPT, type: COPY VPT.MAN PRN (press ENTER) ║
║ Follow instructions to install and use utility program. ║
║ ║
║ To print documentation for VFONT, type: COPY VFONT.MAN PRN (ENTER) ║
║ Follow instructions to install and use utility program. ║
║ ║
║ To print documentation for VFONT2, type: COPY VFONT2.MAN PRN (ENTER) ║
║ Follow instructions to install and use utility program. ║
║ ║
║ To print documentation for READ, type: COPY READ.MAN PRN (press ENTER)║
║ Follow instructions to install and use utility program. ║
║ ║
║ To print documentation for SEL, type: COPY SEL.MAN PRN (press ENTER) ║
║ Follow instructions to install and use utility program. ║
║ ║
║ To print documentation for V7CURS, type: COPY V7CURS.MAN PRN (ENTER) ║
║ Follow instructions to install and use utility program. ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #2234
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
LOCK COM 170 9-24-89 7:46p
SEL EXE 7824 9-24-89 7:46p
TSTPATN EXE 6048 9-24-89 7:46p
VPT EXE 23840 9-24-89 7:46p
VPT MAN 15743 11-24-89 5:21p
VFONT COM 17310 3-05-89 10:32p
VFONT MAN 4819 11-08-89 9:43p
VFONT2 EXE 18277 4-15-89 9:02p
VFONT2 MAN 4393 10-29-89 8:01p
SEL BAT 35 10-31-89 10:28p
SELPRG EXE 15042 11-02-89 10:17p
SEL CMD 36 11-26-89 9:14p
SELPRG2 EXE 15263 11-29-89 9:39p
SEL MAN 8293 11-27-89 8:00p
READ MAN 5527 3-27-89 9:13p
READKEY EXE 5632 3-27-89 9:10p
READLN EXE 5104 3-27-89 9:10p
SNOOP EXE 23104 3-02-89 10:35p
V7CURS COM 191 3-03-89 7:47p
V7CURS MAN 3607 3-03-89 8:07p
GO BAT 38 1-01-80 1:37a
FILE2234 TXT 8954 1-01-80 4:01a
GO TXT 1618 1-01-80 4:11a
23 file(s) 190868 bytes
119808 bytes free