alang@masscomp.UUCP (Alan Groupe) (09/09/86)
I want to thank those people who responded to my original query by mail. However, I apparently did not make myself very clear. I realize that every other byte in the video space is an attribute character. That was not the question. There is a DOS function that prints out a string (terminated with a $) on the screen. This string is printed out with an attribute that I presume is determined in one of the following ways: 1) always normal intensity 2) whatever attribute was at that location before 3) a "default" attribute that is set somewhere in DOS The question was (and still is), if option 3 is what is used, how can I set this default attribute? I want to print out a string in bold using the DOS function (if I can get away with it), but don't want to use ANSI, NANSI, FANSI, etc. Thanks Alan
gt6294b@gitpyr.UUCP (SCHEUTZOW,MICHAEL J) (09/10/86)
> There is a DOS function that prints out a string (terminated with a $) on > the screen. This string is printed out with an attribute that I presume > is determined in one of the following ways: > > 1) always normal intensity > 2) whatever attribute was at that location before > 3) a "default" attribute that is set somewhere in DOS > This response is off-the-cuff, but it is my guess that DOS uses the video-bios call named 'write teletype'. If this is true, then option 2 is the only one which really exists (from DOS's point of view). Note however that if the screen scrolls, the "new" line at the bottom is set for "normal" characteristics, so when characters are written to it they will appear normal. You should also note that 'bold', per se, is impossible without creating a new character set. Your choices are: underlined, normal intensity, high intensity, reverse and flashing. To get these will problably require the use of of video-bios call 'write attribute and char'. Also note that this call will *not* advance the cursor (at least on my ATT6300). I hope this helps. I have a request: if the netter sees this on news, I'd appreciate it if he'd acknowledge it by email. It seems like some of our news has been sent to /dev/null lately. Mike Scheutzow Georgia Tech gt6294b@gitpyr.uucp