[comp.sys.att] 6300/6300+ character attributes

sbrenner@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (scott.d.brenner) (05/14/91)

I'm having a problem with the AT&T PC 6300 and 6300 Plus.  If anyone can help
me, I'd be most appreciative!

I can't seem to get the "underscore" character mode to acutally use
underscores.  On an ordinary dumb terminal (vt100 compatible), I can send
an escape sequence to turn on underscore mode.  When I send this sequence 
on the pc's (using CrossTalk and vt100 emulation), the characters simply
appear in a different color; there are no underscores.  

I'd like to believe that the monitors are capable of displaying a character
with an underscore.  I just can't figure out how to do it.  The only manual
I have available is the User's Guide and it's not very helpful.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Scott D. Brenner			attmail: !sbrenner
AT&T 					e-mail:  ...!att!somerset!sbrenner
Business Communications Services	v-mail:  908-805-2198
Somerset, NJ				

wtm@uhura.neoucom.EDU (Bill Mayhew) (05/18/91)

Olivetti "corretly" emulated the yucky attributes of the IBM CGA
card on their P6 and P8 indigenous video controller boards on the
6300 and 6300+.  The olivetti faithfullness of emulation includes
the lack of true underlining whilst in RGB output mode.  The blue
gun bit is customarily used to indicate underlining.  If you have
an AT&T monochrome monitor and turn the blue gun on, voila, you'll
get underlining; on an RGB monitor, you'll get blue letters.

There isn't an easy way I know of (but it would be quite easy for
me to be wrong) of faking out the video controller and convincing
the controller to do underlining on and RGB display, thought the
controller is perfectly capable of doing so, without actually
plugging in the correct type of display.  The video mode is
controlled by a sense lead on the 25 pin plug that to the best of
my knowledge is not software addressable.  I suppose one could
concoct a gender bender that woudl lie to the controller about the
type of monitor installed.  I beleive the mono and RGB tubes are
both 25 KHz * 60 Hz noninterlaced so it should work.


Bill


-- 
Bill Mayhew      NEOUCOM Computer Services Department
Rootstown, OH  44272-9995  USA    phone: 216-325-2511
wtm@uhura.neoucom.edu   ....!uunet!aablue!neoucom!wtm
via internet: (140.220.001.001)