X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: fbb9d,efbedf6b05543053 X-Google-Attributes: gidfbb9d,public From: Phred@Fubar.net Subject: Answer: How color works Date: 1995/08/03 Message-ID: <3vqpc8$rij@news.wwa.com> X-Deja-AN: 107404723 approved: boba@wwa.com sender: boba@miso.wwa.com references: <3vomua$gcv@news.wwa.com> organization: ? We don't need no steenkin' Organizations! newsgroups: rec.arts.ascii Slade Maurer wrote: > I have a few questions about color ascii for anyone who wants to > answer them . Why do they only work on PC's? I give up, why? :) No, color ascii is what is known as ANSI, color standards (codes) for DOS systems (PCs). As you probably already know you need to install an ANSI driver in your CONFIG.SYS, normally ANSI.SYS that came with your DOS system. There are better/faster ansi drivers around that you can find on most BBSes. >What do the numbers mean ? Those are the ANSI color and control codes. Actually, you only had ansi color codes in your "SLADE" sig. ANSI control codes would be codes to move the cursor position on the screen. Quick example would be to display something and then move the cursor back up the screen or anywhere and display something else. Control codes would usually be used in ansi animated drawings. > How do they work ? I dunno, but they do. :) Those codes are A.N.S.I. Standards. If you mean you'd like to find out what the codes do, you can find them in any good DOS manual. Check the index for "ANSI", codes. ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute that set the color standards for PCs many many many moons ago . >How do I type a control character ? The only control character in ANSI (as far as remember right now) is the <- left pointing arrow. That's ASCII code 27. You'll need to use an Ascii editing program to do it, but you'd hold down the key and enter "27" on the Number Pad and let go of the key. You should see the left pointing arrow character. Thats known as the Ansi escape code and the key to doing ansis. All ansi codes start with <-[. I can't do that character here as it'll be rejected (changed) by my Service Provider. See below to what happened to your "sig". I don't know where it was changed, but I see a block character (no left pointing arrow) and effectively I just see the coding but not color. No code, no ansi colors. Affectionally called 'garbage codes.' > I made this sig by chopping up someone else's sig and playing with the > numbers , Ooooh, an Ansi_Thief, eh? :) > but , I > really don't know what I'm doing . Any help is greatly appreciated . Thanx :) Check it out in any good DOS Manual. To do something like you did below, go get a program called TheDraw. It should be on most BBSes. The current version is 4.63, I think. It's nothing more than another Ascii editing program, except of course you can use color. I'm sure you could find on some FTP sites, but I know where. Try gopher or something to find it on the InterNet. :) You don't have to know or enter any codes. TheDraw handles the menial work, you handle drawing something, using all the available Ascii characters. That's the hard part and the fun part of Ansi. >  ***** # # ### #))) >  (** # # # # # #__ >  **) # #***# # # #"" >  ***** #### # # ### #))) >  >  OK, quickie lesson. Even though I can't see the colors, I know from years of playing that 5 is blink; 1 is high intensity color; 32m is bright green. The second line is blinking hi intensity yellow Third and forth lines are the same as lines 1 and 2. So, "SLADE" would display as blinking alternating lines of green and yellow. What are you trying to do, blind someone? Seriously, blinking colors, unless necessary, are annoying and distract the users, IMO. Take the "5" code out and I'm sure "SLADE" would look much better. BTW, I don't see any backgroud color in "SLADE" so the background would be default Black. <*><*><*><*>SMAURER@PLATO.RTL.SELU.EDU<*><*><*><*> [0 means reset the screen to normal color; 1 is hi intensity; 37m is the color White. So, SMAURER@etc, would appear a bright White. I don't know why you have the end of the line <*><*> blinking, but thats blinking hi intensity Blue. QUIZ ON MONDAY! Phred [ Ascii stoopid question, get a stoopid Ansi. :) ]