# Command: mode

      MODE configures and sets the state for various hardware devices and more.

## Syntax:

      mode [device][options]  or:
      mode [screen mode]
           Devices:
             CON[:]  Console. This controls the display driver, which must
                     be installed first. MODE CON allows you to set your
                     screen's "codepage". This is useful because each
                     codepage lets you display different characters. For
                     more information on codepage see the CODEPAGE
                     INFORMATION PACK.
             LPT[:]  Parallel Ports
             COM[:]  Serial Ports
             PARK    Not implemented in FreeDOS mode.

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## Options:

      MODE [device] [/STA[TUS]]   Shows the status of one or all devices.
      MODE LPTn[:] cols[,[lines][,retry]]
      MODE LPTn[:] [COLS=...] [LINES=...] [RETRY=...]
                                  Cols or cpi, 6/8 lpi, retry p or n
                                  Retry: p infinite / n none
      MODE LPTn[:]=[COMn[:]|NUL]  Redirect printer data to serial port or NUL
      MODE COMn[:] baud,parity,data,stop,retry
      MODE COMn[:] [BAUD[HARD]=...] [PARITY=...] [DATA=...] [STOP=...]
                   [RETRY=...]    Empty values allowed
                                  Baud can be abbreviated to unique prefix,
                                  parity can be o/e/n/s/m, the latter 2 mean
                                  space/mark, data can be 5..8, stop 1..2.
                                  Retry is IGNORED!
                                  PLANNED: Retry b/e/r -> busy/error/ready if
                                  busy, p/n infinite/no retry.
      MODE CON[:] [CP|CODEPAGE] [/STA[TUS]]
                                  Shows the status of CON (console).
                                  FreeDOS DISPLAY must be loaded before.
      MODE CON[:] [CP|CODEPAGE] REF[RESH]
                                  Refreshes the active codepage to hardware.
                                  FreeDOS DISPLAY must be loaded.
      MODE CON[:] [CP|CODEPAGE] PREP[ARE]=((codepage) filename)
                                  FreeDOS DISPLAY must be loaded before.
                                  Use PREP=((,cp2,cp3,,cp5)...) to prepare
                                  codepages in other buffers.
      MODE CON[:] [CP|CODEPAGE] SEL[ECT]=number
                                  FreeDOS DISPLAY must be loaded before.
      MODE CON[:] [NUMLOCK|CAPSLOCK|SCROLLLOCK|SWITCHAR]=value
                                  Value can be: + or - for the locks or a
                                  character for switchar.
      MODE CON[:] [COLS=...] [LINES=...]
                                  Possible values depend on your hardware.
      MODE CON[:] [RATE=...] [DELAY=...]
                                  Default rate 20, default delay 1. Rate can
                                  be 1..32 for 2..30 char/sec, delay can be
                                  1..4 for 1/4..4/4 sec.
      MODE [40|80|BW40|BW80|CO40|CO80|MONO][,rows]
                                  This are the fix screen modes.
                                  Rows can be 25, 28, 43 or 50. Use 8, 14 or
                                  16 as 'rows' value if you only want to
                                  change the font.
      MODE [CO40|CO80|...],[R|L][,T]
                                  This are the flexible screen modes.
                                  Values for columns are 40, 80, 132, rows
                                  can be 25, 28, 30, 34, 43, 50, 60. Use 8,
                                  14 or 16 as 'rows' value if you only want
                                  to change the font.
                                  Shift CGA left/right, T is interactive mode.
      /?                          Shows the help.

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] (Options) [Comments] [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Comments:

      CON (Console)
      This controls the display driver, which must be installed first.
      MODE CON allows you to set your screen's "codepage". This is useful
      because each codepage lets you display different characters. For mode
      information on codepage see the CODEPAGE INFORMATION PACK.
      Usage:
        MODE CON[:] CODEPAGE /STATUS
          Shows the active codepage and other information about the current
          status of DISPLAY and the codepage buffers.
        MODE CON[:] CODEPAGE REFRESH
          Refreshes the active codepage to hardware (in case it has been
          accidentaly destroyed)
        MODE CON[:] CODEPAGE PREPARE ((nnn) filename)
          Prepare codepage nnn from the specified file.
          The format of the files are .cpx and they are usually stored
          in C:\FDOS\CPI.
          For instance, codepage 860 is in EGA9.CPX. So you might use:
            MODE CON: CODEPAGE PREPARE ((860) c:\fdos\cpi\ega9.cpx).
          See the CODEPAGE INFORMATION PACK for information
          about the available codepages and cpi files.
        MODE CON[:] CODEPAGE SELECT=nnn
          Activate codepage nnn, which must have been previously prepared with
          PREPARE.
        MODE CON[:] NUMLOCK=value
          Switches the numlock to ON or OFF. Value can be "+" or "-".
        MODE CON [:] CAPSLOCK=value
          Switches the capslock to ON or OFF. Value can be "+" or "-".
        MODE CON [:] SCROLLOCK=value
          Switches the scrollock to ON or OFF. Value can be "+" or "-".
        MODE CON [:] SWITCHAR=character
          Changes the DOS command line option switch character (usually
          "/")  to another character. Does not work with all commands.
        MODE CON [:] COLS=value
          Changes the columns. Value can be 40, 80 or 132.
        MODE CON [:] LINES=value
          Changes the lines. Value can be 25, 28, 43 or 50, or font size
          8, 14 or 16.
          If you have VESA, 30, 34 or 60 lines can be available too.
        MODE CON [:] RATE=value
          Changes the repeat rate. Value can be 1 ... 32 (2.0 chars/sec ...
          30.0 chars/sec after 0.50 sec delay).
        MODE CON [:] DELAY=value
          Changes the repeat delay. Value can be 1,2,3 or 4 (unit is 0.25
          seconds).
      The word CODEPAGE can be abbreviated to CP, STATUS to STA, REFRESH to
      REF, SELECT to SEL and PREPARE to PREP.
      MODE has the following EXITCODES (ERRORLEVEL):
      generic:
        100:  INTERNAL ERROR: size for prepared table too small
        101:  No compatible FreeDOS DISPLAY driver loaded.
              Syntax example: ... DISPLAY CON=(VGA,437,1)
        102:  File not found
        103:  Error specifying codepage / buffer
        104:  Error: selected buffer not present
        105:  Syntax error
      check codepage:
        26:  Active codepage was never set
        27:  Device read codepage error
      prepare codepage:
        27:  Codepage was not found in CPI file
        29:  Could not get codepage info from file (or XMS troubles)
        31:  specified CPI file is damaged (or XMS troubles)
      end prepare codepage:
        31:  INTERNAL ERROR: End prepare without Begin prepare
      select codepage:
        26:  Specified codepage was not found in file
        27:  KEYB failed to change codepage
        29:  Device select codepage failed (or XMS troubles)
        31:  Device select codepage error

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] (Comments) [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Examples:

      mode /status       Shows the status
      mode lpt1 /status  Shows the status of lpt1
      mode com1 /status  Shows the status of COM1
      mode con /status   Shows the status of the con devices
      mode con codepage  Shows the active codepage and other information
                         about the current status of DISPLAY and the codepage
                         buffers.
      mode con codepage refresh   or:
      mode con: codepage refresh
                         Refreshes the active codepage to hardware (in case
                         it has been accidentaly destroyed)
      mode con codepage prepare ((860) C:\FDOS\CPI\ega9.cpx)   or:
      mode con: codepage prepare ((860) C:\FDOS\CPI\ega9.cpx)
                         Prepares codepage 860 from the specified file.
                         The format of the files are .cpx.
                         See the CODEPAGE INFORMATION PACK for information
                         about the available codepages and cpi files.
      mode con codepage select=860   or:
      mode con: codepage select=860
                         Activates codepage 860 which must have been previously
                         prepared with PREPARE.
      Example for AUTOEXEC.BAT/FDAUTO.BAT:
        MODE CON CP PREP=((858) C:\FDOS\CPI\EGA.CPX)
        MODE CON CP SEL=858
        REM Codepage 858 was activated

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## See also:

      chcp
      cpidos
      display
      graftabl
      kc
      keyb
      keycode
      keyman
      klib
      kpdos
      listxdef
      mkeyb
      modecon
      nlsfunc
      xkeyb

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] [Examples] (See also) [File]

## File:

      Please read this command's lsm file also.
      You will find the updated version (internet) here and
      the version described in this manual page here.
      The lsm file contains information about the name of the programmer,
      the download site, and some other command related information.

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] [Examples] [See also] (File)

      Copyright © 2003 - 2004 Aitor SANTAMARIA MERINO,
      Henrique PERON, Robert Platt, updated 2008 by W. Spiegl.

      This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
      See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.