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********************************* * * * VgaColor * * * ********************************* A VGA Color Monitor Utility For Selecting and Modifying DOS's Standard Color Palettes V2.0.03 Copyright (c)1990 DigiTec Software, Ltd. P. O. Box 9247 Salt Lake City, UT 84109 _________________________________________________________________ ************************************************* * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * ************************************************* LICENSE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii PRODUCT DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Minimum System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Distribution Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Installing VgaColor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 USING VGACOLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 User-Controlled Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Special Key Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Starting VgaColor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Selecting a Color to Modify . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Modifying a Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Increasing and Decreasing Intensity . . . . . . . . . . 7 Restoring Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Restore Active Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Restore All Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Loading and Saving Color File Descriptions . . . . . . . 10 Load Saved Color File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Saving a Color File Description . . . . . . . . . . 10 Enable/Disable Mode Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Printing the Modification Summary Report . . . . . . . . 12 Sound On/Off Toggle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 DOS Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Using VgaColor as a Dos Command . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CHANGING DOS FOREGROUND AND BACKGROUND COLORS . . . . . . . . 16 ANSI.SYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Using SETBF.EXE to change Foreground/Background colors . 17 Automating the Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 TECHNICAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Assembly Language Example (INT 10h) . . . . . . . . . . 20 Format of the Saved Color File Description . . . . . . . 21 __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor i Copyright (c)1990 ************************************************** * * * VGACOLOR LICENSE AGREEMENT * * * ************************************************** VgaColor is the property of DigiTec Software, Ltd., Salt Lake City, Utah. You are granted a non-exclusive license to use VgaColor under the following conditions: In no event will DigiTec Software, Ltd., or any other person or entity, be liable for damages or costs incurred resulting from the use of VgaColor. You agree to, and assume full responsibility for, the use of VgaColor. No warranties, expressed or implied, are in effect for Vgacolor and is provided "as is" for your use. This agreement shall be enforced under the laws of the State of Utah, County of Salt Lake. DigiTec, Ltd. reserves all rights to VgaColor. VgaColor is NOT "Public Domain" software, but has been distributed under "Shareware" principles. YOU MAY: For promotional considerations of VgaColor, you may duplicate and distribute all of the executable files, libraries and user manuals, AS LONG AS YOU DISTRIBUTE THE ENTIRE PRODUCT INTACT, which includes the documentation and executable files. If you like VgaColor and plan to use Vgacolor on a regular basis, please register yourself with Digitec. The registration fee for VgaColor is $20.00 (U.S. dollars) per copy, per machine. Please remit to: DigiTec Software, Ltd. P.O. Box 9247 Salt Lake City, UT 84109 YOU MAY NOT: Sell or lease VgaColor, including the executable files, libraries and documentation. A reasonable distribution fee, not to exceed $8.00, to cover materials, postage and handling is permissible. Modify, reverse-engineer or alter, in any manner, any part of the VgaColor system including, but not limited to, the executable files, libraries and user documentation. VgaColor may not be merged with other software, except for backup-up purposes. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor ii Copyright (c)1990 *********************************************** * * * PRODUCT DESCRIPTION * * * *********************************************** VgaColor is a utility which allows you to easily modify the standard color palettes if you have a VGA color monitor. By standard color palette, we mean the colors represented in palette numbers 0 through 15, which are the palettes DOS as well as most text-based applications use. This utility can be useful for two audiences: (1) a user who wishes to display different colors while in DOS and (2) to aid the programmer in designing color schemes for their applications. VgaColor provides several functions in addition to color modification. You can save your modifications to a disk file, load a saved color description file and optionally print a map of the individual color registers. A saved color description file may be loaded as a DOS command and may be included in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. We also provide SETBF.EXE, our program to change DOS foreground and background colors, which replaces the DOS PROMPT command. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS PC/MS DOS 2.0 or higher IBM or true compatible computer VGA color monitor Floppy or hard disk 116 Kb of free memory DISTRIBUTION FILES ******************************************* * VGACOLOR.EXE VGASAMP.BAT * * VGASCRN.EXE TESTCOLR.VGA * * VGAFIO.EXE REGISTER.YOU * * VGAMAPER.EXE VGACOLOR.DOC * * VGACMDL.EXE VGAREAD.ME * * SETBF.EXE * ******************************************* __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 1 Copyright (c)1990 INSTALLING VGACOLOR The best way to install VgaColor is to create a separate directory and use a DOS PATH to access it. However you choose to install and run VgaColor, all of the .EXE files must be available for VgaColor to operate. Installing on a Hard Disk: 1. MD\VGACOLOR 2. CD\VGACOLOR 3. Insert your distribution disk in drive A 3. COPY A:*.* Floppy Disk Users: 1. Make a backup of your distribution disk and use the backup copy as your working disk. 2. COMMAND.COM must be available to VgaColor. Although the VgaColor system does not use or require ANSI.SYS, you must install ANSI.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file to use our program, SETBF.EXE, to change the DOS foreground and background colors. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 2 Copyright (c)1990 ************************************************* * * * USING VGACOLOR * * * ************************************************* USER-CONTROLLED OPTIONS Prior to starting VgaColor, the following SET commands may be issued to control these functions: SET IBMC=N - This will slow down the video display if you are operating in a windows environment or you experience incompatibility problems with your monitor. SET IBMC=F - Some color monitor boards may operate significantly faster using this option. SET IBMC=Q - Will suppress all "beeps" sounded in VgaColor (field errors not effected). You can combine multiple options in one SET command. For example, if you want to use the faster display option and also suppress "beeps": SET IBMC=FQ Note: Do not place a space before or after the equal sign (=). DOS will not recognize the parameters if you do. SPECIAL KEY USAGE: End The END key will restore the contents of a data item if you mistakenly type over it. It will restore the original contents of the field, provided you have not pressed a function key or TABed the cursor from the field. Tab and Shift-Tab The TAB key moves the cursor forward from field to field. Shift-TAB moves the cursor in the reverse direction. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 3 Copyright (c)1990 Backspace The Backspace key is a destructive backspace key. As you press the key, the previous character is erased. Home This key will take you to the first field on the screen. Cursor/Arrow Keys The cursor control keys operate as follows: o The left and right cursor keys allow you to move the cursor within a field (a field which allows you to enter data into it). o The down and up cursor keys operate similar to the Tab and Shift-Tab keys, which move the cursor forward and backward through the fields. Del The Delete key deletes the character at the cursor position and moves all of the characters to the right of the cursor one position to the left. Ins The Insert key sets the computer into and out of insert mode. Each character typed while in insert mode will shift all characters to the right of the cursor one position further to the right. When in Insert mode, cursor will change to a full block instead on an underline character. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 4 Copyright (c)1990 STARTING VGACOLOR To start VgaColor, simply type VGACOLOR at the DOS prompt and press the enter key. The left side of the screen shows the current state of the color palettes. The right side of the screen provides you with a larger visual of the color you are modifying, controls for turning the Red, Blue and Green mixers on and off, and a list of optional functions provided by VgaColor. The bottom of the screen provides access to the primary function keys for performing color modifications. The following pages describe each of the functions provided by VgaColor. A tutorial is also provided to show you how to tell DOS to display a screen with background and foreground colors and tips on how to change them using VgaColor. The following functions are available in VgaColor: Esc - Quit VgaColor F1 - Modify Intensity of Red F2 - Modify Intensity of Green F3 - Modify Intensity of Blue F5 - Restore Active Color F8 - Restore All Colors Alt-L - Load Saved Color File Alt-M - Enable/Disable Mode Change Alt-P - Print Current Settings Alt-S - Save Current Settings/Disk Alt-T - Sound On/Off Shift-F10 - Dos Window Up Arrow - Increase Intensity of Red, Green or Blue Down Arrow - Decrease Intensity of Red, Green or Blue __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 5 Copyright (c)1990 SELECTING A COLOR TO MODIFY The left side of the screen shows all of the possible colors available in the first 16 palettes, which DOS and most text- based applications use. All 16 colors (0 - 15) may be used as the foreground color. Only the first 8 colors (0 - 7) may be used as background colors. Simply type the number of the color you want to change and press the Enter key. For example, press the number 2 and then press the enter key or press 02. When the program senses two consecutive numbers, an Enter is automatically issued. The color Green and its associated number should appear in the top, right-hand box called "Selected Color to be Modified". This is the primary visual area for reviewing the color you have selected to modify. MODIFYING A COLOR F1 - F2 - F3 Keys All colors are made up of varying intensities of the primary colors Red, Blue and Green. The following three function keys select which primary color you wish to increase or decrease. F1 = Change Red F2 = Change Green F3 = Change Blue The second box on the right-hand side of the screen indicates which primary color is currently active. Listed above the words (R)ed, (G)reen or (B)lue are numeric values which indicate the current value of each of these primary colors. For the color Green (assuming no modifications have been made) the values should read 00 for Red, 42 for Green and 00 for Blue. The word "On" or "Off" appears below each of the primary colors. You change the intensity of a color by first pressing the F1, F2 or F3 key. For example press F1 to modify the intensity of Red. The word "On" will appear, indicating Red is the active primary color. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 6 Copyright (c)1990 INCREASING AND DECREASING INTENSITY Up and Down Arrow Keys The Up and Down arrow keys are used to increase the intensity of Red, Green or Blue contained in a color. The intensity ranges from 0 (no color) to 63 (high intensity). The Up arrow increases intensity; the Down Arrow decreases intensity. The numeric value will change as you press these arrow keys. Also notice that an asterisk (*) will appear next the color on the left-hand side of the screen indicating the original color was modified. The asterisk (*) appears only when the original state of a color is modified. To show you how easy it is to change a color, follow the steps listed below: (1) If you have not already done so, press 02 to select the color Green. The color Green will appear in the box, "Selected Color to be Modified", as well as the color number directly below it. (2) Press the F1 key to modify the Red content of the color. (3) Press the Down Arrow Key until the numeric indicator listed above the color indicates 63. (4) Press the F2 key to modify the Green content of the color. (5) Press the Up Arrow key until the numeric indicator listed above the color indicates 46. (6) Press the F3 key to modify the Blue content of the color. (7) Press the Up Arrow key until the numeric indicator listed above the color indicates 54. Your color should look hot pink-like and an asterisk should appear next to the low intensity word, "Green". That's virtually all there is to it. Please note that variations in color monitors may cause colors to look different from color monitor to color monitor. Any of the sixteen colors can be modified in the same way you just did. With 64 intensities, each available for Red, Green and Blue, you have the capability of producing 262,144 different __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 7 Copyright (c)1990 colors. Naturally, you should use some discretion when changing colors. The colors will remain in effect until you or some other application cancels them. If you plan to modify a color simply for display during your DOS session, we recommend you modify only two colors--one for your foreground color and one for your background color. You should also try to modify a color not commonly used by your applications. This will help eliminate the tendency for some very garish-looking screens. We have found that selecting low intensity Magenta (05) for your background and high intensity Cyan (11) for your foreground to be colors that do not conflict too often. We also recommend you do not change Black (00), White (07) or high intensity White (15). These are base, neutral colors used very often by applications. For DOS users who have never seen anything other than a black and white screen at the DOS prompt, please refer to the section titled "Changing DOS Foreground and Background Colors". You need to know how to tell DOS to display foreground and background colors in order for any of the color modifications made with VgaColor to appear. If you wanted to spend the time to do so, you could examine the colors of your favorite applications, use VgaColor to modify the colors used by those applications and save a color description file. You could then use the command-line load option to load the saved color file before starting your word processor or spread sheet. The colors displayed in your applications would then display your modifications. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 8 Copyright (c)1990 RESTORING COLORS F5 and F8 Function Keys VgaColor provides two methods of restoring colors to their original, unmodified state: F5 - Restore Active Color F8 - Restore All Colors F5 - Restore Active Color When the F5 key is pressed, the active color is restored to its original, unmodified state. Active color means the color and color number showing in the "Selected Color to be Modified" box on the screen. F8 - Restore All Colors When the F8 key is pressed, all of the 16 color palettes are restored to their original, unmodified state. A warning message will pop up to give you an opportunity to cancel or continue with the operation. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 9 Copyright (c)1990 LOADING AND SAVING COLOR FILE DESCRIPTIONS Alt-L and Alt-S Functions Keys VgaColor provides you with the capability to load a previously saved color description or save a new or modified color description file. Alt-L - Load Saved Color File When you press the Alt-L keys, a window will pop up requesting the name of the file to load. Simply enter the name of the file, including any drive, path and extension, and press the Enter key. Providing no problems occur during the load operation, Vgacolor will load and process the color file you selected. Alt-S - Save Current Settings/Disk When you press the Alt-S keys, a window will pop up requesting the name of the file to save. Simply enter the name of the file, including any drive, path and extension, and press the Enter key. Providing no problems occur during the save operation, the new file will be saved. Naming Conventions Although you can give the files any name you wish, we recommend you use an extension of VGA. This will provide easy identification for you to know that VgaColor created the file. Error Messages VgaColor performs several diagnostics during a load or save operation. If a problem occurs, a window will pop up giving you a description of the problem and the action you need to take. If an error occurs, simply respond to the appropriate action requested by the error message. Do not modify the files created by VgaColor. The program expects them in a very specific format. The program will refuse to load the file if it is not in the expected format. For programmers who wish to use the file in their own applications, a description of the file's format can be found in the "Technical Information" section of this documentation. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 10 Copyright (c)1990 ENABLE/DISABLE MODE CHANGE Alt-M Function Key This option allows you to prevent another application from canceling your color modifications. The pop-up menu allows you to select one of two options: 1 - Enable Option 1 Re-establishes the ability for a Mode change to reset the color palettes. In other words, Mode changes are set back to a normal operating procedure. 2 - Disable Option 2 Disables a program's ability to reset the color palettes to their default values, effectively preserving the modi- fications you have made to the palettes. The Disable function operates under the following rules, restrictions and limitations: (1) If the Disable is in effect, a Mode change, whether issued from an application or by the DOS MODE command, will prevent a reset of the color palettes. (2) The Disable will remain in effect until you cancel it with Option 1, Enable Mode Change, or another program or application does not specifically re-enable a mode change in the same manner VgaColor prevents it. Many graphic-based packages will probably do just that. If you use this option, it is important for you to remember that the Disable is in effect. You may try to perform an operation at a later time and observe some peculiar color combinations and forget that the Disable function is in effect. If you are not sure whether the Mode change is Enabled, simply use Option 1 to set the operation back to normal. The integrity of, or assurance that, the Disable function will work all of the time cannot be guaranteed because of other software activity. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 11 Copyright (c)1990 PRINTING THE MODIFICATION SUMMARY REPORT Alt-P Function Key The report produced by this option gives you information on the current state of the individual color registers. The report can be particularly useful for programmers who want to incorporate the colors into their own applications, since all you would need to do is simply supply the appropriate hex values to the proper Bios routine to change the color. Further technical information may be found in the "Technical Information" section. Basically, the report provides three types of information. The left-hand side shows the default values of the individual color registers for each of the 16 palettes. Both hex and decimal values are listed. The middle section of the report shows the palette/color Id number for each of the 16 palettes in hex and decimal. The right-hand side of the report show the current, modified (if any) state of the individual color registers in hex and decimal. If a color palette has been modified, a double asterisk (**) will appear on the far right-hand side of the report. The top of the report also shows the name of the file the information on the report pertains to, provided the file was saved before printing this report. If no modifications have been made to any of the color palettes, a window will pop up, requesting whether you want to proceed with the print operation. A second window will appear asking for the printer assignment (port) to use. Simply specify the proper assignment name (most printers are assigned to Lpt1) and press the Enter key. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 12 Copyright (c)1990 SOUND ON/OFF TOGGLE Alt-T Functions Key This option merely turns of the sound when you press the up or down arrows to modify a color. Simply press Alt-T to turn the sound On or Off. DOS WINDOW Shift-F10 Function Keys This option allows you to jump into DOS without exiting VgaColor. Simply press Shift-F10 to activate this function to place you in a DOS session. To return back to VgaColor, type EXIT at the DOS prompt and press the Enter key. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 13 Copyright (c)1990 USING VGACOLOR AS A DOS COMMAND VgaColor may be invoked as a DOS command to load a saved color file description. This allows you to load a saved color description file without using the interactive aspects of VgaColor. This capability makes it extremely easy to automatically invoke VgaColor when you start up your computer by simply including the command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. To invoke as a DOS command, simply do the following: VGACOLOR filename Filename is the name of a previously saved color file created by VgaColor. The name of the file may contain a drive and path name. If a problem occurs loading the file, VgaColor will respond with an appropriate error message. ABSENCE OF A FILE NAME INVOKES THE INTERACTIVE PROCESS. This is how VgaColor distinguishes between command-line access and invocation of the interactive process. Examples: VGACOLOR COLOR1.VGA VGACOLOR C:\VGACOLOR\MAINCOLR.VGA SWITCHES Two switches may be set when invoking VgaColor as a command-line. These switches invoke the mode Enable/Disable functions, which are also available in the interactive VgaColor functions. The following switches may be used: /D = Disable reset of color palettes by a MODE change /E = Enable reset of color palettes by a MODE change To activate, merely enter one of the switches as follows: VGACOLOR/D COLOR1.VGA - or - VGACOLOR/E COLOR1.VGA __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 14 Copyright (c)1990 Only one switch may be specified at a time. The /D or /E switch must follow VGACOLOR with no spaces before the /D or /E. The file name is specified as explained above. If you want to invoke a switch without specifying a file, simply use NUL for file name. Upper- or lower-case /D or /E may be used. Also, please refer to the "Changing DOS Foreground and Background Colors" Section for further information. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 15 Copyright (c)1990 *************************************************************** * * * CHANGING DOS FOREGROUND AND BACKGROUND COLORS * * * *************************************************************** Have you ever asked yourself, "I have an expensive VGA monitor and all I ever see is a black-and-white DOS prompt. How do you display colors?". The solution to your question is relatively simple--finding the information to do it is sometimes difficult. We provide a simple program, SETBF.EXE, to accomplish this. SETBF replaces the cryptic, DOS PROMPT command to change foreground and background colors. ANSI.SYS A special file (called a device driver) is distributed with your DOS operating system called ANSI.SYS. This device driver allows you to redefine keys and control your display. Before we proceed with showing you how to display colors, there are a few things that need to be done. Generally, ANSI.SYS is not automatically installed on a machine. It is most often an optional feature left to the user to decide whether they want to use it or not. The ANSI.SYS driver is always specified and loaded from your CONFIG.SYS file. If you are not sure ANSI.SYS has been installed in CONFIG.SYS, examine the CONFIG.SYS file. If ANSI.SYS is not present, you must include it before using SETBF. Using a text editor or equivalent, add the following statement to your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS The above example assumes you have a separate directory for DOS. Some users install DOS in their Root Directory in which case you would add the following to your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=ANSI.SYS If ANSI.SYS is already installed in your CONFIG.SYS file, you may proceed to the instructions on the next page. If it is not, add ANSI.SYS to your CONFIG.SYS file. YOU MUST RE-BOOT YOUR COMPUTER after installing ANSI.SYS. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 16 Copyright (c)1990 USING SETBF.EXE A Few Basics About Colors: On a color monitor, DOS and most text-based applications use a standard color palette consisting of 16 preset colors. These are the only colors accessible by DOS. A program like VgaColor, however, can modify any of the 16 standard colors (palettes). Use our program, SETBF, to display any of the standard DOS colors. The DOS PROMPT command could be used to do the same thing, but is much more difficult to use. SETBF should work on any color monitor. Use the format below to initiate SETBF. Upper- and lower-case letters may be used. Format: SETBF foreground-color on background-color Where: foreground-color and background-color is any valid color listed below. The word 'on' separating foreground and background-color is optional. Valid FOREGROUND Colors: Black Red Green Brown Blue Magenta Cyan White Gray Yellow Hi-Red Hi-Green Hi-Blue Hi-Magenta Hi-Cyan Hi-White Valid BACKGROUND Colors: Black Red Green Brown Blue Magenta Cyan White Example: SETBF Hi-Cyan on Magenta Will display a high-intensity Cyan foreground with a Magenta background. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 17 Copyright (c)1990 You can also obtain help information for SETBF any time you wish by simply invoking SETBF in the following manner: SETBF/h Do not include a space before the /h. You can now, if you wish, use VgaColor to modify the Magenta background and high-intensity Cyan foreground color to whatever suites you. Any of the colors listed in the table may be used by SETBF to change colors. If you use VgaColor to modify the colors, you would simply select color #5-Magenta and color #11-High-Intensity Cyan. After you are finished modifying these colors and exit VgaColor, the foreground and background color you selected with SETBF.EXE will be different. REMEMBER - You have to have a color displayed in your DOS session in order to show any modifications made by VgaColor! ***************************************************************** * * * Do not use the DOS PROMPT command to change colors if you * * also use SETBF. The PROMPT command has the effect of making * * changes using SETBF non-permanent. * * * ***************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 18 Copyright (c)1990 Automating the Process: If you want your colors automatically invoked, all you need to do is include the SETBF and VGACOLOR commands in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Then, every time you start your computer, the colors will automatically be set. To do this, simply add the following to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SETBF Hi-Cyan on Magenta VGACOLOR MYCOLOR.VGA Note - When specifying the file for VGACOLOR to load, we assume you saved the modified color description file. For the purposes of this example, we use MYCOLOR.VGA and also assume MYCOLOR.VGA is located in your Root directory. The color file description can reside anywhere and the filename can be of your choosing. The example above also assumes that you generated a Magenta background and high-intensity Cyan foreground using SETBF. You would also have used VgaColor to modify color #5-Magenta and color #11-High-Intensity Cyan. You must modify the same color(s) with VgaColor as those specified for SETBF in order for the new colors to be displayed! __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 19 Copyright (c)1990 *************************************************************** * * * TECHNICAL INFORMATION * * * *************************************************************** This section offers some technical information about VgaColor which may be primarily of interest to programmers. You may find VgaColor useful for designing your VGA color schemes and using the saved file description in your own programs. This may save you some development time for this portion of your application. The infor- mation is not exhaustive, and we assume you have some knowledge of the information we are providing. VgaColor takes advantage of Bios (Int 10h) for all manipulation of the color palettes and individual color registers. This method is available only for VGA monitors. Since VgaColor was designed for VGA monitors, EGA was not a concern. Basically, there are two methods you can use to access the color palettes and individual color registers: (1) hard-code the values in your program or (2) use the saved color file description created by VgaColor. Which ever method you choose, the following assembly routine (or comparable high-level language method) may be used to modify the individual color registers: mov AH,10h ;Palette Services mov AL,10h ;Service 10h - Set Color Register mov BX,2 ;Palette Id to Change - (Decimal) mov DH,00h ;Intensity of Red (hex) mov CH,2Ah ;Intensity of Green (hex) mov CL,00h ;Intensity of Blue (hex) Int 10h ;BIOS Service The example above will restore Palette # 2 back to its original default color, Green. If hard coding the values in your program, simply use the print option of VgaColor to list the current state of the individual color registers. Supply the palette Id decimal value for BX, Red intensity for DH (hex), Green intensity for CH (hex) and Blue intensity for CL (hex). Remember, you are changing one of the 16 palettes (0 - 15) one at a time. If you change all 16 palettes, the programming example above would have to be performed 16 times. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 20 Copyright (c)1990 FORMAT OF THE SAVED COLOR FILE DESCRIPTION You may find it much more convenient to change the color registers using the saved color file description, rather than hard coding the desired values in your program. Listed below is the format of this file. The color description is a simple, 80-byte record containing only one record in the file in a byte-stream format: Position Length Value Description 1 - 8 8 VgaColor Id field used by VgaColor. For your application, you may change it to any desired value. 9 -72 64 Variable These are the 1 byte, binary values used to modify the color palettes and values of the individual color registers. The 64 bytes are arranged as an array which occurs 16 times: 1 - Palette Id Byte 9 Red Intensity Byte 10 Green Intensity Byte 11 Blue Intensity Byte 12 . . . 16 Palette Id Byte 69 Red Intensity Byte 70 Green Intensity Byte 71 Blue Intensity Byte 72 Simply view the file as arranged as a group of 4 fields occurring 16 times. 73-80 8 Not Used __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 21 Copyright (c)1990 When using the saved color file, the values supplied to Int 10h are the same as shown for the hard-coded example except the value for Palette Id (BX). Since the value for Palette Id is a hex representation, move the value in the field to BL and 00h to BH. Simply read the one record in the file and program a loop to load the Palette Id, Red, Green and Blue intensities and perform Int 10h 16 times. Note: The values for the Palette numbers may seem different than what you may have expected. Normally, their values are 0 thru 15 (00h thru 0Fh). Modifying the VGA color palettes using Bios requires different values which is why, for examples, palettes 08h through 0Fh have the values of 38h thru 3Fh assigned to them. It is also a good practice to reset the color palettes back to their original, unmodified state upon termination of your application. Your users will appreciate it. This can be done by either restoring the 16 color palettes using the default values, or by issuing a mode change using Int 10h, Service 0. __________________________________________________________________ DigiTec VgaColor 22 Copyright (c)1990