turning on color in cmd window

[Vic]

I am working with old DOS batch files in XP. These files utilized ANSI codes for color (color for prompts, color for screens, etc).
ANSI.COM (old DOS program) does not work in XP as in DOS. It allows colorful CMD prompts but no ansi code in BAT files is executed.
:-(

Is there any way to enable ANSI in a CMD window and allow color in BAT or CMD files?
(BTW: any links for CMD syntax in files would be appreciated)

Lastly, where does XP store its configuration files for a saved session?

TIA
Vic

 

[Vic]

UPDATE: I found this for CMD syntax
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/cmd.mspx

___

 

[Wesley Vogel]

[[Changing Colors
1. On the Colors tab, choose colors for the screen text, screen background,
pop-up text, or pop-up background by clicking the element you want to
change.
2. Click the color you want. The Selected Screen Colors box shows how the
text and background colors you selected will appear on the screen. The
Selected Popup Colors box shows how the text and background colors you
selected will appear in a pop-up window. ]]
from...
HOW TO: Set the Command Processor Appearance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309019

Customizing CMD
http://wint.virtualplastic.net/showtweak.php?tweak_id=73

Windows : Accessories : Command Processor
http://www.winguides.com/registry/category.php/180/

Undocumented Command Prompt Tips
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/3678/3678.html

How to Change the Title Bar Caption of the Command Prompt
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;98578

Type in a command prompt:

help

cmd /?

Command-line reference A-Z

Start | Run | Copy and paste the following line:

hh ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

Click OK.


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[S.Sengupta]

HOW TO: Set the Command Processor Appearance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309019

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Start | Run | Paste the following line and click OK...

hh ntcmds.chm::/Cmd.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[John Smithe]

hh ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

Is there an index somwhere of the help information accessible from the
'hh' command?

Are there others like: ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm and ntcmds.chm::/Cmd.htm

ThankS
JS

 

[Kelly]

Added info:

Run and Rundll32 Commands
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_qr.htm#rundll

Run Command Creator (Line 326) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm
For Tools:
ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds_new_tools.htm
For Tasks:
ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\ntcmds.chm::/dos_diffs.htm

In Home: Go to Start/Run and type in:
%windir%\hh.exe ms-its:%windir%\Help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Phil Robyn]

I am working with old DOS batch files in XP. These files utilized ANSI codes for color (color for prompts, color for screens, etc).
ANSI.COM (old DOS program) does not work in XP as in DOS. It allows colorful CMD prompts but no ansi code in BAT files is executed.
:-(

Is there any way to enable ANSI in a CMD window and allow color in BAT or CMD files?
(BTW: any links for CMD syntax in files would be appreciated)

Lastly, where does XP store its configuration files for a saved session?

TIA
Vic

There is no way to enable ANSI.SYS or ANSI.COM in a CMD window. Instead,
you can download Dennis Bareis's CTEXT (free) from

http://users.cyberone.com.au/dbareis/

 

[Wesley Vogel]

*.chm files are Compiled HTML Help files.

hh is hh.exe (Microsoft® HTML Help Executable). hh.exe is what opens *.chm
files.

Any *.chm file that is in C:\WINDOWS\Help (%windir%\Help) can be opened with
the hh command.

You can open .chm files from the Run command by typing or pasting...

hh ntcmds.chm

Open to a specific page/article...

hh ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

hh ntcmds.chm::/dos_diffs.htm

hh ntcmds.chm::/cipher.htm

hh wmplayer.chm

Open to a specific page/article...

hh wmplayer.chm::/htm/player_overview_formats.htm

hh taskbar.chm::/win_tray_start_programs_runcommand.htm

Hint: You can find the Address (URL) of a Help page/article in Properties.

For example...
Open Help and Support | Type: boot in the Search box | Click the Arrow |
Click on: Require users to press CTRL+ALT+DELETE before logging on |
Right click in the right hand pane of: Require users to press
CTRL+ALT+DELETE before logging on | Properties | Address (URL) shows:
ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm |
Highlight: usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm | Ctrl + C to copy |
add hh | And you get:

hh usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm

Paste: hh usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm into the Run command and
click OK.

Of course you can navigate to C:\WINDOWS\Help and locate usercpl.chm, double
click it and navigate to Require users to press CTRL+ALT+DELETE before
logging on.

Or just paste C:\WINDOWS\Help\usercpl.chm into the Run command and navigate
to Require users to press CTRL+ALT+DELETE before logging on.

And of course, most of these open with Help and Support (helpctr.exe).

What I like about the hh and hcp commands is you can have someone type or
paste the command into the Run command. That is easier then listing however
many steps that it takes to get there through Help and Support.

For example, pasting: hh usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm into the Run
command is easier and quicker.

Any *.chm file can be opened by double clicking.

Any *.chm file can be opened by typing or pasting the full path in the
Run command.

There are also hcp commands.

hcp://system/sysinfo/sysInfoLaunch.htm for example.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[John Smithe]

*.chm files are Compiled HTML Help files.

hh is hh.exe (Microsoft® HTML Help Executable). hh.exe is what opens
*.chm files.

Any *.chm file that is in C:\WINDOWS\Help (%windir%\Help) can be
opened with the hh command.

You can open .chm files from the Run command by typing or pasting...

hh ntcmds.chm

Open to a specific page/article...

hh ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

hh ntcmds.chm::/dos_diffs.htm

hh ntcmds.chm::/cipher.htm

hh wmplayer.chm

Open to a specific page/article...

hh wmplayer.chm::/htm/player_overview_formats.htm

hh taskbar.chm::/win_tray_start_programs_runcommand.htm

Hint: You can find the Address (URL) of a Help page/article in
Properties.

For example...
Open Help and Support | Type: boot in the Search box | Click the
Arrow | Click on: Require users to press CTRL+ALT+DELETE before
logging on | Right click in the right hand pane of: Require users to
press CTRL+ALT+DELETE before logging on | Properties | Address (URL)
shows: ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm |
Highlight: usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm | Ctrl + C to copy |
add hh | And you get:

hh usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm

Paste: hh usercpl.chm::/usercpl_secureboot.htm into the Run command
and click OK.

...

Great answer. Many Thanks!

JS

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Keep having fun.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In