Full Screen DOS shell resolutions...

[Eric]

Anyone know how to change the video resolution for a full-screen DOS shell?

I'm refering to a full-screen shell and not simply a maximized DOS box,
which would simply be changing the fonts.

Reason being, I want to use a full screen DOS shell for something and not
have to use the 80x24 fonts which are big and ugly on my large monitor.

I used to be able to do this, but its been so long now that I've forgotten
where it is set. VGA mode something-or-other, I seen to recall, but where?

TIA...

 

[Mark Hall]

if you open command prompt right click the icon in the top left corner and
click froperties, then just put the dot in full screen


Anyone know how to change the video resolution for a full-screen DOS shell?

I'm refering to a full-screen shell and not simply a maximized DOS box,
which would simply be changing the fonts.

Reason being, I want to use a full screen DOS shell for something and not
have to use the 80x24 fonts which are big and ugly on my large monitor.

I used to be able to do this, but its been so long now that I've forgotten
where it is set. VGA mode something-or-other, I seen to recall, but where?

TIA...

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Anyone know how to change the video resolution for a full-screen DOS shell?

I'm refering to a full-screen shell and not simply a maximized DOS box,
which would simply be changing the fonts.

Reason being, I want to use a full screen DOS shell for something and not
have to use the 80x24 fonts which are big and ugly on my large monitor.

I used to be able to do this, but its been so long now that I've forgotten
where it is set. VGA mode something-or-other, I seen to recall, but where?

TIA...

Click on the C:\ icon on the title bar of the command prompt window and
select properties.

 

[Eric]

Click on the C:\ icon on the title bar of the command prompt window and
select properties.

Hi, thanks for the reply.

That will change DOS box properties, but not full-screen properties.

What I'd like to do is change the full-screen resolution to, say, 132x80.

I recall it being hardware-driven, but don't remember how to get at it.
(Fiddling with the MODE command under DOS now, and going through utilities
for my video card.)

 

[Eric]

if you open command prompt right click the icon in the top left corner and
click froperties, then just put the dot in full screen

Hi,

Thats will change DOS box properties, but doesn't effect a full-mode screen.

What I'm aiming for is 132x80 character mode under a full-screen. In
full-screen, DOS resolutions are handled directly by the video card.
I know my video card supports resolutions greater than 80x24 in text mode
because I can set it easily to do so at a Linux CLI. I just don't recall
how to go about it under Windows..

TIA

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Alt + Enter to get Full Screen.

Right click the cmd.exe shortcut and click Properties or right click the
title bar of an open command prompt and click Properties.

Click the Options tab
Under Display Options, select Full Screen.

O Window
[[Specifies that the program will run in a window. This mode makes it easier
to share information with other Windows-based programs and is mostly used
for text-based MS-DOS programs.]]

O Full Screen
[[Specifies that the program will run in a full screen. This uses the least
memory and is mostly used to run graphics.]]

You can change the size of the window.

Layout tab

Window Preview
[[Shows how the program window will appear on your screen.]]

Screen Buffer Size
Width:
[[Sets the number of characters stored in a line in the buffer.]]

Height:
[[Sets the number of lines stored in memory. If the current window size
settings are smaller than the screen buffer size settings, scroll bars are
displayed so you can scroll back through the information.

You cannot resize a window to be larger than the area set by the screen
buffer settings. On x86-based computers, if you switch to full screen
display, Windows will display the number of lines (25, 43, or 50) supported
by your hardware that is closest to your window mode configuration.]]

Window Size
Width:
[[Sets the width of the window.]]

Height:
[[Sets the height of the window.]]

Window Position
Left:
[[Positions the left side of the window.
If you want the system to automatically position the window, select the Let
System Position Window check box.]]

Top:
[[Positions the top of the window.
If you want the system to automatically position the window, select the Let
System Position Window check box.]]

Let system position window
[[Specifies that the system will automatically position the window.]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Eric]

Alt + Enter to get Full Screen.

Right click the cmd.exe shortcut and click Properties or right click the
title bar of an open command prompt and click Properties.

Click the Options tab
Under Display Options, select Full Screen.

O Window
[[Specifies that the program will run in a window. This mode makes it
easier
to share information with other Windows-based programs and is mostly used
for text-based MS-DOS programs.]]

O Full Screen
[[Specifies that the program will run in a full screen. This uses the
least
memory and is mostly used to run graphics.]]

You can change the size of the window.

Layout tab

Window Preview
[[Shows how the program window will appear on your screen.]]

Screen Buffer Size
Width:
[[Sets the number of characters stored in a line in the buffer.]]

Height:
[[Sets the number of lines stored in memory. If the current window size
settings are smaller than the screen buffer size settings, scroll bars are
displayed so you can scroll back through the information.

You cannot resize a window to be larger than the area set by the screen
buffer settings. On x86-based computers, if you switch to full screen
display, Windows will display the number of lines (25, 43, or 50)
supported
by your hardware that is closest to your window mode configuration.]]

Window Size
Width:
[[Sets the width of the window.]]

Height:
[[Sets the height of the window.]]

Window Position
Left:
[[Positions the left side of the window.
If you want the system to automatically position the window, select the
Let
System Position Window check box.]]

Top:
[[Positions the top of the window.
If you want the system to automatically position the window, select the
Let
System Position Window check box.]]

Let system position window
[[Specifies that the system will automatically position the window.]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

Hi,

That changes the dos box properties, but doesn't effect full-screen mode.
To change the text modes in full-screen, you have to get at your video card
directly and tell it to run a different text-mode other than 80x25. The
text-modes are natively hard coded into video cards, its just a matter of
enabling which one to use. Under Linux, I've used the old utilitity
SVGATextMode to change console text-mode resolutions, but it doesn't look
like there is anything built-into Windows to do the same. Still fiddling
with MODE under DOS, but it seems to just change console geometry and not
the actual video resolution itself. Going to google and see if there is a
Windows utility to do change it. Looked through all my video card utilities
and came up empty. I know its possible under Win because many years ago, I
ran a DOS BBS that appeared at 132x50 in a DOS full-screen under Win95/8.

Thanks...

 

[Eric]

Anyone know how to change the video resolution for a full-screen DOS
shell?

I'm refering to a full-screen shell and not simply a maximized DOS box,
which would simply be changing the fonts.

Reason being, I want to use a full screen DOS shell for something and not
have to use the 80x24 fonts which are big and ugly on my large monitor.

I used to be able to do this, but its been so long now that I've forgotten
where it is set. VGA mode something-or-other, I seen to recall, but
where?

TIA...

Closing in, slowly, on what I'm wanting to do.

A better worded question would be: "How do you go about changing VESA
resolutions for a full-screen DOS shell under WinXP?"

 

[Eric]

Anyone know how to change the video resolution for a full-screen DOS
shell?

I'm refering to a full-screen shell and not simply a maximized DOS box,
which would simply be changing the fonts.

Reason being, I want to use a full screen DOS shell for something and not
have to use the 80x24 fonts which are big and ugly on my large monitor.

I used to be able to do this, but its been so long now that I've forgotten
where it is set. VGA mode something-or-other, I seen to recall, but
where?

TIA...

From full-screen console:

MODE CON: COLS=x LINES=y

If x/y are supported natively by the video card, the resolution changes...

 

[Eric]

From full-screen console:

MODE CON: COLS=x LINES=y

If x/y are supported natively by the video card, the resolution changes...

Spoke too soon. That only forces change between two different resolutions;
a low and medium.

No x/y value is toggling the "high", "enhanced",
[whatever-you-want-to-call-it], hardware-driven text resolutions that I know
the video card is capable of.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Anyone know how to change the video resolution for a full-screen DOS shell?

I'm refering to a full-screen shell and not simply a maximized DOS box,
which would simply be changing the fonts.

Good news and bad news...

Good I know exactly what you are trying to do
Bad I dunno how to do it either.

A problem is that beyond-VGA modes tend to be (graphics)
chipset-specific, especially when it comes to the hi-res text modes.
VESA may have helped standardised this, but otherwise you'd be using
something with intimate knowledge of the chipset to set the modes.

This may be:
- a TSR VESA driver
- a proprietary TSR
- a proprietary command non-resident line utility
- the capabilities of the app itself

For example, Quattro Pro 5 for DOS "knows" a variety of different
chipsets, so you'd choose the chipset you have and then Quattro Pro
would offer you the appropriate modes. Ironically, one of the best
hi-res text modes was on one of the lowest-end (Oak) chipsets!

For another example, your app may have no knowledge of screen text
modes whatsoever, allowing you to control these before the app is
launched. The app may then:
- reset the res back to 80 x 25 (bummer)
- run as 80 x 25 in the top half or left corner of the display
- size itself to the actual character space (yay!)

To do the above, you'd typically write a .BAT that does a "mode
sandwich", something like this...

@Echo Off
VMode 132 60
YourApp.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
VMode 80 25

....where "VMode" is a notional proprietary mode-changing tool that
came with ye olde graphic card, using thumb-suck syntax.

The obstacles to doing this in XP are as follows:

1) Direct hardware access is disallowed

This may or may not be a problem, given that even arbitrary
proprietary modes can generally be selected via a standard BIOS call
that XP can trap and emulate, without direct hardware access required

2) Pre-VESA modes are non-standard and bound to now-extinct chipsets

An app that "knows" contemporary chipsets may handle thosde chipsets
accurately, but you may find all of these (typically un-accelerated
ISA chipsets) are by now extinct. So there may be nothing that
matches the SVGA you have; guessing may or may not bring joy.

OTOH, post-VESA mileage may be better, as I expect Windows full-screen
emulation natively embraces the VESA function set

3) The app may reset the display mode when it runs

Bummer, as I mentioned earlier... you successfully get some VESA
hi-res text mode to be applied by the app's XP shortcut, only to find
the app either resets this back to 80 x 25, or assumes you are running
at that res and draws itself in the top corner of the display, leaving
the rest of the (true full-screen) display blank.

So a lot depends on how the DOS app is written, as much as everything
else. Maybe you can get XP itself to preset a full-screen mode, or
use a CLI tool to do so (perhaps via a .BAT), or get the application
itself to set its own res if it has the smarts to do so.


To emphasise for other readers: Full-screen console is *hugely*
different to running as a maximixed window...
- inbuilt SVGA character generator used, so OEM not ANSI fonts
- direct screen writes make for far faster graphics
- no font settings can be applied (uses native SVGA fonts)

This is why apps often look completely different when running
full-screen, right down to different extended characters!

-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Tip Of The Day:
To disable the 'Tip of the Day' feature...

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Closing in, slowly, on what I'm wanting to do.

See other thread...

--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -

"We have captured lightning and used
it to teach sand how to think."

 

[Bob I]

If I recall correctly, you are talking about "vidmode" for switching the
adapter to the "other" text mode. That is a utility that is supplied
with and for the particular graphics card it came with. In addition it
has to be compatible with the operating system you are running. The DOS
versions of Windows were pretty lax about hardware access by software.
The DOS emulator in NT is not so carefree and tolerant. Good luck in
your endeavor.

From full-screen console:

MODE CON: COLS=x LINES=y

If x/y are supported natively by the video card, the resolution changes...

Spoke too soon. That only forces change between two different resolutions;
a low and medium.

No x/y value is toggling the "high", "enhanced",
[whatever-you-want-to-call-it], hardware-driven text resolutions that I know
the video card is capable of.

 

[Eric]

Good news and bad news...

Good I know exactly what you are trying to do
Bad I dunno how to do it either.

A problem is that beyond-VGA modes tend to be (graphics)
chipset-specific, especially when it comes to the hi-res text modes.
VESA may have helped standardised this, but otherwise you'd be using
something with intimate knowledge of the chipset to set the modes.

This may be:
- a TSR VESA driver
- a proprietary TSR
- a proprietary command non-resident line utility
- the capabilities of the app itself

For example, Quattro Pro 5 for DOS "knows" a variety of different
chipsets, so you'd choose the chipset you have and then Quattro Pro
would offer you the appropriate modes. Ironically, one of the best
hi-res text modes was on one of the lowest-end (Oak) chipsets!

For another example, your app may have no knowledge of screen text
modes whatsoever, allowing you to control these before the app is
launched. The app may then:
- reset the res back to 80 x 25 (bummer)
- run as 80 x 25 in the top half or left corner of the display
- size itself to the actual character space (yay!)

To do the above, you'd typically write a .BAT that does a "mode
sandwich", something like this...

@Echo Off
VMode 132 60
YourApp.exe %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
VMode 80 25

...where "VMode" is a notional proprietary mode-changing tool that
came with ye olde graphic card, using thumb-suck syntax.

The obstacles to doing this in XP are as follows:

1) Direct hardware access is disallowed

This may or may not be a problem, given that even arbitrary
proprietary modes can generally be selected via a standard BIOS call
that XP can trap and emulate, without direct hardware access required

2) Pre-VESA modes are non-standard and bound to now-extinct chipsets

An app that "knows" contemporary chipsets may handle thosde chipsets
accurately, but you may find all of these (typically un-accelerated
ISA chipsets) are by now extinct. So there may be nothing that
matches the SVGA you have; guessing may or may not bring joy.

OTOH, post-VESA mileage may be better, as I expect Windows full-screen
emulation natively embraces the VESA function set

3) The app may reset the display mode when it runs

Bummer, as I mentioned earlier... you successfully get some VESA
hi-res text mode to be applied by the app's XP shortcut, only to find
the app either resets this back to 80 x 25, or assumes you are running
at that res and draws itself in the top corner of the display, leaving
the rest of the (true full-screen) display blank.

So a lot depends on how the DOS app is written, as much as everything
else. Maybe you can get XP itself to preset a full-screen mode, or
use a CLI tool to do so (perhaps via a .BAT), or get the application
itself to set its own res if it has the smarts to do so.


To emphasise for other readers: Full-screen console is *hugely*
different to running as a maximixed window...
- inbuilt SVGA character generator used, so OEM not ANSI fonts
- direct screen writes make for far faster graphics
- no font settings can be applied (uses native SVGA fonts)

This is why apps often look completely different when running
full-screen, right down to different extended characters!

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, thinking back, I believe it was a TSR that I
used to change VESA text resolutions years ago under DOS/Win3.11/95/98...

Started digging around to see if there were any VESA drivers/utilities for
my specific card, but so far came up empty. I did find some "universal"
VESA utilities, such as z211 though. Unfortunetly, it doesn't seem to work
in WinXP. I'm assuming this may be because WinXP's "DOS shell" isn't true
DOS, but emulation.

Started out thinking it should be as easy to change it in Win as it is in
Linux. In Linux, its simply just changing the video framebuffers at kernel
load or running SVGATextMode. Apparently, not so. I did manage to get a
smaller font using MODE CON: COLS=x LINES=y, which is much better in
full-screen, but still going to keep digging to change the resolution and
refresh rates.

Thanks...

 

[Eric]

If I recall correctly, you are talking about "vidmode" for switching the
adapter to the "other" text mode. That is a utility that is supplied with
and for the particular graphics card it came with. In addition it has to
be compatible with the operating system you are running. The DOS versions
of Windows were pretty lax about hardware access by software. The DOS
emulator in NT is not so carefree and tolerant. Good luck in your
endeavor.

Thanks. Still digging. Trying out several "universal" VESA stuff as it
doesn't look there is one specific to my card.

I'll post back if I find success.

 

[Bob I]

Here is link to more info. I see it was "vmode" not "vidmode"(memory
ain't what it used to be )
http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/textmode.html

 

[Eric]

Here is link to more info. I see it was "vmode" not "vidmode"(memory ain't
what it used to be )
http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/textmode.html

Awesome! VMODE.EXE is working great! Finally have the pretty full-screen I
wanted. (Just made a simple .bat to start it all.)

Thanks!
-Eric

 

[Bob I]

Glad to hear you have it working as desired. Thanks for posting back.