Question: How does color work??

	I have a few questions about color ascii for anyone who wants to 
answer them . Why do they only work on PC's ? What do the numbers mean ? 
How do they work ? How do I type a control character ? I made this sig by 
chopping up someone else's sig and playing with the numbers , but , I 
really don't know what I'm doing . Any help is greatly appreciated . Thanx :)

                               
            *****   #       #    ###    #))) 
           (**      #      # #   #  #   #__
              **)   #     #***#  #  #   #""
           *****    ####  #   #  ###    #)))   
                                                                       
  <*><*><*><*>...@PLATO.RTL.SELU.EDU<*><*><*><*>
 

Slade Maurer <sma...@hume.rutgers.edu> 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 <g>.  


>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 <Alt> 
key and enter "27" on the Number Pad and let go of the <Alt> 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 <esc> 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.  <g>


                                
>             *****   #       #    ###    #))) 
>            (**      #      # #   #  #   #__
>               **)   #     #***#  #  #   #""
>            *****    ####  #   #  ###    #)))   
>                                                                        
>   

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?  <g>

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.


<*><*><*><*>...@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!  <HEHE>

    Phred

[ Ascii stoopid question, get a stoopid Ansi. :) ]