~Today's Top DOS Tip



Customising your DOS desktop with the prompt command

~By  -SIMON BURROWS-




~`Introduction
~`


`Right, first  of all  let me  get one thing straight: this is hard
`core prompting  we're talking  here!   If you're  looking for some
`simple text message in 2 shades of grey  (or black and white to be
`more precise),  and not  even a  sniff of ANSI escape sequences or
`the glorious 7 colours ANSI allows you to utilise in DOS, then get
`out....go on....get out........(and don't come back!)


Still here, eh?


`Seriously though, folks, this is pretty complicated stuff for your
`average DOS user, and I'm not about to go and explain how each and
`every part of the line works to a beginner's level.  The example I
`shall be  giving you  below uses  three types  of  commands:  ANSI
`directional sequences  (for moving  the cursor around the screen);
`ANSI colour sequences  (for changing the background and foreground
`colours of  text on the DOS display); and prompt ('$') commands to
`make DOS display different information on your prompt.

`For more  information about  the prompt command type "HELP PROMPT"
`when you've  finished reading this great magazine.  Alternatively,
`you could  check out the basic pointers in the 'Prompt' section of
`my "Write  your own  AUTOEXEC.BAT" found  in  issue  40  of  Cheet
`Sheets.   For more  information about  ANSI sequences,  type "HELP
`ANSI.SYS" at your DOS prompt, and more information can be found in
`my "Top DOS Tip" in Issue 38 of Cheet Sheets.




~`But first this
~`


`Since the  prompt I  shall  be  going  through  uses  ANSI  escape
`sequences, ANSI.SYS  will have to be loaded before your computer's
`gonna' understand what the heck you're going on about.

`ANSI.SYS is  loaded in  your  CONFIG.SYS  file  by  inserting  the
`following line :-


DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS




~`Getting Started
~`


`Now we can get down to prompt designing.

`Your computer,  as you'll  probably know, is usually told how your
`prompt will  look with  the PROMPT  command in  your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
`Load your  AUTOEXEC.BAT into  MS-DOS Edit   (or  some similar text
`editor)   and look  for a  line starting  "PROMPT...".   This will
`often read  "PROMPT $p$g".   Once the line has been located, start
`inserting your  new commands  from here  (after first deleting all
`the characters  on that  line  other  than  the  initial  "PROMPT"
`statement).




~`Method
~`


`Here is the line which you will need to insert :-


~`PROMPT $e[s$e[1H$e[37;41;1m            $e[37;44;1m     
`          (Although I
`                                                  go onto a 
`primary   goto         insert your   changes          new line
`command  line 1       message here   background       here, you
`                       (39 chars.)   colour to        shouldn't)
`save cursor     change back            blue
`   position   ground to red


~`It's  $t  on  $d $e[37;40;0m$e[u$e[23B$p$g
` 
`                                    
`Displays "It's",  changes       moves  displays
`then the current  background     down   current
`time, then "on",  colour  restores  23    drive and
`then the current  back to   cursor  to     directory
`date  (inc. day)  black   position  bottom  then a '>'




~`Results
~`


`This command  in your AUTOEXEC.BAT will give you a 2-colour banner
`at the  top of your screen throughout your DOS session.  The first
`half of the banner  (from the centre of the screen leftwards) will
`give your  personalised message.   This  must be  39 characters or
`less -  the nearer  to 39  it is,  the better  it will look on the
`screen.   The background  colour of  this will be red.  The second
`half of  the banner   (going  from the centre of the screen to the
`far right)  will have a blue background colour and will inform the
`user of the current time and date.


`BE WARNED:  The time and date will only be refreshed each time you
`            get a  new prompt, in other words, each time you press
`            [ENTER] on  your PC.  If, therefore, you leave your PC
`            without any  interaction for  a while,  your boss,  or
`            some other  unsavoury  character  who  happens  to  be
`            walking past  your monitor  at an  inopportune moment,
`            will see that the last time you actually did some work
`            was half an hour ago!!!!



~`Example
~`


`Here's an  example.  (Note that although I've had to show you this
`example on  two lines, it should all follow through on one line in
`your AUTOEXEC.BAT) :-


`PROMPT $e[s$e[1H$e[37;41;1m  Unless you're name's Simon, GO AWAY!!
`$e[37;44;1m It's  $t  on  $d $e[37;40;0m$e[u$e[23B$p$g


`This makes your desktop look just great!!





~Bon Appetit...


`                           
~`                            Simon Burrows
`                           


This Article Copyright (c) 1995 Eurowave Leisure Ltd.

