Q66785: Extended ASCII Characters on CGA Card

Article: Q66785
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 5.10 6.00 6.00a | 6.00 6.00a
Operating System(s): MS-DOS | OS/2
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | buglist5.10 buglist6.00 buglist6.00a s_quickc | mspl13_c
Last Modified: 9-NOV-1990

The _outtext() function from the graphics library will not display
extended ASCII characters on a CGA adapter while in graphics mode
(_MRESNOCOLOR, _MRES4COLOR, _HRESBW). The _outtext() function will
display characters with values greater than 128 on VGA adapters in all
display modes. However, _outtext() will only display shaded blocks for
these characters on CGA systems working in the above mentioned
graphics modes.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in all versions of
GRAPHICS.LIB up to and including the version that shipped with
Microsoft C version 6.00a and Microsoft Quick C versions 2.50 and
2.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information
here as it becomes available.

Sample Code
-----------

#include <conio.h>
#include <graph.h>

void PrintItOut (void);
void main(void);

char buf1 [65];
char buf2 [65];
char buf3 [65];

void main(void)
{
   int i;

   for( i = 0; i < 64; i++ )
   {
      buf1[i]= (char) 32+i;
      buf2[i]= (char) 96+i;
      buf2[i]= (char) 160+i;
   }
   buf1[i]= 0;
   buf2[i]= 0;
   buf3[i]= 0;

   _setvideomode( _MRES4COLOR);

   PrintItOut();

   _setvideomode( _MRESNOCOLOR);

   PrintItOut();

   _setvideomode( _HRESBW);

   PrintItOut();

   _setvideomode( _DEFAULTMODE);
}
void PrintItOut (void)
{
   _clearscreen( _GCLEARSCREEN );
   _setbkcolor( 0 );
   _settextposition( 3, 1 );
   _settextcolor( 15 );
   _outtext( buf1 );
   _outtext( buf2 );
   _outtext( buf3 );

   getch();
}

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.