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Q172161: HOWTO: Determining the Number of Colors Available on a Mac

Article: Q172161
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): MACINTOSH:2.5b,2.5c,2.6a,3.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode kbHWMAC kbvfp
Last Modified: 02-MAY-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, versions 2.5b, 2.5c, 2.6a 
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, Professional Edition, version 3.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

The FxGDepth() function in FoxTools returns the number of colors currently in
use on a monitor from within FoxPro 2.6a for Macintosh or Visual FoxPro 3.0b for
the Macintosh.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The code example below returns the version of FoxPro currently executing, load
the appropriate version of FoxTools and ascertains the number of colors
currently in use on the screen. Since FoxPro 2.6a places the FoxTools.mlb file
in the System/Extension folder, the path needs to be customized for each
individual machine to correctly identify the proper hard drive name and
folders:

     ****Begin Code Example****
     IF ATC("Visual",Version())>0
        SET LIBRARY TO HOME()+"FoxTools.cfm"
     Else
        SET LIBRARY TO SYS(2033,1)+":FoxTools.mlb"
     ENDIF
     nvideocolors=FxGDepth()
     IF nvideocolors >0
        WAIT WINDOW "Your Monitor is running "+ALLTRIM(STR(nvideocolors)) ;
        + "colors"
     ELSE
        WAIT WINDOW "Your monitor is running millions of colors"
     ENDIF
     ****End Code Example****

The FxGDepth() function returns an integer indicating the number of colors
currently running on the monitor. However, setting the monitor to millions of
colors causes the FxGDepth() function to return 0. To change the number of
colors the monitor uses, in the Apple menu, choose Control Panels and then
Monitors.

This information can be used to warn users of potential memory problems. If the
machine uses millions of colors and it also has limited RAM, FoxPro 2.x or
Visual FoxPro may have difficulty running successfully. To determine the amount
of RAM on a Macintosh machine from within Visual FoxPro, use the FxGestalt()
function.

Please note that the FxGestalt() function is available only with FoxTools.cfm
shipped with Visual FoxPro for the Macintosh 3.0b.

REFERENCES
==========

FoxTools Help file

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q170814 Determining the Amount of Physical RAM on a Mac from VFP

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbcode kbHWMAC kbvfp 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxPro250bMac kbFoxPro260aMac kbFoxPro250cMac kbVFP300Mac
Version           : MACINTOSH:2.5b,2.5c,2.6a,3.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

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