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3SEP03 - HVCPIFNT.TXT - Using the HVFont in CPI Files
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The HVCPIFNT.ZIP archive contains the files necessary to install a modified
MS-DOS/Windows Code Page Information (CPI) File to provide a Full Screen
version of ProCon's Hi-Visibility HVFont.

The CPI File allows the superior HVFont to be used in ALL full
screen console modes running under:-
  MS-DOS,
  Windows 3.x/95/98/Me "DOS Boxes", and
  Windows NT/2000/XP CMD.EXE Console modes.

It will NOT, of course, change the font used in:-
  Windows DOS or terminal "Boxes" run in a "Windowed" Window, or
  Windows NT/2000/XP 16 bit COMMAND.COM MS-DOS "Boxes".

(Our HVDOSBox.FON is designed to be used in "Windowed" Windows, and our
HVVCBIOS package may allow you to change the video card's BIOS font.
This combination allows you to use the HVFont in ALL terminal modes.)


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What is a "Code Page Information" (CPI) File?
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All versions of MS-DOS and Windows (from DOS 3.3 on), provide a facility to
customise the keyboard mapping - and full screen font character set - to
accommodate different languages.

MS-DOS and Windows 3.x/9x/Me do not absolutely require a CPI file to create
full screen modes. They just default to using the "hardware" fonts in the
video card's ROM BIOS - as the PC does when it first boots.

Windows NT/2000/XP does not have this hardware dependence (except when
booting and running MS-DOS programs like COMMAND.COM under its DOS Virtual
Machine) and it cannot create a full screen Console window unless it has
been able to load a CPI file when booting. (The open file "handles" will
normally include a file like "C:\WINNT\System32\EGA.CPI".)

As these CPI files contain the representations of the character glyphs, we
can easily replace the default VGA font by using a different CPI file.


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Loading a different CPI file - MS-DOS and Windows 3.x/95/98/Me
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CPI files may be in any directory, but Windows normally places them in
the "COMMAND" subdirectory.

Open an MS-DOS window and type:-

  DIR  %windir%\COMMAND\*.CPI

to obtain a list of any existing CPI files on your system. (There may be
several - or none.) Take a note of the value of %windir% (probably C:\WIN
or C:\WINDOWS). Copy the new CPI file (e.g, HVEGAE.CPI) you wish to use
to the COMMAND directory. For example:-

  COPY  HVEGAE.CPI  C:\WIN\COMMAND

You must use a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad) to add some lines to
your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to ensure that the new CPI file is
loaded at boot time. (The included files CONFIG.ADD and AUTOEXEC.ADD
provide generic examples of the lines to be added.)

Using the correct Windows directory - and new CPI filename - edit
C:\CONFIG.SYS to add - or modify - these lines:-

  Rem [==== Load Support Drivers for Country CodePages ====]
  DEVICEHIGH=C:\WIN\COMMAND\DISPLAY.SYS CON:=(EGA,437,1)
  Rem [====================================================]

then edit C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and add - or modify:-

  Rem [=========== Prepare & Select a Codepage ============]
  NLSFUNC.EXE
  MODE CON CODEPAGE PREPARE=((437)C:\WIN\COMMAND\HVEGAE.CPI)
  MODE CON CODEPAGE SELECT=437
  Rem [====================================================]

Reboot the machine. The operating system will load - and use - the new
CPI file - with the appropriate set of fonts - in all full screen modes
except for boot messages.


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Loading a different CPI file - Windows NT/2000/XP
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CPI files are normally held in the Windows "System32" subdirectory.
Open a console window and type:-

  DIR  %SystemRoot%\System32\*.CPI

to obtain a list of CPI files on your system. There should be at least
one - normally named EGA.CPI. Take a note of the value of %SystemRoot%
(probably C:\WINNT or C:\WINDOWS). If only one CPI file exists - and you
are using only English language settings - the simplest approach is to
replace the Windows EGA.CPI file with the new CPI file.

First, copy the new CPI file into the SYSTEM32 directory:-
  COPY  HVEGAE.CPI  \WINNT\SYSTEM32

Then save a copy of the existing file (most important!). Type:-

  CD  \WINNT\SYSTEM32
  COPY  EGA.CPI EGA.CP_

Set the file "Read Only" in case you attempt to overwrite it:-

  ATTRIB +R EGA.CP_

To ensure the copy has been successful, list both files with:-

  DIR  EGA.*

Ideally, we would like to replace the EGA.CPI file with the new file
using commands like:-

  REN  EGA.CPI   EGA.CPI.OLD
  REN  HVEGAE.CPI  EGA.CPI
or
  COPY  HVEGAE.CPI  EGA.CPI

Unfortunately, Windows won't allow this as EGA.CPI is open and locked -
which precludes its replacement while Windows is running. To get access
to these files you must either:-

 A. Boot to DOS from a floppy disk, or
 B. Boot to another OS (if running a multi-boot system), or
 C. Use a utility like "InstallFile" to effect the replacement
    (Freeware download from http://www.kraftig.com/InstallFile/)

Once the file has been replaced, reboot into Windows. It will now load -
and use - the new EGA.CPI file with the appropriate set of fonts in all
full screen modes except for boot messages and MS-DOS Boxes.


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Files included in the HVCPIFNT.ZIP Package
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The ZIP file should contain the following files:-

  Information Files
    HVCPIFNT.TXT - This Documentation file

  DOS Batch & Support Files
    CONFIG.ADD   - The Line to add to your CONFIG.SYS file
    AUTOEXEC.ADD - Lines to add to a AUTOEXEC.BAT file
    SHOWCPGS.BAT - Switch thru a series of Codepages
    SELCPAGE.BAT - Select a specified Codepage and display
                   Full screen font
    ASCII.TXT    - ASCII chart used by batch files

  CodePage Information Files
    ---------------------------------------------------
    The LICENCED version contains these files:
    ---------------------------------------------------
    HVEGAD.CPI   - HVFont CPI File (Dotted Space character)
    HVEGAB.CPI   - HVFont CPI File (BLANK Space character)
    ---------------------------------------------------

    The EVALUATION version contains this file:
    ---------------------------------------------------
    HVEGAE.CPI   - HVFont CPI File ("Dyslexic" fonts.)
                   (Random characters are mirror imaged)
    ---------------------------------------------------

  CPI Windows Console Utilities
    CODEPAGE.EXE - Show Codepage description
    SHOWCPI.EXE  - Show CPI file info and fonts
    ---------------------------------------------------
    The LICENCED version also contains these utilities:
    ---------------------------------------------------
    MAKECPI.EXE  - Make CPI file from VGA font image files
    EDITCPI.EXE  - Replace fonts in CPI files
    DUMPFNTS.EXE - Extract fonts from CPI files

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