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From: boykin@custom.UUCP (Joseph Boykin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: ANSI device driver
Message-ID: <773@custom.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Aug-87 10:40:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: custom.773
Posted: Thu Aug 13 10:40:48 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Aug-87 09:17:54 EDT
References: <5138@j.cc.purdue.edu>
Organization: Custom Software Systems; Natick, MA
Lines: 31
Summary: ANSI is not full X3.64

In article <5138@j.cc.purdue.edu>, aip@j.cc.purdue.edu (Bret Johnson) writes:
> 
>      Does anyone know if the ANSI driver that is included with MS-DOS is a 
> full implementation of the ANSI standard.  I have a copy of the standard and
> it lists about three times as many command sequences as does my DOS manual.

ANSI.SYS contains a *very* minimal subset of the ANSI standard
set of escape sequences (X3.64).  It is also relatively slow.

If you're looking for ANSI compatability there are two alternatives;
NANSI.SYS, which is public domain or sharewhare (I'm not sure which).
NANSI replaces ANSI.SYS and provides a) more ANSI compatabile escape
sequences (the most useful ones being insert/delete line/character)
as well as being a better/faster implementation.

The second alternative is FANSI-CONSOLE which is a commercial 
product ($75 + $4 S&H with manual).  FANSI replaces both ANSI.SYS
and the screen and keyboard portions of the ROM BIOS.  FANSI
is a full X3.64 implementation, has VT100 emulation and gives you
such things as a larger type-ahead buffer (255 characters),
auto-screen dim, the ability to change the keyboard repeat rate,
length of the bell, give you key click, etc.  By merely installing
FANSI you'll see your 'TYPE' command come out about twice as fast.
FANSI is faster than NANSI and provides alot more features, of course
it's also more expensive.  Note that, like with most products,
its not too hard to get it cheaper.  Programmers connection
sells it for $62, we sell it to our PC/VI customers for $60, etc.

Joe Boykin
Custom Software Systems
...necntc!custom!boykin