Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!nosc!cod!baird
From: baird@cod.NOSC.MIL (John M. Baird)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: .CPI Files - What are they?
Keywords: .CPI
Message-ID: <1743@cod.NOSC.MIL>
Date: 8 Jan 90 19:57:27 GMT
References: <2391@sactoh0.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 51

From article <2391@sactoh0.UUCP>, by mholtz@sactoh0.UUCP (Mark A. Holtz):
> I am using a Packard-Bell AT-Compatible computer with MS-DOS 3.3. 
> I notice in my /DOS directory four files: 4201.CPI, 5202.CPI,
> EGA.CPI, and LCD.CPI. What are they, how can they be used, and
> where can I find out more info about them?

What follows is introductory material from HELPSB. Consult your DOS manual
for details of how to use .CPI files with DISPLAY.SYS and PRINTER.SYS in
the CONFIG.SYS file. Once you know what they are, it is unlikely you will
want to (unless you use international characters not normally used in the
USA).

John Baird, Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA
-------
Definition of .CPI file:
     EXTENSION       WHAT IT (USUALLY) MEANS
	CPI		A file containing Code Page Information
--------
Code page definition:

A code page is a table used to translate a number in computer memory into a 
character (letter, number, or special symbol) displayed on the screen or 
printed on paper. Each key on the keyboard must also be translated into a 
number in computer memory so that it can later be displayed by using a code 
page. A default code page is "built in" to the computer and each peripheral. 
-------
.CPI related File Summary

FILE NAME:	  WHAT IT DOES:
  CONFIG.SYS	    configuration file
  DISPLAY.SYS 	    monitor configuration
  EGA.CPI 	    code page information
  LCD.CPI 	    code page information
  PRINTER.SYS 	    printer configuration
  dddd.CPI 	    code page information
--------
The DEVICE line goes in the CONFIG.SYS file:
    DEVICE=[d:][pathname]filename[.ext] [options . . .]

[d:][pathname]filename[.ext] is the device driver program. 

A device driver is a program used to control (drive) a peripheral device. 
DOS has a built-in set of drivers for the devices usually found on a computer. 
--------
Device drivers that can use .CPI files:

      WHAT IT IS	WHAT IT DOES
	DISPLAY.SYS*	support code page character display on enhanced 
			graphics adapters and some others. 
	PRINTER.SYS*	supports code page character printing on Proprinter-
			compatible printers.