ORCAD background color change

I'm pretty sure that it can be done, but I last used SDT about 20 years ago. :-)

I have a copy on this machine, only to use the templates and symbol libraries, to do conversions of old SDT stuff to PSpice Schematics.

Aren't all the colors in an CFG file?

It's coming back :-)

Use GENDRIVE.EXE to roll your own video driver. ...Jim Thompson

Strictly from memory, way back: IIRC the only way one could change the background color on SDT was to muck with the table stored in the graphics card. But having anything other than black was frowned upon by Orcadians back then, right up there with parking a Harley next to a Goldwing ;-)

I don't know if this is still possible in a DOS window.

I just looked in the ESP version and there is no background color setting. I don't have a working copy of the pre ESP version to check.

There was nothing when executed with "Orcad.exe -c"? That should bring up the config menu selections, but I do not know if that is where it is at either.

I'll fire it up and check a bit.

That has nothing to do with it.

Err... that was "Draft.exe" and "/c" not "-c".

Anyway, the color table does not allow the Bkgd to be changed. It is hard coded. I suppose it is possible to modify a driver if one knew how they were compiled, which we do not. What is wrong with black?

My favorite console color scheme in Linux is Green on Black. :-)

Ask in

-- Boris

Hell, all we need is a decent set of VESA drivers. I have trouble even getting any of my 800x600 drivers working on any of these newer cards, so even VGA must be "in a different place" in the card's set-up. VESA modes always seem to work these days. So they need a vesa driver set.

Tango PCB has one. Pretty nice too. I run both that and Orcad from within DOSBox, which does allow full screen sessions, even in Windows 7. Any hardware hooks that are needed (even local machine stuff) can be attached to via NET USE type commands if direct methods pose problems.

In SDT it could not be changed.

In the olden days we loaded our own color tables so you could change almost any color that a program would generate. But you had to know the inner workings of your video card. And there were some that required caution, if you wrote to the wrong registers you could kill the card ...

On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:38:01 -0800, Joerg wrote:

Let me guess, "AwlSome Auger" is another nym of dipshit AlwaysWrong?

As I remember Gendrive, you ran it pulling in data from the provided driver for your card, VGA in my case, then you could twiddle the color tables and export as your own custom driver... JET.DRV in my case.

(I can't run it now, but I'll send this archive to JF and see if he can use it.)

PKZIP (tm) FAST! Create/Update Utility Version 1.02 10-01-89 Copyright 1989 PKWARE Inc. All Rights Reserved. PKZIP/h for help

Searching ZIP: DRIVER.ZIP

Length Method Size Ratio Date Time CRC-32 Attr Name ------ ------ ----- ----- ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- 5445 Implode 1919 65% 01-24-90 10:34 4dbfa993 --w DXF.DRV 1168 Implode 578 51% 01-24-90 10:15 5653867c --w EPSON.DRV 1251 Implode 644 49% 01-24-90 10:15 81660b10 --w EPSONFX.DRV 1375 Implode 724 48% 01-24-90 10:16 806a9463 --w EPSONFX2.DRV 1251 Implode 643 49% 01-24-90 10:16 ef99113d --w EPSONMX.DRV 5829 Implode 1468 75% 10-25-89 03:22 dc359893 --w GENDRIVE.DAT 15136 Implode 9212 40% 10-25-89 03:22 dc43211d --w GENDRIVE.DRV 21482 Implode 11302 48% 10-25-89 03:22 b04d3bff --w GENDRIVE.EXE 3968 Implode 1703 58% 01-24-90 10:39 489bddbb --w HI.DRV 4391 Implode 1915 57% 01-24-90 10:39 e911f9fa --w HP.DRV 4391 Implode 1917 57% 01-24-90 10:40 314a2112 --w HP2.DRV 1031 Implode 431 59% 01-24-90 10:18 3aca1bde --w HPLASER1.DRV 1058 Implode 431 60% 01-24-90 10:18 5bd65158 --w HPLASER2.DRV 1108 Implode 433 61% 01-24-90 10:19 e432beec --w HPLASER3.DRV 1258 Implode 432 66% 01-24-90 10:19 3b021261 --w HPLASER4.DRV 1035 Implode 438 58% 01-24-90 10:19 b7d50616 --w HPLASER5.DRV 1062 Implode 439 59% 01-24-90 10:20 0e8879cd --w HPLASER6.DRV 1112 Implode 440 61% 01-24-90 10:20 df1fe5cf --w HPLASER7.DRV 1262 Implode 439 66% 01-24-90 10:20 5f1d9c42 --w HPLASER8.DRV 1358 Implode 689 50% 01-24-90 10:26 d8d25d37 --w LQ1000_2.DRV 5757 Implode 3504 40% 01-24-90 10:13 8d6cfbd0 --w PLOTTER.DRV 9715 Implode 5719 42% 03-16-90 10:40 d1d55307 --w PRINTER.DRV 1849 Implode 346 82% 01-24-90 10:28 b72aa9c4 --w RASTER.DRV 18589 Implode 9590 49% 03-06-90 03:23 3933119a --w TIGA.DRV 1435 Implode 740 49% 01-24-90 10:30 dcb88ae6 --w TOSHIBA2.DRV 18161 Implode 7510 59% 10-05-89 09:29 5aa8f4d6 --w VECT1280.DRV 18161 Implode 7511 59% 10-05-89 09:29 b1b27403 --w VECT768.DRV 18161 Implode 7505 59% 10-05-89 09:29 21cc426b --w VECTRXAT.DRV 18177 Implode 7526 59% 10-05-89 09:30 f9be855d --w VECTRXPC.DRV 14625 Implode 8791 40% 05-05-89 16:08 442f8bd8 --w VGA640.DRV 14913 Implode 9213 39% 05-05-89 16:03 624b3465 --w CPTFULL.DRV 14273 Implode 8450 41% 05-05-89 16:02 f10047a6 --w CPTHGC.DRV 3858 Implode 1610 59% 01-24-90 10:35 feaaed72 --w DXY101.DRV 3899 Implode 1644 58% 01-24-90 10:35 8f351bd6 --w DXY800.DRV 1279 Implode 635 51% 01-24-90 10:16 a1163f84 --w EPSONVP.DRV 3853 Implode 1463 63% 01-24-90 10:37 5f8f7ea5 --w GENERIC.DRV 2844 Implode 1096 62% 06-18-90 08:29 b618c3fd --w GERBER.DRV 2825 Implode 1083 62% 06-18-90 08:29 660205ec --w GERBER2X.DRV 2870 Implode 1101 62% 06-18-90 08:29 bd7e126f --w GERBER34.DRV 14369 Implode 8537 41% 05-05-89 16:04 f5bcf870 --w HGC2.DRV 3961 Implode 1700 58% 01-24-90 10:39 1cbaadbc --w HI29.DRV 1057 Implode 434 59% 01-24-90 10:17 5b28fbb8 --w HP2K1.DRV 1092 Implode 434 61% 01-24-90 10:17 ee63eb9b --w HP2K2.DRV 1157 Implode 435 63% 01-24-90 10:17 c05d5177 --w HP2K3.DRV 1354 Implode 436 68% 01-24-90 10:17 ebea09d2 --w HP2K4.DRV 1040 Implode 486 54% 02-26-87 23:26 13d66701 --w HPLASER.DRV 4364 Implode 1888 57% 01-24-90 10:40 ce002383 --w HPX.DRV 1253 Implode 644 49% 01-24-90 10:25 ce096b5b --w IBMCOLOR.DRV 4320 Implode 1815 58% 01-24-90 10:41 cfc17d9e --w PSCRIPT.DRV 1562 Implode 812 49% 03-18-87 09:07 962393c4 --w RASTER.DOC 16113 Implode 9241 43% 05-05-89 16:08 97305b16 --w VEGA1K.DRV 14065 Implode 8135 43% 04-13-88 08:22 6f6031b8 --w EGA16C1.DRV 14161 Implode 8215 42% 05-05-89 16:03 4f859fd4 --w EGA16C2.DRV 14369 Implode 8498 41% 05-05-89 16:03 a8cf7660 --w EGA16E.DRV 14337 Implode 8466 41% 05-05-89 16:03 0351a212 --w EGA2.DRV 14369 Implode 8514 41% 05-05-89 16:04 91d7fb94 --w EGA4E.DRV 6192 Implode 4366 30% 03-06-90 03:23 b34fe7d4 --w ADSLOAD.EXE 19328 Implode 10793 45% 03-06-90 03:23 5362ddf8 --w ADSORCAD.COM 12481 Implode 7753 38% 03-06-90 03:23 4f3eddb1 --w ADSVECTR.DRV 16097 Implode 9231 43% 05-01-90 03:23 a7d4b761 --w AHEAD1K.DRV 15873 Implode 9044 44% 05-05-89 16:02 583d6c01 --w ATT16C.DRV 14305 Implode 8508 41% 05-05-89 16:02 6129caf8 --w ATT2C.DRV 16193 Implode 9391 43% 03-06-90 03:23 4f8676bb --w CHIPS1K.DRV 1028 Implode 415 60% 01-24-90 10:18 46cab86f --w HPINKJET.DRV 20577 Implode 8406 60% 03-06-90 03:23 f1c539ad --w DGIS.DRV 15136 Implode 9210 40% 04-20-90 12:26 c39e3432 --w DISPLAYX.DRV 16081 Implode 9227 43% 05-01-90 03:23 0d09c218 --w GEN641K.DRV 13777 Implode 7738 44% 05-05-89 16:04 dbb23c2b --w GENIUS.DRV 16097 Implode 9231 43% 05-05-89 16:04 9da2af37 --w GENOA1K.DRV 13889 Implode 8062 42% 05-05-89 16:02 d791289f --w CGA2.DRV 15265 Implode 8485 45% 05-05-89 16:02 59a92b3e --w CGA4.DRV 4261 Implode 1793 58% 06-19-90 14:41 ba9883e9 --w PWORD.DRV 14337 Implode 8534 41% 05-05-89 16:04 d394ddf6 --w HPVECTRA.DRV 14321 Implode 8607 40% 05-05-89 16:04 96aac0a9 --w MCGA480.DRV 14721 Implode 8131 45% 05-05-89 16:05 b6fecf30 --w NCR2.DRV 16129 Implode 8618 47% 05-05-89 16:05 b6a9b985 --w NCR4.DRV 15665 Implode 9050 43% 05-05-89 16:10 c2631e4a --w NEC9801C.DRV 14449 Implode 8620 41% 05-05-89 16:09 ffb73f27 --w NEC9801M.DRV 15889 Implode 9022 44% 05-05-89 16:05 4e39ac1e --w SIGMA400.DRV 14305 Implode 8496 41% 05-05-89 16:05 cc19eb60 --w T3100.DRV 14193 Implode 8432 41% 05-05-89 16:06 125d7a39 --w TANDY2K.DRV 16081 Implode 9200 43% 05-08-89 13:03 56a5a33a --w TECMAR1K.DRV 14417 Implode 8612 41% 05-05-89 16:06 eef4e77f --w TELECAT.DRV 18241 Implode 9076 51% 05-05-89 16:06 3eec373d --w TGM16I.DRV 17809 Implode 8756 51% 05-05-89 16:06 2623eb2a --w TGM16N.DRV 15601 Implode 8880 44% 05-05-89 16:07 a38c168a --w TGM2I.DRV 14881 Implode 8386 44% 05-05-89 16:07 8d1f9db2 --w TGM2N.DRV 16353 Implode 8922 46% 05-05-89 16:07 c846cb2f --w TGM4I.DRV 15921 Implode 8616 46% 05-05-89 16:07 51bca2bd --w TGM4N.DRV 16097 Implode 9227 43% 03-06-90 03:23 924f349b --w TRI1K.DRV 1221 Implode 609 51% 01-24-90 10:13 4a89f702 --w AMT.DRV 1214 Implode 611 50% 01-24-90 10:13 095b5cd3 --w AMT_ACEL.DRV 4085 Implode 1766 57% 01-24-90 10:33 7a3b44e6 --w APPLE410.DRV 4863 Implode 1886 62% 01-24-90 10:33 ef0709af --w CALCOMP1.DRV 4752 Implode 1821 62% 01-24-90 10:34 58cb6519 --w CALCOMP2.DRV 1055 Implode 412 61% 01-24-90 10:14 78f02952 --w CANON150.DRV 1215 Implode 416 66% 01-24-90 10:14 3f303e5e --w CANON300.DRV 977 Implode 409 59% 01-24-90 10:13 6f452c2b --w CANON75.DRV 1301 Implode 677 48% 01-24-90 10:14 49161c4b --w CITH1550.DRV 1295 Implode 676 48% 01-24-90 10:15 42efdbba --w CITOH310.DRV 4569 Implode 1960 58% 06-19-90 14:39 bc204b88 --w EPS1.DRV 4596 Implode 1983 57% 06-19-90 14:40 891d5f10 --w EPS2.DRV 4569 Implode 1961 58% 06-19-90 14:40 2d14fd2f --w EPS3.DRV 4555 Implode 1952 58% 06-19-90 14:41 e7534654 --w EPS4.DRV 1041 Implode 438 58% 01-24-90 10:20 a0a31d03 --w HPDESK1.DRV 1068 Implode 438 59% 01-24-90 10:21 a4af59e3 --w HPDESK2.DRV 1119 Implode 441 61% 01-24-90 10:21 8a127852 --w HPDESK3.DRV 1269 Implode 439 66% 01-24-90 10:21 354d96ec --w HPDESK4.DRV 1040 Implode 439 58% 01-24-90 10:22 4ffda1c4 --w HPDESK5.DRV 1067 Implode 440 59% 01-24-90 10:22 e2f8a0a3 --w HPDESK6.DRV 1118 Implode 443 61% 01-24-90 10:22 dc781f00 --w HPDESK7.DRV 1268 Implode 441 66% 01-24-90 10:23 4e8eb9cb --w HPDESK8.DRV 1140 Implode 437 62% 01-24-90 10:24 ba87d8fe --w HPPAINT1.DRV 1139 Implode 440 62% 01-24-90 10:24 422df89d --w HPPAINT2.DRV 1106 Implode 432 61% 01-24-90 10:23 e9eaab3d --w HPQUIET1.DRV 1264 Implode 431 66% 01-24-90 10:23 087b2bb7 --w HPQUIET2.DRV 1110 Implode 430 62% 01-24-90 10:24 19d81125 --w HPQUIET3.DRV 1268 Implode 431 67% 01-24-90 10:24 2dc96b6f --w HPQUIET4.DRV 1217 Implode 590 52% 01-24-90 10:25 244abcbf --w JDL750.DRV 1221 Implode 595 52% 01-24-90 10:25 c9612a15 --w JDL850.DRV 1235 Implode 608 51% 01-24-90 10:26 0bb263ef --w LQ1000.DRV 1295 Implode 665 49% 01-24-90 10:26 3313b52c --w NEC8023.DRV 1276 Implode 630 51% 01-24-90 10:27 304ab2dc --w NECPR201.DRV 1446 Implode 776 47% 01-24-90 10:27 b3114c90 --w OKI192.DRV 1408 Implode 741 48% 01-24-90 10:28 13516f7d --w OKI2410.DRV 1408 Implode 739 48% 01-24-90 10:27 58b999b0 --w OKI92.DRV 19466 Implode 9994 49% 04-17-90 03:23 24fe3cd9 --w PLT2IGES.EXE 4322 Implode 1815 59% 01-24-90 10:41 c6859665 --w PSCRIPT2.DRV 1262 Implode 654 49% 01-24-90 10:28 58d96149 --w STAR10.DRV 1258 Implode 647 49% 01-24-90 10:29 973ba258 --w TALLY80.DRV 1255 Implode 645 49% 01-24-90 10:29 b30a1de5 --w TI850.DRV 1272 Implode 630 51% 05-01-90 16:39 d90bdc42 --w TOSHIBA.DRV 1446 Implode 402 73% 01-24-90 10:30 bb7e4756 --w VERSATEC.DRV 4006 Implode 1721 58% 01-24-90 10:42 70c445d7 --w WG.DRV 14225 Implode 8471 41% 05-05-89 16:09 47e582ac --w WYSE700A.DRV 14225 Implode 8477 41% 05-05-89 16:09 c5029ff8 --w WYSE700B.DRV 15473 Implode 9028 42% 05-05-89 16:09 5de60a5a --w WYSE700C.DRV ------ ------ --- -------

Don't remember that.. but do remember that some CRT monitors would die if fed the wrong horiz/vert frequencies (which some cards were quite capable of producing).

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

See my post as regards using Gendrive to create your own color tables _on_the_driver_for_your_card_. ...Jim Thompson

Unable to change it through menus. There may be a way to hack the driver, but I doubt it.

My Tango PCB works perfectly with DOSBox, and the VESA1280 driver.

I attribute this to my video card maker, EVGA.

In the days of memory arrays that stored frames within 1024kB of space, sure.

Nowadays, full VESA compliance might be nebulous with some of the gamer card makers. Forget TIGA compliance.

Anyway, Gendrive.exe did not have any range of function to speak of, and certainly did not allow tweaking of registers, and color table translations.

I will post the driver I have had the most success with in trying to get it at 800x600, which is about all we could ever hope for. It is SDT

That's going to do a lot of good for cards without "provided drivers" to "pull in from".

Bwuahahahahaha.

You cannot even get logic right when you are guessing at it.

The applet is for generating a driver when there is NO provided driver in place. DOH!

Joerg has a *phutish* ;-)

Here's the skinny just as I remembered...

Yes, that's how it's done. I never killed a graphics card with it but in the old days it was possible with some of them to drive them into a bus contention situation. Then it would sit there and some chip would become toasty, hot, hotter, really hot ...

But the manual says so ... :-)