DOCUMENT:Q101875 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :How to Enable ANSI.SYS in a Command Window PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbinterop ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= ANSI.SYS can be loaded and used from the command prompt, with the restriction that it can run only in the context of the MS-DOS subsystem. Windows NT does not support ANSI escape sequences in Win32 Console applications. To load ANSI.SYS, add "device=c:\winnt\system32\ansi.sys" to the CONFIG.NT file in the Windows NT SYSTEM32 directory. MORE INFORMATION ================ Once ANSI.SYS is loaded, you can use any MS-DOS-based program that makes use of this driver. However, if you want to use ANSI.SYS to change the look of the command prompt, you may have to perform some additional steps. For example, to highlight the prompt in MS-DOS command prompt, you must add "dosonly" to your CONFIG.NT file, and run COMMAND (not CMD) from MS-DOS Command Prompt. You can then run a batch file that includes the PROMPT command with ANSI escape sequences to highlight the prompt. NOTE: While this gives the command prompt the same appearance as an MS-DOS prompt, you are now in a DOS-based command prompt, and you can no longer start non-DOS programs from the command line. ANSI.SYS, being an MS-DOS-based device driver, can be used only in the context of the MS-DOS subsystem. VT52.SYS may be used in the same manner as ANSI.SYS, with the same restrictions. Additional query words: prodnt ====================================================================== Keywords : kbinterop Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search Version : winnt:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.