DIY MS-DOS loading screen \ VOGONS

DIY MS-DOS loading screen

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First post, by songoffall

Posted on 2023-04-30, 08:46

songoffall Offline

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Back in 90s, when I was a kid with a 486, some of my early programming experiences came from making DIY tools to customize my MSDOS experience. The code wasn't the nicest, but it got the job done.

Now that my MS-DOS programming skills are a bit rusty, and I'm in the process of restoring a DOS PC, I knew beforehand I was going to run either MS DOS command prompt, Norton Commander or Windows 3.11, and I'd rather have a way to choose one on boot.

Pretty sure there are proper loaders out there, but I'm in this for the adventure, and some of you might find the techniques used useful. It's in Borland C, and uses Borland-specific libraries, like conio.h, and I used Borland C++ 4.5 - I think I used an older version back in the day, because this one doesn't seem to have a DOS editor.

I'm not using Borland's GUI tools, because for something as simple as this, that's too much hassle. This is very much work in progress done in a couple of hours, so pretty sure it will change later, like using a cfg file to generate the menu to be customizable, etc.

First, here's the full code, it's public domain.

1//Simple MS DOS Startup Manager
2//Allows you to choose between three options:
3//MS DOS Prompt, Norton Commander and Windows
4#include <stdio.h>
5#include <conio.h>
6#include <stdlib.h>
7#include <process.h>
8#include <dos.h>
9#include <string.h>
10
11typedef  int  Boolean;					//Support for booleans in Borland C++
12const     Boolean TRUE = 1;
13const     Boolean FALSE = 0;
14
15int SCREENMODE;
16//Screen modes:
17//1 - BW40	- Black and white, 40 columns
18//2 - C40 	- Color, 40 columns
19//3 - BW80	- Black and white, 80 columns
20//4 - C80	- Color, 80 columns
21//5 - MONO	- Monochrome, 80 columns
22//Only C80 is fully implemented and tested at this point in time
23
24//Color pallette and the number of screen columns, the number of lines is assumed to be 25
25int ScreenBG;
26int ScreenFiller;
27int WindowBG;
28int WindowShadow;
29int WindowBorder;
30int WindowText;
31int ButtonBG;
32int ButtonText;
33int Columns;
34
35//Global cursor location
36int CursorX;
37int CursorY;
38
39//Cursor routine written by Gary Chambers
40static void cursor (int state);
41
42void screeninit (void);							//Initializes the screen
43void screenreset (void);						//Resets the screen for use in DOS
44void drawwindow (void);							//Draws the window
45void drawbuttons (int selection);				//Draws and updates the selection buttons
46
47int main(int argc, char* argv[])
48{
49	int selection=0;
50	char input=0;
51	Boolean proceed=TRUE;
52
53	SCREENMODE=4;								//Default screen mode: 80x25 color
54	if (!strcmp (argv[1], "help")){
55		printf ("MS-DOS Loading Screen 1.0 by Bayandur Poghosyan.\n\n");
56		printf ("Usage: dolor [SCREENMODE]\n");
57		printf ("Supported screen modes:\n");
58		printf ("BW40 - Black and white, 40 columns\n");
59		printf ("C40  - Color, 40 columns\n");
60		printf ("BW80 - Black and white, 80 columns\n");

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61		printf ("C80  - Color, 80 columns	*DEFAULT SETTING*\n");
62		printf ("MONO - Monochrome, 80 columns");
63		printf ("\n");
64		printf ("Example: dolor BW80 - Launches the program in black and white, 80 columns mode.");
65		proceed=FALSE;
66	} else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "BW40")){
67		SCREENMODE=1;
68	} else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "C40")){
69		SCREENMODE=2;
70	} else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "BW80")){
71		SCREENMODE=3;
72	} else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "C80")){
73		SCREENMODE=4;
74	} else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "MONO")){
75		SCREENMODE=5;
76	}
77	if (proceed){
78		screeninit();
79		drawwindow();
80		while (input!=13){
81			drawbuttons (selection);
82			switch (getch()){
83				case 13:
84					input=13;
85					break;
86				case 'H':
87					if (selection>0){
88						selection--;
89					} else if (selection==0){
90						selection=2;
91					}
92					break;
93				case 'P':
94					if (selection<2){
95						selection++;
96					} else {
97						selection=0;
98					}
99					break;
100			}
101		}
102		screenreset ();
103		switch (selection){
104			case 1: system("nc");
105			case 2: system("win");
106		}
107	}
108	return 0;
109}
110
111
112//Hide or unhide cursor
113static void cursor (int state)
114{
115	union REGS regs;
116	static int oldstart=0, oldstop=0, hidden=0;
117
118	if (state && hidden){					//Restores cursor
119		regs.h.ah=0x01;						//BIOS set cursor
120		regs.h.ch=oldstart;					//Retrieve starting scan line
121		regs.h.cl=oldstop;					//Retrieve ending scan line
122		int86(0x10, &regs, &regs);			//Call BIOS
123		hidden=0;							//Not hidden
124	} else if (!hidden){					//Removes cursor
125		regs.h.ah=0x03;						//BIOS Get Cursor Position
126		int86(0x10, &regs, &regs);			//Call BIOS
127		oldstart=regs.h.ch;					//Save starting scan line
128		oldstop=regs.h.cl;					//Save ending scan line
129		regs.h.ah=0x01;						//BIOS Set Cursor Type
130		regs.h.ch=0x20;						//Set bit 5 in CH
131		int86(0x10, &regs, &regs);			//Call BIOS
132		hidden=1;							//Cursor is hidden now
133	}
134}
135
136void screeninit(void)
137{
138	int i,j;
139	if(SCREENMODE==1){
140		textmode(BW40);
141		Columns=40;
142		ScreenBG=BLACK;
143		ScreenFiller=WHITE;
144		WindowBG=WHITE;
145		WindowShadow=BLACK;
146		WindowBorder=BLACK;
147		WindowText=BLACK;
148		ButtonBG=BLACK;
149		ButtonText=WHITE;
150	}else if(SCREENMODE==2){
151		textmode(C40);
152		Columns=40;
153		ScreenBG=LIGHTGRAY;
154		ScreenFiller=BLUE;
155		WindowBG=LIGHTGRAY;
156		WindowShadow=BLACK;
157		WindowBorder=WHITE;
158		WindowText=WHITE;
159		ButtonBG=CYAN;
160		ButtonText=WHITE;
161	}else if(SCREENMODE==3){
162		textmode(BW80);
163		Columns=80;
164		ScreenBG=BLACK;
165		ScreenFiller=WHITE;
166		WindowBG=WHITE;
167		WindowShadow=BLACK;
168		WindowBorder=BLACK;
169		WindowText=BLACK;
170		ButtonBG=BLACK;
171		ButtonText=WHITE;
172	}else if(SCREENMODE==4){
173		textmode(C80);
174		Columns=80;
175		ScreenBG=LIGHTGRAY;
176		ScreenFiller=BLUE;
177		WindowBG=LIGHTGRAY;
178		WindowShadow=BLACK;
179		WindowBorder=WHITE;
180		WindowText=WHITE;
181		ButtonBG=CYAN;
182		ButtonText=WHITE;
183	}else if(SCREENMODE==5){
184		textmode(MONO);
185		Columns=80;
186		ScreenBG=LIGHTGRAY;
187		ScreenFiller=BLACK;
188		WindowBG=LIGHTGRAY;
189		WindowShadow=BLACK;
190		WindowBorder=WHITE;
191		WindowText=WHITE;
192		ButtonBG=BLACK;
193		ButtonText=WHITE;
194	}
195	cursor(0);
196	textbackground(ScreenBG);
197	clrscr();
198	gotoxy(1,2);
199	textcolor(ScreenFiller);
200	for(i=1; i<24; i++){
201		for(j=0; j<Columns; j++){
202			cprintf("%c", 177);
203		}
204	}
205}
206
207void screenreset(void)
208{
209	cursor(1);
210	textbackground(BLACK);
211	textcolor(WHITE);
212	clrscr();
213}
214
215void drawwindow(void)
216{
217	int x, y;
218	int i, j;
219	x=(Columns-32)/2;
220	y=10;
221	gotoxy(x, y);
222	textcolor(WindowBorder);
223	textbackground(WindowBG);
224	cprintf(" %c", 201);
225	for(j=0; j<28; j++){
226		cprintf("%c", 205);
227	}
228	cprintf("%c ", 187);
229	gotoxy(x+6, y);
230	cprintf(" MS-DOS Startup Menu ");
231	y++;
232	for(i=0; i<3; i++){
233		gotoxy(x, y);
234		textbackground(WindowBG);
235		cprintf(" %c", 186);
236		for(j=0; j<28; j++){
237			cprintf(" ", 205);
238		}
239		cprintf("%c ", 186);
240		textbackground(WindowShadow);
241		cprintf("  ");
242		y++;
243	}
244	gotoxy(x, y);
245	textbackground(WindowBG);
246	cprintf(" %c", 200);
247	for(j=0; j<28; j++){
248		cprintf("%c", 205);
249	}
250	cprintf("%c ", 188);
251	textbackground(WindowShadow);
252	cprintf("  ");
253	y++;
254	x++;
255	gotoxy(x, y);
256	for(j=0; j<33; j++){
257		cprintf(" ");
258	}
259}
260
261void drawbuttons (int selection)
262{
263	int x, y;
264	x=(Columns-26)/2;
265	y=11;
266	gotoxy(x, y);
267	if(selection==0){
268		textbackground(ButtonBG);
269		textcolor(ButtonText);
270	}else{
271		textbackground(WindowBG);
272		textcolor(WindowText);
273	}
274	cprintf("  MS-DOS Command Prompt   ");
275	y++;
276	gotoxy(x, y);
277	if(selection==1){
278		textbackground(ButtonBG);
279		textcolor(ButtonText);
280	}else{
281		textbackground(WindowBG);
282		textcolor(WindowText);
283	}
284	cprintf("  Norton Commander        ");
285	y++;
286	gotoxy(x, y);
287	if(selection==2){
288		textbackground(ButtonBG);
289		textcolor(ButtonText);
290	}else{
291		textbackground(WindowBG);
292		textcolor(WindowText);
293	}
294	cprintf("  Windows 3.11            ");
295}

This is the most dodgy part that will definitely change, because I'm not even sure it will work on other computers:

1			switch (getch()){
2				case 13:
3					input=13;
4					break;
5				case 'H':
6					if (selection>0){
7						selection--;
8					} else if (selection==0){
9						selection=2;
10					}
11					break;
12				case 'P':
13					if (selection<2){
14						selection++;
15					} else {
16						selection=0;
17					}
18					break;
19			}
20		}

As you can see, I'm getting the H and P keys for up and down, because the up and down keys work differently and don't return normal ASCII characters. But they do return H and P on my computer, so this solution works. I just don't like it. I could capture the keys, using the console input cache, but that would create problems with other keys, like the enter key.

So I'll have to sleep on it for a while.

If you need a specific part of the code explained, I'd be happy to oblige. I choose not to share the executable itself, for security reasons.

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Reply 1 of 8, by HanSolo

Posted on 2023-04-30, 10:41

HanSolo Offline

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songoffall wrote on 2023-04-30, 08:46:

As you can see, I'm getting the H and P keys for up and down, because the up and down keys work differently and don't return normal ASCII characters

getch() returns more than one byte on cursor keys. I just don't remember what the first returned value is (in Pascal it was 0). If you get that one you have to call getch() again to get the second value.

Reply 2 of 8, by debs3759

Posted on 2023-04-30, 11:35

debs3759 Offline

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Wouldn't it be easier to just use the built in menu options in config.sys and autoexec.bat? I'd have to look up how to do it if nobody else steps in, as my DOS coding is pretty rusty 😀 Not even sure where my DOS reference books are since moving home, everything is boxed up until I get carpets fitted.

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Reply 3 of 8, by amadeus777999

Posted on 2023-04-30, 17:07

amadeus777999 Offline

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Maybe
'typedef enum { false, true } Boolean;'
would be a bit more elegant.

Is the 'getch()' in BC++ similar to the usual 'getchar()' or similar to the one which could also be found in old Visual C?

Reply 4 of 8, by songoffall

Posted on 2023-04-30, 18:31

songoffall Offline

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Location: Yerevan, Armenia

amadeus777999 wrote on 2023-04-30, 17:07:

Maybe
'typedef enum { false, true } Boolean;'
would be a bit more elegant.

Yeah, but I don't think it would work in Borland C++. I vaguely remember trying a few more elegant options and then settling on whatever works.

amadeus777999 wrote on 2023-04-30, 17:07:

Is the 'getch()' in BC++ similar to the usual 'getchar()' or similar to the one which could also be found in old Visual C?

getch() reads keypresses, getchar() reads from stdin. It's an old method I knew would work with DOS. If I were writing C++ for a more modern system, I'd go with std::cin.get().

Reply 5 of 8, by songoffall

Posted on 2023-04-30, 18:37

songoffall Offline

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debs3759 wrote on 2023-04-30, 11:35:

Wouldn't it be easier to just use the built in menu options in config.sys and autoexec.bat? I'd have to look up how to do it if nobody else steps in, as my DOS coding is pretty rusty 😀 Not even sure where my DOS reference books are since moving home, everything is boxed up until I get carpets fitted.

Maybe. But it wouldn't be as much fun, would it.

Btw, in config.sys, it would be

1[MENU]
2MENUITEM=COMMAND, MS DOS Command Líne
3MENUITEM=NC, Norton Commander
4MENUITEM=WIN, Windows

I was more interested in, say, talking to the bios and hiding the cursor, doing a good old ASCII UI which won me some awards at the university back in the day, or getting the UI to work with TFEL displays properly. It's not a practical thing, just something a kid might do, and I'm pretty sure I did a couple of these back then 😀) kinda reliving the glory days.

Reply 6 of 8, by songoffall

Posted on 2023-04-30, 18:38

songoffall Offline

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HanSolo wrote on 2023-04-30, 10:41:

songoffall wrote on 2023-04-30, 08:46:

As you can see, I'm getting the H and P keys for up and down, because the up and down keys work differently and don't return normal ASCII characters

getch() returns more than one byte on cursor keys. I just don't remember what the first returned value is (in Pascal it was 0). If you get that one you have to call getch() again to get the second value.

That makes sense. I'll give it a try.

Reply 7 of 8, by HanSolo

Posted on 2023-04-30, 19:37

HanSolo Offline

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songoffall wrote on 2023-04-30, 18:37:

debs3759 wrote on 2023-04-30, 11:35:

Wouldn't it be easier to just use the built in menu options in config.sys and autoexec.bat? I'd have to look up how to do it if nobody else steps in, as my DOS coding is pretty rusty 😀 Not even sure where my DOS reference books are since moving home, everything is boxed up until I get carpets fitted.

Maybe. But it wouldn't be as much fun, would it.

That I can relate to 😀 I wrote a similar boot-menu before DOS had it built-in (which came with 6.0 if I'm not mistaken)

Reply 8 of 8, by songoffall

Posted on 2023-04-30, 21:57

songoffall Offline

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HanSolo wrote on 2023-04-30, 19:37:

songoffall wrote on 2023-04-30, 18:37:

debs3759 wrote on 2023-04-30, 11:35:

Wouldn't it be easier to just use the built in menu options in config.sys and autoexec.bat? I'd have to look up how to do it if nobody else steps in, as my DOS coding is pretty rusty 😀 Not even sure where my DOS reference books are since moving home, everything is boxed up until I get carpets fitted.

Maybe. But it wouldn't be as much fun, would it.

That I can relate to 😀 I wrote a similar boot-menu before DOS had it built-in (which came with 6.0 if I'm not mistaken)

Cheers, mate 😀) and one of the reasons I would make one of these back in the day was to write my name on the boot screen in ASCII art 😁

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