Using PROCON's in Codepage Information Files

What is a Codepage Information (CPI) File?

All versions of MS-DOS and Windows (from DOS 3.3 on), allow you to customise the keyboard mapping - and full screen font characters - to suit different languages. The font and keyboard information is contained in Codepage Information (CPI) Files.

MS-DOS and Windows 3.x/9x/Me do not require a CPI file to create full screen modes. (If a CPI file is not used they default to using the "hardware" fonts in the video card's ROM BIOS - as the PC does when it first boots.)

Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista does not have this hardware dependence (except when  booting and running MS-DOS programs like COMMAND.COM under its DOS Virtual Machine). Windows cannot then create a full screen Console unless it has been able to load a CPI file when booting. (If you use a "Spy" utility to list the open file "handles" it will normally include a file like:-   C:\WINNT\System32\EGA.CPI.)

As these CPI files contain embedded representations of the character glyphs, the easiest way to replace the default VGA font is by using a different CPI file.

CPI Files Containing the HVFont

The HVFont CPI File package contains the necessary files and information to install a Codepage Information (CPI) File that uses PROCON's Hi-Visibility HVFont.

(Our HVDOSBox.FON is designed to be used in "Windowed" terminal modes.)

Using a different CPI file - MS-DOS and Windows 3.x/95/98/Me

MS-DOS CPI files may be in any directory. Windows normally places them in the COMMAND subdirectory. To load a different CPI file:-

	First obtain a list of any existing CPI files on your system. Open an MS-DOS window and type:-    DIR %windir%\COMMAND\*.CPI Take a note of the value of %windir% (it is probably C:\WIN or C:\WINDOWS).
	Copy the new CPI file (e.g, HVEGAE.CPI) to this directory. For example, type:-    COPY HVEGAE.CPI C:\WIN\COMMAND
	Use a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad) to add some lines to your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to ensure that the new CPI file is loaded at boot time. Using the correct Windows directory - and the new CPI filename - edit C:\CONFIG.SYS to add - or modify - these lines:-

Similarly edit C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and add - or modify - these lines:-

Reboot into Windows.

	Open a console window and type:-    DIR %SystemRoot%\System32\*.CPI to obtain a list of CPI files on your system. There should be at least one - normally EGA.CPI . Note the value of %SystemRoot%  (probably C:\WINNT or C:\WINDOWS ). If only one CPI file exists - and you are using only English language settings - you can replace the Windows EGA.CPI file.
	Copy the new CPI file into the SYSTEM32 directory. Type:-    COPY HVEGAE.CPI \WINNT\SYSTEM32
	Save a copy of the existing file (most important!). Type:-    CD \WINNT\SYSTEM32    COPY EGA.CPI EGA.CP_
	Set the file "Read Only " in case you attempt to overwrite it:-    ATTRIB +R EGA.CP_
	To ensure the copy has been successful, list both files with:-    DIR EGA.*
	Windows won't allow the EGA.CPI file to be replaced directly as it is open and locked - precluding its replacement while Windows is running. To get access to the file you must either:-

Once the file has been replaced, reboot into Windows.

The HVFont CPI File package contains:-

Click here to download an Evaluation version of the HVFont Full Screen package. The HVFont CPI File package is part of this package.)

Click here to purchase a licence for any of the HVFont packages.

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Last modified: 26 April 2007
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