ANSICON
Copyright 2005-2013 Jason Hood
Version 1.66. Freeware
Description
===========
ANSICON provides ANSI escape sequences for Windows console programs. It
provides much the same functionality as 'ANSI.SYS' does for MS-DOS.
Requirements
============
32-bit: Windows 2000 Professional and later (it won't work with NT or 9X).
64-bit: Vista and later (it won't work with XP64).
Installation
============
Add "x86" (if your OS is 32-bit) or "x64" (if 64-bit) to your PATH, or copy
the relevant files to a directory already on the PATH. Alternatively, use
option '-i' (or '-I', if permitted) to install it permanently, by adding an
entry to CMD.EXE's AutoRun registry value (current user or local machine,
respectively).
Uninstall simply involves closing any programs that are currently using it;
running with '-u' (and/or '-U') to remove it from AutoRun; removing the
directory from PATH; and deleting the files. No other changes are made
(although you may have also created environment variables).
Upgrading
---------
Delete ANSI.dll, it has been replaced with ANSI32.dll.
Delete ANSI-LLA.exe and ANSI-LLW.exe, they are no longer used.
Uninstall a pre-1.50 version and reinstall with this version.
Usage
=====
Options (case sensitive):
-l Log to "%TEMP%\ansicon.log".
-p Enable the parent process (i.e. the command shell used to run
ANSICON) to recognise escapes.
-m Set the current (and default) attribute to grey on black
("monochrome"), or the attribute following the 'm' (please
use 'COLOR /?' for attribute values).
-e Echo the command line - a space or tab after the 'e' is
ignored, the remainder is displayed verbatim.
-E As above, but no newline is added.
-t Display ("type") each file (or standard input if none or the
name is "-") as though they are a single file.
-T Display "==> FILE NAME <==", a blank line (or an error
message), the file and another blank line.
Running ANSICON with no arguments will start a new instance of the command
processor (the program defined by the 'ComSpec' environment variable, typ-
ically 'CMD.EXE'), or display standard input if it is redirected. Any arg-
ument will be treated as a program and its arguments.
E.g.: 'ansicon -m30 -t file.ans' will display "file.ans" using black on
cyan as the default color.
The attribute may start with '-' to permanently reverse the foreground and
background colors (but not when using '-p'). E.g.: 'ansicon -m-f0 -t
file.log' will use reversed black on white as the default (i.e. white on
black, with foreground sequences changing the background).
If you experience trouble with certain programs, the log may help in find-
ing the cause; it can be found at "%TEMP%\ansicon.log". A number should
follow the 'l':
0 No logging
1 Log process start and end
2 Above, plus log modules used by the process
3 Above, plus log functions that are hooked
4 Log console output (add to any of the above)
8 Append to the existing file (add to any of the above)
16 Log all imported modules (add to any of the above)
The log option will not work with '-p'; set the environment variable
ANSICON_LOG instead. The variable is only read once when a new process is
started; changing it won't affect running processes. If you identify a
module that causes problems, add it to the ANSICON_EXC environment variable
(see ANSICON_API below, but the extension is required).
E.g.: 'ansicon -l5' will start a new command processor, logging every pro-
cess it starts along with their output.
Once installed, the ANSICON environment variable will be created. This
variable is of the form "WxH (wxh)", where 'W' & 'H' are the width and
height of the buffer and 'w' & 'h' are the width and height of the window.
The variable is updated whenever a program reads it directly (i.e. as an
individual request, not as part of the entire environment block). For
example, 'set an' will not update it, but 'echo %ansicon%' will. Also
created is ANSICON_VER, which contains the version without the point (1.50
becomes "150"). This variable does not exist as part of the environment
block ('set an' will not show it).
If installed, GUI programs will not be hooked. Either start the program
directly with 'ansicon', or add it to the ANSICON_GUI variable (see
ANSICON_API below).
Using 'ansicon' after install will always start with the default attrib-
utes, restoring the originals on exit; all other programs will use the cur-
rent attributes. The shift state is always reset for a new process.
The Windows API WriteFile and WriteConsoleA functions will set the number
of characters written, not the number of bytes. When using a multibyte
character set, this results in a smaller number (since multiple bytes are
used to represent a single character). Some programs recognise this as a
reduced write and will inadvertently repeat previous characters. If you
discover such a program, use the ANSICON_API environment variable to record
it and override the API, returning the original byte count. Ruby (prior to
1.9.3) is an example of such a program, so use 'set ANSICON_API=ruby' to
avoid the repitition. The full syntax is:
ANSICON_API=[!]program;program;program...
PROGRAM is the name of the program, with no path and extension. The lead-
ing exclamation inverts the usage, meaning the API will always be over-
ridden, unless the program is in the list. The variable can be made perm-
anent by going to System Properties, selecting the Advanced tab (with Vista
onwards, this can be done by running "SystemPropertiesAdvanced") and click-
ing Environment Variables.
Sequences Recognised
====================
The following escape sequences are recognised.
\e]0;titleBEL Set (xterm) window's title (and icon)
\e[21t Report (xterm) window's title
\e[s Save Cursor
\e[u Restore Cursor
\e[#G CHA Cursor Character Absolute
\e[#E CNL Cursor Next Line
\e[#F CPL Cursor Preceding Line
\e[#D CUB Cursor Left
\e[#B CUD Cursor Down
\e[#C CUF Cursor Right
\e[#;#H CUP Cursor Position
\e[#A CUU Cursor Up
\e[#P DCH Delete Character
\e[?25h DECTCEM DEC Text Cursor Enable Mode (show cursor)
\e[?25l DECTCEM DEC Text Cursor Enable Mode (hide cursor)
\e[#M DL Delete Line
\e[#n DSR Device Status Report
\e[#X ECH Erase Character
\e[#J ED Erase In Page
\e[#K EL Erase In Line
\e[#` HPA Character Position Absolute
\e[#j HPB Character Position Backward
\e[#a HPR Character Position Forward
\e[#;#f HVP Character And Line Position
\e[#@ ICH Insert Character
\e[#L IL Insert Line
SI LS0 Locking-shift Zero (see below)
SO LS1 Locking-shift One
\e[#;#;#m SGR Select Graphic Rendition
\e[#d VPA Line Position Absolute
\e[#k VPB Line Position Backward
\e[#e VPR Line Position Forward
'\e' represents the escape character (ASCII 27); '#' represents a decimal
number (optional, in most cases defaulting to 1); BEL, SO and SI are ASCII
7, 14 and 15. Regarding SGR: bold will set the foreground intensity; blink
and underline will set the background intensity; conceal uses background as
foreground. See "sequences.txt" for a more complete description.
I make a distinction between '\e[m' and '\e[0;...m'. Both will restore the
original foreground/background colors (and so '0' should be the first para-
meter); the former will also restore the original bold and underline attri-
butes, whilst the latter will explicitly reset them. The environment var-
iable ANSICON_DEF can be used to change the default colors (same value as
'-m'; setting the variable does not change the current colors).
Sequences Ignored
=================
The following escape sequences are explicitly ignored.
\e(? Designate G0 character set ('?' is any character).
\e)? Designate G1 character set ('?' is any character).
\e[?... Private sequence
\e[>... Private sequence
The G0 character set is always ASCII; the G1 character set is always the
DEC Special Graphics Character Set.
DEC Special Graphics Character Set
==================================
This is my interpretation of the set, as shown by
http://vt100.net/docs/vt220-rm/table2-4.html.
Char Unicode Code Point & Name
---- -------------------------
_ U+0020 Space (blank)
` U+2666 Black Diamond Suit
a U+2592 Medium Shade
b U+2409 Symbol For Horizontal Tabulation
c U+240C Symbol For Form Feed
d U+240D Symbol For Carriage Return
e U+240A Symbol For Line Feed
f U+00B0 Degree Sign
g U+00B1 Plus-Minus Sign
h U+2424 Symbol For Newline
i U+240B Symbol For Vertical Tabulation
j U+2518 Box Drawings Light Up And Left
k U+2510 Box Drawings Light Down And Left
l U+250C Box Drawings Light Down And Right
m U+2514 Box Drawings Light Up And Right
n U+253C Box Drawings Light Vertical And Horizontal
o U+00AF Macron (SCAN 1)
p U+25AC Black Rectangle (SCAN 3)
q U+2500 Box Drawings Light Horizontal (SCAN 5)
r U+005F Low Line (SCAN 7)
s U+005F Low Line (SCAN 9)
t U+251C Box Drawings Light Vertical And Right
u U+2524 Box Drawings Light Vertical And Left
v U+2534 Box Drawings Light Up And Horizontal
w U+252C Box Drawings Light Down And Horizontal
x U+2502 Box Drawings Light Vertical
y U+2264 Less-Than Or Equal To
z U+2265 Greater-Than Or Equal To
{ U+03C0 Greek Small Letter Pi
| U+2260 Not Equal To
} U+00A3 Pound Sign
~ U+00B7 Middle Dot
G1.txt is a Unicode file to view the glyphs "externally". G1.bat is a
batch file (using 'x86\ansicon') to show the glyphs in the console. The
characters will appear as they should using Lucida (other than the Sym-
bols), but code page will influence them when using a raster font (but of
particular interest, 437 and 850 both show the Box Drawings).
Limitations
===========
The entire console buffer is used, not just the visible window.
There's a conflict with NVIDIA's drivers, requiring the setting of the
Environment Variable:
ANSICON_EXC=nvd3d9wrap.dll;nvd3d9wrapx.dll
Version History
===============
Legend: + added, - bug-fixed, * changed.
1.66 - 20 September, 2013:
- fix 32-bit process trying to detect 64-bit process.
1.65 - 4 September, 2013:
- fix finding 32-bit LoadLibraryW address from 64-bit;
- fix \e[K (was using window, not buffer).
1.64 - 2 August, 2013:
- improved detection of console output.
1.63 - 25 July, 2013:
- don't write the reset sequence (when it's already installed) if output is
redirected.
1.62 - 18 July, 2013:
- indicate if opening HKLM failed;
* removed ANSI-LLW.exe again, properly this time;
* add the architecture (32- or 64-bit) to the log.
1.61 - 14 February, 2013:
* revert back to using ANSI-LLW.exe, as the new method was unreliable.
1.60 - 24 November, 2012:
* new method to get the 32-bit LoadLibraryW address from 64-bit code.
This removes the need for ANSI-LLW.exe, which caused lots of virus
warnings, for some reason.
- set the code page to display some file names properly;
+ expand wildcards for -t (ignoring directories and hidden/binary files).
1.53 - 12 June, 2012:
- fix for multiple simultaneous process creation (e.g. "cl /MP ...").
1.52 - 2 June, 2012:
+ 32-bit processes can inject into 64-bit processes;
+ implemented \e[39m & \e[49m (set default foreground/background color);
+ added \e[#X, \e[#`, \e[#a, \e[#d, \e[#e, \[e#j and \e[#k;
* changed sequence descriptions to those in ECMA-48, ordered by acronym.
1.51 - 24 February, 2012:
- fixed installing into a piped/redirected CMD.EXE;
- fixed 32-bit process trying to identify a 64-bit process;
- ignore version within core API DLL names (now Win8 works);
+ hook _lwrite & _hwrite (now Silverfrost FTN95 v6.20 works).
1.50 - 14 December, 2011:
- -u does not imply -p;
- return the program's exit code;
- -p by itself will not restore original color;
- output error messages to stderr;
* logging is always available, with various levels; include the pid;
* don't automatically hook GUI programs, use 'ansicon' or ANSICON_GUI;
* always place first in AutoRun; don't run if already installed;
+ global reverse video capability;
+ added ANSICON_VER to provide version/install test;
+ added ANSICON_EXC to exclude selected modules;
+ added ANSICON_DEF to explicitly set the default SGM.
1.40 - 1 March, 2011:
- hook GetProcAddress (now PowerShell works);
+ add SO/SI, using the DEC Special Graphics Character Set for G1;
+ add DECTCEM to show/hide the cursor.
1.32 - 22 December, 2010:
- fixed crash due to NULL lpNumberOfBytesWritten/lpNumberOfCharsWritten;
- -p will test the parent process for validity;
* hook into GUI processes;
+ recognise DSR and xterm window title sequences;
- fixed MinGW32 binaries (LLW was wrong).
1.31 - 19 November, 2010:
- fixed multibyte support (no extra junk with UTF-8 files);
* provide workaround for API byte/character differences;
* fixed potential problem if install path uses Unicode.
1.30 - 7 September, 2010:
+ x64 version.
1.25 - 22 July, 2010:
- hook LoadLibraryEx (now CScript works);
- fixed -i when AutoRun existed, but was empty;
+ support for Windows 7;
+ -I (and -U) use HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
1.24 - 7 January, 2010:
- fix -t and -e when ANSICON was already running;
+ read standard input if redirected with no arguments, if -t has no
files, or if the name is "-" (which also serves as a workaround for
programs that don't get hooked, such as CScript).
1.23 - 11 November, 2009:
- restore hooked functions when unloading;
- reverse the "bold" and "underline" settings;
* conceal characters by making foreground color same as background.
1.22 - 5 October, 2009:
- hook LoadLibrary to inject into applications started via association.
1.21 - 23 September, 2009:
+ -i (and -u) option to add (remove) entry to AutoRun value.
1.20 - 21 June, 2009:
* use another injection method;
+ create ANSICON environment variable;
+ -e (and -E) option to echo the command line (without newline);
+ -t (and -T) option to type (display) files (with file name).
1.15 - 17 May, 2009:
- fix output corruption for long (over 8192 characters) ANSI strings.
1.14 - 3 April, 2009:
- fix the test for an empty import section (eg. XCOPY now works).
1.13 - 21 & 27 March, 2009:
* use a new injection method (to work with DEP);
* use Unicode.
1.12 - 9 March, 2009:
- fix processing child programs (generate a relocatable DLL).
1.11 - 28 February, 2009:
- fix processing child programs (only use for console executables).
1.10 - 22 February, 2009:
- fix output corruption (buffer overflow in MyConsoleWriteW);
- recognise current screen attributes as current ANSI atrributes;
- ignore Ctrl+C and Ctrl+Break;
+ process child programs.
1.01 - 12 March, 2006:
* \e[m will restore original color, not set grey on black;
+ -m option to set default (and initial) color;
- restore original color on exit;
- disable escape processing when console has disabled processed output;
+ \e[5m (blink) is the same as \e[4m (underline);
- do not conceal control characters (0 to 31).
1.00 - 23 October, 2005:
+ initial release.
Acknowledgments
===============
Jean-Louis Morel, for his Perl package Win32::Console::ANSI. It provided
the basis of 'ANSI.dll'.
Sergey Oblomov (hoopoepg), for Console Manager. It provided the basis of
'ansicon.exe'.
Anton Bassov's article "Process-wide API spying - an ultimate hack" in "The
Code Project".
Richard Quadling - his persistence in finding bugs has made ANSICON what it
is today.
Dmitry Menshikov, Marko Bozikovic and Philippe Villiers, for their assis-
tance in making the 64-bit version a reality.
Luis Lavena and the Ruby people for additional improvements.
Leigh Hebblethwaite for documentation tweaks.
Vincent Fatica for pointing out \e[K was not right.
Contact
=======
mailto:jadoxa@yahoo.com.au
http://ansicon.adoxa.vze.com/
https://github.com/adoxa/ansicon
Jason Hood
11 Buckle Street
North Rockhampton
Qld 4701
Australia
Distribution
============
The original zipfile can be freely distributed, by any means. However, I
would like to be informed if it is placed on a CD-ROM (other than an arch-
ive compilation; permission is granted, I'd just like to know). Modified
versions may be distributed, provided it is indicated as such in the ver-
sion text and a source diff is made available. In particular, the supplied
binaries are freely redistributable. A formal license (zlib) is available
in LICENSE.txt.
===============================
Jason Hood, 20 September, 2013.