MODE(DOS) UNIX System V MODE(DOS)
Name
mode - sets operation modes for devices
Syntax
Parallel printer mode:
mode LPTn[:][chars][,[lines][,P]]
Asynchronous communications mode:
mode COMm[:] baud [,parity [,databits [,stopbits [,P]]]]
Redirecting parallel printer output:
mode -LPTn[:]=COMm[:]
Display modes:
mode display
mode [display],shift[,T]
Description
For parallel printer mode:
n Specifies the printer number: 1, 2, or 3.
chars Specifies characters per line: 80 or 132.
lines Specifies vertical spacing, lines per inch: 6 or 8.
P Specifies that mode tries continuously to send output
to the printer if a time-out error occurs.
This option causes part of mode to remain resident in
memory.
The default settings are LPT1, 80 characters per line, and 6
lines per inch.
You can break out of a time-out loop by pressing
<CTL><Break>.
For asynchronous communications modes:
m Specifies the asynchronous communications (COM) port
number: 1 or 2.
baud Specifies the transmission rate: 110, 150, 300, 600,
1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600. You need to specify at
least the first two digits of each number.
parity Specifies the parity: N (none), O (odd), or E
(even).
databits
Specifies the number of databits: 7 or 8.
stopbits
Specifies the number of stop bits: 1 or 2.
P Specifies that mode is using the COM port for a
serial printer and continuously retrying if time-out
errors occur.
This option causes part of mode to remain resident
in memory.
The default settings are COM1, even parity, and 7 databits.
If baud is 110, then the default number of stop bits is 2;
otherwise, the default is 1 stop bit.
For redirecting parallel printer output (to an asynchronous
communications port):
n Specifies the parallel printer port number: 1, 2, or
3.
m Specifies the asynchronous communications port
number: 1 or 2.
Redirection causes part of the mode program to remain
resident in memory.
You must use mode to specify the asynchronous communications
mode before you can redirect parallel printer output to it.
For setting display modes:
display Specifies one of the following values: 40, 80, BW40,
BW80, CO40, CO80, or MONO.
40 indicates 40 characters per line.
80 indicates 80 characters per line.
BW and CO refer to a color graphics monitor adapter
with color disabled (BW) or enabled (CO).
MONO specifies a monochrome display adapter with a
constant display width of 80 characters per line.
shift Specifies the direction that you want to shift the
display: R (right) or L (left).
This option causes part of mode to remain resident
in memory.
T Specifies a test pattern for aligning the display.
If you specify T, mode asks if the screen is aligned
properly. If you type n, mode repeats the shift and
asks if the screen is aligned properly. The command
ends when you type y.
Examples
If you want your computer to send its printer output to a
serial printer, you need to use mode twice. The first mode
command specifies the asynchronous communications modes, and
the second mode command redirects the computer's parallel
printer output to the asynchronous communications port
specified in the first mode command.
For example, if your serial printer operates at 4800 baud
with even parity, and if it is connected to the COM1 port
(the first serial connection on your computer), you would
enter the following:
mode com1:48,e,,,p
mode lpt1:=com1:
If you redirect parallel printer output from LPT1 to COM1,
and then decide that you want to print a file using LPT1,
you can simply enter the following command:
mode lpt1:
This disables any redirection of LPT1.
Suppose you want your computer to print on a parallel
printer that is connected to your computer's second parallel
printer port (LPT2). If you want to print with 80
characters per line and 8 characters per inch, you would
enter one of the following commands:
mode lpt2: 80,8
or
mode lpt2:,8
If you want your computer to keep trying to print a file
until your printer is ready to print it, enter this next
command:
mode lpt2:80,8,P
To stop retrying to print, you can press <CTL><Break> or
enter mode without the P option.
Notes
If you print files every time you start MS-DOS, you may want
to include mode commands in your autoexec.bat file. See
Chapter 4, ``Batch Processing,'' for more information on the
autoexec.bat file.
mode is an external command.
MODE(DOS) (printed 8/16/89) MODE(DOS)