HELP! It has been a looonnnggg time since I was in the DOS environment - can't believe I actually wrote some files many, many years ago. Anyway, I have two computers. I use one (Windows XP) as my normal everyday computer for internet, etc. The other is simply a DOS COMPUTER that has WORDPERFECT 5.1 (I think) on it. This is my company computer. I do medical transcription.

I have asked the tech guys to PLEASE, PLEASE go into the MAINMENU (I think) in DOS and change the screen and text colors (and size). I have problems with my eyes after cataract surgery, etc. The big bright blue screen with white letters is really not working well for me.

I told the tech guys that I KNOW there is a simple way to change the background and text colors - they won't budge to help and claim that they have no idea how to do it! Yes, someone wrote the company's "program" with a nice menu and stuff, so SOMEONE knows DOS pretty well.

Now, the DOS screen itself is not where I have a problem. Once I choose something from their menu (in the DOS environment), it brings me into the WordPerfect program (older verision there as well). The screen is still BIG (takes up my entire 24" monitor) and is huge. I hate it.

If someone could please tell me how to change all this, I would appreciate it. I have found out how to go into Wordperfect and change the background and text color while typing, but once I am done and send my files and come BACK into the program, I have to change it again. So it is not defaulting to my chosen colors.

Is there a way I can permanently change all this and also have the font be somewhat smaller on the screen - more "closed in" looking - much more like what you see on windows now?

Please advise if you know how to do this. You may email me because I really don't remember how I EVEN found this forum! I may not be able to find it again!

I would like to have detailed instructions so that once I am able to do this and have it work, I can pass it along to those who work in the DOS environment at my company every day and are clueless on how to do it.

Thank you!

Patricia

E-Mail Removed to prevent SpamPlease, remove your email address from your post, or all junk mail will be on its way.Patricia
Its many years since I used Wordperfect (but I still occaisionally use the Wordperfect Office Editor)

I cannot remember if I ever got the colours to stay in place -- but if they dont, my option would be to hack around it ..

Create a macro that sets the colours to those you like and then on your command line, tell it to run the macro on startup (I dont know how to do this, the manual will tell you).

Hope this helps
GrahamHello - thank you for your help but I have no idea how to do a macro. Unfortunately I do NOT have the Wordperfect "book" - my employer has it and they are in Chicago while I am in Atlanta. No one really SEEMS too keen on helping me there since they do not see it as a big deal I guess.

I do see what you are saying, but I just do not know how to do it.

I'm not sure they would want me to edit "their" program, so to speak.....guess I'm out of luck.

In DOS - don't you go to autoexecbat or something like that and go to MAINMENU (in DOS)? I know there is a LINE in MAINMENU somewhere where the text and background colors reside - I would like to change it THERE so this cannot be that difficult I wouldn't think.

If I am at the C PROMPT, how do I get to the "line" that has set the colors for text and background?

Thanks

PatriciaMainmenu is a menu program set up for you .. there is probably a line that starts wordperfect there.

Macros are pretty easy to do ... Im pretty sure they are the same keystrokes as for the Office Editor.

In wordperfect, do control-F10 to start recording the macro; you are askedt to 'define macro' - this means which key do you want to assign it to, Alt-C (for colour) would be sensible
now key in what you would normally do to change the colours, then press control-F10 again to save the macro.

Now WHENEVER you press Alt-C, you colours will be set up.

An internet search came up with the following info
Where the line in your menu starts up wordperfect, add this /M-macroname
so the line might look something like
c:\wordperfect\wp51.exe /M-Alt-C

Give it a whirl and see how it goes

Graham