_outtext() Function May Fail in Super VGA Graphics Modes

 Last reviewed: July 17, 1997
Article ID: Q102164
7.00 | 1.00 MS-DOS | WINDOWS kbprg

The information in this article applies to:

  • The C Run-time (CRT) included with: 

        - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
    - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, version 1.0.

SYMPTOMS

On certain Super VGA cards that support the VESA standard, the _outtext() function may fail to generate any output in Super VGA (SVGA) mode.

CAUSE

Many video card vendors chose not to implement text BIOS support in SVGA modes because they are graphics modes and not text modes. Additional ROM space would be required to provide text BIOS support in the SVGA modes.

RESOLUTION

Use the _registerfonts() and _setfont() functions to create a font and display the text with the _outgtext function.

Some vendors set a flag to indicate that text BIOS support is not available in SVGA modes. If this flag is available and set, the _setvideomode() function returns the _GRTEXTNOTSUPPORTED value. However, because different hardware vendors use this flag inconsistently, you should not rely on it.

Additional reference words: kbinf 1.00 7.00 graphics.lib
KBCategory: kbprg
KBSubcategory: CRTIss
Keywords : kb16bitonly

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Last reviewed: July 17, 1997
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