INT 10H 1103H: Activate Font Block
Compatibility: EGA VGA
Expects: AX 1101H
BL font block selector code (see below)
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Returns: (none)
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Info: This fn lets you activate any of the EGAs four font blocks or any
of the VGAs 8 font blocks.
It also makes it possible to create a 512-element character set.
Use it to identify which (previously-loaded) font block is to be
displayed when bit 3 of the Video Attribute is clear and which to
be displayed when bit 3 of the attribute is set.
Attribute bit 3 normally selects the intensity of the foreground
color. After using this fn, you will have only 8 possible
foreground colors, but you can display up to 512 characters
simultaneously (for instance, you can display italic characters
along with upright characters).
BL is a set of bit-fields which identify which font block to use
when video attribute bit 3 is 1 or 0.
EGAFontBlockRec (for EGAs)
╓7┬6┬5┬4┬3┬2┬1┬0╖
║0 0 0 0│cs1│cs0║
╙─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─╜ bits mask
╚╦╝ ╚═╩═► 0-1: 03H (0-3) font when attr bit 3=0
╚══════► 2-3: 0cH (0-3) font when attr bit 3=1
VGAFontBlockRec (for VGAs)
╓7┬6┬5┬4┬3┬2┬1┬0╖
║0 0│a│b│cs1│cs0║
╙─┴─┴╥┴┬┴╥┴╥┴┬┴┬╜ bits mask
║ └─║-║─┴─┴─► 0,1,4: 13H (0-7) font when attr bit 3=0
╚═══╩═╩═════► 2,3,5: 2cH (0-7) font when attr bit 3=1
In the VGA version, bits 4 and 5 are used in an upwardly-
compatible way to extend the possible selections to 8.
When both selections are the same (for instance, BL=00H selects
both characters sets to be font block 0), then BIOS disables the
512-character set handling and enables normal use of the video
attribute.
For instance, to enable font block 2 only, use BL=82H. You would
first need to prepare the font block via INT 10H 1101H (or 1102H
or 1104H).
Notes: When using a 512-character set, you need not give up high-
intensity characters. Just use INT 10H 10H functions to program
the color palette.
See Also: INT 10H 11H: EGA/VGA Character Generator Functions
INT 10H: Video Services
EGA/VGA Data Areas
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