I used to do all of this by hand for my BBS back in the day where you would literally draw, line by line, then entire page. Took hours to draw a screen and do text effects. Was so much fun, even on my 286.
TheDraw initially came out in 1986. There are some other ANSI art drawing programs available today that are compatible with Microsoft Windows and MAC called ACiDDraw, TundraDraw and PabloDraw.
This brings back memories of using thedraw to create screens for bat and turbo pascal apps I was writing. I still have a copy somewhere on my servers 😎👍
I had an Amiga, so I had to do my ANSI art completely manually. Even animations! Eventually there was a clone called La Draw, which was OK but not nearly as good as this tool. One of the few areas where I had PC envy.
I used this back in the DOS days, but I also had another screen designer called Nova Screen from Microhelp. My best friend and I used to debate about which one was better.
Was the ansi driver built into windows or terminals like Telix or Wildcat? I used to draw login screens and such for my own bbs and to include with archives, but I don't remember loading that specific driver. I was the sysop for the Sandbox BBS in Pittsburgh in 94/95.
Not that I know of, sorry. I think the author has gone on to work on other things. But you can still find a copy of the unregistered shareware and continue to use that.
If we do not use a printer, the ansi driver is much to big only for some colors on the text screen and to set the cursor position. Without a driver: @echo off REM Set the cursor position on screen. REM Need three parameter(%1 %2 %3) attached. REM Usage: Cursor.bat page(0-7) column(0-0x4f) row(0-0x18) REM (Page 0 default) echo a cs:100>tmp.deb echo mov bh,%1>>tmp.deb echo mov dh,%2>>tmp.deb echo mov dl,%3>>tmp.deb echo mov ah,2>>tmp.deb echo int 10>>tmp.deb echo ret>>tmp.deb echo.>>tmp.deb echo n cursor.com>>tmp.deb echo rcx>>tmp.deb echo b>>tmp.deb echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb echo q>>tmp.deb debugnul del tmp.deb Cursor.com del Cursor.com @echo off REM Need one parameter(%1) attached. REM Usage: *Color.bat* color REM Example: COLOR.BAT 1b echo acs:100>tmp.deb echo mov ax,b800>>tmp.deb echo mov ds,ax>>tmp.deb echo mov cx,820>>tmp.deb echo xor di,di>>tmp.deb echo mov al,%1>>tmp.deb echo mov [di+1],al>>tmp.deb echo add di,2>>tmp.deb echo dec cx>>tmp.deb echo jnz 010C>>tmp.deb echo ret>>tmp.deb echo.>>tmp.deb echo n Color.com>>tmp.deb echo rcx>>tmp.deb echo 16>>tmp.deb echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb echo q>>tmp.deb debugnul del tmp.deb Color.com del Color.com @echo off REM Need four parameter(%1 %2 %3 %4) attached. REM Usage: ColTex.bat row column color text REM Example: *ColTex.bat* 8 10 1E "Text" echo a cs:100>tmp.deb echo mov ax,B800>>tmp.deb echo mov es,ax>>tmp.deb echo mov si,%1>>tmp.deb echo mov bx,%1>>tmp.deb echo shl si,5>>tmp.deb echo shl bx,7>>tmp.deb echo lea di,[bx+si]>>tmp.deb echo mov bx,%2>>tmp.deb echo add bx,bx>>tmp.deb echo lea di,[di+bx]>>tmp.deb echo mov ah,%3>>tmp.deb echo mov si,130>>tmp.deb echo lodsb>>tmp.deb echo cmp al,FF>>tmp.deb echo jz 0127>>tmp.deb echo stosw>>tmp.deb echo jmp 011F>>tmp.deb echo ret>>tmp.deb echo org 0130>>tmp.deb echo DB "%4",FF>>tmp.deb echo.>>tmp.deb echo n ColTex.com>>tmp.deb echo rcx>>tmp.deb echo 70>>tmp.deb echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb echo q>>tmp.deb debugnul del tmp.deb ColTex.com del ColTex.com
Is there any updated version of this program? Like console Paint, or something, I dont know. I just wanna draw ascii art like this guy, just with a mouse
Look into Mobeus, Pablodraw and Durdraw. They are all quite modern, support the mouse, and are inspired by TheDraw's user interface. REXPaint is another one, though its interface is a bit different.
I recorded a video of a "lightning talk" I did at FOSDEM 2021 about the text colors, and why you only get low intensity background colors. I think you'll like it: th-cam.com/video/NKjY1zQ49ig/w-d-xo.html
BigText.bat "Jumbo Text" @echo off REM Print big letters made with 8*8 ASCII 177 REM with a little help from debug REM Usage: BigText.bat "Jumbo Text" REM Need one parameter(%1) attached. REM max.10 ASCII from border to border REM Using character set ROM-Bios F000:FA6E REM for each pixel set one ASCII to screen REM start in the upper left corner REM Note: Running only in DOS or DOSBOX echo acs:100>tmp.deb echo mov esi,F000>>tmp.deb echo mov eax,FA6E>>tmp.deb echo shl esi,4>>tmp.deb echo add esi,eax>>tmp.deb echo xor eax,eax>>tmp.deb echo mov ax,ds>>tmp.deb echo mov di,B800>>tmp.deb echo mov bx,180>>tmp.deb echo shl eax,4>>tmp.deb echo shl edi,4>>tmp.deb echo sub esi,eax>>tmp.deb echo sub edi,eax>>tmp.deb echo mov ebp,esi>>tmp.deb echo xor eax,eax>>tmp.deb echo mov esi,ebp>>tmp.deb echo mov al,[bx]>>tmp.deb echo cmp al,FF>>tmp.deb echo jz 017A>>tmp.deb echo cmp al,7F>>tmp.deb echo ja 0170>>tmp.deb echo cmp al,20>>tmp.deb echo jb 0170>>tmp.deb echo shl eax,3>>tmp.deb echo add esi,eax>>tmp.deb echo mov dl,8>>tmp.deb echo mov al,[esi]>>tmp.deb echo mov cl,8>>tmp.deb echo rol al,1>>tmp.deb echo test al,1>>tmp.deb echo jz 015B>>tmp.deb echo mov BYTE PTR[edi],B1>>tmp.deb echo add edi,2>>tmp.deb echo dec cl>>tmp.deb echo jnz 0151>>tmp.deb echo inc esi>>tmp.deb echo add edi,90>>tmp.deb echo dec dl>>tmp.deb echo jnz 014C>>tmp.deb echo inc bx>>tmp.deb echo sub edi,4F0>>tmp.deb echo jmp 012F>>tmp.deb echo ret>>tmp.deb echo.>>tmp.deb echo acs:180>>tmp.deb echo DB "%1",FF>>tmp.deb echo.>>tmp.deb echo n BigText.com>>tmp.deb echo rcx>>tmp.deb echo 100>>tmp.deb echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb echo q>>tmp.deb debugnul del tmp.deb BigText.com del BigText.com Running with a little help from Debug from the Freedos Operating System: (provide 32 bit register/instructions) www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/freedos/files/distributions/1.2/repos/pkg-html/debug.html Debug manual: www.armory.com/~rstevew/Public/Tutor/Debug/debug-manual.html
I used to do all of this by hand for my BBS back in the day where you would literally draw, line by line, then entire page. Took hours to draw a screen and do text effects. Was so much fun, even on my 286.
Creating by hand is awesome! I did that until I found TheDraw and then I used that. So much easier. 😃
i used to do it in my first cellphone, i'd start an sms draft and go to town with it, yes woth alphanumeric kbd
Thank you for sharing your passion of DOS (and FreeDOS) with all of us.
Always! And there's more to come. :-)
Oh wow. Nice one. Viruses and hacker tools were known for having amazing ASCII logos and art.
I remember this program. I used it to make menus and graphics for my BBS', and it was glorious!
It's an excellent program to create ASCII graphics!
I would love to see a review of popular galleries or some sort of archive of ANSI art. This is amazing!
Maybe one day. It's been a while since I looked at any ANSI art.
TheDraw initially came out in 1986. There are some other ANSI art drawing programs available today that are compatible with Microsoft Windows and MAC called ACiDDraw, TundraDraw and PabloDraw.
ACiDDraw was for MS-DOS, not Windows. Great program. Pablodraw is excellent. Some even newer ANSI editors include Mobeus, Durdraw and REXPaint.
This brings back memories of using thedraw to create screens for bat and turbo pascal apps I was writing. I still have a copy somewhere on my servers 😎👍
A pretty nifty tool to create all kinds of screens! ☺
I had an Amiga, so I had to do my ANSI art completely manually. Even animations! Eventually there was a clone called La Draw, which was OK but not nearly as good as this tool. One of the few areas where I had PC envy.
Very cool!
I used this back in the DOS days, but I also had another screen designer called Nova Screen from Microhelp. My best friend and I used to debate about which one was better.
Haven't heard of Nova Screen, but might try it out sometime 👍
Oh this takes me back!
ASCII art FTW! 🤩
Nice video dude. Thanks for creating and sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Yes, you knew it must be never ending, comprehend if you can
I loved TheDraw !!! 😃
Great program to do text drawing
Heh, I forgot I asked about this. Extended charset art looks so cool. Great to have a video explaining this program.
Glad you liked it!
Was the ansi driver built into windows or terminals like Telix or Wildcat? I used to draw login screens and such for my own bbs and to include with archives, but I don't remember loading that specific driver. I was the sysop for the Sandbox BBS in Pittsburgh in 94/95.
If you set your dial-up terminal to emulate VT100 or similar, the dial-up terminal would interpret the ANSI codes.
wow, didn't know this program! is it possible to get a registered version of thedraw in 2021?
Not that I know of, sorry. I think the author has gone on to work on other things. But you can still find a copy of the unregistered shareware and continue to use that.
If we do not use a printer, the ansi driver is much to big only for some colors on the text screen and to set the cursor position.
Without a driver:
@echo off
REM Set the cursor position on screen.
REM Need three parameter(%1 %2 %3) attached.
REM Usage: Cursor.bat page(0-7) column(0-0x4f) row(0-0x18)
REM (Page 0 default)
echo a cs:100>tmp.deb
echo mov bh,%1>>tmp.deb
echo mov dh,%2>>tmp.deb
echo mov dl,%3>>tmp.deb
echo mov ah,2>>tmp.deb
echo int 10>>tmp.deb
echo ret>>tmp.deb
echo.>>tmp.deb
echo n cursor.com>>tmp.deb
echo rcx>>tmp.deb
echo b>>tmp.deb
echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb
echo q>>tmp.deb
debugnul
del tmp.deb
Cursor.com
del Cursor.com
@echo off
REM Need one parameter(%1) attached.
REM Usage: *Color.bat* color
REM Example: COLOR.BAT 1b
echo acs:100>tmp.deb
echo mov ax,b800>>tmp.deb
echo mov ds,ax>>tmp.deb
echo mov cx,820>>tmp.deb
echo xor di,di>>tmp.deb
echo mov al,%1>>tmp.deb
echo mov [di+1],al>>tmp.deb
echo add di,2>>tmp.deb
echo dec cx>>tmp.deb
echo jnz 010C>>tmp.deb
echo ret>>tmp.deb
echo.>>tmp.deb
echo n Color.com>>tmp.deb
echo rcx>>tmp.deb
echo 16>>tmp.deb
echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb
echo q>>tmp.deb
debugnul
del tmp.deb
Color.com
del Color.com
@echo off
REM Need four parameter(%1 %2 %3 %4) attached.
REM Usage: ColTex.bat row column color text
REM Example: *ColTex.bat* 8 10 1E "Text"
echo a cs:100>tmp.deb
echo mov ax,B800>>tmp.deb
echo mov es,ax>>tmp.deb
echo mov si,%1>>tmp.deb
echo mov bx,%1>>tmp.deb
echo shl si,5>>tmp.deb
echo shl bx,7>>tmp.deb
echo lea di,[bx+si]>>tmp.deb
echo mov bx,%2>>tmp.deb
echo add bx,bx>>tmp.deb
echo lea di,[di+bx]>>tmp.deb
echo mov ah,%3>>tmp.deb
echo mov si,130>>tmp.deb
echo lodsb>>tmp.deb
echo cmp al,FF>>tmp.deb
echo jz 0127>>tmp.deb
echo stosw>>tmp.deb
echo jmp 011F>>tmp.deb
echo ret>>tmp.deb
echo org 0130>>tmp.deb
echo DB "%4",FF>>tmp.deb
echo.>>tmp.deb
echo n ColTex.com>>tmp.deb
echo rcx>>tmp.deb
echo 70>>tmp.deb
echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb
echo q>>tmp.deb
debugnul
del tmp.deb
ColTex.com
del ColTex.com
Is there any updated version of this program? Like console Paint, or something, I dont know.
I just wanna draw ascii art like this guy, just with a mouse
You can use a mouse in TheDraw. I used a mouse in this demo, actually.
Look into Mobeus, Pablodraw and Durdraw. They are all quite modern, support the mouse, and are inspired by TheDraw's user interface. REXPaint is another one, though its interface is a bit different.
Happy Halloween! :)
Glad you liked that. :-)
I always wondered why you could only do low intensity background colors in text mode.
I recorded a video of a "lightning talk" I did at FOSDEM 2021 about the text colors, and why you only get low intensity background colors. I think you'll like it: th-cam.com/video/NKjY1zQ49ig/w-d-xo.html
BigText.bat "Jumbo Text"
@echo off
REM Print big letters made with 8*8 ASCII 177
REM with a little help from debug
REM Usage: BigText.bat "Jumbo Text"
REM Need one parameter(%1) attached.
REM max.10 ASCII from border to border
REM Using character set ROM-Bios F000:FA6E
REM for each pixel set one ASCII to screen
REM start in the upper left corner
REM Note: Running only in DOS or DOSBOX
echo acs:100>tmp.deb
echo mov esi,F000>>tmp.deb
echo mov eax,FA6E>>tmp.deb
echo shl esi,4>>tmp.deb
echo add esi,eax>>tmp.deb
echo xor eax,eax>>tmp.deb
echo mov ax,ds>>tmp.deb
echo mov di,B800>>tmp.deb
echo mov bx,180>>tmp.deb
echo shl eax,4>>tmp.deb
echo shl edi,4>>tmp.deb
echo sub esi,eax>>tmp.deb
echo sub edi,eax>>tmp.deb
echo mov ebp,esi>>tmp.deb
echo xor eax,eax>>tmp.deb
echo mov esi,ebp>>tmp.deb
echo mov al,[bx]>>tmp.deb
echo cmp al,FF>>tmp.deb
echo jz 017A>>tmp.deb
echo cmp al,7F>>tmp.deb
echo ja 0170>>tmp.deb
echo cmp al,20>>tmp.deb
echo jb 0170>>tmp.deb
echo shl eax,3>>tmp.deb
echo add esi,eax>>tmp.deb
echo mov dl,8>>tmp.deb
echo mov al,[esi]>>tmp.deb
echo mov cl,8>>tmp.deb
echo rol al,1>>tmp.deb
echo test al,1>>tmp.deb
echo jz 015B>>tmp.deb
echo mov BYTE PTR[edi],B1>>tmp.deb
echo add edi,2>>tmp.deb
echo dec cl>>tmp.deb
echo jnz 0151>>tmp.deb
echo inc esi>>tmp.deb
echo add edi,90>>tmp.deb
echo dec dl>>tmp.deb
echo jnz 014C>>tmp.deb
echo inc bx>>tmp.deb
echo sub edi,4F0>>tmp.deb
echo jmp 012F>>tmp.deb
echo ret>>tmp.deb
echo.>>tmp.deb
echo acs:180>>tmp.deb
echo DB "%1",FF>>tmp.deb
echo.>>tmp.deb
echo n BigText.com>>tmp.deb
echo rcx>>tmp.deb
echo 100>>tmp.deb
echo wcs:100>>tmp.deb
echo q>>tmp.deb
debugnul
del tmp.deb
BigText.com
del BigText.com
Running with a little help from Debug from the Freedos Operating System: (provide 32 bit register/instructions)
www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/freedos/files/distributions/1.2/repos/pkg-html/debug.html
Debug manual: www.armory.com/~rstevew/Public/Tutor/Debug/debug-manual.html