GRAFTABL: Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(c) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\\WINDOWS>

Enable Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.

GRAFTABL [xxx]
GRAFTABL /STATUS

   xxx      Specifies a code page number.
   /STATUS  Displays the current code page selected for use with GRAFTABL.

Yes, the `GRAFTABL` command in MS-DOS and older versions of Windows was used to change the current code page in graphics mode, which allowed certain special characters to be represented. Here is a brief explanation of the parameters: - `GRAFTABL`: This is the main command. When used without parameters, it displays the current code page. - `xxx`: Specifies a specific code page to use in graphics mode. Code pages are special character sets used to represent various characters and symbols. - `/STATUS`: Displays the current code page used by `GRAFTABL`. When this parameter is used, no changes are made to the code page. Of course, here is the revised version with additional comments: Example 1: Change code page to 437:

GRAFTABL 437

Description: This command changes the code page to 437. Code page 437 is the default character set table for many English-language MS-DOS applications. This change allows certain special characters and symbols to be displayed. Example 2: Change code page to 850:

GRAFTABL 850

Description: This command changes the code page to 850. Code page 850 represents an extended character set table commonly used for many European languages. This change allows specific characters to be displayed correctly. Example 3: Show current code page:

GRAFTABL /STATUS

Description: This command displays the currently used code page without making any changes. This is particularly useful for checking previous modifications and ensuring that the correct character set table is being used. It is important to note that `GRAFTABL` is no longer used in modern versions of Windows these days. These features have been replaced by Unicode and extended character sets, which are automatically supported by most applications and operating systems. The use of `GRAFTABL` is limited to older systems. On modern Windows operating systems, alternative commands and mechanisms for character encoding and international support exist. Here are some of them: Example 1: `chcp` - Changing the code page: The `chcp` (Change Code Page) command is used to change the current code page on the Windows command line. For the

chcp 1252

Here the code page is changed to 1252, which stands for the Western European character set. Example 2: PowerShell cmdlets: PowerShell provides several cmdlets for working with character encodings and international characters. For the

$OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8

This sets the output in PowerShell to UTF-8 encoding. Example 3: `intlcfg` - Internationalization configuration: The `intlcfg` command allows configuring internationalization settings. For the

intlcfg set --codepage:

This command can be used to change the current code page. Example 4: Settings in System Settings: You can adjust language and region settings that can affect character encoding under Settings > Time & Language > Region & Language in Windows System Preferences. Example 5: `Set-ItemProperty` for registry changes: Registry settings can also be used to customize character encoding. For the

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Nls\CodePage' -Name 'OEMCP' -Value 1252

Here the OEM code page is set to 1252. It is important to note that on modern versions of Windows, the need to work directly with code pages has been greatly reduced by using Unicode (UTF-8, UTF-16). Unicode provides extensive support for international characters and is the standard for character encoding today. In most cases, these alternative commands and settings are only relevant when there are specific needs or problems.

The `GRAFTABL` command in the Windows Command Prompt is a command no longer used in modern versions of Windows. It was typically used to modify the character set graphics tables for DOS applications in older versions of Windows. This command affected the representation of characters and was used primarily for DOS applications that worked with special character sets. To understand the specific requirements and ensure that the most modern and recommended methods are used, it is advisable to consult official Microsoft documentation or specific resources related to the area in which you are working with fonts. The `GRAFTABL` command was present in earlier versions of MS-DOS and Windows and was used to customize character set graphics tables for DOS applications. Here are some important points about it: 1. Deprecated and Discontinued: `GRAFTABL` is deprecated and no longer used in modern versions of Windows. In the MS-DOS days it played a role in adapting character sets. 2. Unicode in modern versions of Windows: Modern operating systems support Unicode, which makes the meaning of `GRAFTABL` obsolete. Applications and the operating system today primarily use Unicode. 3. Risks in Modern Environments: Using `GRAFTABL` in current versions of Windows may result in unexpected behavior and possible system instability. It is strongly discouraged to run this command in modern environments. 4. Caution Required: Extreme caution should be exercised when working with older DOS applications that have specific character set requirements and consider `GRAFTABL`. It should be ensured that the impacts are fully understood and that no more modern alternatives exist. 5. Check documentation: If there are specific character set requirements, it is advisable to consult Microsoft's official documentation or specific resources to find modern and recommended methods. 6. Perform a backup: If you still decide to use `GRAFTABL` in an older environment, a backup should be carried out beforehand. Changes to character set tables can have unexpected effects on the appearance of characters. Overall, it is important to emphasize that `GRAFTABL` should be avoided in modern environments as it is deprecated. If you have specific character set requirements, it is advisable to look for more modern and better supported approaches.