Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > alt.msdos.batch > #4850

Re: MS-DOS utility to distinguish between standard & enhanced keyboard?

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

Show all headers | View raw

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 05:20:37 -0000, Donald G. Davis  
<dgdavis@blackhole.nyx.net> wrote:

> 	I'd like to learn whether someone knows of a MS-DOS utility that can
> tell whether a "standard" (older) keyboard or a 101-key keyboard is
> attached to the computer, and report accordingly, preferably with a
> suitable exit code for input to a batch file.
>
> 							--Donald Davis

I've found an old Delphi forum post:

function status:word;
           inline(
           $B8/$00/$12/      {MOV AX,1200h}
           $CD/$16           {INT 16h }
           );

{$ifdef msdos}
  const seg0040=$40;
  {$endif}

begin
    tmp:=mem[Seg0040:$17];
    extended_kbd:=false;
    if lo(status)=tmp then begin
       mem[Seg0040:$17]:=tmp xor 7;
       tmp2:=status;
       extended_kbd:=(tmp2<>$1200) and (lo(tmp2)=tmp xor 7);
       mem[Seg0040:$17]:=tmp;
    End;
end.

It's mostly asm. Toggles a shift key then uses an extended keyboard call  
to see if it's changed.
Should be easily rewritten in asm or ascii asm for use in batch.

(xposted to asm & batch groups)
-- 
Bah, and indeed, Humbug

Back to alt.msdos.batch | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

MS-DOS utility to distinguish between standard & enhanced keyboard? Donald G. Davis <dgdavis@blackhole.nyx.net> - 2016-11-27 05:20 +0000
  Re: MS-DOS utility to distinguish between standard & enhanced keyboard? golem <golem@wherever.nix> - 2016-11-29 06:52 +1100
  Re: MS-DOS utility to distinguish between standard & enhanced keyboard? "Kerr Mudd-John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2016-12-03 19:50 +0000

csiph-web