ANSI escape code

ANSI escape codes are used to specify visual effects on text terminals. They are typically initiated with the characters \\e (backslash-'e') and [ (left bracket). From the MS-DOS prompt command, the escape character can be specified as $e, e.g. prompt $e[44m;... would specify a blue background as part of the prompt. DOS systems need a driver for the ANSI codes - typically ansi.sys, but there are others used.

Some ANSI codes
Code Effect

ESC [nA Moves the cursor up n rows. If the cursor is already at the top of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.

ESC [nB Moves the cursor down n rows. If the cursor is already at the bottom of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.

ESC [nC Moves the cursor right n rows. If the cursor is already at the edge of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.

ESC [nD Moves the cursor left n rows. If the cursor is already at the edge of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.

ESC [n;mf Moves the cursor to row n, column m. If n is not given, 1 is used.

ESC [n;mH Moves the cursor to row n, column m. If n is not given, 1 is used.

ESC [=nh Set screen mode.

ESC [2J Clears screen and sends cursor home.

ESC [K Erases to end of the line.

ESC [=nl Reset screen mode.

ESC [n...km Sets graphics parameters.

ESC [code;param[;param]p Redefines a key.

ESC [n;mR Sets the cursor to row n, column m, and reports this to the system.

ESC [s Saves the cursor position.

ESC [u Restores the cursor position.

Some ANSI codes
Code	Effect
ESC [nA	Moves the cursor up n rows. If the cursor is already at the top of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.
ESC [nB	Moves the cursor down n rows. If the cursor is already at the bottom of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.
ESC [nC	Moves the cursor right n rows. If the cursor is already at the edge of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.
ESC [nD	Moves the cursor left n rows. If the cursor is already at the edge of the screen, this has no effect. If n is not given, 1 is used.
ESC [n;mf	Moves the cursor to row n, column m. If n is not given, 1 is used.
ESC [n;mH	Moves the cursor to row n, column m. If n is not given, 1 is used.
ESC [=nh	Set screen mode.
ESC [2J	Clears screen and sends cursor home.
ESC [K	Erases to end of the line.
ESC [=nl	Reset screen mode.
ESC [n...km	Sets graphics parameters.
ESC [code;param[;param]p	Redefines a key.
ESC [n;mR	Sets the cursor to row n, column m, and reports this to the system.
ESC [s	Saves the cursor position.
ESC [u	Restores the cursor position.

Screen modes
Code Effect

0 40 x 25 mono

1 40 x 25 colour

2 80 x 25 mono

3 80 x 25 colour

4 320 x 200 colour

5 320 x 200 mono

6 640 x 200 mono

7 Wrap at end of line

Screen modes
Code	Effect
0	40 x 25 mono
1	40 x 25 colour
2	80 x 25 mono
3	80 x 25 colour
4	320 x 200 colour
5	320 x 200 mono
6	640 x 200 mono
7	Wrap at end of line

Graphics parameters
Code Effect

0 All attributes off

1 Bold

2 Faint

3 Italic

5 Blink

6 Rapid blink

7 Reverse video

8 Concealed

30 Black foreground

31 Red foreground

32 Green foreground

33 Yellow foreground

34 Blue foreground

35 Magenta foreground

36 Cyan foreground

37 White foreground

40 Black background

41 Red background

42 Green background

43 Yellow background

44 Blue background

45 Magenta background

46 Cyan background

47 White background

48 Subscript

49 Superscript

Code	Effect
0	All attributes off
1	Bold
2	Faint
3	Italic
5	Blink
6	Rapid blink
7	Reverse video
8	Concealed
30	Black foreground
31	Red foreground
32	Green foreground
33	Yellow foreground
34	Blue foreground
35	Magenta foreground
36	Cyan foreground
37	White foreground
40	Black background
41	Red background
42	Green background
43	Yellow background
44	Blue background
45	Magenta background
46	Cyan background
47	White background
48	Subscript
49	Superscript