NAME asc16 -- Output chinese characters in ASCII form, using a 16x16 font. asc24 -- Output chinese characters in ASCII form, using a 24x24 font. SYNOPSIS asc16 [Chinese text] asc24 [Chinese text] DESCRIPTION Asc16 and asc24 are two programs that will produce an ascii drawing of Chinese characters based upon the font files provided by your KC system. Both programs assume the KC system is installed at \KC. To modify, set the KC environment variable. For example, use SET KC=R:\HOLD\KC if your KC system is installed at R:\HOLD\KC. Asc24 uses the 24x24 font, and its output looks like: ;;' ;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;, ;; ;; ,, ,, ;;' ;,,,,,,,,;;,,,,,,,,;, ;; ;; ' ;; ;; ;; ;;' ;; '''''''';;''''' ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ,,,,, ;; ,, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ; ; ';, ;; ;; ;;,,,,,,,;;,,,,,,,;; ;; ; ; ';,; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;'''' ;' , ;; '' ;; ;; ,,,, ;';, ; ;; ;; ;; ';''' ,,,' ';' ;; ;; ;;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;; ;; ;; ;; Asc16, on the other hand, uses the 16x15 font: , , ; , ;''''''';';'';' ;''''';''''';' ; ,,,,,,;,,;,; ; ; ; ; ,,,,, ; , ; ;''''';'''''; ; ;,,,; ',,' ; ; ; ,,,,, ,'', ; ; ;,,,,,,,,,,,;; ' ' ' Thus, a typically 80-column screen can display up to three (3) characters per line with asc24, and up to five (5) characters per line with asc16. Asc16 and asc24 both default to the .F00, which produced the traditional characters (fanti). To use the simplified characters (jianti), set the STYLE environment variable to .F15: SET STYLE=.F15 That output looks like: ;,, , ,, ;; ;;''''''''''''''';;' , ;; ,, ;; ,, ;; ;;'''''';;'''''';;' ;; ''''';;'''''' ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ,,,,;;,,;;, ;; ;;,,,,,,;;,,,,,,;; ;; ;; ,, ;; ;' ;; ;' ;; ;; ;' ;; ;; ;; ,,,,,;;,,,,;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;; ;' ;' ;' and , ; , ;'''''''''''; ;''''';''''';' ; '''';'''' ; ; ; ; ; ,,,;,,, ; ;''''';'''''; ; ; ', ; ; ; ,,,,;,,;, ; ; ;,,,,,,,,,,,; ' ' ' With these variables set up, you can just call asc16 and asc24 like this: asc16 "Chinese text here" Asc16 and asc24 will output the ASCII Chinese character(s) the screen. Asc16 and asc24 without any arguments will read stdin, usually the keyboard or a redirected file. Of course, using DOS redirection can capture the output to a file. asc16 < text.b5 > text.txt It is a good idea to enclosed the text with quotes. Because asc16 and asc24 rely on Big5 codes on the command line (or from stdin), any input system that produces the Big5 encoded characters may be used. Asc16 and asc24 runs very well under KC. FILES ASC16.EXE The DOS executable for the 16x16 fonts ASC24.EXE The DOS execuatble for the 24x24 fonts ASC16.CPP The C++ source code for ASC16.EXE ASC24.CPP The C++ source code for ASC24.EXE KC2ASCII.DOC This file CAVEATS Send email to scc@reston.icl.com for comments or suggestions.