COLOR_MODEL Settings

The runtime system builds color models by using combinations of settings for these three configuration variables:

These variables are fully described in Appendix H. Configuration Variables in ACUCOBOL-GT Appendices.

We've combined a few settings of these variables to form ten color models that will suit most situations. For example, COLOR_MODEL 1 is equivalent to this combination: COLOR_TRANS 5, INTENSITY_FLAGS 34, and BACKGROUND_INTENSITY 1.

You can adjust the settings of the three variables individually, whether you use a color model or not. Note that the most recent setting takes precedence.

Use the COLOR_MODEL setting to perform uniform changes to your program's color scheme. These changes are represented by rules that act on your colors. An example of a rule is "exchange the foreground and background colors". You use the COLOR_MODEL setting to change your color scheme in a global way.

There are eleven color models, numbered from 0 to 10. Each of the models performs a particular set of changes.

There are so many possible color schemes, and so many personal preferences, that it's impossible to predict which color model will look best for your application. The quickest way to pick the most suitable model is probably to try each one. To do this, add the line:

COLOR_MODEL     0

to your COBOL configuration file, and then run your program in the Windows environment. Observe the results. Then edit the configuration file to specify color model 1 and run again. You’ll quickly see which model produces the results you want.

The default color model is model 0. It causes no changes to occur to your color scheme. The remaining 10 models are grouped in pairs:

The odd-numbered version of each pair transforms only those parts of your program that are entirely black and white. Any character position that contains any color will be left unchanged.
The even-numbered version of the pair performs similarly to the odd-numbered version, except that the rules are always applied regardless of color. When selecting a COLOR_MODEL, you can ignore the even-numbered models if you are satisfied with the color portions of your program.

COLOR_MODEL settings 7 and 8 most closely match typical Windows programs.

In the following pages, we give a general description of each model, along with the corresponding component settings, and a picture of the black and white effects caused by the model.