DIMMER.COM
Command

Douglas Boling and Jeff Prosise             October 17, 1989 (Utilities)


Purpose:  To provide software control of VGA monitor brightness
interactively from the keyboard, through parameters entered on the
command line, or at a specified interval after the last keystroke.

Format:	DIMMER [[+|-]adj] [/D time [+|-]adj] [/V[+|-]] [/U]

Remarks:  Entered without any of its optional parameters, DIMMER uses
the Ctrl-Alt-Up-Arrow and Ctrl-Alt-Down-Arrow keys to increase or
decrease screen brightness. The original intensity level can be restored
at any time by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Home. DIMMER is a memory-resident program
(see Note); it can be uninstalled by being run with the /U switch.

   The adj parameter accepts integer values from +63 to -63. Although
relative to the intensity level in effect when the program loads, a
value of -63 will completely blank the screen and +63 will wash out
almost all colors.  The time parameter sets the number of minutes (up to
65,534) to allow after the last keystroke.  Used in conjunction with the
optional /D switch and an adj value (usually -63), the time parameter is
normally used when it is desired to blank the screen after a specified
period of keyboard inactivity.  Any subsequent keypress will restore the
screen to its original level, but as this keystroke will be fed to the
application, it is safest to hit an unaccompanied Ctrl, Alt, or Shift
key.  Once active, the screen-saver option can be cancelled by entering
DIMMER /D 0.

   With applications that do not write directly to the video BIOS, a
blanked screen can be automatically restored when the program attempts
to update the display.  This is accomplished by using the optional /V
(or V+) switch.  By default, DIMMER restores the intensity level only
when a keystroke is entered, which is equivalent to running the program
with a /V- command-line switch.

==========================================================================

Changes made by Ben Diss (CIS 71270,341) on 01-01-90 and 01-18-90 follow:

1. Fixed ALT key bug by changing hot-key to CTRL-ALT.

2. The replaced ISRs are now called at the beginning of all ISRs rather
   than JMPed to at the end.  This eliminates some problems with a few
   clone systems.

3. Additional problems with clone keyboards fixed by monitoring hot-key
   depressed, released state.

4. Hot-key blanking has been added via SHIFT-SHIFT.

5. Hot-key disabling has been added via CTRL-ALT-D and re-enabling via
   CTRL-ALT-E.

6. Mouse support has been added, so that any use of the mouse will reset
   the time-out blanker.

7. The version number has been changed to 1.02 to relect the changes.

Although I have used this program on my system since it was published, I
cannot promise that it will work on yours, as I have not done any
in-depth testing.  This program is provided "as-is" without any warrenty
of any kind.  The original version was written for PC Magazine and is
Copyright 1989, Ziff Communications Co.  I hereby release all claims to
rights for the modifications I have made.