ANSI Colors in standard Windows 10 shell

win10colors.cmd

@echo off

setlocal
call :setESC

cls
echo %ESC%[101;93m STYLES %ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[0m %ESC%[0mReset%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[1m %ESC%[1mBold%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[4m %ESC%[4mUnderline%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[7m %ESC%[7mInverse%ESC%[0m
echo.
echo %ESC%[101;93m NORMAL FOREGROUND COLORS %ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[30m %ESC%[30mBlack%ESC%[0m (black)
echo ^<ESC^>[31m %ESC%[31mRed%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[32m %ESC%[32mGreen%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[33m %ESC%[33mYellow%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[34m %ESC%[34mBlue%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[35m %ESC%[35mMagenta%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[36m %ESC%[36mCyan%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[37m %ESC%[37mWhite%ESC%[0m
echo.
echo %ESC%[101;93m NORMAL BACKGROUND COLORS %ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[40m %ESC%[40mBlack%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[41m %ESC%[41mRed%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[42m %ESC%[42mGreen%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[43m %ESC%[43mYellow%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[44m %ESC%[44mBlue%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[45m %ESC%[45mMagenta%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[46m %ESC%[46mCyan%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[47m %ESC%[47mWhite%ESC%[0m (white)
echo.
echo %ESC%[101;93m STRONG FOREGROUND COLORS %ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[90m %ESC%[90mWhite%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[91m %ESC%[91mRed%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[92m %ESC%[92mGreen%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[93m %ESC%[93mYellow%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[94m %ESC%[94mBlue%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[95m %ESC%[95mMagenta%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[96m %ESC%[96mCyan%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[97m %ESC%[97mWhite%ESC%[0m
echo.
echo %ESC%[101;93m STRONG BACKGROUND COLORS %ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[100m %ESC%[100mBlack%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[101m %ESC%[101mRed%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[102m %ESC%[102mGreen%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[103m %ESC%[103mYellow%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[104m %ESC%[104mBlue%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[105m %ESC%[105mMagenta%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[106m %ESC%[106mCyan%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[107m %ESC%[107mWhite%ESC%[0m
echo.
echo %ESC%[101;93m COMBINATIONS %ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[31m                     %ESC%[31mred foreground color%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[7m                      %ESC%[7minverse foreground ^<-^> background%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[7;31m                   %ESC%[7;31minverse red foreground color%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[7m and nested ^<ESC^>[31m %ESC%[7mbefore %ESC%[31mnested%ESC%[0m
echo ^<ESC^>[31m and nested ^<ESC^>[7m %ESC%[31mbefore %ESC%[7mnested%ESC%[0m

:setESC
for /F "tokens=1,2 delims=#" %%a in ('"prompt #$H#$E# & echo on & for %%b in (1) do rem"') do (
  set ESC=%%b
  exit /B 0
)
exit /B 0

@Dr-WaSaBi the usual way to enter the ESC ascii character is to hold down the ALT key and press 027 on the numeric keypad (when NumLock is on).
This works in Notepad++, but it seems that VS Code doesn't like it.
You have 2 options:

1. download this raw win10colors.cmd file, open it in VS Code, copy the escape character included, and paste it wherever you want
2. file an issue at https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues

thank you so much for this! using this in a batch script! couldn't find the escape characters anywhere once i downloaded this I was set! Thanks again.

@dyslexicanaboko I got it to work by simply downloading the .cmd file to my computer, and copying and pasting the breaks directly into my batch files.

so in example:

REM updates git local windows copy

echo off

:START

cls
echo.
echo Git will update from the current version:
echo.
git --version
echo.
set /p DUMMY=�[97mHit ENTER to continue...�[0m
echo.
git update-git-for-windows
echo.
set /p DUMMY=�[92mDone, Hit ENTER to continue...�[0m

updates my git install on windows.

@Dr-WaSaBi the usual way to enter the ESC ascii character is to hold down the ALT key and press 027 on the numeric keypad (when NumLock is on).
This works in Notepad++, but it seems that VS Code doesn't like it.
You have 2 options:

1. download this raw win10colors.cmd file, open it in VS Code, copy the escape character included, and paste it wherever you want
2. file an issue at https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues

have to perform these steps @dyslexicanaboko

Just a general FYI for anyone scratching their head like I was. It may appear that if you type this directly into a command window it doesn't work. However if you run the batch file it works. Upon further inspection if you open the batch file with Notepad++ it will show you the hidden "ESC" characters which are required in order to make it work. Don't confuse this with the escape key on your keyboard, it's not the same thing. It's actually the alt code: ALT + 0 + 2 + 7

Therefore you can actually type this directly into the CMD window, it's just a pain to do because you have to use that ALT code as mentioned above. I was able to do it, it was just torture.

@Dr-WaSaBi the usual way to enter the ESC ascii character is to hold down the ALT key and press 027 on the numeric keypad (when NumLock is on).
This works in Notepad++, but it seems that VS Code doesn't like it.
You have 2 options:

1. download this raw win10colors.cmd file, open it in VS Code, copy the escape character included, and paste it wherever you want
2. file an issue at https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues

have to perform these steps @dyslexicanaboko

@gothicserpent Hey thanks for replying. I realized my error and I deleted my original post, sorry about that. I was just surprised to see hidden characters, that didn't cross my mind before. It's been a very long time since I have had to work with hidden characters. Reminds me of dealing with UART and TAP.

I updated the script: now the escape character (ASCII code decimal 27, hexadecimal 1B) is assigned to the new ESC environment variable by the setESC subroutine, we don't have that invisible char anymore.

I updated the script: now the escape character (ASCII code decimal 27, hexadecimal 1B) is assigned to the new ESC environment variable by the setESC subroutine, we don't have that invisible char anymore.

Thank you for doing that! That does make it easier!

The setESC subroutine can be simplified to:

:setESC
for /F %%a in ('"prompt $E$S & echo on & for %%b in (1) do rem"') do set "ESC=%%a"
exit /B

@echo off
setlocal
call :setESC

Test
Test
Test

:setESC
for /F %%a in ('"prompt $E$S & echo on & for %%b in (1) do rem"') do set "ESC=%%a"
exit /B

Is it possible to use it with "PROMPT" command to create a colorful prompt?

Is it possible to use it with "PROMPT" command to create a colorful prompt?

Yes, see this https://github.com/hXR16F/hyperial

Thanks for this @mlocati this was helpful for me today 👍

Bonjour,
Dans un fichier Batch .bat,
Je pose des questions pour le renseignement de variables, j'ai choisi de coloriser le texte de la demande, mais le problème est qu'un retour à la ligne est présent, pour la saisie à la question ?
est-il possible de faire en sorte, que la réponse qui est saisie par l'utilisateur soit sur la même ligne que la question ?

English:
Hello,
In a Batch .bat file,
I ask questions for the information of variables, I chose to colorize the text of the request, but the problem is that a new line is present, for the seizure to the question?
is it possible to ensure that the answer entered by the user is on the same line as the question?

:: Demande Nom de l instance echo %ESC%[0;91m Saisissez votre Instance SQL: %ESC%[0m set /p INSTANCEC= if DEFINED INSTANCEC (SET "INSTANCE=%INSTANCEC%") ELSE (GOTO ENDPPOCESS:)

1. Je voudrais que la réponse soit à la suite de " Saisissez votre Instance SQL: " <-- Ici la réponse
2. Est-il possible d'afficher le texte en Bold avec un background en rouge ?

English:

1. I would like the answer to be after "Enter your SQL Instance:" <- Here the answer
2. Is it possible to display the text in Bold with a background in red?

Thank you for your time and your developments

Claude

@Claudetom did you try with https://stackoverflow.com/a/7105690/1621862 ?

Not working for me too. Win7 SP1 NT6.1.7601.
I type directly thoses commands in cmd.exe it even no copying right.

Just Create a bat file and paste into it.
Then start with ->
start [filename].bat

Hello,

Is there a way to apply these colors to "title" to create a multi-colored title on a batch script?

Hello,

Is there a way to apply these colors to "title" to create a multi-colored title on a batch script?

What do you mean with 'title'

@Choni01 if you mean window title (dos/batch "title" command controls window title), I don't think so because in the windows environment the window frame is controlled within the windows environment and not from the command line, so direct control may be out. You might be able to find something that can be called or triggered within your command line app that triggers a windows app to modify the title bar of the target window/box. Is that what you are thinking?

Thank you for the script. Thanks to these codes, I will be able to color specific words in my BAT files. Of course, by simplifying it as much as possible. An example, on CMD:

@for /F "tokens=1,2 delims=#" %a in ('"prompt #$H#$E# & echo on & for %b in (1) do rem"') do set ESC=%b
@set Yellow=%ESC%[93m
@Set ColorOff=%ESC%[0m
@Echo An attempt to show a word as %Yellow%yellow%ColorOff% color in a sentence...

Here let me repost... I'm on Win10 Pro

Here let me repost... I'm on Win10 Pro

Ok there was an email here stating it no longer worked, I replied to show I was not having the issue reported, perhaps they pulled their comment/request already. I'll leave this up for historical purposes I suppose lol , a little posterirty as it were.

Lite version.
https://pastebin.com/tCn7JLGJ
Open pastebin Link, Click on download.

Basic

Clean text + %<% + FOREGROUND / BACKGROUND / STYLES + Custom text + %>% + Clean text

Combine FOREGROUND / BACKGROUND / STYLES

Example: %FF_Black% + %BB_Cyan% + %Inverse%
have to Convert into this: %FF_Black:m=;%%BB_Cyan:m=;%%Inverse%
The rule. the last VAR doesn't change, only the others before him.
By replace %VAR% with %VAR:m=;%

Code

@echo off

rem ANSI Colors in standard Windows 10 shell
rem https://gist.github.com/mlocati/fdabcaeb8071d5c75a2d51712db24011

:: BASIC CHARS
:: ALT 0,2,7 --> �
:: WORK WITH NOTPAD++
set "<=�["
set ">=�[0m"

:: STYLES
set "Reset=0m" & set "Bold=1m"
set "Underline=4m" & set "Inverse=7m"

:: BACKGROUND COLORS
set "B_Black=30m" & set "B_Red=31m" & set "B_Green=32m"
set "B_Yellow=33m" & set "B_Blue=34m" & set "B_Magenta=35m"
set "B_Cyan=36m" & set "B_White=37m"
set "BB_Black=90m" & set "BB_Red=91m" & set "BB_Green=92m"
set "BB_Yellow=93m" & set "BB_Blue=94m" & set "BB_Magenta=95m"
set "BB_Cyan=96m" & set "BB_White=97m"

:: FOREGROUND COLORS
set "F_Black=40m" & set "F_Red=41m" & set "F_Green=42m"
set "F_Yellow=43m" & set "F_Blue=44m" & set "F_Magenta=45m"
set "F_Cyan=46m" & set "F_White=47m"
set "FF_Black=100m" & set "FF_Red=101m" & set "FF_Green=102m"
set "FF_Yellow=103m" & set "FF_Blue=104m" & set "FF_Magenta=105m"
set "FF_Cyan=106m" & set "FF_White=107m"

:: DEMO
echo.
echo  ONLY BACKGROUND COLORS %<%%BB_Red% RED %>% ^& %<%%BB_Green% GREEN %>%
echo  ONLY FOREGROUND COLORS %<%%FF_Magenta% MAGNETA %>% ^& %<%%F_Yellow% YELLOW %>%
echo  COMBINATION COLORS ^& STYLE %<%%FF_Black:m=;%%B_Green:m=;%%Bold%F:BLACK B:GREEN S:BOLD%>%

The setESC subroutine can be simplified to:

:setESC
for /F %%a in ('"prompt $E$S & echo on & for %%b in (1) do rem"') do set "ESC=%%a"
exit /B

+1: This is much more straightforward and understandable.
Thank you @sepehrst