Editing Text mode (section)

== Modern usage ==
Many modern programs with a graphical interface simulate the display style of text mode programs, notably when it is important to preserve the vertical alignment of text, e.g., during [[computer programming]]. There exist also software components to [[emulator|emulate]] text mode, such as [[terminal emulator]]s or command line [[Win32 console|console]]s. In [[Microsoft Windows]], the [[Win32 console]] usually opens in emulated, graphical window mode. It can be switched to full screen, true text mode and vice versa by pressing the [[Alt key|Alt]] and [[Enter key|Enter]] keys together.<ref>[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/81823 Windows uses Alt+Enter to make a terminal full screen]</ref> This is no longer supported by the WDDM display drivers introduced with Windows Vista.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/926657|title = Some 16-bit DOS-based Programs and the Command Prompt will not run in full-screen mode in Windows Vista and in Windows 7}}</ref>

[[Linux]] [[virtual console]]s operate in text mode. Most Linux distributions support several virtual console screens, accessed by pressing [[Control key|Ctrl]], Alt and a [[function key]] together.

The [[AAlib]] [[open source]] library provides programs and routines that specialize in translating standard image and video files, such as [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] and [[Windows Media Video|WMV]], and displaying them as a collection of [[ASCII]] characters. This enables a rudimentary viewing of graphics files on text mode systems, and on text mode web browsers such as [[Lynx (web browser)|Lynx]].