Name: screenType

Type: function

Syntax: the screenType

Syntax: screenType()

Summary: <return|Returns> the color capability of the screen.

Introduced: 1.0

OS: mac,windows,linux

Platforms: desktop,server,web

Example:
the screenType

Example:
if the screenType is "PseudoColor" then useLineImages else usePhotos

Returns (enum): The <screenType> function <return|returns> one of the following types:
-StaticGray  : a fixed list of shades of gray
-StaticColor  : a fixed list of colors
-GrayScale  : a list of shades of gray, each changeable by the engine
-PseudoColor  : a list of 256 or fewer colors, each changeable by the engine
-TrueColor  : a list of 2^24 (16,777,216) colors
-DirectColor  : an unlimited number of colors

Description:
Use the <screenType> <function> to determine what kind of color or grayscale values the current screen can use.

If the <screenType> is "StaticGray" or "StaticColor", the available colors are predefined in a <color table>. Any colors displayed by LiveCode are changed to the closest available color.

If the <screenType> is "GrayScale", "PseudoColor", or "TrueColor", a predefined number of color slots is available, and the <engine> can change any of those colors to one of a larger set of available colors. 8- <bit> color displays (256 colors) are usually PseudoColor.

If the <screenType> is "DirectColor", any <pixel> on the screen can be set to any color that the screen supports.

On some Unix systems, you can change the <screenType> with the -v <command line|command-line> option. See the "xdpyinfo" command and the <Unix> documentation for more information on visual types and changing the visual type.

If the system has more than one monitor, the <screenType> function <return|returns> the color capability of the main screen.

The value returned by the <screenType> function is updated only when you start up the <application>. If you change the screen settings after starting up the <application>, you must quit and restart to update the <screenType>.

References: privateColors (property), screenRect (function), screenDepth (function), screenColors (function), return (glossary), engine (glossary), pixel (glossary), bit (glossary), color table (glossary), command line (glossary), Unix (glossary), application (glossary), function (control_st)
