diff --git a/doc/fixes36.3 b/doc/fixes36.3
index 0f584ac0e..8fa4afc0a 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.3
+++ b/doc/fixes36.3
@@ -315,6 +315,11 @@ clairvoyance showed all monsters in range, then after player viewed the map,
 	object at same spot, so skip it for locations where monster refresh
 	is going to immediately redisplay a monster
 take holes that you avoided into consideration when you're on the brink
+update window port spec to include a color-availability table that the window
+	port can set; merge all has_color() implementations into one central
+	function in src/windows.c which uses a few data checks only and
+	elminates multiple string function calls for each map cell update
+	that were being done in some cases previously
 unix: fix double DLB definition in linux hints file
 windows: fix --showpaths output for the data file which relies on being
 	constructed programmatically to incorporate the version suffix
diff --git a/doc/window.doc b/doc/window.doc
index da1790253..3758bf55b 100644
--- a/doc/window.doc
+++ b/doc/window.doc
@@ -663,6 +663,10 @@ port can access the fields directly.
 
 Your window port identifies what options it will react to and support
 by setting bits in the window_procs wincap mask and/or wincap2 mask. 
+Your window port can also fill in the color-availability table for
+the window port, has_color[CLR_MAX] to flag the colors it supports 
+1 it does, or 0 it doesn't. [CLR_MAX is 16 as of 3.6.3.]
+
 See section IX for details of where the wincap masks reside. 
 
 Two things control whether any preference setting appears in the 
diff --git a/include/winprocs.h b/include/winprocs.h
index cc3b4046c..f68952765 100644
--- a/include/winprocs.h
+++ b/include/winprocs.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ struct window_procs {
                            * '+' are reserved for processors. */
     unsigned long wincap; /* window port capability options supported */
     unsigned long wincap2; /* additional window port capability options */
+    boolean has_color[CLR_MAX];
     void FDECL((*win_init_nhwindows), (int *, char **));
     void NDECL((*win_player_selection));
     void NDECL((*win_askname));
diff --git a/src/mapglyph.c b/src/mapglyph.c
index c324d43d5..082186df6 100644
--- a/src/mapglyph.c
+++ b/src/mapglyph.c
@@ -245,16 +245,11 @@ unsigned mgflags;
 #ifdef TEXTCOLOR
     /* Turn off color if no color defined, or rogue level w/o PC graphics. */
     if (!has_color(color) || (Is_rogue_level(&u.uz) && !has_rogue_color))
-        color = NO_COLOR;
 #endif
-
+        color = NO_COLOR;
     *ochar = (int) ch;
     *ospecial = special;
-#ifdef TEXTCOLOR
     *ocolor = color;
-#else
-    nhUse(ocolor);
-#endif
     return idx;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index ded48e7ae..cce658908 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -107,11 +107,7 @@ static const struct Bool_Opt {
 #endif
     { "clicklook", &iflags.clicklook, FALSE, SET_IN_GAME },
     { "cmdassist", &iflags.cmdassist, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME },
-#if defined(MICRO) || defined(WIN32) || defined(CURSES_GRAPHICS)
-    { "color", &iflags.wc_color, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME }, /*WC*/
-#else /* systems that support multiple terminals, many monochrome */
-    { "color", &iflags.wc_color, FALSE, SET_IN_GAME }, /*WC*/
-#endif
+    { "color", &iflags.wc_color, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME }, /* on/off: use WC or not */
     { "confirm", &flags.confirm, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME },
     { "dark_room", &flags.dark_room, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME },
     { "eight_bit_tty", &iflags.wc_eight_bit_input, FALSE, SET_IN_GAME }, /*WC*/
diff --git a/src/windows.c b/src/windows.c
index 475d2d895..749a95236 100644
--- a/src/windows.c
+++ b/src/windows.c
@@ -523,7 +523,9 @@ static void FDECL(hup_void_fdecl_winid, (winid));
 static void FDECL(hup_void_fdecl_constchar_p, (const char *));
 
 static struct window_procs hup_procs = {
-    "hup", 0L, 0L, hup_init_nhwindows,
+    "hup", 0L, 0L,
+    {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+    hup_init_nhwindows,
     hup_void_ndecl,                                    /* player_selection */
     hup_void_ndecl,                                    /* askname */
     hup_void_ndecl,                                    /* get_nh_event */
@@ -1371,4 +1373,28 @@ boolean onoff_flag;
     }
 }
 
+#ifdef TTY_GRAPHICS
+#ifdef TEXTCOLOR
+#ifdef TOS
+extern const char *hilites[CLR_MAX];
+#else
+extern NEARDATA char *hilites[CLR_MAX];
+#endif
+#endif
+#endif
+
+int
+has_color(color)
+int color;
+{
+    return (iflags.use_color && windowprocs.name
+            && (windowprocs.wincap & WC_COLOR) && windowprocs.has_color[color]
+#ifdef TTY_GRAPHICS
+#if defined(TEXTCOLOR) && defined(TERMLIB) && !defined(NO_TERMS)
+             && (hilites[color] != 0)
+#endif
+#endif
+    );
+}
+
 /*windows.c*/
diff --git a/sys/amiga/winami.c b/sys/amiga/winami.c
index e1f5c7eb3..8a595640a 100644
--- a/sys/amiga/winami.c
+++ b/sys/amiga/winami.c
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ long amii_scrnmode;
  * the intuition interface for the amiga...
  */
 struct window_procs amii_procs = {
-    "amii", WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_INVERSE, 0L, amii_init_nhwindows,
+    "amii", WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_INVERSE,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    0L, amii_init_nhwindows,
     amii_player_selection, amii_askname, amii_get_nh_event,
     amii_exit_nhwindows, amii_suspend_nhwindows, amii_resume_nhwindows,
     amii_create_nhwindow, amii_clear_nhwindow, amii_display_nhwindow,
@@ -60,7 +62,9 @@ struct window_procs amii_procs = {
  * a shared library to allow the executable to be smaller.
  */
 struct window_procs amiv_procs = {
-    "amitile", WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_INVERSE, 0L, amii_init_nhwindows,
+    "amitile", WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_INVERSE,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    0L, amii_init_nhwindows,
     amii_player_selection, amii_askname, amii_get_nh_event,
     amii_exit_nhwindows, amii_suspend_nhwindows, amii_resume_nhwindows,
     amii_create_nhwindow, amii_clear_nhwindow, amii_display_nhwindow,
diff --git a/sys/mac/macwin.c b/sys/mac/macwin.c
index 210b13994..aec93d0b0 100644
--- a/sys/mac/macwin.c
+++ b/sys/mac/macwin.c
@@ -3251,7 +3251,9 @@ struct window_procs mac_procs = {
     WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_FONT_MAP | WC_FONT_MENU | WC_FONT_MESSAGE
         | WC_FONT_STATUS | WC_FONT_TEXT | WC_FONTSIZ_MAP | WC_FONTSIZ_MENU
         | WC_FONTSIZ_MESSAGE | WC_FONTSIZ_STATUS | WC_FONTSIZ_TEXT,
-    0L, mac_init_nhwindows,
+    0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    mac_init_nhwindows,
     mac_unimplemented, /* see macmenu.c:mac_askname() for player selection */
     mac_askname, mac_get_nh_event, mac_exit_nhwindows, mac_suspend_nhwindows,
     mac_unimplemented, mac_create_nhwindow, mac_clear_nhwindow,
diff --git a/sys/mac/mttymain.c b/sys/mac/mttymain.c
index 5231e84da..2cd59a9d2 100644
--- a/sys/mac/mttymain.c
+++ b/sys/mac/mttymain.c
@@ -269,6 +269,33 @@ _mt_init_stuff(void)
     clear_tty(_mt_window);
 
     InitMenuRes();
+
+    {
+        /* update the window proc has_color table */
+        int i, setting = 0;
+        Rect r;
+//	Point p = {0, 0};
+        GDHandle gh = (GDHandle) 0;
+
+        if (_mt_in_color) {
+            GetWindowBounds(_mt_window, kWindowContentRgn, &r);
+//          SetPortWindowPort(_mt_window);
+//          LocalToGlobal (&p);
+//          OffsetRect (&r, p.h, p.v);
+            gh = GetMaxDevice(&r);
+            /* > 4 bpp */
+            setting = ((*((*gh)->gdPMap))->pixelSize > 4) ? 1 : 0;
+    	}
+
+        for (i = 0; i < CLR_MAX ; ++i) {
+            tty_procs.has_color[i] =
+                (i == CLR_BLACK || i == NO_COLOR || i == CLR_WHITE)
+                    ? 1
+                    : (_mt_in_color && gh)
+                        ? setting
+                        : 0;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 int
@@ -302,6 +329,8 @@ getreturn(char *str)
     (void) tgetch();
 }
 
+#if 0       /* this function is commented out */
+/* the tty has_color[] table is filled in during init above */
 int
 has_color(int color)
 {
@@ -327,6 +356,7 @@ has_color(int color)
 
     return (*((*gh)->gdPMap))->pixelSize > 4; /* > 4 bpp */
 }
+#endif
 
 void
 tty_delay_output(void)
diff --git a/sys/wince/mswproc.c b/sys/wince/mswproc.c
index 9236ccd7d..8133ea2eb 100644
--- a/sys/wince/mswproc.c
+++ b/sys/wince/mswproc.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ struct window_procs mswin_procs = {
         | WC_TILE_WIDTH | WC_TILE_HEIGHT | WC_TILE_FILE | WC_VARY_MSGCOUNT
         | WC_WINDOWCOLORS | WC_PLAYER_SELECTION,
     WC2_FULLSCREEN | WC2_SOFTKEYBOARD | WC2_WRAPTEXT, mswin_init_nhwindows,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
     mswin_player_selection, mswin_askname, mswin_get_nh_event,
     mswin_exit_nhwindows, mswin_suspend_nhwindows, mswin_resume_nhwindows,
     mswin_create_nhwindow, mswin_clear_nhwindow, mswin_display_nhwindow,
diff --git a/sys/winnt/nttty.c b/sys/winnt/nttty.c
index 2ce343f62..a9dbaa072 100644
--- a/sys/winnt/nttty.c
+++ b/sys/winnt/nttty.c
@@ -722,7 +722,6 @@ tty_delay_output()
     }
 }
 
-#ifdef TEXTCOLOR
 /*
  * CLR_BLACK		0
  * CLR_RED		1
@@ -795,10 +794,10 @@ init_ttycolor()
 #endif
     init_ttycolor_completed = TRUE;
 }
-#endif /* TEXTCOLOR */
 
+#if 0
 int
-has_color(int color)
+has_color(int color)        /* this function is commented out */
 {
 #ifdef TEXTCOLOR
     if ((color >= 0) && (color < CLR_MAX))
@@ -810,6 +809,7 @@ has_color(int color)
     else
         return 0;
 }
+#endif
 
 int
 term_attr_fixup(int attrmask)
diff --git a/sys/winnt/stubs.c b/sys/winnt/stubs.c
index fa4a9361c..447b0dabb 100644
--- a/sys/winnt/stubs.c
+++ b/sys/winnt/stubs.c
@@ -114,12 +114,6 @@ backsp()
     return;
 }
 
-int
-has_color(int color)
-{
-    return 1;
-}
-
 #ifndef NO_MOUSE_ALLOWED
 void
 toggle_mouse_support()
diff --git a/win/Qt/qt_win.cpp b/win/Qt/qt_win.cpp
index 46237679a..919018c41 100644
--- a/win/Qt/qt_win.cpp
+++ b/win/Qt/qt_win.cpp
@@ -5229,6 +5229,7 @@ struct window_procs Qt_procs = {
 	WC_FONT_MAP|WC_TILE_FILE|WC_TILE_WIDTH|WC_TILE_HEIGHT|
 	WC_PLAYER_SELECTION|WC_SPLASH_SCREEN,
     0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
     NetHackQtBind::qt_init_nhwindows,
     NetHackQtBind::qt_player_selection,
     NetHackQtBind::qt_askname,
diff --git a/win/Qt4/qt4bind.cpp b/win/Qt4/qt4bind.cpp
index f6cf3196d..b0f2e6b65 100644
--- a/win/Qt4/qt4bind.cpp
+++ b/win/Qt4/qt4bind.cpp
@@ -730,6 +730,7 @@ struct window_procs Qt_procs = {
     | WC_FONT_MAP | WC_TILE_FILE | WC_TILE_WIDTH | WC_TILE_HEIGHT
     | WC_PLAYER_SELECTION | WC_SPLASH_SCREEN,
     0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
     nethack_qt4::NetHackQtBind::qt_init_nhwindows,
     nethack_qt4::NetHackQtBind::qt_player_selection,
     nethack_qt4::NetHackQtBind::qt_askname,
diff --git a/win/X11/winX.c b/win/X11/winX.c
index 85725d144..8378fa568 100644
--- a/win/X11/winX.c
+++ b/win/X11/winX.c
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ struct window_procs X11_procs = {
     WC2_FLUSH_STATUS | WC2_RESET_STATUS | WC2_HILITE_STATUS |
 #endif
     0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
     X11_init_nhwindows,
     X11_player_selection, X11_askname, X11_get_nh_event, X11_exit_nhwindows,
     X11_suspend_nhwindows, X11_resume_nhwindows, X11_create_nhwindow,
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmain.c b/win/curses/cursmain.c
index 9d3a1ccb2..fa76aa81e 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmain.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmain.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ struct window_procs curses_procs = {
      | WC2_FLUSH_STATUS | WC2_TERM_SIZE
      | WC2_STATUSLINES | WC2_WINDOWBORDERS | WC2_PETATTR | WC2_GUICOLOR
      | WC2_SUPPRESS_HIST),
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
     curses_init_nhwindows,
     curses_player_selection,
     curses_askname,
diff --git a/win/gem/wingem.c b/win/gem/wingem.c
index a578b1fb0..d215a7ae3 100644
--- a/win/gem/wingem.c
+++ b/win/gem/wingem.c
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ struct window_procs Gem_procs = {
         | WC_FONT_TEXT | WC_FONT_MAP | WC_FONTSIZ_MESSAGE | WC_FONTSIZ_STATUS
         | WC_FONTSIZ_MENU | WC_FONTSIZ_TEXT | WC_FONTSIZ_MAP | WC_TILE_WIDTH
         | WC_TILE_HEIGHT | WC_TILE_FILE | WC_VARY_MSGCOUNT | WC_ASCII_MAP,
-    0L, Gem_init_nhwindows, Gem_player_selection, Gem_askname,
+    0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    Gem_init_nhwindows, Gem_player_selection, Gem_askname,
     Gem_get_nh_event, Gem_exit_nhwindows, Gem_suspend_nhwindows,
     Gem_resume_nhwindows, Gem_create_nhwindow, Gem_clear_nhwindow,
     Gem_display_nhwindow, Gem_destroy_nhwindow, Gem_curs, Gem_putstr,
diff --git a/win/gnome/gnbind.c b/win/gnome/gnbind.c
index 0b85b30d1..1ba8005d1 100644
--- a/win/gnome/gnbind.c
+++ b/win/gnome/gnbind.c
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ extern NEARDATA winid WIN_STATUS;
 
 /* Interface definition, for windows.c */
 struct window_procs Gnome_procs = {
-    "Gnome", WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_INVERSE, 0L, gnome_init_nhwindows,
+    "Gnome", WC_COLOR | WC_HILITE_PET | WC_INVERSE, 0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    gnome_init_nhwindows,
     gnome_player_selection, gnome_askname, gnome_get_nh_event,
     gnome_exit_nhwindows, gnome_suspend_nhwindows, gnome_resume_nhwindows,
     gnome_create_nhwindow, gnome_clear_nhwindow, gnome_display_nhwindow,
diff --git a/win/share/safeproc.c b/win/share/safeproc.c
index ab5cb1c5a..b0f75220a 100644
--- a/win/share/safeproc.c
+++ b/win/share/safeproc.c
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 
 struct window_procs safe_procs = {
     "safe-startup", 0L, 0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
     safe_init_nhwindows, safe_player_selection, safe_askname, safe_get_nh_event,
     safe_exit_nhwindows, safe_suspend_nhwindows, safe_resume_nhwindows,
     safe_create_nhwindow, safe_clear_nhwindow, safe_display_nhwindow,
diff --git a/win/tty/termcap.c b/win/tty/termcap.c
index 790d7c485..dbbd8164d 100644
--- a/win/tty/termcap.c
+++ b/win/tty/termcap.c
@@ -1282,41 +1282,6 @@ int color;
         xputs(hilites[color]);
 }
 
-/* not to be confused with has_colors() in unixtty.c */
-int
-has_color(color)
-int color;
-{
-#ifdef X11_GRAPHICS
-    /* XXX has_color() should be added to windowprocs */
-    if (windowprocs.name != NULL && !strcmpi(windowprocs.name, "X11"))
-        return 1;
-#endif
-#ifdef GEM_GRAPHICS
-    /* XXX has_color() should be added to windowprocs */
-    if (windowprocs.name != NULL && !strcmpi(windowprocs.name, "Gem"))
-        return 1;
-#endif
-#ifdef QT_GRAPHICS
-    /* XXX has_color() should be added to windowprocs */
-    if (windowprocs.name != NULL && !strcmpi(windowprocs.name, "Qt"))
-        return 1;
-#endif
-#ifdef CURSES_GRAPHICS
-    /* XXX has_color() should be added to windowprocs */
-    /* iflags.wc_color is set to false and the option disabled if the
-     terminal cannot display color */
-    if (windowprocs.name != NULL && !strcmpi(windowprocs.name, "curses"))
-        return iflags.wc_color;
-#endif
-#ifdef AMII_GRAPHICS
-    /* hilites[] not used */
-    return iflags.use_color ? 1 : 0;
-#else
-    return hilites[color] != (char *) 0;
-#endif
-}
-
 #endif /* TEXTCOLOR */
 
 #endif /* TTY_GRAPHICS && !NO_TERMS */
diff --git a/win/tty/wintty.c b/win/tty/wintty.c
index 011763499..8bbcaca32 100644
--- a/win/tty/wintty.c
+++ b/win/tty/wintty.c
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ struct window_procs tty_procs = {
      | WC2_RESET_STATUS
 #endif
      | WC2_DARKGRAY | WC2_SUPPRESS_HIST | WC2_STATUSLINES),
+#ifdef TEXTCOLOR
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+#else
+    {1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1},
+#endif
     tty_init_nhwindows, tty_player_selection, tty_askname, tty_get_nh_event,
     tty_exit_nhwindows, tty_suspend_nhwindows, tty_resume_nhwindows,
     tty_create_nhwindow, tty_clear_nhwindow, tty_display_nhwindow,
@@ -4304,7 +4309,7 @@ unsigned long *bmarray;
    the condition where this gets used always has the same value */
 #define condcolor(bm,bmarray) NO_COLOR
 #define term_start_color(color) /*empty*/
-#define term_end_color(color) /*empty*/
+#define term_end_color() /*empty*/
 #endif /* TEXTCOLOR */
 
 static int
diff --git a/win/win32/mswproc.c b/win/win32/mswproc.c
index d763a0a1b..1cc94103c 100644
--- a/win/win32/mswproc.c
+++ b/win/win32/mswproc.c
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ struct window_procs mswin_procs = {
 #ifdef STATUS_HILITES
     WC2_HITPOINTBAR | WC2_FLUSH_STATUS | WC2_RESET_STATUS | WC2_HILITE_STATUS |
 #endif
-    0L, mswin_init_nhwindows, mswin_player_selection, mswin_askname,
+    0L,
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    mswin_init_nhwindows, mswin_player_selection, mswin_askname,
     mswin_get_nh_event, mswin_exit_nhwindows, mswin_suspend_nhwindows,
     mswin_resume_nhwindows, mswin_create_nhwindow, mswin_clear_nhwindow,
     mswin_display_nhwindow, mswin_destroy_nhwindow, mswin_curs, mswin_putstr,