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APIQUEST.TEC
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1993-06-26
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ID:AQ DESQview API: Most Common Questions
Quarterdeck Technical Note #119 Filename: APIQUEST.TEC
by Quarterdeck Developer Support CompuServe: APIQUE.ZIP
Last revised: 3/19/93 Category: API
Subject: The ten most commonly asked questions by users of the DESQview
Application Program Interface (API).
1. THE CURSOR DOESN'T MOVE OR IT SITS IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER: WHAT
COULD BE WRONG? or, I GET VIDEO CORRUPTION WHEN WRITING STRINGS OUT FROM MY
API PROGRAM; IS THIS RELATED?
API programs should always have the "Writes Text Directly to Screen",
"Displays Graphics Information" and "Virtualize Text/Graphics" fields of their
DVP's (PIF) all set to NO.
The problems resulting from setting these fields to values other than NO can
vary. The most typical effect is the cursor not moving when text is being
typed. Another more extreme problem might be seen when text strings sent from
an API application to a window become garbled. These fields are the first
things to check when you experience problems with an API application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. WHEN I TRY TO REASSEMBLE API1.ASM WITH BORLAND'S TASM I GET A LOT OF
ERRORS.
API1.ASM was written more with MASM in mind. You can get API1.ASM to assemble
by using the TASM parameters /JQUIRKS (which allows for some of the quirks
that MASM has) and /MX (which eliminates many of the problems with case
sensitivity on global symbols.) An example of this would be:
tasm /jquirks /mx api1.asm
This will result in 7 warnings but will produce a usable API1.OBJ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. HOW DO THE API FUNCTIONS FOR PUSHKEY AND PUTKEY WORK?
The API direct calls of PUSHKEY and PUTKEY seem to be difficult for some users
of the DESQview API. These functions are simple and require only a few things
to be kept in mind in order to work:
* The keys that are sent will be in HEX. These codes are listed on pages
213-214 of the API manual. All of the standard and extended keys are listed.
* The "DESQ" key's scan/key code is FC00h. CTRL-ALT-DEL is FE00h.
* Scripts can NOT be played back by using the PUTKEY function, but they
WILL be played back with the PUSHKEY function.
* When using PUSHKEY, if you have several keys to push they must be pushed
in the opposite order that you want them seen. Use API_BEGINC and API_ENDC,
which will create an uninterrupted "critical region", to insure that they do
not get out of order. API_PUTKEY does not require the use of critical regions
or opposite ordering of the keys to be "put".
Following is a C program that shows the proper setup/execution of
PUSHKEY/PUTKEY.
Note: when using Clipper with the DESQview API you must use the
Clipper/DESQview API function API_DEC to convert the hex number to decimal.
Use the following lines as replacements to the C function lines for similar
functionality:
*Begin Clipper specific routine
keyout = api_dec("FC00")
api_putkey (tsk_me(),keyout)
*End Clipper specific routine
/* PUT/PUSHKEY using the DESQview API */
#include <stdio.h>
#include "dvapi.h"
#define REQUIRED 0x200 + 23
int version;
main () {
version = api_init();
if (version < REQUIRED) {
printf ("This program requires DESQview version %d.%02d or
later.\n",
REQUIRED/256,REQUIRED%256);
}
else {
api_level (REQUIRED);
api_beginc(); /* Note the critical section. */
api_pushkey (0x184F); /* Oposite ordering will produce */
api_pushkey (0xfc00); /* the DESQ key then the letter O */
api_endc(); /* Be sure to end the critical section! */
api_putkey (win_me(),0x184F); /* Supply api_putkey with the */
/* window handle and the key scan code/character code. */
/* In this case we use the api function win_me() to supply */
/* api_putkey with the name of the window this program will be */
/* running in, as opposed to another applications window */
}
api_exit();
}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. HOW CAN I TELL IF OTHER TASKS ARE RUNNING?
The best approach to check and see if other tasks are running is to write an
XDI (External Device Interface) driver and keep track of a task's creation and
termination. For further information on the XDI interface to DESQview, you
can consult the DESQview API Reference manual; or for a general overview,
obtain the XDI.TEC technote from Quarterdeck Office Systems.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. HOW ARE HARDWARE INTERRUPTS HANDLED UNDER DESQVIEW?
If the interrupt is requested and interrupts are enabled then the following
things must be true for the interrupt to happen:
* This particular interrupt must not be masked out.
* No interrupt of higher priority is in service at the time.
DESQview installs its own handler (called the DV Diverted handler) for all
hardware interrupts except for the timer interrupt which is undiverted by DV.
DV's handler switches onto an internal stack, determines which task should be
given the interrupt, then sets up that task's map and SOME of its state, and
calls the task's handler. The window's handler (if present) may usurp the
interrupt or preprocess it and pass it along or pass it along and postprocess
it.
DV passes along the timer interrupt to the currently executing window and then
does post processing (including time slicing).
The handler in place before DESQview may be a TSR or device driver, a DOS
stack or the BIOS, or a combination of any of the above.
DESQview gets ALL the hardware interrupts before any application loaded within
DESQview. DESQview accomplishes this by programming the 8259A Programmable
Interrupt Controller (PIC) so that all hardware interrupts are diverted to a
different set of interrupt vectors. When a hardware interrupt occurs,
DESQview will receive the interrupt. It will then determine which process
hooked that interrupt and map it in. It will then switch to an internal stack
and pass control to that process's handler. DESQview switches stacks because
the process that is being interrupted may have a small stack. DESQview's
stack is fairly large so you should not have stack space problems in your
handler. However, if your handler uses more than 100 bytes of stack space you
should switch to your own stack.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CAN I MAKE DESQVIEW API CALLS IN MY DOS EXTENDED PROGRAM?
Typically this is not possible. DESQview's API calls must be made in real
mode at this time. Since using a DOS extender puts the machine in protected
mode the API calls will not work. Some DOS extenders include functions that
let you make real mode calls from within your DOS extended program, but you
will have to refer to your documentation for this procedure, and it is
unsupported by Quarterdeck Developer Support at this time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. WHAT ARE THE FOUR LEVELS OF PROTECTION UNDER DESQVIEW, AND WHAT ARE THEIR
EFFECTS?
0 - none
1 - DESQview watches to see if a program has locked interrupts for a long time
and notifies the user. It entails no performance loss and only 1/2K memory
hit (from system memory), but only works on the PS/2 Model 80 and Compaq
machines.
2 - DESQview watches to see if a program writes to memory outside its region
and posts a message. DESQview doesn't spot programs that do jumps to
different regions. This option is fairly effective but will probably affect
performance noticeably.
3 - DESQview gets in the way of everything to check if a program even does a
jump to another region. Some programs won't even run under this burden
(especially well-behaved ones that make calls to DOS and the BIOS), and
performance will be impeded, but it should be pretty safe, barring TSR
problems. Performance degrades greatly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. CAN I USE CRITICAL REGIONS TO LOCK OUT MULTITASKING?
Yes, but there are some things that you should try to avoid. The critical
section should only be a few instructions long and avoid loops that would lock
out multitasking for an unreasonable amount of time. You should also note the
fact that interrupts are not received by the other processes that are running
and thus could result in loss of information, or, worse, system lockup if the
critical region is too large.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT VERSIONS OF THE APIS?
Product Codes Version
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
API C Library API-C-LIB 1.30
W/Reference API-REF/C 1.30
Toolkit API-C-TKT 1.30
API Pascal Library API-P-LIB 1.10
W/Reference API-REF/P 1.10
Toolkit API-P-TKT 1.30
API Clipper Library API-L-LIB 1.01
W/Reference API-REF/L 1.01
Toolkit API-L-TKT 1.01
API Basic Library API-B-LIB 1.01
W/Reference API-REF/B 1.01
Toolkit API-B-TKT 1.01
API Dbase Library API-D-LIB 1.00
W/Reference API-REF/D 1.00
Toolkit API-D-TKT 1.00
API Reference Manual API-REF 1.20
API Panel Designer API-PANEL 1.01
API Debugger API-DEBUG 1.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. HOW CAN I READ THE TEXT SCREEN OF ANOTHER APPLICATION?
This is possible if you place an asterisk in the 'shared program pathname'
field of all of the DVPs associated with the call to read the screen. A C
example of how this is possible is given below:
/*A simple example showing the use of DESQview's API win_read() function *
Note: make sure to place an asterisk in the 'shared program pathname' field *
of any of the DVPs associated with the win_read(); i.e., if program 'A' * will
be reading the window of programs 'B' and 'C', place an asterisk in all *
three DVPs of all three programs. */
#include <stdio.h>
#include "dvapi.h"
#define required 0x21a // DESQview 2.26 required
void main (int argc, char *argv[]);
int readpif (char *fname, char *buffer, unsigned size);
pifbuf[500];
char *buffer;
int buflng;
int i ;
void main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
ulong apphan;
uint tot,
avail,
lrg;
int version = api_init();
if(version < required)
{
printf("\n\nThis Program Requires DESQview Version %d.%02d or Later To
Run!\n\n",\
required/256,required%256);
exit(1);
}
else
{
api_level(required);
if (argc > 2)
{
strupr(argv[2]);
}
if(!readpif(argv[1],pifbuf,416))
{
printf("\nERROR: Bad Or Missing %s.\n",argv[1]);
api_exit();
exit(1);
}
apphan = app_start(pifbuf,416);
if (!apphan)
{
printf("\n\nError Starting Application.\n\n");
api_exit();
exit(1);
}
else
{
api_pause();
api_pause();
api_pause();
api_pause();
win_cursor(apphan,0,0);
for (i; i <= 25;i++)
{
win_cursor(apphan,1,0);
win_read(apphan,&buffer,&buflng);
win_printf(win_me(),"%s %d",buffer,buflng);
}
printf("\n\nApplication Started. Process ID:%lu\n\n",apphan);
}
api_exit();
exit(0);
}
}
int readpif (char *fname, char *buffer, unsigned size)
{
FILE *handle;
if ((handle = fopen(fname,"rb")) == 0)
return 0;
if (fread (buffer, size, 1, handle) != 1)
return 0;
fclose (handle);
return 1;
}
************************************************************************
* Trademarks are property of their respective owners. *
*This technical note may be copied and distributed freely as long as it*
*is distributed in its entirety and it is not distributed for profit. *
* Copyright (C) 1992 by Quarterdeck Office Systems *
************************ E N D O F F I L E *************************