EnigmA Amiga Run 1997 July/EnigmA AMIGA RUN 20 (1997)(G.R. Edizioni)(IT)[!][issue 1997-07 & 08][EAR-CD IV].iso/lightwave/lwmlist/96.lightwave-0108/[e-mail]_Mon Jan 8 00:44:50 EST 1996.msg

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Date: Sun, 07 Jan 1996 21:46:33 -0800
To: [e-mail]
From: "Daniel J. McCoy" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: How exactly do I use BML?
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At 11:19 PM 1/7/96 -0500, Andrew Hofman wrote this:
>I understand that BML is a scripting language. Having banged out some
>rudimentary Arexx scripts, I know the power of this. What I'd like are some
>more details on exactly how BML is used in a real-world situation. How does
>it compare in use to Arexx? What are the steps involved in compiling a script?

Basically, what you know about ARexx can be applied to BML.  Until BML is
released, however, all you can do is run the compiled scripts unless you've
been beta testing in which case you can run the scripts via the BML plug-in
which then interprets the scripts and runs them.  But if you get the
compiler and run-time version, you create your scripts , compile them via
command line (bmc script_to_compile).  If there are any errors, the compiler
will tell you.  Then use BML-RT to run them.

Language wise, if you've gotten into ARexx, chances are, getting into BML is
not that much harder.  Robert popped a little bit of ARexx into BML.  To see
what it all looks like, take a gander and the *.bml files on Robert Hood's
ftp site.

>Let's say I wanted to write a plugin for Alpha NT that would randomly clone
>an object all over the place. It would have controls for distance on the X,
>Y and Z axis, as well as density and maybe size variations. No, I'm not
>trying to get someone to write this for free. It just struck me as a good
>general example.

If you can do it in ARexx, you can do it in BML.

>Also, what is the difference between .bml and .bmc files? How do I use them
>in LW? Can either type simply be installed as a plugin or must they be
>compiled first?

*.BML files are the text script.  *.BMC is the compiled script.  You execute
these scripts either via BML or BML-RT in the CUSTOM drop-down list (after
adding either via Add Plug-In).  BML or BML-RT will then present you with a
file requester to select a *.BML or *.BMC file depending on if you selected
BML (which handles *.BML files) or BML-RT (which handles *.BMC files).  BML
will need to compile and then run the script while BML-RT just goes right at
it.  By creating a Custom Command List, you can execute BML or BMC scripts
without having to go through the BML/BML-RT file requester.  Oddly, Modeler
puts these types of "commands" at the top of the list over the "normal"
plugins.  I kinda wish they'd be sorted in with the rest.  :)

BML is still being worked on and something can always change.  Take Robert
Hood's word for it if you see his response.  He knows more than anyone else
about BML.  :)

Have fun,
Dan
--
Daniel J. McCoy - [e-mail] or [e-mail]
<A HREF="http://www.pacificnet.com/~djmccoy/></A>