OS/2 Shareware BBS: 10 Tools/10-Tools.zip/zfrms110.zip/READ.ME

Text File | 1993-09-06 | 10KB | 219 lines

Z-Forms Screen Management Package 09/06/93

Copyright (c) 1993, Z-Space.  All rights reserved.

=======================================================================
                          N O T I C E
=======================================================================
This IS a shareware package, and does require a registration fee if you
choose to continue using it after 30 days.  The library registration fee is
currently $35 US.  A source code registration is available for $65.
=======================================================================

Z-Space is pleased to announce the release of Z-Forms, a powerful, flexible,
easy to use screen management package.  Z-forms is a powerful tool that
assists programmers in producing applications with a fast, text-mode,
windowed user interface.  The package features built-in windowing, menuing,
dialog boxes, sound, and data input support.

Z-forms is intended to be easy to use, utilizing a minimal set of function
calls.  However, ease-of-use is not achieved at the expense of flexibility
and power.  Z-forms allows the programmer to configure every parameter that
effects the way the program screen looks, and contains many built-in
features to handle a wide variety of user-interface tasks.

Z-Forms supports a wide range of compilers and platforms, including:
16-bit OS/2 and DOS (Microsoft C 6.0 -including bound programs)
16-bit DOS (Borland C/C++ 2.0 and 3.0)
32-bit OS/2 (IBM C/Set)
32-bit OS/2 (Borland C++ for OS/2)
32-bit OS/2 (EMX/GCC)


WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 1.1
    The biggest addition to Version 1.1 is mouse support.  We have added it
transparently, so no source code changes will be necessary if you are
upgrading from Version 1.0.  Simply recompile (the header file has changed)
and relink.  The mouse is active whenever Z-Forms is waiting for a keypress,
and is recognized on all Z-Forms objects (Menus, Dialog Boxes, Prompts, and
PickLists).  The only limitation at this time is that the mouse cannot
select an item from a picklist on a dialog box, although standard picklists
work fine.  Mouse support is also bindable.
    There is now a new set of character-oriented text display functions,
supplimenting the string-oriented functions previously available.  Added to
Z_TextOut and Z_TextOver are:
Z_CharOut and Z_CharOver
Z_MoveCursorCol
Z_GetCursor
Z_CharOutAtCursor and Z_CharOverAtCursor
Z_CharOutTTY and Z_CharOverTTY
For more information about these functions, please see the function
reference in ZFORMS.DOC.
    Z_ClearWindow allows a single window to be cleared.  Previously the
whole screen had to be cleared.
    Z-Forms now supports tone and beep generation.  A tone of any pitch and
duration may be specified with Z_Beep.  There are several pre-defined beep
sequences available through Z_Alert.
    It is now possible to add 'fake' keystrokes to the keyboard buffer
under program control.  This allows the program to simulate user responses,
or create keyboard macros.  Please see Z_InsertKey and Z_InsertKeyString in
the function reference.
    We have added the 'extern "C"' declaration to the header file to make
it easier for C++ programmers to use Z-Forms.
    For those who are binding using Z-Forms, there is a new binding library
(ZFBIND.LIB) which allows the mouse calls to be bound, and which eliminates
the need for the '/N VIOxxx' switch required with version 1.0.
    Colors may be specified to the TextOut-style functions in two ways.
The foreground and background colors may be specified separately (the old
way), or by setting the background color to -1, the foreground sets the
complete attribute byte.
    Last, but not least, various bugs have been fixed.  Check the bug list
for more information.

COMPILER NOTES
==============
Z-Forms supports five compilers at this time.  Please read the section that
applies to your compiler for any helpful hints.  Also, If you are interested
in the GCC/2 compiler, there are notes about it as well.

Microsoft C
The libraries in MSC600.ZIP are for this compiler.  ZFORMS.LIB can be used
to create 16-bit OS/2 and bound programs with MSC6.  You can also build
DOS-only programs by linking with ZFORMS.LIB and ZFDOS.LIB.  If you bind,
use ZFBIND.LIB by using the following command:
    BIND progname.exe ZFBIND.LIB
It is no longer necessary to specify the '/N VIOGETBUF VIOSHOWBUF' command
line option.
These libraries also work with C/C++ V7.0 and Visual C++ for DOS-only
development.

IBM C/Set
The libraries in CSET.ZIP are for this compiler.  The libraries are 32-bit,
with the thunking to the 16-bit VIO calls handled by the compiler.  We have
heard of people having trouble calling the VIO functions, but it worked fine
for us.  Simply link with ZFORMS32.LIB.

Borland C/C++ for OS/2
The libraries in BCOS2.ZIP are for this compiler.  We finally resolved our
problems by explicitly disabling register optimizations.  Apparently,
disabling all optimizations with -Od is not enough, and -r- must be used.
These libraries now work correctly.  Link with ZFRMBC32.LIB.

Borland C/C++ 2.0/3.0
The libraries in BORLANDC.ZIP are for this compiler.  ZFORMSBC.LIB and
ZFDOSBC.LIB can be used to create 16-bit DOS programs.  The libraries were
built using C/C++ 2.0.

EMX/GCC
The libraries in EMX.ZIP are for this compiler.  The libraries were built
with EMX/GCC 0.8f.  There is an OMF style library (LIBZFOMF.LIB) and a .O
format library (LIBZFEMX.A).  Simply link with the correct one.

GCC/2
We have succesfully built libraries for GCC/2, but have been unable to use
them, because GCC/2 does not support calls to 16-bit code.  A translation
library is required, which we will work on for the next release.  If you
have or are willing to collaborate on such a library, contact us and we will
send you GCC/2 Z-Forms libraries.

COMPILING THE SAMPLE CODE
=========================
There are two sample programs included with Z-Forms.  ZFORMS.C is a sample
of the various user-interface types Z-Forms supports.  To build ZFORMS.EXE,
simply compile ZFORMS.C and link with the correct library for your compiler
(see above).  KEYMAP.C is a utility which displays the Z-Forms key code for
any keypress.  Simply compile KEYMAP.C and again link with the correct
libraries.  The samples programs are also supplied in executable form as
ZFORMS.EXE (bound for 16-bit DOS and OS/2), ZFORMS32.EXE (for 32-bit OS/2),
and KEYMAP.EXE (bound for 16-bit DOS amd OS/2).

NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES
==========================
Mouse support added
Keyboard buffer insert added
C++ header support added
New character display functions added
Bind library added
Z_ClearScreen under DOS fixed
Dialog Box buttons sometimes ignored.  Fixed.
Z_SetMode under BCC fixed.
Z_ScrollUp/Z_ScrollDown fixed.
BCOS/2 fixed.
Sound support added
ClearWindow function added
EMX/GCC support added
Sample code updated to demonstrate more of Z-Forms.


KNOWN BUGS AND STUFF
====================
We believe we have cleaned up most of the bugs that made it out in 1.0.  The
only major addition to 1.1 is mouse support.  There are no known bugs,
although we realize that the mouse can not be used to select items from a
picklist on a dialog box.  This is due to the way in which mouse support
works.

FEATURES IN DEVELOPMENT
=======================
There is an alpha-level screen editor being used internally (some of the
screens in the sample code were generated with it).  There is still alot of
work to do, but if there is enough interest, we will complete it for general
release.  If you could use this tool, please let us know.  (Not much
development since 1.0 was released)

GCC/2 support is in the works.  If you are interested in GCC/2, please
contact us.  We may have finished it by the time you read this.

We have also had requests for a text-editor or multi-line edit control.
This is on the list.

The libraries have grown larger than we expected.  As a result, executables
are bigger than they need to be, as we have not yet split some of the
modules.  We will do this for the next release.

We are willing to add other options that are of interest to the OS/2 and DOS
community.  If you have any suggestions, please contact us.


RELEASE HISTORY
===============
V1.1
Mouse, Sound support added, bug fixes, BCOS/2, EMX/GCC, 09/06/93

V1.0
First public release, 05/24/93

V0.9
Initial development for several internal projects, 07/01/92


CONTACTING THE AUTHORS
======================

Authors:  John and Laura Lathem, Z-Space

You may contact us in a  number of ways.  We welcome your comments on how we
may make Z-Forms a better, more useful product.  Unfortunately, we can't
provide a phone number at this time.

US Mail:        Z-Space (John and Laura Lathem)
                4278 W. 223rd Street
                Cleveland, Ohio 44126

Fax:            [phone] (ZSpace - John or Laura Lathem)

Fido netmail:   1:157/200 to "John Lathem"

Fido Echomail:  Echomail messages are discouraged, although we monitor
                OS2PROG and the Internet OS2 Programming forums, and will
                respond to questions of interest to the general OS/2
                programming community.

Direct BBS:     You can leave a message to JOHN LATHEM on the
                PC-Ohio BBS [phone].  This is Fidonet
                system 1:157/200 and Fidonet Netmail can be
                sent to this address.

Internet mail:  [e-mail]