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-
- README for IPFC - 32-bit
- (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1993
-
- INSTALLATION
- ____________
-
- After copying the files over, add the line:
-
- SET IPFC=X:\DEVTOOLS\32BIT\IPFC32
-
- to your CONFIG.SYS where X: is the drive where
- you installed the 32-bit tools.
-
-
- INTRODUCTION
- ____________
-
-
- This README contains information related to the new
- 32-bit IPF compiler. The new compiler provides the
- following enhancements over the previous version:
-
- o Increased limits
-
- o Better performance
-
- o Two new macros: .ce and .nameit
-
- o One new tag: :hdref.
-
- o New command-line interface (old interface is still
- supported)
-
- o Environment variables for specifying the locations
- of imbed files, artwork and artlink files, and
- temporary files
-
- o Ability to specify an output file on the command line
-
- o Elimination of dependency on BMTAG.TAG and APSYMBOL.APS
- files. APSYMBOL.APS is still used, but it is no
- longer a fatal error if it is not available.
-
- o Misspelling in IPF*.NLS files have been corrected
- ("GRAMMER" is now "GRAMMAR")
-
- o Output messages from the compiler now indicate "error"
- for severe messages, and "warning" for others
-
- NOTE: Due to some incompatibilities between the 16-bit and
- the 32-bit programming interface, it was necessary to disable
- one of the compression algorithms used for bitmaps and
- searches. In our testing, we have found that this algorithm
- is used very seldom, so this should not impact most users.
- The result of disabling this algorithm is that you will
- occasionally see a small increase in the size of your output
- files when compared to the 16-bit compiler.
-
- INCREASED LIMITS
- ________________
-
- The new compiler has increased the vocabulary limit from
- 16,000 words to 64,000 words. The overall document size
- and page size have also been increased. Also, the external
- database limit has been increased to 255.
-
- We have successfully compiled files of up to 23MG.
-
- IMPORTANT NOTES: Due to the design of the compiler, you will
- notice significant swapper growth when compiling very large
- files. Also, although there is no limit to the size of a
- page when compiled, you might see odd behavior in the help
- manager itself. Usually, this is the absence of scroll bars.
- To fix this problem, make your page smaller.
-
- BETTER PERFORMANCE
- __________________
-
- Initial tests indicate that this compiler is from 30% to
- 50% faster than the 16-bit compiler.
-
- TWO NEW MACROS
- ______________
-
- Two new macros have been introduced.
-
- .ce is used to center a line of text. Example:
-
- .ce Text to center
-
- .nameit is used to perform symbol substitution. Example:
-
- .nameit symbol=os2 text='Operating System/2 Version 2.1'
-
- You can then use the symbol &os2. in your document and the
- text "Operating System/2 Version 2.1" will be placed in
- your document.
-
- ONE NEW TAG
- ___________
-
- A new tag has been introduced, the :hdref. tag. This tag
- behaves similar to the Bookmaster tag of the same name.
- It creates a hypertext link with the text "Reference."
- For example:
-
- :hdref refid=10.
-
- produces a hyperlink with the text "Reference" that links
- to the panel with an id of 10. This tag is useful when you
- have many links and you do not want to type the text of each
- link.
-
- NEW COMMAND-LINE INTERFACE
- __________________________
-
- A new command-line interface has been introduced. To view
- it, type IPFC with no parameters. For help on any
- of the options, type IPFC X:? where X is one of the options.
-
- NOTE: The old command-line interface is still supported.
-
- ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
- _____________________
-
- Three environment variables have been introduced for
- specifying the location of source files. The IPFCIMBED
- environment variable is used to search for files imbedded
- with the .im macro. The IPFCARTWORK environment variable
- is used to specify the location of artwork files and
- artlink files. The TMP environment variable is used to
- indicate where the compiler should store the intermediate
- files it creates during the compilation.
-
- NOTE: The IPFC environment variable has been enhanced to
- allow multiple paths.
-
- ABILITY TO SPECIFY OUTPUT FILE
- ______________________________
-
- You may now specify an output file on the command line.
- For example:
-
- IPFC TEST.IPF C:\FILE.HLP
-
- This filename can include path information.
-
- NOTE: Be sure that you use the proper extension, if any.
- Files compiled as INF files should have the INF extension.
-
- ELIMINATION OF BMTAG.TAG
- ________________________
-
- The BMTAG.TAG file is no longer necessary. Also the absence
- of the APSYMBOL.APS file is no longer a fatal error. In
- addition, some small improvements have been made to the
- APSYMBOL.APS file.
-
- MISSPELLINGS
- ____________
-
- New IPF*.NLS files are being shipped with the misspelling of
- GRAMMAR corrected. Old files are still compatible.
-