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Monster Media 1994 #1
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CLIPPER
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CLIPXMS.ZIP
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CLXMS.TXT
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1994-04-11
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New Product Announcement From Martin Technologies
March 23, 1994 revision
Greg Martin, the author of OverLay()*, and the co-author of ExoSpace* and
ProVision:Windows* is proud to announce the arrival of ClipXMS, the XMS/EMS
memory solution for Clipper 5.
ClipXMS allows real-mode Clipper applications to use XMS (extended) memory,
freeing Clipper from its total dependence on EMS (expanded) memory. Just
link ClipXMS into your application and end your worries about your user's
computer configuration. Every memory manager configuration is compatible
with Clipper when using ClipXMS.
End your user's CONFIG.SYS nightmares with ClipXMS!
Benefits of ClipXMS include:
----------------------------
1) Allows Clipper 5 to transparently use either XMS or EMS memory.
2) No more end-user configuration worries. Every memory manager
configuration is compatible with Clipper using ClipXMS.
3) Lets the end-user disable EMS memory, potentially freeing up more DOS
memory for your Clipper application by allowing your user to move more
device drivers and other TSRs into upper memory.
4) Compatible with all linkers including Blinker 3.0's dual mode.
(Please note that ClipXMS is compatible with, but does not benefit
protected mode programs linked with ExoSpace and Blinker 3.0)
5) Can substantially increase performance of your Clipper application on
2 MB 286 computers using the HIMEM.SYS driver.
6) Inform users when they have no XMS/EMS memory manager installed.
XMS and EMS Memory
------------------
All IBM compatible computers except those using the original 8088
microprocessor can have expanded or extended memory. Clipper 5 is limited
to using only expanded memory, therefore, if a computer is not properly
configured it may have megabytes of extended memory that are not usable by
your Clipper applications. The result can be very slow program operation
especially in larger applications.
When you link in ClipXMS, as long as the computer's CONFIG.SYS loads a
memory manager such as HIMEM.SYS, QEMM, or 386MAX, your Clipper application
can use any available extended or expanded memory. If no memory manager is
present, ClipXMS will not be able to use any available extended memory. In
that case, ClipXMS does include the ClipXMS() function which allows your
program to alert the user if they have extended memory available, but have
not installed a memory manager.
An important side effect of using ClipXMS is that your users no longer have
to configure their computers for EMS (expanded) memory. This frees up 64K
of high memory allowing your users to load more device drivers and TSRs
into high memory, thereby freeing up more DOS memory for your Clipper
application.
Protected and Dual Mode
-----------------------
ClipXMS is compatible with ExoSpace and Blinker 3's protected mode, but
ClipXMS does not benefit protected mode programs because protected mode
programs are able to use XMS (extended) memory directly by themselves. If
you do link ClipXMS into a protected mode program, your program will run
exactly as it did without ClipXMS.
Compatibility with protected mode is important if you are using Blinker 3's
dual mode. When you link ClipXMS into a Blinker 3 dual mode program,
ClipXMS will not interfere when the program runs in protected mode, but
ClipXMS will kick in when the program runs in real mode allowing your real
mode program to use XMS memory directly.
ClipXMS is in no way a replacement for protected mode nor does it compete
in anyway with ExoSpace or Blinker 3.0's protected mode.
The reasons people use protected mode (faster execution of large programs,
getting rid of VMM errors, linking in more third party libraries and C/ASM
code, and creating larger applications) are not reasons for using ClipXMS.
On the contrary, the purpose behind ClipXMS is to allow real-mode Clipper
applications to run under a wider variety of computer configurations by
supporting both XMS and EMS memory.
Using ClipXMS means less worries and problems with the end-user's computer
configuration, but it doesn't solve any of the problems that protected mode
solves.
ClipXMS can help real-mode programs run faster on computers that have only
XMS memory (such as most 2 MB 286 computers, or 386/486 computers that do
not load an EMS driver at startup). Swapping to disk is noticeably slower
then swapping to XMS/EMS memory and, in those situations, ClipXMS can
dramatically speed up real-mode Clipper programs.
The ClipXMS() Function
----------------------
ClipXMS includes a function named ClipXMS() that you can call from your
Clipper program. This function can tell you among other things whether
your Clipper program is using EMS or XMS memory or is running in protected
mode, and how much EMS and XMS memory was available at startup. This
function even informs you if the computer the program is running on does
not have a memory manager loaded, but has available extended memory. Thus,
you can inform the user they can get better performance by using a memory
manager.
Release Date
------------
ClipXMS is scheduled for commercial release the first week in April. The
list price has been set at $99 (plus shipping). On the release date,
Martin Technologies will post ordering information. In the meantime,
please post any questions to CompuServe ID 73707,3450.
In Europe you can contact:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Adress: Tel.:+49-40-7661290 │
│ SOFTSOL GmbH Fax :+49-40-7665664 │
│ Neue Str.35a BBS :+49-40-7665527 │
│ 21073 Hamburg CIS : 100112,3401 │
│ Germany Fido: 2:240/5300 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
for availability
About the Author
----------------
Greg Martin has been providing add-on tools for the Clipper community for
over five years. His first commercial add-on, OverLay()*, a memory
swapper, has been a lifesaver to thousands of Clipper developers. He also
co-authored ExoSpace* and ProVision:Windows*. Although he is no longer
associated with any of those products, he is very proud of his previous
work. He expects his new company, Martin Technologies, will be providing
many more very useful tools such as ClipXMS to the Clipper community.
*Trademark Information
---------------------
ClipXMS is a trademark of Martin Technologies; CA-Clipper/ExoSpace is a
trademark of Computer Associates International, Inc.; OverLay() and
ProVision:Windows are trademarks of SofDesign International, Inc.; all
other product names are trademarks of their respective companies.