ReadMe.txt for GETCOL
=====================

Introduction:
-------------
GetCol is designed to extract the collation table of a Clipper
application and create an include file for use in Xbase++.


Usage:
------
Compile GetCol with Clipper:
   clipper getcol -n
   
Link the created getcol.obj with the collation of your choice:
   rtlink fi getcol, ntxpl852
   
Run the created GetCol.exe with the name of the collation as
parameter:
   getcol polish
   
A new file called polish.ch will be generated. Include this
file into your Xbase++ projects to enable the setting

   SET COLLATION TO <language>
   
In this case

   SET COLLATION TO POLISH
   
Now you can use the same collation in your Xbase++ application
as you used it in your Clipper application.


Sample:
=======
A sample is also included...

Run the commands listed in section Usage to build polish.ch

Now:
compile test.prg with Clipper using the define __CREATE__
   
   clipper test -n -d__CREATE__

Link the polish collation to the project and rename the output
   
   rtlink fi test, ntxpl852 out cl_cre8

Run cl_cre8 to create a table using Clipper with all characters
included in it.

Now compile test.prg in Xbase++ without any defines but debug information
   
   xpp /b test
   
Link it to an executable with debig info

   alink /de test
   
Now debug the sample

   xppdbg test.exe

   
Step through it... The sample opens the table and seeks for every single
key! And it finds all!

To get the proove, comment out the

   SET COLLATION TO POLISH
   
to set the collation to american again and compile and link the sample
again. Now run it again and you will see that many key can not be found.

This is the proove!


Limitations:
============
GetCol only reads the collation, it can not handle lexical
rules like the German umlauts ('ä' -> 'ae').

Read the Online Documentation of Xbase++ for more Information
about lexical rules and how to set them.