CUG CD-ROM Vols. 460 - 479

(CUG 460) Yet Another Class Lib: multiplatform framework

M.A. Sridhar of faculty of the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) contributes "Yet Another Class Library (YACL), an innovative cross-platform application framework. YACL is a C++ class library that offers high-level abstractions for common programming problems. Its design goal is to be both application-centric and take advantage of C++ facilities (e.g. operator overloading and templates) wherever possible. YACL implements both scalar (String, Integer, Date, etc.) and container (sequence, set, tree, etc.) core classes. The GUI classes are based on a variation of the model view controller (MVC) paradigm. YACL supports all expected GUI objects (menus, dialogs, buttons, listboxes, button groups, etc) and resources (cursors, fonts, pens, colors and brushes).

The YACL application framework supports the widest variety of compilers, GUIs and OSes I've ever seen in a freeware library, including Windows 3.1, Windows NT, OS/2 2.x and 3.0, SGI, SUN, Ultrix, Linux, RS/6000, and HP-UX. YACL version 1.60 as released on 11/11/96 is now available on the CUG CD-ROM.

(CUG 461) Railroad Signalling modeller

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Dean Lance Smith and Mohammad Musa present their paper "Two Software Data Organizations that Support Railraod Signalling" and accompanying C source. This program models a control system capable of understanding an entire railroad line composed of any combination of Automatic Blocking System (ABS) and Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) blocks. In railroad parlance, a "signal block" or "block", is a length of rail track that is controlled by a block signal. A block may contain two or more tracks in various track configurations. Most blocks have at least one main track. Two or more main tracks may also be in parallel in a block. A block may also contain lines that cross the main track(s), turnouts, branch lines, or sidings. Two or more blocks constitute a rail line.

The package contains both the signal modeller data entry program and a second program capable of combining several adjacent blocks into single blocks. The programs are designed for MS-DOS using Borland C but could probably be ported to other environments by modifying the display code (which uses INT 10h). Railroad Signalling modeller as released on 1/3/93 is now available on the CUG CD-ROM.

(CUG 462) Sherlock 2.0 for Macintosh: debugging tools

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Ed Ream (Madison, WI) submits the Sherlock 2.0 set of debugging tools for Macintosh as CUG volume 462. Longtime CUJ readers may recall earlier incarnations as Sherlock 1.7 for MS-DOS (CUG 355) and Macintosh (CUG 356). Sherlock is a debugging tool different from currently popular interactive debugging tools such as CodeView. Sherlock uses C macro expansion capabilities to implant debugging calls and functions without manual coding. Those calls are enabled/disabled from the command line and removing those calls from the source is also done automatically. Sherlock uses far less memory than a full-size debugger. In addition, Sherlock provides detailed statistics about your program.

The distribution disk contains full source code for all portions of Sherlock, along with all test files, batch files, executable files and detailed documentation. Sherlock is in the public domain and may be used for any commercial or non-commercial purpose Sherlock can be used in Motorol MC68xxx or PowerPC Macs. Sherlock 2.0 as released on 4/8/96 is now available on the CUG CD-ROM.

(CUG 463) Linteger: Arbitrary Precision Integer Class Lib

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Leonard Janke (University of British Columbia, Vancouver) contributes LInteger, a C++ library that empowers you to create and perform arithmetic on objects representing nearly arbitrary precision integers. Thanks to C++ support for operator overloading, the use of the large integers in this library should be nearly as easy as the use of regular int types. In many cases, converting your application to use LInteger can be as simple as substituting "LInteger" for "int" in your editor.

The current version of this library requires Intel 386 or better CPU and is only guaranteed to compile perfectly with GNU C++. Though Linteger has only been tested on Linux, Janke predicts it should work with OS/2 or Windows NT. He has coded the multiprecision methods in assembly language for speed. Multiplication can be performed via recursion or Montgomery style. Linteger includes documentation in HTML for public methods. This library is free for both commercial and non-commercial use. LInteger v0.1 as released on 9/2/96 is now available on the CUG CD-ROM

(CUG 464) Miracle C Compiler for MS-DOS

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B.T. Szocik (Ottawa, Ontario) submits the Miracle C compiler, a complete language and runtime implementation for MS-DOS. Szocik intends Miracle C to be used primarily as a teaching support tool. Miracle C supports only the Small memory model (code < 64K, data < 64K). Pointers are always 16-bit; no "far" extensions are allowed. All K&R C syntax and data types are fully supported (plus some ANSI extensions), there's nothing small about the language implementation.

Miracle C generates .OBJ object code files but does not include a linker. You may be able use the LINK.EXE suplied with some versions of MS-DOS or use one provided on the Microsoft software library site (such as ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/MSLFILES/lnk563.exe). Miracle C does include a 45-page Users Manual and runtime library reference in Word for Windows and ASCII formats.

Since Miracle C is distributed as shareware, you must register it if you plan to use it beyond the evaluation period. Registration is only US$15 and entitles you to full compiler source code of the next version. Miracle C compiler version 1.6 as released on 10/3/96 is now available on the CUG CD-ROM.

(CUG 465) Fader Custom Control for Windows

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Victor R. Volkman (Ann Arbor, MI) contributes his "Fader" custom control for Windows, a slider control for use with Windows 3.1 and compatible environments. The Fader is a custom control designed to return a continuous range of values based on the position of a thumb that slides along a rail. This idea is similar to the Windows scrollbar in many respects. Since the scrollbar is almost inseparably associated with scrolling the client area, it quickly becomes unfamiliar in other contexts. The fader provides an analog range in the same way the potentiometers are used in a stereo equalizer or mixer. For example, a fader could be used to apply equalization to a waveform or to regulate the hue of a color.

Fader compiles under Microsoft C 7.0 or later. The archive includes an accompanying 10-page tutorial on custom controls which originally appeared in "Windows Developers Journal", Feb/Mar 1992. Fader is in the public domain and may be used for any commercial or non-commercial purpose. Fader as released on 2/1/92 is now available on the CUG CD-ROM.

(CUG 466) Autoduck: automated API documentation extraction

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Eric Artzt of Microsoft Corporation (Bellevue, WA) releases Autoduck, a Windows 95/Windows NT console utility that extracts specially tagged comment blocks from C/C++, Visual Basic, and Assembly source files. Autoduck formats the information in the comment blocks and produces documentation files in Rich Text Format (RTF) for use with Microsoft Word or the Windows Help Compiler. Autoduck can also produce HTML files for Internet or intranet use.

Autoduck is an extremely easy and efficient way to produce nicely formatted documentation files for your programming interfaces. The program extracts information from tagged comment blocks and from the language elements themselves. The tagset supports most C/C++ constructs including classes, member functions, function, enumeration types, structures, etc. Autoduck includes full source code in C++ and requires MFC. Autoduck version 2.00.96.1220, as released on 12/20/96, is now available on the CUG CD-ROM.

This page maintained by Victor R. Volkman
Last updated on 11/25/96