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                                TXTALIAS.COM                                  

             Size (recs) CRC   Version    Author/Latest Issue      Disk
               4k (29)   88D1  1.00       Bruce Morgen 5/91        Z3COM21

  1- Syntax  2- Comments/Newlines  3- Error flags  4- Examples of Use         


   TXTALIAS is a true  ZCPR3 tool  that  "compiles"  standalone  aliases  from
standard ASCII "source" files.   TXTALIAS is  conceptually  similar to ACREATE
and BA24, but it supports  assembler-style  comments and  multiple newlines in
the source file,  has Joe Wright's latest ALIAS0  built-in rather than using a
separate "alias template" file,  allows  VALIAS-style "recursive" aliases, and
has Program Error Flag support for automation of alias "development."
:1
 Syntax   TXTALIAS [dir:]filename[.typ] [dir:][alias] [[/]R]
 
          Without an output alias specification, produces
          the alias "filename.COM" in the current directory.
          "R" option is for a VALIAS-style recursive alias.


   Aside from some mild alias naming constraints,  TXTALIAS has no significant
use limitations.  Command lines longer than the ZCPR3 Command Line Buffer will
cause a warning prompt,  but  processing can  optionally  continue  until  the
physical capacity of the ALIAS0  module itself is exceeded.   Source file size
is limited to available  memory minus TXTALIAS itself.   If no RSX is present,
TXTALIAS protects the CCP with  a full page to  spare.  Like ALIAS and SALIAS,
TXTALIAS requires "wheel" privileges.
:2
 Comments and Newlines - 1/2 

   TXTALIAS supports source file comments in the familiar standard Intel/Zilog
assembly language style.

   Full line comments must begin with a semicolon:

   ;This is a full line comment and
   ; so is this.

   Inline comments must be preceded by one or more horizontal fixed  tab (09h)
characters AND a semi-colon:

   dir   ;"dir" is a command, this is a comment.
 Comments and Newlines - 2/2 

   Multiple consecutive newlines are  also  handled sensibly.   The  following
source file...
---------------------------------------------|
cls                                          |
                                             |
;this is a comment                           |
;this is a comment                           |
echo this is a test	; This is a comment  |
                                             |
h                                            |
---------------------------------------------|

...would "compile" into the following alias command line:
---------------------------------------------|
cls;echo this is a test;h                    |
---------------------------------------------|
:3
 ZCPR3 Program Error Flag Values 

Condition                                        Decimal Value
---------                                        -------------
No errors detected                               0
Source file not found                            255
Source file probably empty                       2
Disk write error                                 1, 3, or 4
Command Line Overflow                            89
ALIAS0 overflow                                  99
Source file error (no terminating newline)       100
Not enough memory                                63 (ASCII "?")
Help query only                                  No change from previous value
:4
 Examples of Use 

   a. TXTALIAS TEST.123   
      -- Produces alias  TEST.COM from source  file TEST.123,  both in current
         directory.

   b. TXTALIAS BASE:TEST.123  
      -- Produces  alias  TEST.COM  in  current  directory  from  source  file
         TEST.123 in the named directory "BASE."

   c. TXTALIAS TEST.123 BASE:NEWALIAS  
      -- Produces alias NEWALIAS.COM in the named directory "BASE" from source
         file TEST.123 in the current directory.

   d. TXTALIAS M0:TEST.123 BASE: R  
      -- Produces recursive alias TEST.COM in the named directory  "BASE" from
         the source file TEST.123 on drive M, user area 0.

   e. TXTALIAS M0:TEST.123 BASE: /R
      -- Same result as in previous example.       
 Examples of Use - 2/2 

   If you really want to try, you can confuse TXTALIAS by naming the alias "R"
or "/R" -- this will not only force recursive mode,  but the destination file-
name will be ignored and the alias will be named according to the source file.
Getting around this "flaw" is a  simple  matter of  preceding  the destination
filename with a colon (":R" or ":/R") under  current  versions of  Z-System or
the current drive letter and a colon  ("A:R" or "A:/R") for  both  current and
older Z3-compatible systems.  Use of the current named directory ("dir:") spec
will also also work,  even on old  ZCPR3 systems that have the "DUOK" function
disabled.   To make the  alias  recursive,  use  the  "opposite"  form  of the
recursion option -- ":R /R" or ":/R R"....
