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ADVC v1.0, 02/09/87 Advanced C Functions Copyright (c) Thomas Hanlin III, 1987 6812 Sydenstricker Rd Springfield, VA 22152 These routines may be freely distributed, provided that all files are included intact and unmodified. A distribution/handling fee of no more than $10 may be charged. The ADVC routines have been tested and appear to be bug-free. However, I can't guarantee as to whether they will work as advertised on your computer, using your compiler. Powerful low-level access techniques are used which could conceivably cause havoc on the wrong machines or wrong compilers, or if you don't use them properly. Be warned, and don't use ADVC unless you know what you're doing! The ADVC routines are grouped in files according to their type: Equipment, Input, Misc, String, Video. In order to use a routine, you will have to extract it from the appropriate file using an editor. You are responsible for setting up any "include" files which may be neces- sary for any given routine that you use in your program. These routines have been tested using Microsoft C, version 4.0. A large number of the functions provide low-level access to the machine, which requires use of nonportable code. You will have to convert these to your compiler if you use something other than Microsoft C. These routines are intended as a supplemental C library for folks who have some idea what they're doing. They are not designed with the novice in mind. If you don't understand how to use the functions, you probably shouldn't attempt to use them just yet! If you find the ADVC functions to be useful, your contribution to support my efforts will be welcome. Suggested amount, $15. Strike a blow against overpriced software-- support shareware! Notation: Routines are labeled "Generic" if they will work on with any C compiler on any machine. Routines are labeled "MS C" if they use features specific to Microsoft C and/or the IBM PC environment. Name: ANY2DEC Type: String / Generic Description: Converts a number in string form, in any base (2-35), into an unsigned integer. No checking for validity is done-- characters are assumed to be within the proper range for the base chosen, and the number as a whole is assumed to be within unsigned integer range. Usage: include <string.h> int any2dec(str,base) char *str; unsigned int base; Name: BSQUEEZE Type: String / Generic Description: Squeezes a string by replacing blanks with a code sequence. Assumes an input string which only uses normal ASCII (1-127) codes, with a length of less than 127 characters. Outputs a string which may include extended ASCII codes (128-255). Typical space savings for text is 15%. A static buffer is used, so the result will be overwritten on subsequent calls. See also BUNSQUEEZE (not as bad as it sounds!). Usage: unsigned char *bsqueeze(str) unsigned char *str; Oddities: May not be entirely generic, as it assumes a useable character set of at least 256 characters. Name: BUNSQUEEZE Type: String / Generic Description: Unsqueezes a string which was squeezed with BSQUEEZE. Assumes an input string with a length of less than 127 characters. A static buffer is used, so the result will be overwritten on subsequent calls. Usage: unsigned char *bunsqueeze(str) unsigned char *str; Oddities: May not be entirely generic, as it assumes a useable character set comprised of 256 characters. Name: BKSCROLL Type: Video / MS C Description: Scrolls an area of the screen down by a specified number of lines, or clears it entirely if you specify zero lines. The screen area to be scrolled is defined by its upper left and lower right corners. Usage: #include <dos.h> void bkscroll(leftcol,toprow,rightcol,bottomrow,lines) int leftcol, toprow, rightcol, bottomrow, lines; Oddities: Uses the BIOS video interrupts. Name: CLREOL Type: Video / MS C Description: Clears from the current cursor position to the end of line. Usage: #include <dos.h> void clreol() Oddities: Uses the BIOS video interrupts. Name: COMMPORTS Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the number of communications (serial) ports that are installed. Usage: #include <dos.h> int commports() Oddities: Uses a BIOS interrupt. Name: DEC2ANY Type: String / Generic Description: This function converts an unsigned integer into an ASCII string in the base of your choice (2-35). It uses a static buffer, so the result will be overwritten on subsequent calls. Usage: char *dec2any(number,base) unsigned int number, base; Name: DELAY Type: Miscellaneous / MS C Description: Delays for a given number of seconds. Usage: #include <stddef.h> #include <time.h> void delay(seconds) unsigned int seconds; Oddities: Uses a time function specific to Microsoft C, which returns the GMT as a number of seconds. Name: DISPLAYTYPE Type: Video / MS C Description: Returns the type of the current display: 0 = mono, 1 = color. Usage: #include <dos.h> int displaytype() Oddities: Uses a BIOS video interrupt. Name: EXTRACT Type: String / Generic Description: Extracts a delimited substring from a string. Substrings are numbered starting at one, and may not be over 80 characters in length. A static buffer is used for the substring, so save results if need be before the next use. Example usage: extract("John Doe=1919 Main St=Springfield IL 12345",'=',2) would return the second substring delimited by an equal sign, or in this case "1919 Main St". Usage: char *extract(str,delimiter,elementnumber) char *str, delimiter; int elementnumber; Name: GETDRIVE Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the current default disk drive. Usage: #include <dos.h> char getdrive() Oddities: Uses a DOS interrupt. Name: GETKEY Type: Input / MS C Description: Waits for one of a list of keys to be pressed, and returns the pressed key. The list of valid keys must be in uppercase; the returned key will always be converted to uppercase. If the list of valid keys is null, then the first key pressed will be returned. Usage: #include <conio.h> #include <ctype.h> char getkey(str) char *str; Oddities: Uses unbuffered input to get a key as soon as it's pressed. This is a common but nonstandard function. Name: JOYSTICK Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the number of joystick ports installed (0-1). Usage: #include <dos.h> int joystick() Oddities: Uses a BIOS interrupt. Name: LIMMFREE Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the number of free pages of installed LIM-spec expanded memory. One page is 16k bytes. Usage: #include <dos.h> int limmfree() Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: LIMMTOTAL Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the total number of installed pages of LIM-spec expanded memory. One page is 16k bytes. Usage: #include <dos.h> int limmtotal() Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: LOCASE Type: String / Generic Description: Convert a string to lowercase. Usage: #include <ctype.h> char *locase(str) char *str; Name: MOUSEBUTTONS Type: Input / MS C Description: See if mouse buttons are pressed. The result is returned as follows: 0: no button pressed 1: left button is pressed 2: right button is pressed 3: both buttons are pressed Usage: #include <dos.h> int mousebuttons() Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MOUSECHECK Type: Input / MS C Description: Sees if a mouse is installed. If not, zero will be returned. If so, the mouse is initialized, and the number of buttons the mouse has will be returned. Usage: #include <dos.h> int mousecheck() Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MOUSECLICK Type: Input / MS C Description: Tells you if a mouse button has been clicked since you last checked. The values returned are the same as for MOUSEBUTTONS. Usage: #include <dos.h> int mouseclick Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MOUSECOL Type: Input / MS C Description: Returns the column where the mouse cursor is located. See the file MOUSE.TXT for more information (important!). Usage: #include <dos.h> int mousecol() Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MOUSECURSOR Type: Input / MS C Description: Makes the mouse cursor visible or invisible. Use zero to turn the cursor off, nonzero to turn it back on. Usage: #include <dos.h> void mousecursor(toggle) int toggle; Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MOUSELOC Type: Input / MS C Description: Sets the location of the mouse cursor. See the file MOUSE.TXT for more information (important!). Usage: #include <dos.h> void mouseloc(column,row) int column, row; Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MOUSEROW Type: Input / MS C Description: Returns the row where the mouse cursor is located. See the file MOUSE.TXT for more information (important!). Usage: #include <dos.h> int mouserow() Oddities: Uses a weird interrupt. Name: MULTIAND Type: String / Generic Description: Performs an AND on each character of a string with a given value. Note that if this results in a NUL, your string may be prematurely terminated! Usage: char *multiand(str,c) char *str, c; Name: MULTIOR Type: String / Generic Description: Performs an OR on each character of a string with a given value. Usage: char *multior(str,c) char *str, c; Name: MULTIXOR Type: String / Generic Description: Performs an XOR on each character of a string with a given value. Note that if this results in a NUL, your string may be prematurely terminated! Usage: char *multixor(str,c) char *str, c; Name: PRINTPORTS Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the number of printer (parallel) ports installed. Usage: #include <dos.h> int printports() Oddities: Uses a BIOS call. Name: REVERSE Type: String / Generic Description: Reverses the order of characters in a string. Usage: #include <string.h> char *reverse(str) char *str; Name: SCROLL Type: Video / MS C Description: Scrolls an area of the screen up by a specified number of lines, or clears it entirely if you specify zero lines. The screen area to be scrolled is defined by its upper left and lower right corners. Usage: #include <dos.h> void scroll(leftcol,toprow,rightcol,bottomrow,lines) int leftcol, toprow, rightcol, bottomrow, lines; Oddities: Uses BIOS video interrupts. Name: SOUNDEX Type: String / Generic Description: Returns a "soundex" code for a string. This code is based on an algorithm for determining words that sound alike, and can be used (for instance) to index a phone directory by names that sound/look similar. The code returned will be up to 80 characters long, but never longer than the string for which the code was generated. A static buffer is used, so save the code if need be before calling the routine a second time. Usage: #include <ctype.h> char *soundex(str) char *str; Name: STRIP Type: String / Generic Description: Strips all occurrences of a given character from a given string. Usage: char *strip(str,c) char *str, c; Name: STRIPRANGE Type: String / Generic Description: Strips all characters in a given inclusive range from a given string. Usage: char *striprange(str,lowchr,highchr) char *str, lowchr, highchr; Name: TOTALMEM Type: Equipment / MS C Description: Returns the total amount of installed memory, in kilobytes. Usage: #include <dos.h> int totalmem() Oddities: Uses a BIOS interrupt. Name: UPCASE Type: String / Generic Description: Convert a string to uppercase. Usage: #include <ctype.h> char *upcase(str) char *str;