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1994-02-24
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Help for BasCompress v1.37 23-Feb-1994
To use this program you will need to be a Basic programmer
If you ain't then don't bother, because it'd be a waste of your time
======================================================================
This program is supplied "as is". No warranty, express or implied, of
the merchantability of this program or its fitness for any particular
purpose is given. In no circumstances shall the author, or any
provider or distributor of this program, be liable for any damage,
loss of profits, or any indirect or consequential loss arising out of
the use of this program.
Please note that this program is SHAREWARE, it is not free. You may
use this software for a trial period. If, after this you decide you
would like to continue using it, then you are required to REGISTER.
Failing to register, you are obliged to destroy all copies of this
program. A trial period ends when you realise that this program could
be used on your latest master-piece!
Registration currently involves you sending a cheque for ú10 sterling
to the author. There is a form at the end of this document that
you can use to register. Registration will encourage the author to
continue to develop this program further.
For a further ú5, regsitration will include a printed (600 d.p.i.
laser) copy of the documentation and the latest version.
Payment in other currencies accepted so long as at the end of the day
I end out with the same amount of money. Credit cards not accepted.
======================================================================
For those of you without Impression, here's a very brief guide
(use the interactive Help)
BC is a BasicV (v1.04) compressor and cross-referencer, i.e.
o Removes spaces and comments
o Removes all unused routines, and all the junk left inbetween routines
o Reduces all labels (shortens them)
o Reduces numbers
o Converts SWI strings to numbers
o Loads in LIBRARYs
o Handles line numbers
o You can tell it what labels NOT to reduce (i.e. EVALuated variables)
o Full cross-referencing
o It is FAST
======================================================================
Example usage
Drag the Log file icon from the control window to a Filer window
Now drag one of your Basic files onto the control window (what do you
mean, I haven't got any? did you read those two lines at the top)
The log file will appear (auto-loading Edit if need be). Don't close
this window yet, though do resize/move it
Now drag the basic (output) file icon from the control window onto a
Filer window
Press ADJUST on the icon bar icon (re-load's last file using new
options)
And that's all there is to it, usually
Sometimes programmers end a routine like this:
DEF FNmin(a,b)
IF a<b THEN =a ELSE =b
and BasCompress gets confused. Append a dummy "= 0" after it
If there are any EVAL's or DATA's then the resulting file may not
"work". You can either disable all label reduction, or write a
Special file, that tells BasCompress the names of the labels not to
reduce. See !BC.Examples for some, er..., examples.
Also, watch out for missing THEN statements. See the
!BC.Examples.EVariable file for more information. Thanks to David for
pointing this one out.
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus
Ya Hozna!
=====================================================================
======================================================================
Updates
v1.10 29-May-1992 ??
v1.20 11-Jul-1992 Can compress "library" files separately, ie don't assume a
"main program" exists, and dont complain of undefined
routines/variables
+ assembler "B 0" compresses correctly
1.25 07-Oct-1992 RO3 support (menu help, Sprites22, desktop save,
DragASprite)
1.30 11-Oct-1992 Frontend to new backend features
Optionally saves full pathname for log/xref/output files
Pointer changes shape over writable icons
1.31 18-Jan-1993 Anti-aliased fonts in templates
1.32 28-Jan-1993 Dynamic font handling across screen resolution changes
removed all Interface code!!
1.33 07-Feb-1993 hi-rez sprites
1.33b 12-Feb-1993 registration form at end of this document
1.34 27-Feb-1993 hi-rez menu items
1.35 26-Mar-1993 internal update
1.35b 10-Jun-1993 hi-rez menu items definable in Messages file
1.36 18-Jul-1993 new FontWindow module to cope with new Wimps' menus
1.36b 19-Sep-1993 hi-rez mono sprites added
1.37 24-Feb-1994 newlook, loads sprites on mode change, drag proginfo
Backend Updates
1.23 23-Sep-1992 In assembler "SWI &7" was getting compressed to "SWI&7"
In assembler ".zappa FN(foo_bar)" wasn't recognising that
the FN() substitutes for a mnemonic, and so 'foo' was
the mnemonic!!!
Start of file consists of:
REM >fs::media.dir.file
REM produced by BasCompress vx.yy
this is so that BASIC V v1.05 library error messages are OK
1.24 01-Oct-1992 If an error occured during file output, this is now reported
(eg file not having write access)
1.30 11-Oct-1992 Corrupted basic error message now "correct" --- was saying
something different
Start of file consists of, as acorn guidelines suggest
(ta Jonathan) leaf name only
-EVariable option suppresses `E' variables being
produced (see example file)
1.31 18-Jan-1993 assembler handles array labels (eg [OPT4:.x%(y%):]
regular expressions used on variable names not to squash
(but reference says from main program, not special)
(no support for regex routine names or libraries)
Bugs
There appears to be a bug if the same routine is defined many (> 2) times
in separate libraries - for now just delete the extra copies and then it
works.
Registration Form:
I would like to register as a Single User of BasCompress v1.37
and have enclosed __________.
This DOES / NOT (delete as applicable) include a manual.
Title: ___________
Name: ____________________________
Address: ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Postcode: _______________
Country: _______________
Where obtained
BasCompress: ____________________________
Machine: ___________________________________
Possible
improvements: ___________________________________
___________________________________
Make cheques / postal orders payable to: Mr CY J. BOOKER
86 Church View, Main Road,
Crockenhill,
Swanley,
Kent.
BR8 8JW.
U.K.