Any new project brings with it a set of new, exciting challenges and the Developer CD hasn't proven any different. Challenge number one is space—it's at a premium on this edition of the Developer CD Series. With the plethora of content I received for the February 1997 Tool Chest CD—such as OpenDoc Development Framework, release 3, four new QuickView databases, and the Multiprocessing SDK—I had to move a couple of things to free up some space. But not to worry; although I did have to temporarily pull the Rinaldi, MPW, and Other Platforms folders from Development Tools & Languages and the Language Kits folder from this edition to free up some space for the all the new stuff , those folders will make a comeback on the May 1997 Tool Chest edition. In the meantime, check out the February 1997 Tool Chest CD, which, in addition to sample code and Developer Notes updates, includes the following new and revised packages.
MoreFiles 1.4.4
MoreFiles is a collection of high-level routines written over the last couple of years to answer File Manager questions from developers.
The routines in MoreFiles have been tested (but not stress-tested), documented, and code-reviewed by Apple.
MoreFiles provides
• High-level and FSSpec style routines for parameter-block only File Manager calls and for Desktop Manager calls
• Useful utility routines that perform many common File Manager related operations
• A robust file copy routine
• A recursive directory copy routine
• Catalog searching routines
• Routines for dealing with pathnames
See the file "!MoreFiles Read Me" for a description of fixes & improvements in version 1.4.4.
Multiprocessing SDK
DayStar Digital and Apple Computer, Inc. have designed a multiprocessing, multitasking applications programming interface, the Multiprocessing API (MP API), for use in a new generation for PowerPC-based Mac OS multiprocessing systems. (Multiprocessing is the simultaneous use of more than one processor..) These sytems are standard Macintoshes with one major exception: they contain more than one CPU. The MP API defines a set of services that allow developers to create and communicate with multiple elements of excution called tasks. When tasks are run on a multiprocessor system they are scheduled and run simultanieously on all available processors.
This SDK has been prepared by DayStart Digital to help you get started using the MP API. The MP API document provided with this SDK describes these services in detail.
MPHelloWorld (Pascal)
This is a Pascal version of the MP sample code included in the Multiprocessing SDK.
OpenDoc Development Framework
The OpenDoc Development Framework, or ODF, is an object-oriented framework developed in C++ for building cross-platform OpenDoc component editors. Like MacApp, Apple's
framework for building standalone Macintosh applications, ODF makes the process of building an OpenDoc component editor easier by implementing much of a component editor's default behavior.
OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF) Release 3 is a maintenance release. ODF 3 is not cross-platform, it is still Mac-only. When we shipped ODF 2 in September, we scheduled ODF 3 for a January/February time frame. But the number of patches and the improvements we made in recent months made us decide to release an earlier version without waiting for the cross-platform support. We think it is important to provide you with a reference release containing all the changes you have seen us posting on the ODF-Interest list and the Web. We're calling it ODF 3 (instead of ODF 2.5 or ODF 2 Update 1) because we think it is less confusing that way.
This release supports the following development environments for PowerPC:
- Metrowerks CodeWarrior 10
- MrC for MPW
This release supports the following build environments for 68K:
- Symantec C++ for MPW
- CodeWarrior 10 for 68K
Please refer to the "Getting Started" folder for specific instructions on configuring your compiler for use with ODF.
OT Server Sample
The Virtual Server is an attempt to provide a piece of sample code which uses the native Open Transport API and is complex enough to demonstrate real issues an application developer will need to deal with. It also demonstrates the speed of Open Transport when used properly.
This version of the Virtual Server simply opens a listening endpoint and as many accepting endpoints as you want using TCP. It waits for an inbound connection request, accepts the connection, and hands it off to an accepting endpoint. The accepting endpoint waits for a 128 byte "request" packet, then returns a predefined amount of data from memory to the client. It then does an orderly release and puts the endpoint back into its idle queue.
It's fast! Running on Open Transport 1.1.1, a Power Mac 7100/80 on a 10 Mbit ethernet connection using 8K downloads can almost saturate the wire. If a 200 MHz Power Mac is used on the same network with 1K downloads the server sustains more than 300 connections per second.
PeopleSoft/Apple White Paper
Apple and PeopleSoft have launched a partnership that will deliver PeopleSoft applications that run on the Macintosh Operating System. This document is a Technical White Paper that describes the partnership, the product and the direction in which PeopleSoft is heading.
SnapshotSample1.0b3
Snapshot Sample is a tiny application that shows how to grab the icon positions for all the files on the desktop and later restore those icon positions. This is useful for programs, such as games, that switch resolutions on the fly, thereby causing problems with the user’s desktop icons.
Standard File Samples
StandardGetFolder, one of three samples involving Standar File dialog boxes, has been updated. It demonstrates a CustomGetFile call, with additions to the dialog to allow selection of a folder or volume. This sample is loosely based on the previous CustomGetFolder sample. The update fixes numerous bugs and, because it uses Script Manager calls to handle strings, it is substantially better for localization.
QuickView Databases
This update to the Macintosh Programmer's Toolbox Assistant contains the following QuickView databases:
Advanced Color Imaging on the Mac OS: These three QuickView databases that provide conceptual information for working with color in your application. They include sample code and a reference to the Palette Manager, Color Picker Manager, ColorSync Manager, and Color Manager. Advanced Color Imaging Assistant has been revised for version 2.1 of the ColorSync Manager and includes hypertext links to new and revised material.
Apple Game Sprockets: Games Sprockets is the set of new APIs that simplifies game programming for the Macintosh easy. The four sprockets documented in this QuickView database are SoundSprocket, DrawSprocket, InputSprocket, and NetSprocket. Some of the APIs for these sprockets are for new capabilities, and others make already-exisiting Mac OS APIs more accessible.
Speech Recognition Manager: This QuickView database provides documentation on speech recognition services for Macintosh computers.
Inside Macintosh: Telephony: This is QuickView database of the Inside Macintosh volume that describes the Telephone Manager, the part of Macintosh system software that provides telephony capabilities, which allow you to manage telephones—in particular, to establish or control connections between telephones on a telephone network. You can use the Telephone Manager to develop a wide range of applications, including screen-based telephone dialers, computer-based answering-machines, call forwarders, and so forth.
