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- DESQview API (advanced programming interface)
-
- The DESQview API is described in the Version 2.0 manual on page
- 193 under the heading "A DESQview-specific program...".
-
- Using the API, your program can access the features of DESQview
- from the system level. This can allow your program to spawn new
- tasks, pass information to other windows and control the size and
- shape of windows. One window can be made a subtask of another.
- It is also possible using API to exercize full control over the
- system so that your program becomes in effect the front end menu
- of the system with DESQview providing windowing, memory
- management and multitasking under the surface.
-
- Quarterdeck plans to provide a programmers reference to the API
- during the latter part of '87. Until that time, there are
- several other references available:
-
-
- "Appendix J - DESQview Version 2.0 manual"
-
- Appendix J contains general programming information regarding
- interfacing programs to DESQview including Assembler source code
- for several of the most basic DESQview calls. For programmers
- that simply want to make their programs run very well in DESQview
- while retaining the ability to run in DOS outside of the DESQview
- environment, this selection of calls provides all that most
- programmers will ever need. It is important to note that these
- calls are also supported by earlier versions of DESQview. More
- advanced API calls may require the use of DESQview 2.0 or above.
-
-
- DESQview Bulletin Board System:
-
- Some source and object code files for implementation of the basic
- calls is available from the DESQview Bulletin Board System. Full
- access to the BBS is restricted to users with priority service or
- users with registered, serial-numbered copies of DESQview.
-
- The Quarterdeck Bulletin Board system operates 24 hours a day,
- seven days a week. The telephone number is (213)396-3904.
- Supported baud rates are 2400/1200/300. Preferred communications
- parameters are: 8 data bits, No Parity, 1 stop bit. You should
- plan to download using one of the following error-free protocols:
- XMODEM, XMODEM CRC, YMODEM or KERMIT.
-
-
- Books:
-
- "The Programmer's Guide to TopView", by Alan R. Miller. Published
- by SYBEX, 2344 6th. St., Berkeley, CA 94710 (415)848-8233.
- Price: about $19.95. Available at many computer book stores.
- Gives an overview and introduction to the API. Includes source
- code examples (in Assembler) of many of the API functions. Does
- not include any disks and is not really a substitute for an API
- Toolkit or reference manual. However, since the cost is
- reasonable, this is an excellent source to discover the
- possibilities of programming under the API.
-
-
- Programming Toolkits:
-
-
- TopView Programmer's ToolKit Version 1.10 by I.B.M. Corp.
-
- Source: International Business Machines Corp.
- P.O. Box 1328-W
- Boca Raton, FL 33429-1328
-
- The definitive source of API information until the DESQview API
- Toolkit becomes available. Contains Assembler and IBM Pascal
- source code and full API documentation. Developers making
- extensive use of the API should probably consider obtaining the
- TopView Toolkit. Approximate cost: $395.
-
-
-
- TopView Toolbasket version 1.01 by Strawberry Software Inc.
-
- Source: Strawberry Software, Inc.
- 42 Pleasant Street
- Watertown, MA 02172
- (617)923-8800
-
- Contains documentation and Lattice libraries on disk for 71 API
- functions. Designed for use with the Lattice "C" compiler.
- Approximate cost $190.
-
-
- Bulletin Board Users: If you would like to receive notification
- of the release of the DESQview API, leave a message with your
- name and mailing address in the <C>omments section of this
- bulletin board and we'll put you on the list. SYSOP