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The Datafile PD-CD 3
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templ_aof
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1995-04-08
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Title : Template to AOF
Purpose: Embedding templates in executables
Author : © George K. Saliaris
Version: 1.00 (March 95)
Status : Freeware
Q: Well, what is that?
======================
A: First of all, if you don't know what is AOF or RISC_OSLib, you can safely
ignore the whole matter :-)
Here is a small program that will allow you to embed Template files in an
executable when using RISC_OSLib. Also with slight modifications it can be
used for relocatable module tasks that need to encapsulate templates in
their code.
Q: And why would I like to use something like that?
===================================================
A: Perhaps you don't want people to fiddle with your template files; or you
really need such a facility in order to write a stand-alone relocatable
module task in assembler (ala Filers, Menon, PalleteUtil etc). Also there
are some desirable side-effects: less memory is required for templates and
when programming in assembler you can access indirected data easier.
In general, embedding Templates in the executable is not a common practice,
but for one reason or another, some programs like Eureka, Revelation,
Digital Symphony, Dissi etc use similar techniques.
Q: What about the rest of the files?
====================================
A: 'c.template' contains the C source code of the modified RISC_OSLib
template module. Use it as a replacement of the original template module. No
special handling is required (ie call in your initialisation template_init()
etc as normal)
's.Templ>AOF' makes the actual conversion of a template file to a
relocatable AOF that should be linked with the rest of your object files
(probably in a Makefile). Please note that in order to compile this source,
you will need BasicAOF utility, available from Oregan Developments.
'dat.Templates' is just a sample template file. Incidentally it contains the
templates of !Paint, as distributed in !Newlook for RISC OS 3.10.
'o.Templ>AOF' is the output of the 's.Templ>AOF' and represents the AOF
equivalent of the 'dat.Templates' file.
Q: Can I use the code in my own programs?
=========================================
A: Certainly, feel free to do so.
Q: Don't you think that RISC_OSLib is a bit outdated?
=====================================================
A: It's true; as of March 1995, RISC_OSLib is officially dead! Long live the
new Toolbox suite: much more elegant, much more friendly and hopefully more
bug-free ;-)
But wait a minute: RISC_OSLib is a good piece of software. I personally find
almost nothing wrong with it, but admittedly after having access to its
source code.
Unlike all the other similar Wimp libraries (DeskLib, Spirit and the like),
RISC_OSLib is widely used in many successful commercial applications, not to
mention the standard RISC OS applications suite we all hate and love: Edit,
Draw, Paint, Configure, Squash, FilerAct, FrontEnd etc etc. Consequently
RISC_OSLib will be with us for a long time, because much code has been
written with it and obviously there is no justifiable reason to completely
rewrite everything with the new Toolbox. However it is apparent that new
applications, will be preferably designed with the new nice Toolbox instead
of RISC_OSLib.
Q: OK, and how can I contact you if I feel like?
================================================
A: Bug reports, comments or suggestions welcome:
Mail: George Saliaris
Veriti 7
Chios 821 00
GREECE
Fax: +30 271 41355
Email: gsal@posidon.servicenet.ariadne-t.gr