Prospero Extended Pascal Windows Kit

(This info is for DOS and Windows 3.x only, not for Prospero Extended Pascal for Windows NT/95)

Extended Pascal is a standard defined jointly by ANSI and ISO which greatly increases the range of the traditional "classic" Pascal language without compromising its essential qualities. One of the important new features allows for modular program construction, and in particular for the provision of libraries. Prospero Extended Pascal is a complete implementation of the standard for PCs.

The Windows environment offers a wide range of facilities for applications programming including device-independent graphics, menu selection, mouse interaction, icons, bitmaps, and others. Some of these, such as graphics, can be natural extensions of traditional programs; others belong to a rather different style of interactive use.

The Extended Pascal Windows Kit is a logical progression, using the module facilities of the language to provide access to the Windows application programming interface (API). The Kit contains "interface" files which carry Pascal definitions of the functions, types and constants needed for Windows programming, together with versions of the Extended Pascal run-time libraries adapted for the Windows environment; it can be used to develop applications for Windows 3.1 or Windows 3.0 in standard or enhanced mode. There is an implementation of the standard files input and output to allow conventional Pascal programs to run as Windows applications, and the Kit also provides the means for constructing a DLL from Extended Pascal modules.

Two levels of use of the Windows Kit are envisaged. The first requires, besides the Windows Kit itself, only an introductory book on Windows programming, of which there are many. At this level, it is possible for instance to add graphical output to an otherwise conventional computation or other process, to use predefined features such as popup windows and edit controls, and to create simple menus, dialogs, bitmaps or icons within the program.

For more advanced applications, constructed specifically for the Windows environment, additional tools such as resource editors allow menus, bitmaps, fonts and icons to be defined separately and then incorporated into the executable file. Such tools are not included, and must be obtained as a Windows Developers Kit if needed; they simplify development, and allow the presentational aspects to be separated to some extent from the internal processing. A utility is provided which translates the C format of parameters recognised by resource editors to the Pascal form by which the program code refers for example to items within a menu.

The following is an example of a conventional Pascal program which employs standard input and output, but also makes some reference to features of the Windows interface:

PROGRAM TWin (input,output); {Includes use of some local Prospero additions} IMPORT EPWDefs; KERNEL ONLY (GetVersion); EPDOS; VAR s: string(20); ss: string(120); w: word; BEGIN w := GetVersion; writeln('Windows version is ', (w AND 16#FF):1, (w SHR 8):1); WITH Win_Data DO BEGIN writeln('Entry parameters:'); writeln(' Prev instance',PrevInst::UINT); writeln(' This instance',ThisInst::UINT); END; write('Type something: '); readln(s); write('Something else: '); readln(ss); PgmName(ss,s); writeln(ss,' ',s); CmdTail(ss); writeln(ss); END.

Contents of the Extended Pascal Windows Kit:

Interface files containing Pascal definitions of the Windows 3.1 API, including COMMDLG, DDEML and OLE (Multimedia and pen facilities not currently supported).
The Pascal source form of the definitions for reference.
Run-time support libraries with and without 80x87, including implementation of standard input and output, and definition files for linking to Windows functions.
A library to permit Windows DLLs to be built from Extended Pascal modules.
A utility to assist when resource construction tools are used in conjunction with Pascal programs.
Demonstration programs to illustrate features of the Kit and to serve as models for Pascal developers.

Examples of both source and compiled executable are available.

Requirements: For development, a PC with Windows version 3.1, Prospero Extended Pascal version 1.2 or later, and the Extended Pascal Windows Kit are needed. Applications which avoid new features of 3.1 may be run under Windows 3.0 in standard or enhanced mode. The Microsoft SDK or equivalent is recommended if the applications being developed require use of resource editors or other specialist tools; a Windows tutorial book is normally sufficient for simpler programs.

Pricing: Prospero Extended Pascal Windows Kit is available from Prospero Software for 120 pounds (excluding VAT & delivery); contact distributors for local pricing.

For further information, contact:

Prospero Development Software Ltd

London SW15 6EP
England

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Email Prospero@ProsperoSoftware.com

Distributors

United Kingdom

Grey Matter
Prigg Meadow
Ashburton
Devon TQ13 7DF
England

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Email maildesk@greymatter.co.uk

System Science
1 Bradley's Close
White Lion Street
London N1 9PN
England

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Germany

EDV-Beratung Friedrich Pluennecke
Hinterm Dorfe 21
D-38268 Lengede
Germany

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Email fp@pluennecke.de

Japan

Lifeboat Inc.
3-6 Kanda-Nishikicho
Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 101
Japan

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Email sales@lifeboat.co.jp

Prospero is a registered trademark of Prospero Software Ltd. Microsoft, MS-DOS and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. IBM, PC-DOS, OS/2 and Warp are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp.

Details correct as of October 1993. Prospero Software has a policy of continuous product improvement and reserves the right to alter specifications and prices without notice.

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