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Archive-name: C++-faq/turbovision/tvplus/part1
Posting-Frequency: monthly Last-modified: 1995/08/14 Version: 1.8 URL: http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/tvhome.html See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge WELCOME TO TVPLUS ====================================================================== Copyright Robert Hazeltine and Rachel Polanskis 1995 ====================================================================== TVPlus is the C++ Turbo Vision FAQ. The FAQ is divided into the following headings: Ralp Nader takes an interest in Win95 The Guide The Epilogue ======================================================================= THE NEWS ======================================================================= This heading outlines the changes made since 1995.07.13. 1. The TVPlus home page was amended to include an item of general import that Ralph Nader has put Win95 under scrutiny (see Appendix A). 2. Under the heading, TVPlus ftp site, it was noted that Eric Woodruff has supplied a replacement for the message input box (MIBX20.ZIP), new module for colour syntax highlighting (CSH100.ZIP) and a new version of TV Virtual Memory Editor (TVME30.ZIP). 3. The URL for the Verona University, Italy has been included in the list of general sites of interest to TV programmers. ======================================================================= THE GUIDE ======================================================================= About TVPlus About Turbo Vision Books and journals Software resources The discussion list UseNet newsgroups Handy FTP sites Web pages to peruse Selected answers on programming Applications written with Turbo Vision Acknowledgements ---------------------------------------------------------------------- About TVPlus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Objectives Wanted! Availability of TVPlus Style conventions Maintainers of TVPlus Distribution rights ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OBJECTIVES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The object of TVPlus is to provide an answer book on Turbo Vision and to make access to it by its users as easy as possible. The emphasis during the early development is to identify various resources that can be commonly used in the development of TV programmes. Consolidating various references on the Internet into one document is the basic requirement, we believe, to finding what you need to use the TV library to full advantage - and to cut the time necessary to become productive. From this basis, we can manage the development of the FAQ more orderly while, at the same time, answering perhaps the most frequently asked of questions: "Where is ... ?" or "Where can I get ... ?" There has, however, been several aspects to this early emphasis. First, to find the resources that directly affect the use of the TV framework such as patches, extensions to the TV classes and the like. Secondly, keeping the context in which TV was developed and is used to the fore - thus providing leads to relevant resources such as compiler patches, porting to other platforms and the like. Thirdly, a little self indulgence in identifying and promoting applications based on Turbo Vision. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION WANTED ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you information you think others might be interested in? CONTRIBUTIONS If you have the basis of a contribution that others might find interesting, please polish it up for TVPlus. There is plenty of scope for useful articles in the pages of TVPlus, especially the sections that make up the chapter on Selected answers on programming or the chapter about Dead Parrots. Contributors can submit their material to us via email at <mailto:grove@zeta.org.au>; or anonymous ftp at <ftp://ftp.zeta.org.au/home/grove/>. MIRROR SITES TVPlus would like to establish mirror sites in the other parts of the world, especially in the US and Europe. By doing so we expect that response times for international users will be radically improved. Use of mirror sites will also help to eliminate the bandwidth hit on zeta.org.au's relatively narrow network link. Please contact us, the co-maintainers of TVPlus, for more information about becoming a mirror site for TVPlus. APPLICATIONS You can use TVPlus to publicise any software you may have written using Turbo Vision C++. An outline is presented in the chapter 'Applications written with Turbo Vision' to help you prepare information about your application. ABOUT TVPLUS ITSELF We appreciate feedback on anything that you consider relevant - performance, arrangement, layout, ease of comprehension, etc. Anyone interested in lending a hand with these tasks? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AVAILABILITY ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notifications about TVPlus are posted periodically on the Turbo Vision discussion list. THE TEXT/PLAIN FORMAT OF TVPLUS The ASCII format of TVPlus is posted each calendar month to <mailto:turbvis@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu> and to *.answers with changes (if any) since being posted the previous month. Since TVPlus has been approved by the *.answers moderators, a copy of this FAQ may be downloaded from ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/ or from our TVPlus ftp site. THE TEXT/HTML FORMAT OF TVPLUS Available on the World Wide Web at <http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/tvhome.html>, the Web format of TVPlus has advantages over its ASCII counterpart because of its 1. currency (material is added as the opportunity arises); 2. primacy (the ASCII version is derived from this one); and 3. flexibility (the links with other documents on line). If you want to download a copy of the Web version of TVPlus, you may do so by using our TVPlus ftp site. TVPlus offline The downloaded Web files have the extension of *.htm and can be viewed using any WWW browser offline. We recommend DOSLYNX for this purpose. DOSLYNX, which is available through ARCHIE under the the file name of DLX0_8A.EXE, is a creation of the University of Kansas. Enquiries regarding DOSLYNX should be sent there. To set up DOSLYNX for offline browsing use the command line options: DOSLYNX /nno You can configure tvhome.htm to be the home page. You should be able to view the downloaded ASCII version with any text editor as each file making up the FAQ is less than 64k. TVPlus mirrored privately Some people may prefer to access the FAQ from a local directory or from their shell account rather than accessing zeta.org.au directly. External links are operative whether access is from zeta or from a local directory where you have downloaded the FAQ - provided that you are connected to the Internet in the first place. If you want to use TVPlus from your local host, remember to keep your copy up to date or you will miss links to new files or you will be unaware that our files have been updated. So, offline or online you can use TVPlus loaded to your local directory. Most browers will allow you access to the source document which will provide quite specific URLs needed for ftpm or navigating the TVPlus' ftp site. They also provide bookmarks which can be used to advantage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- STYLE CONVENTIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This chapter outlines the style conventions used in TVPlus. Countries ISO 3166-1981 Codes for the representation of names of countries: any country name abbreviation will the same as the country identification in a domain name - for example, zeta.org.au Currencies ISO 4217-1978 Codes for the representation of currencies and funds. Dates and time ISO 2014-1976 Writing of calendar dates in all-numeric form: dates are, therefore, expressed as, say, 2001.01.01 avoiding ambiguity as to which country convention has been used. General To minimise waiting time while data transfers, file sizes are, in the main, < 4K and graphics use is minimal. HTML protocol ISO 8879-1986 "Information Processing Text and Office Systems; Standard Generalised Markup Language (SGML)"; HTML 2.0 is an expression of this standard. Uniform Resource Locator (URL) RFC1738 "Uniform Resource Locators": URLs used to access resources on the Internet are cited, with or without delimiters, as <scheme://host:port/url-path> where scheme is one of file, http, news, gopher, telnet or wais and where the colon followed by the TCP port number is optional; the syntatic wrapper, URL: is not generally prefixed to a URL in this document. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- MAINTAINERS OF TVPLUS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TVPlus is maintained by Robert Hazeltine and Rachel Polanskis from Sydney, Australia through our computer host, Zeta Microcomputer Software. This FAQ has no connection with Borland and they, in turn, do not contribute to the support of this service. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ may be posted to any USENET newsgroup, on-line service, or BBS as long as it is posted in its entirety and includes the copyright statement. This FAQ may not be distributed for financial gain. This FAQ may not be included in commercial collections or compilations without express permission from the authors. No such permission has yet been given. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- About Turbo Vision ----------------------------------------------------------------------- What is TV TV history TV as DLL TV bugs TV mixed and matched TV ports TV and MS-Windows Learning TV ----------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS TV ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Turbo Vision is a C++ library that provides an application framework. It is a product of Borland International, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV HISTORY ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There are [three] versions of Turbo Vision: TV1.0 This version of the application frameworks came with BC++ 3.0; TV1.03 This version cam with BC++ 3.1: . its TV.H containing a #define _TV_VERSION which is not present in the earlier version; and TV2.0 This is part of the Power Pack for DOS designed for use with BC 4.x: . it may be used with the 16 and 32 bit DOS DPMI extenders; . it includes TInputLine validators such as TFilterValidator, TRangeValidator, TStringLookupValidator and TPXPictureValidator; . there is a new TMultiCheckBoxes object that is like the regular TCheckBoxes object but each check box can have multiple values; and . a new TOutline class has been added for outline views (for example a directory tree) with expandable and collapsible nodes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV as DLL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 1: The original proposal on making TV as DLL Part 2: Additional material on making TV as DLL Part 3: Additional comment on making TV as DLL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From: grove@zeta.org.au (Rachel Polanskis) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer.turbovision,comp.answers,news.answers Subject: C++ Turbo Vision FAQ, part1/3 Followup-To: poster Approved: news-answers-request@mit.edu Summary: This article is a compilation of information on the use of, and resources for, Turbo Vision for C++ (Borland's application framework). Archive-name: C++-faq/turbovision/tvplus/part1 Posting-Frequency: monthly Last-modified: 1995/08/14 Version: 1.8 URL: http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/tvhome.html WELCOME TO TVPLUS ====================================================================== Copyright Robert Hazeltine and Rachel Polanskis 1995 ====================================================================== TVPlus is the C++ Turbo Vision FAQ. The FAQ is divided into the following headings: Ralp Nader takes an interest in Win95 The Guide The Epilogue ======================================================================= THE NEWS ======================================================================= This heading outlines the changes made since 1995.07.13. 1. The TVPlus home page was amended to include an item of general import that Ralph Nader has put Win95 under scrutiny (see Appendix A). 2. Under the heading, TVPlus ftp site, it was noted that Eric Woodruff has supplied a replacement for the message input box (MIBX20.ZIP), new module for colour syntax highlighting (CSH100.ZIP) and a new version of TV Virtual Memory Editor (TVME30.ZIP). 3. The URL for the Verona University, Italy has been included in the list of general sites of interest to TV programmers. ======================================================================= THE GUIDE ======================================================================= About TVPlus About Turbo Vision Books and journals Software resources The discussion list UseNet newsgroups Handy FTP sites Web pages to peruse Selected answers on programming Applications written with Turbo Vision Acknowledgements ---------------------------------------------------------------------- About TVPlus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Objectives Wanted! Availability of TVPlus Style conventions Maintainers of TVPlus Distribution rights ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OBJECTIVES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The object of TVPlus is to provide an answer book on Turbo Vision and to make access to it by its users as easy as possible. The emphasis during the early development is to identify various resources that can be commonly used in the development of TV programmes. Consolidating various references on the Internet into one document is the basic requirement, we believe, to finding what you need to use the TV library to full advantage - and to cut the time necessary to become productive. From this basis, we can manage the development of the FAQ more orderly while, at the same time, answering perhaps the most frequently asked of questions: "Where is ... ?" or "Where can I get ... ?" There has, however, been several aspects to this early emphasis. First, to find the resources that directly affect the use of the TV framework such as patches, extensions to the TV classes and the like. Secondly, keeping the context in which TV was developed and is used to the fore - thus providing leads to relevant resources such as compiler patches, porting to other platforms and the like. Thirdly, a little self indulgence in identifying and promoting applications based on Turbo Vision. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION WANTED ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you information you think others might be interested in? CONTRIBUTIONS If you have the basis of a contribution that others might find interesting, please polish it up for TVPlus. There is plenty of scope for useful articles in the pages of TVPlus, especially the sections that make up the chapter on Selected answers on programming or the chapter about Dead Parrots. Contributors can submit their material to us via email at <mailto:grove@zeta.org.au>; or anonymous ftp at <ftp://ftp.zeta.org.au/home/grove/>. MIRROR SITES TVPlus would like to establish mirror sites in the other parts of the world, especially in the US and Europe. By doing so we expect that response times for international users will be radically improved. Use of mirror sites will also help to eliminate the bandwidth hit on zeta.org.au's relatively narrow network link. Please contact us, the co-maintainers of TVPlus, for more information about becoming a mirror site for TVPlus. APPLICATIONS You can use TVPlus to publicise any software you may have written using Turbo Vision C++. An outline is presented in the chapter 'Applications written with Turbo Vision' to help you prepare information about your application. ABOUT TVPLUS ITSELF We appreciate feedback on anything that you consider relevant - performance, arrangement, layout, ease of comprehension, etc. Anyone interested in lending a hand with these tasks? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AVAILABILITY ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notifications about TVPlus are posted periodically on the Turbo Vision discussion list. THE TEXT/PLAIN FORMAT OF TVPLUS The ASCII format of TVPlus is posted each calendar month to <mailto:turbvis@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu> and to *.answers with changes (if any) since being posted the previous month. Since TVPlus has been approved by the *.answers moderators, a copy of this FAQ may be downloaded from ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/ or from our TVPlus ftp site. THE TEXT/HTML FORMAT OF TVPLUS Available on the World Wide Web at <http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/tvhome.html>, the Web format of TVPlus has advantages over its ASCII counterpart because of its 1. currency (material is added as the opportunity arises); 2. primacy (the ASCII version is derived from this one); and 3. flexibility (the links with other documents on line). If you want to download a copy of the Web version of TVPlus, you may do so by using our TVPlus ftp site. TVPlus offline The downloaded Web files have the extension of *.htm and can be viewed using any WWW browser offline. We recommend DOSLYNX for this purpose. DOSLYNX, which is available through ARCHIE under the the file name of DLX0_8A.EXE, is a creation of the University of Kansas. Enquiries regarding DOSLYNX should be sent there. To set up DOSLYNX for offline browsing use the command line options: DOSLYNX /nno You can configure tvhome.htm to be the home page. You should be able to view the downloaded ASCII version with any text editor as each file making up the FAQ is less than 64k. TVPlus mirrored privately Some people may prefer to access the FAQ from a local directory or from their shell account rather than accessing zeta.org.au directly. External links are operative whether access is from zeta or from a local directory where you have downloaded the FAQ - provided that you are connected to the Internet in the first place. If you want to use TVPlus from your local host, remember to keep your copy up to date or you will miss links to new files or you will be unaware that our files have been updated. So, offline or online you can use TVPlus loaded to your local directory. Most browers will allow you access to the source document which will provide quite specific URLs needed for ftpm or navigating the TVPlus' ftp site. They also provide bookmarks which can be used to advantage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- STYLE CONVENTIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This chapter outlines the style conventions used in TVPlus. Countries ISO 3166-1981 Codes for the representation of names of countries: any country name abbreviation will the same as the country identification in a domain name - for example, zeta.org.au Currencies ISO 4217-1978 Codes for the representation of currencies and funds. Dates and time ISO 2014-1976 Writing of calendar dates in all-numeric form: dates are, therefore, expressed as, say, 2001.01.01 avoiding ambiguity as to which country convention has been used. General To minimise waiting time while data transfers, file sizes are, in the main, < 4K and graphics use is minimal. HTML protocol ISO 8879-1986 "Information Processing Text and Office Systems; Standard Generalised Markup Language (SGML)"; HTML 2.0 is an expression of this standard. Uniform Resource Locator (URL) RFC1738 "Uniform Resource Locators": URLs used to access resources on the Internet are cited, with or without delimiters, as <scheme://host:port/url-path> where scheme is one of file, http, news, gopher, telnet or wais and where the colon followed by the TCP port number is optional; the syntatic wrapper, URL: is not generally prefixed to a URL in this document. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- MAINTAINERS OF TVPLUS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TVPlus is maintained by Robert Hazeltine and Rachel Polanskis from Sydney, Australia through our computer host, Zeta Microcomputer Software. This FAQ has no connection with Borland and they, in turn, do not contribute to the support of this service. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ may be posted to any USENET newsgroup, on-line service, or BBS as long as it is posted in its entirety and includes the copyright statement. This FAQ may not be distributed for financial gain. This FAQ may not be included in commercial collections or compilations without express permission from the authors. No such permission has yet been given. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- About Turbo Vision ----------------------------------------------------------------------- What is TV TV history TV as DLL TV bugs TV mixed and matched TV ports TV and MS-Windows Learning TV ----------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS TV ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Turbo Vision is a C++ library that provides an application framework. It is a product of Borland International, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV HISTORY ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There are [three] versions of Turbo Vision: TV1.0 This version of the application frameworks came with BC++ 3.0; TV1.03 This version cam with BC++ 3.1: . its TV.H containing a #define _TV_VERSION which is not present in the earlier version; and TV2.0 This is part of the Power Pack for DOS designed for use with BC 4.x: . it may be used with the 16 and 32 bit DOS DPMI extenders; . it includes TInputLine validators such as TFilterValidator, TRangeValidator, TStringLookupValidator and TPXPictureValidator; . there is a new TMultiCheckBoxes object that is like the regular TCheckBoxes object but each check box can have multiple values; and . a new TOutline class has been added for outline views (for example a directory tree) with expandable and collapsible nodes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV as DLL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 1: The original proposal on making TV as DLL Part 2: Additional material on making TV as DLL Part 3: Additional comment on making TV as DLL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV AS DLL - PART 1 Introduction Header File Changes Source File Changes Building the DLL Using the DLL Problems with the Borland RTL DLL Feedback ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents This section shows how to convert TV 2.0 to a 32 bit DLL for use with BC 4.02 and the Power Pack. The information was provided by the author, Eddie Stassen. Introduction This section lists the changes required to compile TV2.0 as a 32bit DLL. Please note that the DLL has not been tested extensively and, as I am no expert on DLL's, some changes may well be superfluous and there may be some omissions. I also do not make use of streamable objects in my applications, so my knowledge is a bit shaky there and I cannot say whether the streaming stuff will work (although the standard TVDEMO program does manage to save and retrieve the desktop). The bottom line here is that it works for me at this stage and I have gone through enough rebuilding cycles to last me quite a while. The changes are in essence very simple but, as they involve virtually every header file and a large number of the source files, I am not going to give a file by file description here - just general instructions on what to change. In order to keep the files compatible with the static libraries, use is made of macros and compile time definitions. When compiling the DLL you should define MAKEDLL. When compiling an application to use the DLL, define USEDLL. If neither of these macros are defined, the header files should look identical to the original ones. Note that section 3.2.3 describes an omission in the source code that I discovered while making the changes. The DLL will not compile without it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Header file Changes 2.1 Start with TV.H and add the following lines at the beginning of the file (around line 16): #if defined(MAKEDLL) #define _EXPTVCLASS __export #define _EXPTVFUNC __export #define _EXPTVDATA __export #elif defined(USEDLL) #define _EXPTVCLASS __import #define _EXPTVFUNC __import #define _EXPTVDATA __import #else #define _EXPTVCLASS #define _EXPTVFUNC #define _EXPTVDATA #endif A few lines down, change the lines: #if defined( _RTLDLL ) #error TV must use the RTL in static form only #endif to: #if !defined( MAKEDLL ) && !defined( USEDLL) #if defined( _RTLDLL ) #error TV must use the RTL in static form only #endif #endif 2.2 Now the major work starts: In all the TV header files change ALL the class declarations from "class Txxxx" to "class _EXPTVCLASS Txxx" e.g. the first few lines in APP.H: class _FAR TRect; class TBackground : public TView { will change to: class _EXPTVCLASS _FAR TRect; class _EXPTVCLASS TBackground : public TView { etc. 2.3 Add the _EXPTVFUNC macro to all the global function declarations, e.g. in COLORSEL.H line 37 change: TColorItem& operator + ( TColorItem& i1, TColorItem& i2 ); to: TColorItem& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorItem& i1, TColorItem& i2 ); Inline functions defined in the header files do not have to be changed. Here is a list of the files and functions that need to be changed: File : COLORSEL.H TColorItem& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorItem& i1, TColorItem& i2 ); TColorGroup& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorGroup& g, TColorItem& i ); TColorGroup& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorGroup& g1, TColorGroup& g2 ); File : MENUS.H TSubMenu& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TSubMenu& s, TMenuItem& i ); TSubMenu& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TSubMenu& s1, TSubMenu& s2 ); TStatusDef& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TStatusDef& s1, TStatusItem& s2 ); TStatusDef& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TStatusDef& s1, TStatusDef& s2 ); File : MSGBOX.H ushort _EXPTVFUNC messageBox( const char *msg, ushort aOptions ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC messageBox( unsigned aOptions, const char *msg, ... ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC messageBoxRect( const TRect &r, const char *msg, ushort aOptions ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC messageBoxRect( const TRect &r, ushort aOptions, const char *msg, ... ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC inputBox( const char *Title, const char *aLabel, char *s, uchar limit ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC inputBoxRect( const TRect &bounds, const char *title, File : UTIL.H void _EXPTVFUNC fexpand( char * ); char _EXPTVFUNC hotKey( const char *s ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC ctrlToArrow( ushort ); char _EXPTVFUNC getAltChar( ushort keyCode ); ushort _EXPTVFUNC getAltCode( char ch ); char _EXPTVFUNC getCtrlChar(ushort); ushort _EXPTVFUNC getCtrlCode(uchar); ushort _EXPTVFUNC historyCount( uchar id ); const char * _EXPTVFUNC historyStr( uchar id, int index ); void _EXPTVFUNC historyAdd( uchar id, const char * ); int _EXPTVFUNC cstrlen( const char * ); void * _EXPTVFUNC message( TView *receiver, ushort what, ushort command, void *infoPtr ); Boolean _EXPTVFUNC lowMemory(); char * _EXPTVFUNC newStr( const char * ); Boolean _EXPTVFUNC driveValid( char drive ); Boolean _EXPTVFUNC isDir( const char *str ); Boolean _EXPTVFUNC pathValid( const char *path ); Boolean _EXPTVFUNC validFileName( const char *fileName ); void _EXPTVFUNC getCurDir( char *dir ); Boolean _EXPTVFUNC isWild( const char *f ); 2.4 Here come the shaky bits File : TOBJSTRM.H Change line 31: #ifdef __DLL__ to: #if defined(__DLL__) && !defined (__FLAT__) Note: The above change is not entirely correct, but it works. I do not quite know why that #ifdef is there anyway. The __link() macro in line 51 was changed to: #define __link( s ) \ extern _EXPTVDATA TStreamableClass s; \ static fLink force ## s = \ { (fLink _NEAR *)&force ## s, (TStreamableClass _NEAR *)&s }; I am not too sure about the above change and I suspect one might need a separate macro for your own classes. That concludes the changes to the header files. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Source file changes ASM Files Unfortunately the assembler files need to be rebuilt to make the functions exportable (although I suspect you could bypass this with an appropriate DEF file). In my case I changed all the PUBLIC declarations to PUBLICDLL and re-assembled. CPP Files 3.2.1 Add the _EXPTVFUNC macro to all the global non-member function definitions. The affected files are: File : COLORSEL.CPP TColorItem& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorItem& i1, TColorItem& i2 ) TColorGroup& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorGroup& g, TColorItem& i ) TColorGroup& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TColorGroup& g1, TColorGroup& g2 ) File : MENU.CPP TSubMenu& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TSubMenu& s, TMenuItem& i ) TSubMenu& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TSubMenu& s1, TSubMenu& s2 ) TStatusDef& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TStatusDef& s1, TStatusItem& s2 ) TStatusDef& _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( TStatusDef& s1, TStatusDef& s2 ) File : MISC.CPP void *_EXPTVFUNC message( TView *receiver, ushort what, ushort command, void *infoPtr) Boolean _EXPTVFUNC lowMemory() File : NEW.CPP void * _EXPTVFUNC operator new[] ( size_t sz ) void * _EXPTVFUNC operator new ( size_t sz ) void _EXPTVFUNC operator delete ( void *blk ) void _EXPTVFUNC operator delete[] ( void *blk ) File : NEWSTR.CPP char *_EXPTVFUNC newStr( const char *s ) File : TCMDSET.CPP TCommandSet _EXPTVFUNC operator & ( const TCommandSet& tc1, const TCommandSet& tc2 ) TCommandSet _EXPTVFUNC operator | ( const TCommandSet& tc1, const TCommandSet& tc2 ) int _EXPTVFUNC operator == ( const TCommandSet& tc1, const TCommandSet& tc2 ) File : TOBJSTRM.CPP ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, char &ch ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, signed char &ch ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, unsigned char &ch ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, signed short &sh ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, unsigned short &sh ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, signed int &i ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, unsigned int &i ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, signed long &l ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, unsigned long &l ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, float &f ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, double &d ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, long double &ld ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, TStreamable& t ) ipstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator >> ( ipstream& ps, void *&t ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, char ch ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, signed char ch ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, unsigned char ch ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, signed short sh ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, unsigned short sh ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, signed int i ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, unsigned int i ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, signed long l ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, unsigned long l ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, float f ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, double d ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, long double ld ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, TStreamable& t ) opstream& _EXPTVFUNC operator << ( opstream& ps, TStreamable *t ) File : TPOINT.CPP TPoint _EXPTVFUNC operator - ( const TPoint& one, const TPoint& two ) TPoint _EXPTVFUNC operator + ( const TPoint& one, const TPoint& two ) int _EXPTVFUNC operator == ( const TPoint& one, const TPoint& two ) int _EXPTVFUNC operator!= ( const TPoint& one, const TPoint& two ) 3.2.2 Add the _EXPTVDATA macro to global data. The following files are affected: File : HELPBASE.CPP line 57: TCrossRefHandler _EXPTVDATA crossRefHandler = notAssigned; File : TGROUP.CPP line 24-25: TView *_EXPTVDATA TheTopView = 0; TGroup* _EXPTVDATA ownerGroup = 0; File : TPROGRAM.CPP line 39: extern TPoint _EXPTVDATA shadowSize; File : TVIEW.CPP line 34-35: TPoint _EXPTVDATA shadowSize = {2,1}; uchar _EXPTVDATA shadowAttr = 0x08; line 40: extern TView *_EXPTVDATA TheTopView; 3.2.3 Omission from the source (BUG) The following function is declared but not defined anywhere in the source: TStreamable *TSortedListBox::build() Add the following lines to STDDLG.CPP just before the #endif right at the end of the file: TStreamable *TSortedListBox::build() { return new TSortedListBox( streamableInit ); } 3.2.4 The streaming stuff again. I [sic] all those S*.CPP files (SBUTTON.CPP, SVIEW.CPP, etc) where the registration objects are defined (RButton, RView etc), change the definitions from: TStreamableClass RSomeClass( TSomeClass::name, to: TStreamableClass _EXPTVDATA RSomeClass( TSomeClass::name, ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Building the DLL I used the IDE to compile the DLL as scratching around in the makefile seemed like just too much effort. If you plan to use the IDE, set up your project as follows: In the New Project Dialog, name your project TV32 and select Target Type as Dynamic Library and DOS (32bit DPMI) as the platform. De-select Turbo Vision and Class Library in the Standard Libraries section. Select Dynamic for the Run Time Library. Add all the .CPP and .ASM files in the source\tvision directory to the project. Under Edit Local Options|Compiler|Defines add MAKEDLL (_RTLDLL should already be there). For each of the .ASM files under Edit Local Options|Tool, change the line to read $TASM /D__FLAT__ /m2 /ml When you make the project (go for lunch) an import library (TV32.LIB) will automatically be created. I suggest you rename this to TV32i.LIB to avoid confusion with the static library. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Using the DLL Existing applications can be converted to use the DLL as follows: Add TV32i.LIB to the project. At the top level define USEDLL in Edit Local Options|Compiler|Defines. Go to Target Expert and switch OFF Turbo Vision under standard Libaries. Select Dynamic Runtime Library. BUILD the project. Your EXE file should be much smaller than before. (The TVDemo application compiles to about 34K). When running your application TV32.DLL should be in the local directory or in the path. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Problems with the Borland RTL DLL This problem is not directly TV related but may surface if you use the DLL. When you use certain RTL functions (biosprint, inport, etc.), the linker will fail with an undefined symbol: _ostype. The problem is that the abovementiond functions force linking of the function __disallowDPMI32onWin32 (in DPMI32.LIB) which in turn references _ostype which is not exported from the C RTL DLL (CW3211.DLL). To get around the problem you can extract the module PLATFORM.OBJ from CW32.DLL and link it with your application: TLIB CW32.DLL *PLATFORM Alternatively you can just define _ostype some where in your application: unsigned int _ostype = 2; // 2 == DOS32 The second method is not all that safe since it assumes you are not running on a Win32 platform. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Feedback The author would appreciate any feedback on this material explaining how to compile TV as a DLL. Send email to <stasseed@telkom11.telkom.co.za> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV AS DLL - PART 2 Abstract The module definition file tvdll16.dff Modifications to the headers tvision/tv.h other header files Modifications to the assembler files General modifications tvwrite.asm Modifications to the source files tscreen.cpp system.h Miscellaneous modifications Missing TSortedListBox:::build Redundant tmenupop.cpp Conclusions ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract This section provides comment on producing Turbo Vision 2.0 as a DLL in either 16 or 32-bit mode under BC 4.5 as outlined in TV as DLL - Part 1 and adds further insight of the reviewer. The reviewer is Vincent Van Den Berghe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The module definition file For the 16-bit TV DLL, you need a module definition file to ensure that some critical routines always remain in memory and are never swapped out. To make such a file called tvdll16.def LIBRARY TVDLL16 DESCRIPTION 'TVDLL16.DLL' CODE PRELOAD MOVEABLE DISCARDABLE DATA PRELOAD MOVEABLE MULTIPLE SEGMENTS sysint_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE SYSERR_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE swapst_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE DRIVERS_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE DRIVERS2_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE hardware_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE TSCREEN_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE TEVENT_TEXT PRELOAD FIXED NONDISCARDABLE This .def file is not needed for the 32-bit DLL. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Modifications to the headers The most extensive work to do is to modify the header files. Do not worry if you forget some modifications. The compiler or linker will tell you what you have missed. The linker will report "undefined symbols", the compiler will complain with "cannot derive a huge class from a far base" or vice-versa. Basically, the aim is to qualify every exportable class, function and data with the correct keyword and to continue using Turbo Vision as a static library. In order to do this, two macros need to be defined to tell the compiler what to do, namely: _BUILDTVDLL // defined if we are building TV as a DLL _TVDLL // defined if we are using TV as a DLL If neither is defined, we are building or using TV as a static library. tvision/tv.h In order to access classes in a DLL, they must be exported. A series of macros put at the start of tvision/tv.h (before line 16) set things up: #if defined(__FLAT__) // 32-bits #if defined(_BUILDTVDLL) // building 32-bits TV DLL #define _EXPTVCLASS __export #define _EXPTVDATA __export #define _EXPTVFUNC __export #elif defined(_TVDLL) // using the 32-bits TV DLL #define _EXPTVCLASS __import #define _EXPTVDATA __import #define _EXPTVFUNC __import #else // building or using 32-bits static library #define _EXPTVCLASS #define _EXPTVDATA #define _EXPTVFUNC #endif #elif defined(_BUILDTVDLL) // we are now compiling in 16-bit // building the 16-bit TV DLL #define _EXPTVCLASS __export #define _EXPTVDATA __export #define _EXPTVFUNC __export #elif defined(_TVDLL) // using the 16-bit TV DLL #define _EXPTVCLASS __export #define _EXPTVDATA #define _EXPTVFUNC #else // using the static TV libary #define _EXPTVCLASS __far #define _EXPTVDATA __near #define _EXPTVFUNC #endif _EXPTVCLASS will be the export qualifier for classes _EXPTVDATA will be the export qualifier for (global) data _EXPTVFUNC will be the export qualifier for (global) functions Define the macro _BUILDTVDLL if we are building the library as a DLL; _TVDLL if we use the TV library as a DLL; or nothing if we are making or using TV as the static library. These definitions will be at the command line options. The rules are similar to those which are needed when using Borland's CLASSLIB or OWL as a DLL. Since we change the rules, change #if defined( _RTLDLL ) #error TV must use the RTL in static form only #endif to #if defined( _RTLDLL ) && !defined(_BUILDTVDLL) && !defined(_TVDLL) #error TV must use the RTL in static form only #endif in tvision/tv.h Other header files Class declarations Basically, you must change all instances of class xxxx or class _FAR xxxx to class _EXPTVCLASS xxxx in all header files. Please note the following: Do not forget special cases - incomplete type specifications, friend classes, etc. If you want to have the class available, it should be qualified for export. class and struct are equivalent for these purposes, so do not forget them. It is not necessary to qualify a class or a struct which has no member functions. Functions declarations All global functions must have the _EXPTVFUNC attribute. This includes the overloaded operators and the friend functions. Note that it is not necessary to modify the function definition (i.e. the .cpp file), unlike the data declarations in the following section. Data declarations These declarations are sufficient: In File APP.H: static TProgram * _EXPTVDATA application; static TStatusLine * _EXPTVDATA statusLine; static TMenuBar * _EXPTVDATA menuBar; static TDeskTop * _EXPTVDATA deskTop; static int _EXPTVDATA appPalette; static TEvent _EXPTVDATA pending; Here, it is necessary to modify the data definition in the source file. For example, in tprogram.cpp: TStatusLine * _EXPTVDATA TProgram::statusLine = 0; TMenuBar * _EXPTVDATA TProgram::menuBar = 0; TDeskTop * _EXPTVDATA TProgram::deskTop = 0; TProgram * _EXPTVDATA TProgram::application = 0; int _EXPTVDATA TProgram::appPalette = apColor; TEvent _EXPTVDATA TProgram::pending; ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Modifications to the assembler files General modifications There are 3 reasons why the assembler files must be modified: Symbolic references to class members in assembler files are different; Public symbols that define member functions in assembler files are different; and Assembly language functions may require prolog/epilog code to load DS with the DLL data segment (this procedure destroys AX). The first 2 reasons have one common cause: the compiler "mangles" class members differently if the class is flagged as exported/exportable. For example, the member TScreen::screenBuffer has as mangled name @TScreen@screenBuffer if TScreen is an "ordinary" class, but @TScreen@0screenBuffer if TScreen has the __export or __import attribute in 16-bit DPMI (i.e. the model is not __FLAT__). We define the macro __DLL__ to indicate that the assembler file is compiled for a DLL. A series of ifdef/endif constructs define the proper constructions. The changes may be grouped into 4 categories: Category 1: Public symbols All symbols declared PUBLIC at the start of the assembler file must be changed to PUBLICDLL (so that they can be exported). In addition, all public symbols that are of the form @classname@functionname$arguments must be changed to: @classname@0functionname$arguments Note the numeric 0 if the model is not __FLAT__ This change is needed because the mangling of exported member names is different from the non-exported ones. The insertion of an extra 0 is the only thing different. Category 2: External symbols All symbols declared EXTRN at the start of the assembler file which are of the form @classname@functionname$arguments must change as described in category 1. Category 3: Proc declarations The proc declaration of public symbols in assembler files must change as described in category 1. In addition, a language modifier must be added. For example, ifndef __FLAT__ @TView@writeStr$qssnxcuc PROC else @TView@writeStr$qsspxcuc PROC endif this is changed to: ifndef __FLAT__ ifdef __DLL__ @TView@0writeStr$qssnxcuc PROC WINDOWS else @TView@writeStr$qssnxcuc PROC endif else ifdef __DLL__ @TView@writeStr$qsspxcuc PROC WINDOWS else @TView@writeStr$qsspxcuc PROC endif endif Do not forget to do the same thing if the proc name is specified as part of an ENDP statement at the end of the proc definition. Note that @TView@writeView$qv (defined in tvision/tvwrite.asm) does not need the WINDOWS language modifier since this is an internal function that receives its arguments through registers. Internal functions and protected mode thunks do not need the WINDOWS language modifier. Category 4: Call and usage statements If the EXTRN declarations are renamed, so must their uses. For example, affected call statements change from: Call @TDisplay@getCrtMode$qv to: ifdef __DLL__ Call @TDisplay@0getCrtMode$qv else Call @TDisplay@getCrtMode$qv endif Example of a modified assembler declaration The file tvcursor.asm started with: PUBLIC @TView@resetCursor$qv EXTRN @TDisplay@isEGAorVGA$qv : FAR EXTRN @TScreen@cursorLines : WORD IFDEF __FLAT__ EXTRN @THardwareInfo@setCaretSize$qus : NEAR EXTRN @THardwareInfo@setCaretPosition$qusus : NEAR ELSE EXTRN @TDisplay@getCrtMode$qv : FAR ; For monochrome ; check. ENDIF This is changed to: ifdef __DLL__ ; DLL-declarations ifdef __FLAT__ PUBLICDLL @TView@resetCursor$qv EXTRN @TDisplay@isEGAorVGA$qv : FAR EXTRN @TScreen@cursorLines : WORD else PUBLICDLL @TView@0resetCursor$qv EXTRN @TDisplay@0isEGAorVGA$qv : FAR EXTRN @TScreen@0cursorLines : WORD ; by using EQUates, we avoid having to modify the use of these ; routines in the body of the code @TDisplay@isEGAorVGA$qv EQU @TDisplay@0isEGAorVGA$qv @TScreen@cursorLines EQU @TScreen@0cursorLines endif IFDEF __FLAT__ EXTRN @THardwareInfo@setCaretSize$qus : NEAR EXTRN @THardwareInfo@setCaretPosition$qusus : NEAR ELSE EXTRN @TDisplay@0getCrtMode$qv : FAR ; For monochrome ; check. @TDisplay@getCrtMode$qv EQU @TDisplay@0getCrtMode$qv ENDIF else ; - Original declarations PUBLIC @TView@resetCursor$qv EXTRN @TDisplay@isEGAorVGA$qv : FAR EXTRN @TScreen@cursorLines : WORD IFDEF __FLAT__ EXTRN @THardwareInfo@setCaretSize$qus : NEAR EXTRN @THardwareInfo@setCaretPosition$qusus : NEAR ELSE EXTRN @TDisplay@getCrtMode$qv : FAR ; For monochrome check. ENDIF endif tvwrite.asm In tvision/tvwrite.asm, the routine @TView@writeView$qv calls @THWMouse@hide$qv and @THWMouse@show$qv to hide (resp. show) the mouse cursor if drawing over it. The code assumes that AX is preserved across calls. Since THWMouse::hide() and THWMouse::show() are exported functions, they have a prolog code that destroy AX. You, therefore, should change: CALL @THWMouse@hide$qv CALL @@50 CALL @THWMouse@show$qv to push ax CALL @THWMouse@hide$qv pop ax CALL @@50 push ax CALL @THWMouse@show$qv pop ax As an aside, there are EXTRN definitions for TView::mapColor and THardwareInfo::screenWrite, but they are never used and may be eliminated if you want. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Modifications to the source files The designers of Turbo Vision chose to use a mixture of assembly language and C++ for low-level features, like accessing the video memory, keyboard and other bios functions. Although it seems logical to do this, among other things, for writing to the screen, there is no rational explanation why functions like video detection (see tvision/tscreen.cpp) has to be in such a mix of language. For example, this routine is defined in tvision/tscreen.cpp: void TDisplay::videoInt() { I PUSH BP I PUSH ES I INT 10h I POP ES I POP BP } The routine directly calls int 10 (the video bios interrupt) and assumes all the proper registers will be set up. When compiling for DLL, all exported functions (including the static member functions of exported classes, like videoInt() ) get a prolog that begins by loading the DLL's data segment in the AX register. As a result, the AX register are destroyed by the time the int 10 is executed. It so happens that AX (more specifically AH) holds the subfunction to be executed. The result is wrong! The only reliable way to solve this is to get rid of videoInt() and to substitute the body of the function directly at each call site. Do not use int86 calls! Some of the code is called within static constructors and int86 is unreliable at that time . This should yield a working tvision/tscreen.cpp ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Miscellaneous modifications As reported by Eric Stassen, there is indeed a missing member function which should be added to stddlg.cpp: TStreamable *TSortedListBox::build() { return new TSortedListBox( streamableInit ); } Failure to do this causes an "undefined symbol TStreamable *TSortedListBox::build" error when attempting to link the Turbo Vision DLL. The reason for such an error message when TV is linked as a static library is that references to TSortedListBox::build are only pulled in if streaminig is actually used. If it is not used (and it usually is not), the reference is not pulled in and the linker does not sees it. A DLL is linked as a "complete" program, meaning that there must be no unresolved symbols. Hence, the error. Redundant tmenupop.cpp There is a redundant file called tvision/tmenupop.cpp which cannot compile. It is supposed to implement the class TMenuPopup defined in tvision/menu.h. Get rid of it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Conclusions It can be done. The reviewer reports he has a 16- and 32-bit Turbo Vision Library in a DLL, and it works like a charm! The ideal thing would be to incorporate Eric Woodruff's patches with the DLL changes so that everyone could benefit. If you try it on your own, however, prepare for a few hours work. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON MAKING TV AS A DLL 1. My application does not clear the screen when I exit. It seems that the destructors for TScreen etc are not being called. Borland C++ 4.02 has known problems when generating DLL's containing static objects with destructors. The "static destructor in DLL" problem has been fixed in 4.5. 2. BC 4.02 creates garbage code when trying to access byte- or word-wide exported static member data, e.g. TScreen::screenMode. This seems to be a compiler bug. Perhaps somebody with BC4.5 can verify if this problem has been fixed. I have Borland C++ 4.5 and have not encountered this problem. The moral of the story is: do not use Borland C++ between versions 4.0 and 4.02 included. Upgrade to 4.5 (in fact, 4.51, since the upgrade is supposed to be available). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV BUGS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV 1.x has several bugs. People have offered fixes and workarounds that make TV 1.x run more efficiently. Patches may also be obtained from Phar Lap if you want to use their product with TV. TV 2 fixed most of the bugs found in the earlier version. Eric Woodruff is maintaining a bug list and has released a consolidation of patches for TV 2, the latest of which is available from the TVPlus ftp site. Any substantiated bugs for TV 2 - and just not coding errors - may be sent to Eric Woodruff at <mailto:72134.1150@compuserve.com>. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV MIXED AND MATCHED ----------------------------------------------------------------------- It is feasible to compile TV code with different BC versions provided that you follow three simple steps 1. ensure that the old version of TV will not interfere with the new one and, if applicable, that the second version of the compiler is out of the way; 2. revise the TV source code to conform with the compiler you will use; and 3. build the new TV library. The specifics will change depending on which version of the compiler and of Turbo Vision you intend to use. More information follows. TV 1.x AND BC4.x In this case, the Turbo Vision library must be re-compiled with BC4x. The reasons for doing so are the differences in debug format, symbol length and the runtime library. For particulars on how to do this, read TI1752 and TI1753. TV 2.0 AND BC 3.1 You can compile the TV2.0 source code with BC3.1. Doing so does not allow you to generate protected mode applications or link BC4x libraries but it does retain the advantage of using the integrated debugger in the IDE and development in a DOS environment with the final production build done with BC4x. Changes to source code files are necessary because of the developments in C++ since BC3.1. It means that libraries need to be re-compiled having first patched the source code from the file TV2BUG.ZIP. You need to ensure that TV1.03 files do not conflict with TV2.0 files, possibly by renaming the Turbo Vision directory or deleting them if no longer required. At the same time, take the necessary precautions to prevent the BC4x and makefiles being called on. For detailed information, obtain the file B31TV2.ZIP which provides guidelines and a makefile - put together by Eric Woodruff - to help you adapt the code to your compiler. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TV PORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- These include: the Joern Sierwald patches to compile a portable 32 bit TV supporting various C++ compilers; Oliver Suciu's patches to compile TV using djgpp; and Alain Borel's patches to compile TV using djgpp based on the Sierwald patches. JOERN SIERWALD Joern Sierwald who is at the Technische Universitaet Hamburg-Harburg (Germany) maintains this code. If you want to obtain the code, its URL is given in the section Specialist ftp sites or is obtainable from the TVPlus ftp site. Supported compilers: IBM CSet++ 2.1 for native OS/2 applications; Borland C++ for OS/2; emx/gcc for native OS/2 and 32Bit DOS applications; Watcom C++ 10.0(a) for OS/2 and DOS4GW (dos extender) applications; and djgpp. Description: patches for TV 1.03 (BC3.1); all .asm rewritten in C++ for easy debugging; mouse support for all compilers; 32Bit TEditor, 32Bit TTerminal and 32Bit containers; Additional ports should be easy; and OS/2 versions are multithreaded and consume very little CPU time. The djgpp support is new. It is considered a beta version having been tested with the OS/2 DPMI Server ONLY. It should run with VCPI or with plain HIMEM.SYS, but you never know. N.B. If you use these patches, please be considerate enough to provide the author with feedback and any bug reports. It is nice to know how code performs! Joern thanks Alain Borel for code and debugging. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TV AND MS-WINDOWS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- There is no port or tool available to facilitate a conversion of Turbo Vision to MS-Windows. The two systems are similar, but different enough that a simple conversion is not possible. How difficult it is depends on how your original program was written. There are 3 parts to programs - interfacing with the user, manipulating data, and storing the data. If you have kept the last two separate from the user interface, it should not be too hard to make the port. If views do a lot of manipulating of data or you have custom views it will require more effort. The closest you will find to convert your resources for you is something like TurboVision Development Toolkit which is not 100% but better than nothing. Alternatively, you can use the Resource Workshop to rebuild the initial interface and copy much of your code. One of the main problems converting your code is that radiobuttons, checkboxes, and some other controls have slightly different schemes of storing the data. There are slight differences in the names of some constants also. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- LEARNING TV ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you are still learning C++, the learning curve that comes with the choice of TV as an application framework can be steep. There are a few good books that will demonstrate C++ for you. However, a book will never teach you a language. That comes by examining working code and through trial and error. Studying the source code for TV, if it is available, is a good way to understand the processes that give it life. But you must first understand C++. The examples that come with TV are a good platform to try out some of the features this framework offers, but they are not real world examples. The source code examples that can be found on the Internet are good ways to see the good (and bad) ways of writing C++, and the presentation of it. The discussion list will provide you with a means to try ideas out on one one another. No one will laugh at your suggestions or queries. In fact the List can be your most powerful ally in the resolving of problems or bugs in your code. The best way to learn TV and C++ is to write code. People learn by doing. Once you overcome the initial hurdles of the language extensions and continue to expand your directions, the use of TV is almost formula. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Books and journals ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Christian, Kaare (1993). "Borland C++ Techniques & Utilities." Ziff Davis Press, Emeryville. ISBN 1-56276-054-8. Faison, Ted (1992). "Borland C++ 3.1 Object-Oriented Programming." Sams Publishing, Indianopolis. Second edition. ISBN 0-672-30140-7. Finn, et al. (1994). "C++ Database Applications with the Paradox Engine." Windcrest/McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-8306-4327-3 Swan, Tom (1992). "Mastering Borland C++." Sams Publishing, Indianopolis. ISBN 0-672-30274-8 Welstead, Steve (1994). "Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic Applications in C/C++." John Wiley. ISBN 0471-30975-3 (without disk) or ISBN 0471-30974-5 (with disk) "The C/C++ User's Journal." Dead Parrots ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIAN ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis There is a 3.5" disk with source code included. Part 3 of this book is devoted to Turbo Vision (pages 179 - 270), but it only covers TV basics. The rest of the book teaches C++, streams, OWL, etc. Review No published review has been located yet. However, Craig Schlenter was of the opinion that it was a "good book." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FAISON ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis USD39.95 with disk. The author shows how to make changes to TV defaults. The third edition does not include anything specifically relating to TV but covers BC4 instead. Review No published review has been located. Craig Schlenter rated it "very good". ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FINN ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis USD39.95 with disk. This book requires TV, Paradox Engine with Database Frameworks 3.01. Review A published review has not yet been located. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SWAN ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis As the title suggests, the book relates to C++, specifically BC3.1. Topics covered by the author in this edition include object oriented programming, Turbo Vision and the ObjectWindows Library. Consistent with the publisher's style, the book contains such tutorial aids as summaries, tips, hints and cautionary notes. The author also describes and lists complete example programs for every Borland C++ procedure and function. USD39.95 with disk which contains the source code to the programming examples in the book, answers to the chapter exercises and reference information. Review No published review has been located. Craig Schlenter rated it "very good". ----------------------------------------------------------------------- WELSTEAD ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis USD36.95 without disk or 49.95 with disk which includes source code for all applications and TV executables for most of the applications. This is a "how-to" book for writing your own neural network and fuzzy logic applications. Applications include pattern recognition, financial forecasting, chaos and dynamic control. In addition to basic neural network training methods such as backpropagation, the book covers advanced topics such as genetic algorithms, conjugate gradient, simulated annealing, self organizing networks and fuzzy genetic systems. One chapter is devoted to the development of a Turbo Vision application base class tailored to the general needs of training and running neural networks and fuzzy systems. The remaining chapters develop complete self-contained applications, with application-specific TV interface derived from the general base class. Review It is not known if a published review is available. Credit Thanks to Scott Sumner for finding and relaying this information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CUJ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Welstead, Steve (1994). 'Scrolling List Dialog for Scientific Programming'. CUJ, 12(4)51-66. The author shows an alternative method of setting up a TV project that uses one header and *.cpp files as include files. The programming style is different to that from the Borland stable. The article describes how to build a scrolling list dialog using TV that will collect the input normally handled throught a command-line interface and prompt the user through a series of menus and dialog boxes. The source code is available from ftp://ftp.uu.net/pub/cuj A slightly more elaborate version of the articles' code is available from ftp://vtucs.cc.vt.edu/turbo-vision. These are promotions for Welstead's book. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEAD PARROTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Borland International (1992). "Turbo Vision for C++ User's Guide". Scotts Valey, CA. The link was suggested by the manual itself (see page 492). After pondering this indexed item deeply and philosophically, we realised that there was no answer! Therefore, applying the rule more honoured in its breach than observance, "Keep it simple", it became obvious that the reference had to be to the object itself, a (*this)! On a more serious note, TV is not well documented. The manual can only be described as obscure. This is unfortunate as a library's manual is a powerful adjunct. If the manual is unclear, then the benefits from the library will not be fully realised. One of the objectives of TVPlus, with your support, will be to clarify some of the points the manual tends to present unclearly, or does not mention at all. If you want to record dead parrots (i.e. would be errata), we would be happy to note them here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Software resources ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This heading covers some of the software available which can be used with Turbo Vision to increase programming productivity. Utilities Software libraries The Borland TI series CDROM source code ----------------------------------------------------------------------- UTILITIES ----------------------------------------------------------------------- It seems that few utilities are designed specifically for TV. The ones we are aware of are listed here. NON COMMERCIAL A dialog box designer by Dave Baldwin - dlgdsn46.zip 1994 TV resource workshop by Siskiyou Software - tvrw.zip 1993 TV workshop by Mark Buchanan and Mark Timmings - tvwork.zip 1994: generates menus, statuslines, hints and dialogs COMMERCIAL Turbo Vision Development ToolKit by IDC Originally for Pascal, TVDK was upgraded for C++ TV1.03. It is used to build TV applications. With the resource editor you can create the menu, hint texts and the help system. There are additional classes in the TVDT (like masked inputs). The original code contained several bugs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Developer Innovative Data Concepts 122 North York Road, Suite 5 Hatboro Pennsylvenia 19040 USA Phone: +1 800 926 4551 Fax: +1 215 443 9753 BBS: +1 215 364 9131 Internet: Technical Support: 71333.1575@compuserve.com Customer Support: 75300.564@compuserve.com FidoNet: Technical Support: IDC Tech Support, 1:273/232 Customer Support: IDC Cust Support, 1:273/232 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Product comparison Availability of source code TVDT Lite: No Source Code TVDT 2.5: Full, complete source code is provided for all classes, objects, and utilities. The Pascal source code for the Resource Editor and Windows Resource Converter is compatible with TP 6.0 or 7.0, and supports both Real Mode and Protected Mode versions of resedit. Resource editor TVDT Lite: The version of resedit supplied with the TVDT Lite package runs in Real Mode and is limited to 640K of memory. TVDT 2.5: With the full TVDT package, a 16-bit DPMI Protected Mode version of resedit is supplied supporting up to 16 MB of RAM. Debugging TVDT Lite: No debugging capabilities. TVDT 2.5: TVDT comes with the debugging libraries with complete symbolic debugging information for all the TVDT classes. Supports 16-bit Real Mode applications, 16-bit DPMI applications and 32-bit DPMI applications. Compatability TVDT Lite: Supports BC++ 4.0 and TV 2.0 TVDT 2.5: In addition to supporting the Borland PowerPack, the full TVDT package supports earlier versions of Turbo Vision, such as the versions shipped with BC++ 3.1. Also supports TP 6.0, TP 7.0 and Borland Pascal 7.0. Documentation TVDT Lite: Documentation is included in a single TV Help File; the package includes a TV Help File viewer using the TV THelpViewer class. TVDT 2.5: In addition to the on-line TV help file, the documentation is also available in Microsoft Windows Help File Format. No printed documentation is available with this release. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- LIBRARIES ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The libraries that extend TV is not limited to those we have listed here. However, we considered these to be more substantial than others of which we are aware. Protected mode for TV1.03 and BC3.1 by Kevin Morgan - pmapp.zip 1994 Some useful gadgets and add-ins by Marc Stern - tvtool17.zip 1993 Extension of TV classes by Roger Nelson - rvision.zip 1994 Graphics extension by Simor Balazs - gfx210.zip 1994: excellent Graphics extension by Pat Reilly - tvalt.zip 1992 Graphics extension by Mindware - tvg121.zip 1994 Palette demonstration by Eric Woodruff - tvcolr.zip 1994 Palette utilities by Craig Nelson - tvpal.zip 1992 Palette utilities by Lincoln Beach Software - pald15.zip 1994 Extension of TInputLine Class by Jeff Penrose - tde.zip 1992 Improved help viewer and entended video mode output by Peter Brandstrom - tvtoys.zip 1994 Gadgets, widgets and special functions by Chris Ahlmstrom - face_tv.zip These files may be downloaded from the TVPlus site. ========================== END OF TEXT PART 1 ========================= -- Rachel Polanskis grove@zeta.org.au Robert Hazeltine http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/grove.html r.polanskis@nepean.uws.edu.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ User Contributions: |
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