Chris Higgins reviews
the updated HiSoft BASIC Toolkit by Atari Computing's
dynamic duo...
ENCHANT (ENhanCed Hisoft ApplicatioN
Toolkit) is a collection of programming routines and
libraries for use with HiSoft BASIC v2.10. It is the
result of many months work by Matthew Bacon (Cadenza
Software) and Paul Jones (Atari Computing's resident
BASIC guru), both of whom have been HiSoft BASIC users
for a number of years.
Using their combined knowledge and
experience of HiSoft BASIC, Matthew and Paul state that
their aim was to create a replacement for the GEM Toolkit
provided with HiSoft BASIC v2, which was written in
1993 and now shows its age, with more flexible and up-to-date
toolkit. Have they succeeded...
ENCHANT consists of several hundred
programming routines (over nine thousand lines of source
code!) that have been divided into two categories, the
ENCHANT GEM Toolkit and the ENCHANT Modules. Both the
GEM Toolkit and Modules have been written in a modular
fashion (which helps to keep program size and compilation
times to an absolute minimum) and are supplied with
clear and comprehensive manuals that cover each and
every routine.
"The
ENCHANT GEM Toolkit handles
the complexities of
GEM for you."
The ENCHANT GEM Toolkit
The original HGT (HiSoft GEM Toolkit) supplied
with HiSoft BASIC v2 was a collection of routines that
enabled the programmer to handle the complexities of
GEM through only a few lines of code. ENCHANT does all
this and more besides. The ENCHANT GEM Toolkit is based
around four main toolbox files and a BH constants file.
These are supported by a further fourteen toolbox files
that provide the programmer with everything needed to
quickly and easily produce a GEM program or accessory.
The Toolkit supports all the features
found in the latest GEM programs including non-modal
dialogs, flydial dialogs and alerts, radio and check
buttons, popup menus. Not only that, the Toolkit comes
with shell listings to help you create programs and
desk accessories with ease.
"The
ENCHANT Modules give your
programs that professional
touch."
The ENCHANT Modules
Where do I start... the ENCHANT Modules are
a collection of twenty (this figure is still growing
due to its continual development) files that allow you
to include everything from OLGA support to disk copying
from within your own programs. A module is even included
to exploit the features of NVDI v4! To give you a better
idea, here is the current list...
- BUBBLE.BAS, include BubbleGEM
support in your programs
- CALC.BAS, a routine to handle
general arithmetic
- CD.BAS, control a CD drive from
within your program (uses CD-LIB)
- CLIPBRD.BAS, provides GEM Clipboard
support
- CURSOR.BAS, animates your mouse
cursor for you
- CYPHER.BAS, provides a sophisticated
encryption routine called ENIGMA
- CYPHER2.BAS, provides a 256-bit
binary encryption routine
- DATETIME.BAS, handles the Y2K
problem
- DISK.BAS, include disk copying
and formatting routines from within your own programs
(any format)
- ERROR.BAS, provides comprehensive
error trapping (a real must!)
- FILE.BAS, copy and deletes files
and more besides...
- MIDI.BAS, play and record MIDI
input/output from within your own programs!
- NVDI.BAS, gives your programs
full NVDI v4 support
- OLGA.BAS, include OLGA (Server/Client)
support easily in your programs
- PRINTER.BAS, control your printer
with ease
- PROTOCOL.BAS, a user definable
protocol routine
- SAMPLE.BAS, playback AVR samples
and more using SAM
- SORT.BAS, Sort data quickly and
efficiently
- ST-GUIDE.BAS, include ST Guide
support from within your own programs
- SYSTEM.BAS, provides many routines
that give feedback on your system
If all that wasn't enough, ENCHANT
also includes some useful extra non-commercial software
including the CD-LIB, MODPLAY, NETWORLD and WAVEPLAY
libraries and programming texts covering MIDI, NVDI,
Graphics and audio file formats.
ENCHANT is advertised as being suitable
for both novice and advanced users of HiSoft BASIC.
I am usually wary of such statements, but am pleased
to report my worries were unfounded. Suffice to say,
if you are a HiSoft BASIC user (and at only £15.00)
ENCHANT comes recommended.
Revision 2
Since its release at then end of last year,
ENCHANT revision 2 includes several new routines and
updates. Current users are now being invited to return
their original master disks to Cadenza Software for
a free upgrade.
Cadenza Software has also recently
setup a message board and user group aimed at HiSoft
BASIC programmers. If you have a problem and wish to
exchange source code and ideas, dial up the web pages
today.
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