Shareware Grab Bag

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Shareware Grab Bag / Shareware Grab Bag.iso / 050 / tpatch.arc / TPATCH.DOC < prev

Wrap

Text File | 1987-03-18 | 12.6 KB | 263 lines

***************************************************** * TPATCH: Turbo File Patching Utility, Version 2.00 * ***************************************************** (C) Copyright 1987 Brian Foley, TurboPower Software CompuServe 76317,3247 This program is released into the public domain for personal, non-commercial use only. It may be freely copied and distributed so long as no fee is charged, either for the program itself or the distribution of it. What TPATCH does ================ TPATCH.COM is a utility for programs compiled with Turbo Pascal (PC-DOS, versions 3.00B-3.02A). It allows you to examine the status of certain settings--colors, mIn and mAx heap, display mode, etc.--and, if requested, to change them without recompiling. It also allows you to make a few simple patches to Turbo compilers. Here is the output that would be generated by entering TPATCH tpatch at the command line (I've added the numbers to the left, in parentheses): TPATCH, Turbo File Patching Utility, Version 2.00 (C) Copyright 1986 by Brian Foley Examining TPATCH.COM (1) Compiled with Turbo Pascal version 3.01A (plain vanilla) (2) Monochrome (3) NormVideo $0F (White on Black) (4) LowVideo $07 (Light Gray on Black) Black & white NormVideo $0F (White on Black) LowVideo $07 (Light Gray on Black) Color NormVideo $0E (Yellow on Black) LowVideo $07 (Light Gray on Black) (5) Display mode $FF "Default display mode" (6) Device checking {$D+} (7) ^Break checking {$C+} (8) ^C checking {$U-} (9) Code size $0564 paragraphs (10) Data size $003D paragraphs (11) mIn stack $0400 paragraphs (12) mAx stack $2000 paragraphs (13) Input buffer (N/A) (14) Output buffer (N/A) -P and -O options ================= If you want to change some of these items, use the "-P" (Patch Mode) option and you will be prompted for new settings. By default, any changes you request will be made directly to the COM file itself. If you want to play it safe, you can have TPATCH write a new version of the program that incorporates the changes by using the "-O" (Output file) option and specifying a filename. If the "-O" option is specified, Patch Mode is selected automatically. Items displayed, Making changes =============================== (1) Version: The version of the Turbo compiler that was used to generate the executable file. TPATCH recognizes the runtime library for most DOS versions of the Turbo compiler, from 1.00A up to 3.02A. However, it will only report the default settings for, and permit changes to, programs compiled with PC-DOS Turbo 3.00B and higher (including BCD and 8087 versions). (2) Monochrome (Black & white, Color): The runtime library keeps three sets of video attributes--one for monochrome adapters, one for composite black and white monitors attached to color cards, and one for color monitor-adapter combinations. (3) NormVideo: The video attribute used for NormVideo (aka HighVideo), the default. If you aren't familiar with video attributes, but want to change them, here's a simple Pascal function that takes foreground and background colors as parameters, and returns a video attribute (with the blink bit masked out): function Attribute(Foreground, Background : Byte) : Byte; {-Translates foreground and background colors into video attributes. "And 127" masks out the blink bit. Add 128 to the result to set it.} begin Attribute := ((Background shl 4)+Foreground) and 127; end; You may change NormVideo for any or all of the three sets of attributes. Number must be in the range 0-$FF (enter in decimal or hex, either one). (4) LowVideo: The video attribute used for LowVideo. You may change LowVideo for any or all of the three sets of attributes. Number must be in the range 0-$FF (enter in decimal or hex, either one). (5) Display mode: A Turbo compiler fresh out of the package will have $FF (= default display mode) here, which is what it should be. If you need to change this, the valid entries are: 0 : b/w display 40x25 1 : Color display 40x25 2 : b/w display 80x25 3 : Color display 80x25 7 : Monochrome display $FF : Default display mode The string that goes with this byte is shown in quotation marks. If you alter the mode, TPATCH supplies the corresponding string. Enter the appropriate number in decimal or hex, either one. (6) Device checking: Default is D+. You may change this by entering '-' (just the minus) for $D- or '+' (just the plus) for $D+. This option does nothing unless the program uses DOS standard I/O. If $D- is used, all I/O is buffered, no matter what. (7) ^Break checking: Default is $C+. You may change this by entering '-' (just the minus) for $C- or '+' (just the plus) for $C+. Affects only the *initial* setting for CBreak (the well-known global variable), which determines whether break checking is on. (8) ^C checking: Default is $U-. You may change this by entering '-' (just the minus) for $U- or '+' (just the plus) for $U+. When you set $U+ (anywhere in your program, but normally at the top), the compiler fills your program with breakpoint instructions (INT 3's), and sets a flag telling the runtime library to install an interrupt handler to trap INT 3 and check for a ^C at *every* breakpoint. TPATCH lets you determine whether that interrupt handler gets installed or not by setting the flag on or off. You can thus speed up the execution of a program compiled with $U+ (a bit), since the default INT 3 handler will *usually* point to a simple IRET. Or you can simulate a selective $U+ by inserting "Inline($CC);" statements into your code at strategic locations (as opposed to everywhere) and use TPATCH to see that the interrupt handler gets installed. (9) cOde size: There is no reason for changing this unless you are using chain files. If you are, you'll know what this is good for; if not, don't worry. You may enter *any* integer value here (the number of 16-byte paragraphs), either in decimal or in hex, so be careful. (10) Data size: Ditto. (11) mIn heap: mIn will usually be $400 paragraphs (16K bytes). You may enter any integer value in the range $40-$B000 (paragraphs) here, either in decimal or in hex. (12) mAx heap: mAx will usually be set to $A000 paragraphs (640K bytes), insuring that all available memory gets allocated for your program. You may enter any integer value in the range $40-$B000 (paragraphs) here, either in decimal or in hex. (13) Input buffer: The size of the buffer created with the $G (Get) compiler directive, used to permit redirected input. "(N/A)" is displayed if the buffer size is 0, indicating that redirection is not enabled. This value cannot be changed. (At least not in this version--I'm not sure it's safe.) (14) Output buffer: The size of the buffer created with the $P (Put) compiler directive, used to permit redirected output. "(N/A)" is displayed if the buffer size is 0, indicating that redirection is not enabled. This value cannot be changed. (Again, not sure it's safe.) -I and -A options ================= New in TPATCH 2.00 are the -I and -A options, which give you an easy way to do nothing except reset mIn (-I) and mAx (-A) heap settings. If you use CED, you may want to define a synonym such as minmax syn 'tpatch %1 -i $%2 -a $%3' If you're one of the six people who don't, you could also construct a batch file to accomplish the same thing. These options can also be used to reset the default mIn/mAx on Turbo compilers. (See the discussion of the -S option, below.) -C option ========= Those are the settings that are shown ordinarily. If you select the "-C" option, however, things look a little different. This option activates "Colors Only Mode". It is selected automatically if the .COM file being examined is a Turbo compiler. If Colors Only Mode is activated, items (6) through (14) are not shown. Instead, two more attribute settings are displayed for each of the three sets: "Marked blocks" (the attribute used to display marked blocks inside the Turbo editor) and "Error messages" (the attribute used to display error messages both in the editor and in the compiler--the kind that require you to press the Escape key to continue). These are displayed and changed in the same manner as NormVideo and LowVideo. In addition, the status of the "Snow checking" flag is shown (TINST asks if your display "flickers when it scrolls"--not quite accurate). (All of the extra items are in the runtime libraries of programs compiled with Turbo, but they aren't used.) Entering [Y] turns Snow Checking on, [N] turns it off. If you use plain vanilla Turbo 3.01A and you enter TPATCH turbo at the command line, this is what the display will look like: TPATCH, Turbo File Patching Utility, Version 2.00 (C) Copyright 1987 by Brian Foley Examining TURBO.COM This is Turbo Pascal version 3.01A (plain vanilla) Monochrome NormVideo $0F (White on Black) LowVideo $07 (Light Gray on Black) Marked blocks $07 (Light Gray on Black) Error messages $70 (Black on Light Gray) Black & white NormVideo $0F (White on Black) LowVideo $07 (Light Gray on Black) Marked blocks $07 (Light Gray on Black) Error messages $70 (Black on Light Gray) Color NormVideo $0E (Yellow on Black) LowVideo $07 (Light Gray on Black) Marked blocks $07 (Light Gray on Black) Error messages $4F (White on Red) Snow checking ON Display mode $FF "Default display mode" Although the "-C" option is intended mainly for Turbo compilers, it is perfectly acceptable to use it with your own programs. (See the discussion of the -F option, below.) -S option ========= Also new in TPATCH 2.00 is the -S option, to Show all compiler options (well, all that TPATCH knows about). This allows you to examine the default settings for mIn and mAx heap, as well as the more common compiler directives. After displaying the usual compiler information discussed above, TPATCH will ask you to press a key to continue, then display the following: mIn stack $0400 paragraphs mAx stack $A000 paragraphs I/O checking {$I+} Range checking {$R-} Break checking {$C+} ^C checking {$U-} Stack checking {$K+} Type checking {$V+} Device checking {$D+} As with compiled programs, these settings can be changed if Patch Mode (-P) is in effect. Before changing any of these, be sure to consider carefully the consequences, especially if you are in the habit of distributing the source code for your programs. -F option ========= Selects the Fast screen update option, which installs the alternate ConOut driver from my CONOUT.PAS. By default, this option must be selected each time you run the program. However, if you wish, you can patch TPATCH to install the driver automatically. To do so, run TPATCH on itself in Colors Only Mode by entering TPATCH tpatch -C -P [-O newfile] Press [Enter] at all the prompts except the "Snow checking" one--for it, answer [N]. The alternate driver will then always be installed, and the -F option ignored. Try the -F option first before making the patch. (Please don't distribute altered versions of TPATCH.) Default extension ================= TPATCH always assumes that the extension for a filename passed to it as a parameter is .COM -- you can include it or omit it, doesn't matter. Feedback ======== That's it. Let me know if you have any comments, complaints, bug reports, etc. As noted above, I can be reached via CompuServe [76317,3247].