CompuServe Messages

This is version 2.3 of ACE. ACE is a FreeWare Amiga BASIC compiler which, in conjunction with A68K and Blink produces standalone executables. The language defines a large subset of AmigaBASIC but also has many features not found in the latter such as: turtle graphics, recursion, SUBs with return values, structures, arguments, include files, a better WAVE command which allows for large waveforms, external references, named constants and a variety of other commands and functions not found in AmigaBASIC. A simple graphical front-end (Integrated Development Environment) is also provided with the archive. This is written in ACE and has been improved since the last release of the ACE archive. New features in version 2.3 include: Wb 2.x/3.x 3D-look for gadgets and requesters, an interprocess communication mechanism, IFF picture file support, subprogram module/library creation facility, MsgBox can now be used as a command as well as a function, EHB and HAM screen modes (AGA modes in next release), a line continuation character (~), serial status word can now be accessed via SERIAL function, address of SUBs/external functions via VARPTR/@, reserved words can be listed via a command-line compiler option, FONT and STYLE commands, LONGINT(n) function, SCREEN FORWARD and SCREEN BACK, CLEAR ALLOC command, borderless windows via WINDOW command, GADGET MOD command for modifying existing proportional gadgets, SLEEP FOR <secs> command, BEVELBOX command, .bas extension is now recognised as well as .b for ACE source files. Improvements have been made to event trapping, structures, ALLOC, FileBox, executable size, peephole optimisation, external/shared library function syntax, DIM syntax, GADGET syntax, ERR and ON ERROR (window, screen and message error codes), turtle graphics screen aspect ratios. Note that where there have been syntax changes, backward compatibility with previous ACE versions has been maintained. Changes are in the form of improvements. Major ACE documents now come in ASCII and AmigaGuide format. There are also numerous bug fixes from version 2.0 (see docs/history for details). Author: David Benn, Launceston, Tasmania, October 1994