#Help with Ipas
7 messages in this thread
I'm a novice programmer that is just learning C/C++ and want to write
IPAS programs. I bought Watcom C/C++ 32 and have been learning a little. I saw
where you need the IPAS developers Kit for $250. I would like to know if there
will be a new IPAS kit for 3DSr4 IPAS's and what exactly I need to develop
these programs. Do I need anything more than the Watcom compiler and the IPAS
kit. Like I said, I'm new to this type of programming so any help here, or even
recommendations of books or good was to learn C would be a lot of help!
—Will
You will be better served to dump Watcom and get Metaware High C and
Pharlap Extensions. There is no interactive debugging support or
required Trap Files for Watcom. Take my word for it, We found out
the hard way.
-Lee
I'm working on an article for Planet Studio, talking about the technical basics
of IPAS development: what sort of software you need, the pluses and minuses of
each compiler, the basic flow of control, etc.
I'd love to hear more of your experiences with using both compiler systems. I
bought the Metaware / PharLap system right off the bat because of
recommendations from this forum. I may be looking at the Watcom system for
another project.
John,
Watcom:
No Debugging because of the lack of trap files required for each type
of plug-in. Autodesk doesn't appear to have the time to write these
files and Watcom feels it's Autodesk's responsibility. Without these
trap files the only means of debugging is to write out print statements.
Other than that this was the only drawback to using Watcom.
-Lee
Since I don't have Watcom, I don't know what a "trap file" is. Can you explain?
Perhaps I know it by another name. What do they do? In other words, you can't
debug without them? They contain the symbols for the routines and data in the
link library code?
Hi John,
<< Since I don't have Watcom, I don't know what a "trap file" is. Can you
explain? Perhaps I know it by another name. What do they do? In other words,
you can't debug without them? They contain the symbols for the routines and
data in the link library code? >>
I've got the full thread at work. I'll mail it to you in the morning. They
(trap files) are fully described with some of the ACAD API Watcom support
readmes. There was a trap file written to support ACAD but it is not at all
compatible for IPAS.
jonas[adesk]
Hi Will,
<<.. and want to write IPAS programs. I bought Watcom C/C++ 32 and have been
learning a little. I saw where you need the IPAS developers Kit for $250. I
would like to know if there will be a new IPAS kit for 3DSr4 IPAS's>>
Yes, by all means… Numerous modifications were done to the 3DS.exe to support
more data structures and functionality.
<< and what exactly I need to develop these programs. Do I need anything more
than the Watcom compiler and the IPAS kit.>>
Watcom 9.5 was the most recent version supported for IPAS3 and IPAS4 should
support Watcom 10.0. The Metaware compiler route will give you a debug
environment with Metaware's debugger or PharLap's debugger while Watcom does
not have an ability to debug IPAS.
<< Additional info… >>
Please search the Software Dev Kit section of the lib with a KEYWORD: IPAS3 and
download and read/peruse all of the files.
jonas[adesk]