CompuServe Thread

#Benchmark print at?

10 messages in this thread
#100333From: Jim VentolaDec 28, 1987 5:05 PM
I am working on converting a COMAL program that plays a game of NIM to Modula-2. COMAL allows one to use: PRINT AT 14,9: "|____| |____|" abd the like to set up the boxes, and then the program upgrades the number of stones in each box using an algorithm which employs PRINT AT. Is there a word for PRINT AT (row,col) in Modula-2? If not, how would I write a module to do that and what would I need to do to have it work? Now that MYTECH is actually BETA testing an Amiga COMAL, modules to implement COMAL words would be useful in porting programs. Thanks. // Jim
#100379From: Steve FaiwiszewskiDec 28, 1987 7:28 PM
Since you're using Benchmark, you can use the SimpleConsole and SimpleConsoleCmds modules. These contains various procedures to do things within a console window. They might do the trick for you. If not, it should be trivial to construct a PRINT AT command using the available procedures. – Steve –
#100411From: Jim VentolaDec 28, 1987 11:38 PM
Steve– Trivial for whom? I will probably benefit from struggling with it. As a general "philosophical" thing, does it make sense to use Benchmark's extra "goodies," or do you think it would be better to use plain vanilla m2? I probably will never write publishable code, so portability is not an economic issue, but one wants a certain purity in one's hobbies, I guess. BTW, how would _you_ code a print at? 🙂 // Lazy Jim
#100444From: John DraperDec 29, 1987 3:25 AM
Jim, I personally would use the SimpleConsole and SimpleConsoleCmds modules for the job (unless you want to use graphics). The way I figure it… if you have the tools, use them, and let those without the tools either get them or write their own. So… open a window, attach a console, then use wClrScr(), wHome(), wPos() to do the tricks. Regards, Larry.
#100564From: Jim VentolaDec 29, 1987 10:43 PM
Thanks, Larry. I am having some truble finding my way around the Benchmark manuals, but I will look for SimpleConsol pages. Any sign of COMAL yet? // Jim
#100596From: John DraperDec 30, 1987 3:21 AM
Jim, try Vol II for the library descriptions. They are in alphabetical order, and there is a master index in the back of Vol II that lists all PROCEDUREs and tells you which library they are defined in. COMAL arrived tonight. I drove down to the airport ot pick it up, and only had a chance to play with it for about 15 minutes. Have some suggestions already. It is quite good for a beta, and it really is COMAL!!! I was beginning to think I would never see it again. <grin> Regards, Larry.
#100655From: Jim VentolaDec 30, 1987 4:31 PM
Thanks, Larry. I will look in these procedures. Would one define a procedure for PRINT AT same as in COMAL? Ain't it GRAND to have COMAL on Amy?? Now the project of translating from COMAL to Benchmark becomes important for me. I think that if the COMAL editor is fixed up I will want to use COMAL for prototyping and then translate–if I ever figure out how–for situations where speed matters. BTW–don't try to divide by zero or use MOD to the same effect, you will get the guru. Looking forward to hearing about YOUR discoveries. // Jim
#100711From: John DraperDec 30, 1987 11:44 PM
Jim, Probably a procedure would be the best way to go in M2, a call something like PrintAt(x,y,"here be good place for text"), and the procedure itself would simple use the wPos to set up to the first two parameters and a WriteString() for the last one. As for translating, it shouldn't be overly difficult, or at least not as difficult as translating C to M2. There are a few gotcha's to do with scope of variables, but they should be relatively straightforward. Regards, Larry.
#100706From: Lloyd W. Dull IIIDec 30, 1987 10:57 PM
Larry, Amiga COMAL. Speed? Size? Functionality? Projected Availability? And a million other questions……… Lloyd
#100713From: John DraperDec 30, 1987 11:50 PM
Lloyd, Bearing in mind that this is a beta test version, and that the answers will certainly change between now and release… about 130K, pretty good speed, functionality = COMAL, and who knows when? It looks like an excellent start, and if they come through with some of the projected plans they have for it, should be popular. Regards, Larry.