Mach 2 (Microsoft and IBM Compiled BASIC Version) Advanced Assembly Subroutine Library for Compiled BASIC * * * Soft Sector Magazine's Editor's Choice for February, 1987 * * * (Demonstration disk available) Published by MicroHelp, Inc. 2220 Carlyle Dr. Marietta GA 30062-5841 (404) 973-9272 (800) 922-3383 Find out for yourself why this library of assembly subroutines is MicroHelp's most popular product. You'll save hours and hours of programming time, make your programs run much faster, give your programs that crisp, "professional" look and feel, and (in the majority of cases), have smaller EXE programs. No knowledge of assembly language is needed, nor is an assembler program required in order to use Mach 2. There are more than 30 specialized subroutines in the package (some of which provide more than one service) including support for string data beyond the 64K limit. Mach 2 even lets you use LIM Expanded Memory for data storage (any data)! This version of Mach 2 is compatible with QuickBASIC (all versions), IBM BASCOM 1.x and 2.x, Microsoft Generic BASIC Compiler 5.36 and Microsoft Business BASIC. Versions are also available for Turbo Basic and Turbo Pascal. All of the video related routines allow you to select the monitor to use (including Multilink video segments) and you can specify if snow checking is necessary on a color monitor. All file and directory related routines return true DOS error codes without your having to use ON ERROR. This can save substantial amounts of program code. The package includes a pre-built user library, a linking library and all the necessary .obj modules for building your own libraries. Assembly source code is available at an extra charge. The indexed manual provides all the instructions and there is a small, sample program for each subroutine. The routines included in Mach 2 are: Video and Input Routines - mono and CGA modes* ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mhscr - Instant screen displays - when we say "instant", we mean that you can display an entire screen in 0.1 to 0.2 seconds. Mhwindow - the Window manager - pop 'em up, pull 'em down or do them like Lotus 1-2-3. This routine saves and restores any portion (or all) of the screen and draws boxes (single or double line) automatically. Mhscrol - scrolls data on the screen in all four directions Mhchars - displays characters 5 lines tall by 4 columns wide Mhpusing - similar to BASIC's PRINT USING for numbers, but more flexible and up to 6 times faster. Mhrscr - reads characters from the screen into a BASIC string up to 150 times faster than BASIC's SCREEN(x,y) function. Mhscatt - changes screen attributes (colors) without disturbing the text on the screen - instantly. * Mhmove can be used to save and restore EGA screens. * * * Both of the following routines return the scan code, ASCII code and shift status (SHIFT/CTRL/ALT) of the last key pressed. Mhinput - A controlled input routine. Allows full use of standard editing keys and optionally ignores Ctrl-C and Ctrl-Break. Mhkclr - clears the keyboard before returning a single key press Beyond the BASIC 64K data limit (Use all available DOS and LIM Expanded Memory) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mhems - manages LIM Expanded Memory for data storage Mhstore - stores and retrieves data in memory outside of BASIC's data areas Mhmove - copies memory from any location to any RAM location Mhmsort - sorts string arrays stored outside of BASIC's string space Mhorder - maintains sorted arrays outside of BASIC's string space. Lets you find, insert and delete strings automatically. Mhsrch - search any part of the computer's memory for a string File & Directory Services - returns true DOS error codes ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mhenvir - searches the DOS "path" for a given file name Mhfdate - get or set a file's date and time Mhattr - get or set a file's attributes (read-only, hidden, system, archive) Mhdir - get/set current drive/directory. Create/remove and change directories Mhfile - opens files and devices for I/O Mhfind - searches any drive/directory for matching file names, including wild card searches Mhfsize - get's a file's size Mhrwsub - reads and writes files as fast as DOS - do it up to 65535 bytes in one operation Copyfile - ready to run subroutine for copying files as fast as DOS String Handling ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mhucase - converts strings to uppercase Mulcase - converts strings to lowercase Mhsndx - lets you compare strings by their SOUND - yes we said SOUND Mhstrip - replaces unwanted characters in a string Miscellaneous ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mhdos2 - DOS/BIOS function calls and interrupts Mhdver - returns the DOS version number Mhround - rounds numbers to the desired number of decimal places