mstreet@pnet01.cts.com (Michael Street) (04/28/88)
I have version 1.1 of Personal Pascal and have been informed from OSS that I
should send my disk and manual with $30.00 to upgrade to version 2.02. Could
anyone explain the differences between the 2 and suggest whether or not I
should upgrade? Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions.
Mike Street
UUCP: {cbosgd, hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, nosc}!crash!pnet01!mstreet
ARPA: crash!pnet01!mstreet@nosc.mil
INET: mstreet@pnet01.cts.comugbernie@sunybcs.uucp (Bernard Bediako) (05/06/88)
Does anyone know anything about FTL's Modula-2 compiler for the ST? bernie
DMiddleton%pco@BCO-MULTICS.ARPA (05/13/88)
Well, I think v2.02 is a bit better than v1.1, and here is why. First, I think that they have done a lot of good stuff with the editor. It is much friendlier, even though there are a few bugs waiting to bite. On the mostpart, it is pretty good. I like the page and line motion features and the dropdown menu selection usage is much improved. The compiler has a much more rigous compilation method which enables the user to selectively define the amount of run-time checking. As one might expect this can generate a lot of executeable and object, so if you are a lowly SS drive user, youmay get a nasty surprise. And that is really the story. If you have one SS drive, you can get it to work, but wow will you have trouble. It comes on 2 (count em) 2 diskettes which makes it tough for a single SS compiler user to run. If you have the bottom of the line 520, NOW you have trouble because without a RAMdisk or a second SS drive, you might not be able to work effectively. The good news is that they have added to the repetroire of subroutines in the libraries and now you can blast copies of screens hither and yon. VERY useful when working with dialog boxes. The documentation is 2 to 3 times thicker and is both readable and useful. There are bugs, and ever since ICD took over PP from OSS, well really BEFORE that happened, no updates were coming out. Promises of free updates to "bug finders" were so many nice words. I know since I have found several weird errors. This includes having to centre dialog boxes since the clipping region for the dialog box is centered. Ever hear of disappearing dialog boxes? Now you have! How about the event routine which cant detect mouse clicks where a menu bar used to live? Hope you know how to use a timer. How about the diabled menu bar item which leaves the machine thinking a menu has popped down but didnt really? Can you say "inverse video data on a screen" - Can you say 4 bombs? Honestly though, although these are real problems, how often will most people run across them? It does compile and the programs do run ok. With a DD drive or two SS drives you can do ok. A meg wouldnt hurt, but chip prices are another story. I havent had problems with the linker at all! The configuration technique to locate programs is not too bad, even though it can forget where something resides between boots. Last gripe, then I'll quit. The only thing they really forgot in the editor was being able to remember how big a tab is. Since I don't like 8 character tabs, then I have a problem. Maybe you won't. If I set it to 2 characters, it forgets event between compiles. Sigh. So overall, I think it is pretty good. Too bad they want your manual and old disks though. They never asked me for mine. I just sent in the $30 US and the stuff came in the mail. That is why I can compare the two versions so well. I have both! And they both work well. I prefer 2.02! Well, it is up to you if you get it, but there is value added. I'm glad I got mind. Don Middleton DMiddleton%pco -at bco-multics Honeywell Bull Ltd, Toronto "These comments are mine. Blame me - after all I'm just on the net.."
c60b-at@buddy.Berkeley.EDU (john->kawakami) (05/16/88)
Is it really only $30 to upgrade? I thought it was $70.
How do I get this upgrade? Where do I write? what do I say?
questions questions questions.
:the:end:is:near:get:all:your:files:onto:another:machine:fast:
John Kawakami kawakami@zen.Berkeley.eduDMiddleton@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA (05/18/88)
I dug up the address for the "new owners" of PP, and it is I.C.D. Inc., 1220 Rock St., Rockford, Ill. 61101-1437 with a phon of 815-968-2228. No promises or anything that they will honor the $30 upgrade price that OSS was giving earlier this year, but $70 sounds more like the price of Tacklebox ST than PP. Be sure that you get v2.02! Accept no earlier versions! If anyone gets an update to PP (2.03?) I know that many of us wouldlike to know it is available. Don Middleton Honeywell Bull Ltd, Toronto DMiddleton%pco -at BCO-Multics