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[About The Guide]
Introduction
In addition to supporting the window functions, the CTUS.LIB extended
driver contains a series of independent functions, all of which are
described in this chapter.
We are concerned here with functions that relate directly to CA-Clipper
keyboard input, screen and printer output, or other internal functions.
To use these internal functions, the driver must be linked in. The use
of CTUS.LIB does not mean that all the code for all the functions
contained in CTUS.LIB is linked to your application. An intensive
modularization effort causes RTLINK to link only those portions that are
actually needed.
The Use of CTUS.LIB
The extended driver is delivered as an .OBJ file (CTUS.OBJ) to allow
replacement of the CA-Clipper driver module in CLIPPER.LIB during
linking. The extended driver must be included in the list of object
files.
Video Modes
Some functions which relate to screen adapters are found in the Video
Modes chapter rather than in the Video Functions chapter.
Changing Modes
Some settings are reset by a mode change:
Cursor position to: Line 0, Column 0
Screen page 0: SETPAGE()
All font information: SETFONT(), FONTLOAD(), FONTSELECT()
All palette information: EGAPALETTE(), VGAPALETTE()
Border settings: SET COLOR TO
DSETWINDOW()/External Screen Output
This is a very important switch for CA-Clipper Tools that impacts many
functions and other modules. DSETWINDOW() determines whether or not the
output of external programs or modules is redirected to a window.
(CA-Clipper Tools functions are considered "external").
The default setting for this switch (.T.) redirects the output. To make
this possible, the driver changes the interrupt vector 10H. Under
certain circumstances external programs will not accept changes in
particular interrupt vectors, which is why you must call DSETWINDOW(.F.)
before you call the RUN function.
Certain other functions, like ISANSI() or NUMCOL(), return false or
differing values in conjunction with DSETWINDOW(). Pay attention to the
accompanying notes in the function descriptions.
System Settings Are Saved
When you end an application under CA-Clipper's control (normal program
termination, Alt-C, or ending after a CA-Clipper error message), the
cursor type, color attribute, and interrupt vectors 0 to 127 are
restored.
However, if you exit a program in any other way (usually with an
external module containing errors) then the extended driver system
settings cannot be restored. Previously changed interrupt vectors are
probably still changed, which sooner or later result in a system crash.
If this occurs, reboot as soon as possible.
The QUIT File
A QUIT file can be added to any of the extended driver functions. The
QUIT file provides information at the next program start as to whether
the previous run ended correctly. Additionally, the user's keyboard
input is also recorded.
The default name for this file is the same name as your CA-Clipper
program except that it has a .Q extension instead of a .EXE extension.
However, you can select another name for the file. For more
information, please see DSETQFILE(), DSETQNAME() and KEYREAD().
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