The "Inside TCL DA" is based on the "Inside Mac DA" by Bernard Gallet and uses his shareware program as the engine to make the cross reference tool work. I should point out that this is still a copy of Bernard's shareware package and he should be sent $20 if you have not already sent him the fee for "Inside Mac DA". The address to send the shareware fee is:
Bernard Gallet
660 Miller Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
Details:
Basically I changed some of the parts of his DA using ResEdit to make the DA look for a file named "THINK Manual" in the system folder. I also changed a few other items to make the name of the DA be different among other things. To make this package work you need to:
[1] Put the "THINK Manual" in the system folder and,
[2] Use the Font/DA mover to put the "Inside TCL DA" into the THINK C program (Use the option key when selecting Open in the Font/DA Mover).
As you can see by running the DA it can be very helpful when programming using the THINK C object libraries, but it could be much better if the textual information from the manual was included. The current "THINK Manual" contains the information gleaned from the THINK C Object Libraries header files (Core and More Classes) using an MPW script. The current version is up to date with the THINK C Class Library provided with THINK C version 4.0.2.
If anyone adds the textual information for the methods into the "Inside TCL DA" please contact me and I will attempt to make it generally available. This project is only in its early stages and I have a message into Bernard Gallet to look into improving the functionality.
Notes & Warnings:
Several things to be aware of when using the "Inside Mac DA" and the "Inside TCL DA" together.
[1] NEVER open both of these DAs at the same time. There is a bug that will cause only the first one opened to stay open. You may also cause system crashes if you do it often. Only open one of these two DA's at a time. Be sure to close one before opening the other. Bernard Gallet is aware of the problem and is working on a fix.
[2] I strongly suggest that you install these two DA's in the application that you intend to use them with (MPW, THINK C, THINK Pascal, etc) and NOT put them in the system file. This is because that the copy/paste function in the two DA's does not work between applications. e.g. if you copy a system call from your text editor and then try pasting into the Find dialog of either DA, the paste will not work. It will work if you have installed the DA's into the application itself instead of the system file. This problem is equally true for using Suitcase II to install them at startup.
[3] The "Smart Copy" feature included in "Inside Mac DA" does NOT work with the "Inside TCL DA". These feature only works with Pascal style definitions. Bernard Gallet and I have discussed ways to solve this problem, but nothing has happened yet.
How to Contact Me:
You can contact me by email to discuss this early release of the "Inside TCL DA", however, be forewarned that it is not a high priority on my list of things to do. I started this because I wanted the reference tool for my own use. I will continue to try to improve it as time permits and as Bernard Gallet and I can agree to make changes. Compuserve and AppleLink are the preferred methods of sending me mail.
Andrew Johnston
Seattle Downtown Business Users Group, Software Development Special Interest Group (dBug S/W SIG)
