RLF>
   > Even if you want to use windowing routines like in my well-used and
   > abused CXL??  I wouldn't want to use CXL in OS/2 (I'm quite sure it
   > wouldn't work), but I'd like to have the same effects it gives me...
RLF>

  TCXL is available for OS/2.

  According to Martin Pollard of 1:120/187.0, speaking here in OS2PROG,
  BlueWave 2.20 for OS/2 was built using TCXL 5.52 for OS/2 (Martin
  didn't think TCXL very good, but that's another story).

RLF>
   > Maybe I just didn't look hard enough, but at my last attempt, I was
   > still unable to change the ^!%#!%# display colour... :-)
RLF>

  The usual ANSI sequences will do that semi-permanently.  If you go via
  the VIO subsystem, the colour to use is usually either a separate
  parameter to the function call, or supplied by you on a cell-by-cell
  basis.

  As for books :

___---------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference: OS-2_Support
  To: YOU                   Date:  9/30/1993
From: TOM CARR              Time: 11:48 am
Subj: C/C++ User Interfaces

JdeBP>  |    User Interfaces in C and C++ for OS/2
JdeBP>  |    Mark Goodwin
JdeBP>  |    MIS Press - 5/1993
JdeBP>
JdeBP>  Small review and ISBN please.

    For a nominal fee, of course!  Lord, I just got it yesterday!

ISBN: 1-55828-278-5   Please don't choke, retail price: $59.90 US!

    Book includes a 360kb code diskette, with all the C and C++ code
as well as compiled object for C Set/2 and Borland C++ in two
libraries, ready for linking.  The C Set/2 code was compiled for the
SE and SM libraries.  Don't know about the Borland code, 'cause I
don't use their IDE/compiler/linker.

    From SCBC, I paid $45.89, which included S&H.  VERY short review
follows, because I haven't read it all, yet, and haven't compiled
anything from it, yet.  Have run the demo programs, though.  Will
post more, with experience - assuming you don't beat me to it!!

    First off, I think the author had a good idea for creating the
VIO interface objects, and figured the code would sell better as a
book than as a software product.  The book is really an
implementation/user manual for the included code.  It doesn't really
tell you how to use the VIO, MOU, KBD API calls, but instead wraps a
set of C (very little C++) functions around them to implement most
all of the calls you'd need to make.

    He then proceeds to gather these low-level calls into usable
higher level functions to create windows, menus and input
fields/boxes and then even higher level functions to implement all
this into a application interface system.  Very nicely structured
and about as object-oriented as you can get in C.  He then provides
some C++ object wrappers around the lower level C stuff, so that it
can be implemented in C++, should you choose.  Pretty well thought
out architecture.

    The book includes ALL the underlying source code, with each
section of source followed by a discussion of each function
implemented in pseudocode.

    The code diskette has all the source, demo source and .EXE's,
and the .LIB's mentioned earlier.  A nice job of packaging.

    My first impression is:  If you are serious about using VIO
routines and don't want to take the time to hack it into libraries
for yourself, spend the $$ for the code.  If your time is worth
anything, you can't do it yourself more cheaply!  If you want to
alter the code to put your own stamp of individuality on it, all the
source is there, go to it!

    However, if you want a book to teach you all about VIO, then the
old MS Press book for OS/2 1.1/2/3 VIO is better.  I have had it for
several years and used it to create 16 bit libraries for myself.  DO
NOT want to do that again!

    Hope this helps, will post more as I know more.

Tc
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