🚀 go-pugleaf

cnadler@vnet.ibm.com (Cliff Nadler) writes:

>In <1992Dec15.085659.248@vulcan.resmel.bhp.com.au> paulg@a1.resmel.bhp.com.au (Paul Gallagher) writes:
>>Hi,
>>
>>I've spent some time exploring the online books, INF files etc,
>>and I've set EPM up for online help, but (forgive me if there's
>>an obvious answer to this question)... where the hell do you
>>"go" to get comprehensive online API help? 
>>
>>Is a complete API reference available on-line? If not, what are
>>some good alternative sources? (Am I missing something because
>>IBM only gave me the CDs and not the printed docs?)
>>

>The on-line documents should be complete. What do you think is missing?


How about the Vio,Mou and Kbd function calls. They exist but there is no
documentation on them anywhere.
I have asked our local DAP people for a response and they promptly sent
me a copy of the reply to a discussion on the OS2FNS FORUM. I will quote
that reply:
--------------------- start of quote
THE VIO/KBD/MOU calls are inherently 16-bit, byte swap oriented. They
don't port well to other architectures so I would expect them to not
be available on a portable versiob of OS/2, if one is ever produced.
However, I would expect them to remain in an Intel based OS/2 product
for compatability with 16-bit apps. If you believe your customer
base would want to use your product on OS/2 on a different machine
architecture, don't use VIO/KBD/MOU calls, make a PM application.
------------------- end of quote

So what if you want to remain on an Intel platform with OS/2 or even
wanted to run without the WPS ? How do you write full-screen window
applications for that situation without using the Vio,Mou and Kbd functions?

I am the maintainer of a public domain curses library for DOS and OS/2
and trying to guess the usage of these taboo functions is a real pain.

Discouraging the use of these functions also discourages the porting of
character-based applications from other platforms. I suppose with the
wealth of OS/2 applications available, IBM can afford to ignore these
insignificant applications. :-)

>Cliff Nadler
>IBM Federal Systems Company

>Note: This post represents the views of the poster, not those of IBM or the
>      IBM Federal Systems Company
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