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Conference 7.286::atarist

Title:Atari ST, TT, & Falcon
Notice:Please read note 1.0 and its replies before posting!
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Mon Apr 04 1988
Last Modified:Tue May 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1433
Total number of notes:10312

1148.0. "BIOS references" by JGODCL::MULLER () Mon Jun 24 1991 12:27

	Hi' all,


Where can I get references and formats about GEMDOS, BIOS, XBIOS and VIDI 
for "GFA-BASIC" (version 2) ??
Is there a book for sale with these references ??


			         		in advance thanks,
							Theo
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1148.1System calls via GFA BASICAIDEV::HUTCHINSONHutchMon Jun 24 1991 13:4020
Theo--

I assume you have the manual for GFA BASIC 2.0.  In an appendix in the back is
a fairly good listing of most of the XBIOS, BIOS, GEMDOS calls.  GFA makes these
calls essentially the same way most C compilers do; nothing special to it.

Some of the most popular ST reference books are the Abacus series, including
"ST Internals" and "GEM Programmers Reference Guide".  If you can find them,
Compute published a couple of reference guides to the VDI which were quite good.

GFA Data Media publishes some books of general interest for GFA BASIC users:
"Software Development using GFA BASIC 3.0" and a couple of others.  One was
written specifically for 2.0 as I recall.

If you don't have the 2.0 manual or even if you do, I strongly suggest you
upgrade to 3.0.  The manual is worlds better and considerably thicker due to the
300 some odd NEW commands.  It's much faster, desk-accessory compatible, and
even the editor is improved.  2.0 was good but falls far short of 3.0.  Do it!

Hutch
1148.2there is a help file somewhere!UKCSSE::KEANETue Jun 25 1991 06:4414
    
    GFA basic V2.0 was given away a couple of times on "free" magazine
    disks. 
    
    One of the disks also had an online help file which gave a short
    explanation of most of the calls. I cant remember whether it included
    the ones you are after.
    
    Does anyone else still have the disk, I think it was an ST Format mag
    giveaway?
    
    Cheer
    
    Pat K.
1148.3thanksJGODCL::MULLERMon Jul 01 1991 06:2310
        	Thanks all for your replies,

	I think I go to find some of these books or disks.
	But if I go to upgrade to vers. 3.0, can I still run vers. 2.0 
	proggrams?? 
			

						Thanks all,
						   Theo	 		

1148.4GFA 3.0 is downward compatibleAIDEV::HUTCHINSONHutchMon Jul 01 1991 12:4111
Theo,

GFA BASIC 3.0 is totally downward compatible with programs written in 2.0.

Just save your 2.0 GFA programs in ASCII format with the "LIST" command and
then use the "MERGE" command under the 3.0 editor.  You can doublecheck your
program's syntax with the F10 key.  On very rare occasions, you may find an
offending keyword that 3.0 doesn't like and these will be marked with a "==>"
symbol.  Correct these and you are off and running.

Hutch