Serius89 Updates and FREDITOR

By Dave Kelly, MacTutor Editorial Board

Updates/Improvements

There has been a series of improvements to since we last discussed Serius89. Version 1.2 is a maintenance release which has added more new object modules to its unique development environment. I ask you to refer to my comments in the February 1990 MacTutor for more on Serius89. The following objects have been added:

Notify: displays an alert with a message.

Is Same Object: verifies if two objects are the same.

Multi-Launch Application: used to launch an application without closing the current one.

Keyboard objects: checks for these modifier keys:

Is Command Key Down:

Is Option Key Down:

Is Shift Key Down:

Is Control Key Down:

List objects:

New Element:

Delete Element:

Get Element:

Set Element:

Set Selection:

Sort List:

Registered Users: returns an unsorted list of all Serius89 users using AppleTalk.

With each new release, Serius Corporation has updated chapter 4 of the programmers manual. This time, a techniques section has been added to the chapter 4 object descriptions to provide additional help.

The capability to use a grid has been added to the window layout editor, but you must apply the grid based on key presses and the grid is not activated by a menu. It is not very Macintosh like, but is a welcome improvement over the previous window editor.

The big news is the announcement of version 2.0 of Serius89 and a set of new objects which will be sold separately as Color Painter and Word Publisher Power Objects. These will be unveiled at San Francisco MacWorld Expo in April. These objects promise to have power functionally equivalent to off the shelf painting and word processing programs. These can be used by themselves or in conjunction with the Serius Programmer and Developer package. Also available in April is a System 7.0 Communications Object for all types of serial communications (modems, main-frame connections, etc.).

Version 2.0 contains new object and functions, including:

• Animation object

• Color Palette Object

• Magic Button Object (for nested buttons)

• Scanner Object, supporting monochrome and grayscale scanning on the Apple Scanner

• Cursor Object

• Scroll Panel Object

• More flexible Database and Printer functions

• Additional Date and Time functions, and a redesigned Keyboard Object

• New functions supporting text file I/O

• Streamlined memory and file management and an improved user interface for smaller, faster applications.

• New developer capabilities making new objects and functions easier to create.

• Running in the environment, enabling users to test the operation of an application or part of an application without first compiling and saving it. Full debugging is supported.

• Objects Folder. When you buy a new object or function, you simply drop its file into the Objects Folder. Instantly, you can use the object or function in your programs.

Registered owners of Serius Programmer or Developer will be able to purchase Version 2.0 at a cost of $50.00 plus shipping. Version 2.0 is sold independently of Power Objects.

Serius has also announced another object-oriented programming tool, Serius Author. Author is a script based version of Serius Developer which enables users to build stand-alone applications by using simple English commands. The objects and functions used in Serius Author are the same ones used in Serius’s Programmer and Developer packages so that users of Author will be able to convert text files developed in Author into Programmer or Developer worksheets, and vice versa. New objects and functions can also be created.

These enhancements are surely to improve Serius’s chances in the developer arena, though a full object library of Macintosh ROM calls would still seem to be a must. At any rate, they’ve got our attention.

More updates

Prograph 1.22 includes a fix for compatibility with Macintosh System 6.0.4. Incidentally, running it on an early version of System 7.0 indicates no problems. Also, there are more and more examples included with Prograph.

FREDITOR, the optimized Fortran editor

If you’re using Fortran and getting tired of the editor you’re using, you might want to check out FREDITOR. FREDITOR is a simple Macintosh text editor that has been optimized for creating and modifying Fortran source code.

In addition to the basic word editing features that most editors have, FREDITOR has many non-standard features designed to support Fortran programmers. The editor window may include dotted lines drawn vertically which identifies columns 6, 72, and 132. (see figure). There is an extensive search and replace option which includes a form of GREP (GREP is an acronym for Globally look for Regular Expressions and Print).

There are options for indenting and outdenting blocks of text and manipulating the format of the characters. I found that this feature was not automatic enough for me. The capability to indent is available, but how much and when to indent is up to the user. FREDITOR will not automatically indent loops and other structures for you; however, you may structure the text manually.

The glossary feature is one of the best. The glossary menu contains predefined templates of Fortran structures that may be pasted into your text. If the structure you use all the time is not available, you can define more glossary structures using ResEdit (instructions are in the FREDITOR manual).

The FREDITOR manual adequately explained the use of the editor, but it contained a few inconsistencies. Less print could have been used to explain general Macintosh text editing.

While this is not the fanciest editor in the world, it does have many features that Fortran programmers would find useful. Other programmers could make use of its features, but there are other smart editors available which might be more appropriate. Freditor was compiled using Lightspeed C and CAPPS’ Editor Construction Kit.

FREDITOR™ is available from TechAlliance or Battelle Memorial Institute, PO Box 999, Richland, WA. 99352