TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Nov 95 Top 10
Volume Number:11
Issue Number:11
Column Tag:Symantec Top 10

Symantec Top 10

This monthly column, written by Symantec’s Technical Support Engineers, aims _to provide you with technical information based on the use of Symantec products.

By Levi Brown, Symantec Corp.

Note: Source code files accompanying article are located on MacTech CD-ROM or source code disks.

Q: I set my project’s preferred and minimum memory partition sizes in the “Project Type” window, but when I build my application, the preferred and minimum memory partition sizes are always set to a different value. What is wrong?

A: The project’s resource file contains a SIZE resource that always overrides the value set under the Project, Options..., “Project Type” window. To solve this problem, open the ProjectName.rsrc resource file with ResEdit and delete the SIZE resource.

Q: I have heard of this program called Discipline that works with MacsBug to provide a higher level of error checking. What does it do, and does it work with the Symantec Debugger?

A: Discipline is a system extension that works with MacsBug to check the arguments passed to Toolbox routines. Discipline is built into MacsBug 6.5d12. To access it, you use the dcmd dizy.

Our debugger has not been tested thoroughly with Discipline. Therefore, it is possible that you may run into some incompatibilities. Discipline has a habit of revealing problems with many different programs including the Finder, which makes it difficult to use as a debugging tool.

Q: In UNIX there is a collection of routines, declared in curses.h that can be used to manipulate the cursor in a console-like display. In my Symantec C++ 8.0 project using the console window how can I achieve similar results?

A: Most of the functionality of the console window is declared in console.h. Here is an example of how to move the cursor to a specific point, and clear everything in the window from that point down.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <console.h> 

main()
{
 int i, ch, rows = 12, cols = 40;

 console_options.nrows = rows;
 console_options.ncols = cols;
 cshow( stdout );
 csetmode( C_NOECHO, stdout );
    // Set mode to C_NOECHO, so
    // getchar doesn’t move the
    // cursor.
 for( i=0; i<rows*cols; i++ )
 putchar( 'x' );
 cgotoxy( 5, 3, stdout );
 ch = getchar();
 ccleos( stdout );
}

Before the call to ccleos()

After the call to ccleos()

Q: I’m using the ToolBox call GetPicture() and I want to clean up the memory after I am done with the picture. How do I do that?

A: Pass the handle that GetPicture() returns to ReleaseResource(). Do not call DisposeHandle() on a handle to a resource or you may corrupt the resource map.

Q: When I try to use the QuickDraw global variables in my Symantec C++ 8.0 project I get undefined symbol errors. I’ve used the same globals many times before using 7.0 and it worked just fine. What is happening here?

A: With the introduction of Apple’s Universal Headers, access to the QuickDraw globals changed. Your 7.0 project was probably referring to the QuickDraw globals in the “old” style and using the original header files, not the Universal Headers. You will need to access the QuickDraw globals through the qd struct, defined in Quickdraw.h. i.e.:

CopyRgn(thePort->visRgn, thePort->clipRgn);

would become

CopyRgn(qd.thePort->visRgn, qd.thePort->clipRgn);

Q: I have a large 8.0 project with many files and I frequently use the Find... command under the Search menu. Every time I use it I have to set up the find parameters each time. Is there a way to set default search parameters?

A: Yes! In your Symantec C++ folder there is a folder called (Scripts), inside which you will find a compiled script called Startup:

tell application "Symantec Project Manager"
 -- Set the default search state.
 set user search state to ¬
 {wrap around:true, ¬
  ignore case:true, ¬
  files to search:only sources, ¬
  exclude system:true, ¬
  exclude precompiled header:true}
end tell

You can set the default parameters for the find in the indexed list shown above.

Q: I get link errors with a class that has static data members. Why is this?

A: If you declare a class with static data members you need to initialize those data members in the global data space outside the class, so that memory is allocated for them. If you do not initialize the static variables in global data space outside the class then the compiler does not have a location for the static data members in memory. Thus, you get a link error when you attempt to access that variable. Example:

class A
{
public:
 static short x;
 static char  y;

 char z;
};

short A::x = 0;  // Note: These variables are initialized
char  A::y = 'a';// outside the class declaration in
    // order to allocate memory for them.

Q: The following code used to work (up through 8.0), but in 8.0.1 it doesn’t. Why?

class A
{
 friend class B;
public:
 A();
 ~A();
 B *GetFriend(int index);
};

class B
{
public:
 B();
 ~B();
 int index;
};

I get an error on line 7 “semicolon expected”. If I put friend before B *GetFriend(int index), it works. Is it a compiler bug, or is it a new ANSI rule of some kind that I didn’t know about?

A: A couple things are happening here:

First, the code above compiled in previous versions due to a compiler bug. 8.0.1 corrects this error. Basically, the syntax is wrong. The class A has no idea what B is yet, and thus the compiler complains. If you put a forward declaration, class B;, in front of the declaration of A this will compile fine.

Second, the statement friend B *GetFriend(int index) tells the compiler that GetFriend is a friend function, and therefore has access to A’s protected and private members. The statement B *GetFriend(int index) tells the compiler that GetFriend is a member function of A. In both cases the friend class B does nothing more than allow all members of B access to A’s private and protected members.

Q: I have made a floating window view in Visual Architect, but when I go to attach it to a command, it does not appear in the list of views to open. How do I open it?

A: When you make a floating window view, VA derives a class from CFloatDirector; we will call it CMyFloatingWindow. You need to call OpenWind() to make the window appear (ShowWind() only undoes a HideWind()). The easiest way is to call it from within CMyFloatingWindow::MakeNewWindow(), right after the object is created; the window will appear immediately upon launch. To have it open from a command (i.e. menu or button), create the command by choosing Commands... from the Edit menu in VA. Enter the name for your command (e.g. cmdOpenMyFWindow), choose CApp from the In Class: popup menu and choose Call from the Do: popup menu.

Next, attach the command to the menu or button. If attaching to a menu: choose Menus... from the Edit menu, select the menu, click on Edit Menu Items, select the item and choose the command you created from the Command: popup menu. If attaching to a button: select the button in VA, get Pane Info from the Pane menu, open the CButton triangle and choose the command you created from the Command: popup menu.

Visual Architect will generate an empty function, DocmdOpenMyFWindow inside x_CApp.cp. Call OpenWind() from here.

Note: Calling from outside the CMyFloatingWindow requires that you have a pointer to the CMyFloatingWindow object. You can find this declared as a global in x_CApp.cp in the form:

 extern CAFloatingWindow  *gCAFloatingWindow; 

If you wish to make the call to OpenWind() from someplace other than x_CApp.cp, you must redeclare it (as above) and #include CMyFloatingWindow.h in the file where you want to use it.

Q: When I try to run the Symantec Debugger it quits with an error that says, “DebugServices cannot set trace bit.” How do I set the trace bit? I can’t find any options to set a trace bit in any of the project option debugging screens.

A: Most likely, you are running a Pre-System 7.5 operating system. You will need to put the items that are in the Pre-System 7.5 Additions folder into your system folder. The Pre-System 7.5 Additions folder is found in the Apple Software folder on your Symantec C++ 8.0 CD-ROM.

Bonus:

Q: I’m porting my code from 7.0.x to 8.0 and I get an “undefined symbol MBarHeight” when I try to compile. Why do I get a linker error?

A: With the introduction of Apple’s Universal Headers you can no longer access the variable MBarHeight directly. You will need to include LowMem.h and use LMGetMBarHeight(), and LMSetMBarHeight(), to access menu bar height. Access to other low memory variables has been changed in similar ways, so it’s a good idea to look in LowMem.h if you plan on using low memory variables.

Special Thanks To:

Glenn Austin, Mark Baldwin, Craig Conner, Rick Hartmann, Michael Hopkins, Steve Howard, Noah Lieberman, Andy McFarland, Chris Prinos, and Kevin Quah.

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Six fantastic ways to spend National Vid...
As if anyone needed an excuse to play games today, I am about to give you one: it is National Video Games Day. A day for us to play games, like we no doubt do every day. Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, feast your eyes on this... | Read more »
Old School RuneScape players turn out in...
The sheer leap in technological advancements in our lifetime has been mind-blowing. We went from Commodore 64s to VR glasses in what feels like a heartbeat, but more importantly, the internet. It can be a dark mess, but it also brought hundreds of... | Read more »
Today's Best Mobile Game Discounts...
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links below... | Read more »
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's...
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Nintendo has been locked in an epic battle with Pocketpair, creator of the obvious Pokémon rip-off Palworld. Nintendo often resorts to legal retaliation at the drop of a hat, but it seems this... | Read more »
Apple exclusive mobile games don’t make...
If you are a gamer on phones, no doubt you have been as distressed as I am on one huge sticking point: exclusivity. For years, Xbox and PlayStation have done battle, and before this was the Sega Genesis and the Nintendo NES. On console, it makes... | Read more »
Regionally exclusive events make no sens...
Last week, over on our sister site AppSpy, I babbled excitedly about the Pokémon GO Safari Days event. You can get nine Eevees with an explorer hat per day. Or, can you? Specifically, you, reader. Do you have the time or funds to possibly fly for... | Read more »
As Jon Bellamy defends his choice to can...
Back in March, Jagex announced the appointment of a new CEO, Jon Bellamy. Mr Bellamy then decided to almost immediately paint a huge target on his back by cancelling the Runescapes Pride event. This led to widespread condemnation about his perceived... | Read more »
Marvel Contest of Champions adds two mor...
When I saw the latest two Marvel Contest of Champions characters, I scoffed. Mr Knight and Silver Samurai, thought I, they are running out of good choices. Then I realised no, I was being far too cynical. This is one of the things that games do best... | Read more »
Grass is green, and water is wet: Pokémo...
It must be a day that ends in Y, because Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has kicked off its Zoroark Drop Event. Here you can get a promo version of another card, and look forward to the next Wonder Pick Event and the next Mass Outbreak that will be... | Read more »
Enter the Gungeon review
It took me a minute to get around to reviewing this game for a couple of very good reasons. The first is that Enter the Gungeon's style of roguelike bullet-hell action is teetering on the edge of being straight-up malicious, which made getting... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Take $150 off every Apple 11-inch M3 iPad Air
Amazon is offering a $150 discount on 11-inch M3 WiFi iPad Airs right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 128GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $449, $150 off – 11″ 256GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $549, $150 off – 11″ 512GB M3... Read more
Apple iPad minis back on sale for $100 off MS...
Amazon is offering $100 discounts (up to 20% off) on Apple’s newest 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis among the Apple retailers we... Read more
Apple’s 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros are on sa...
Amazon has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $410 off Apple’s MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party... Read more
Red Pocket Mobile is offering a $150 rebate o...
Red Pocket Mobile has new Apple iPhone 17’s on sale for $150 off MSRP when you switch and open up a new line of service. Red Pocket Mobile is a nationwide MVNO using all the major wireless carrier... Read more
Switch to Verizon, and get any iPhone 16 for...
With yesterday’s introduction of the new iPhone 17 models, Verizon responded by running “on us” promos across much of the iPhone 16 lineup: iPhone 16 and 16 Plus show as $0/mo for 36 months with bill... Read more
Here is a summary of the new features in Appl...
Apple’s September 2025 event introduced major updates across its most popular product lines, focusing on health, performance, and design breakthroughs. The AirPods Pro 3 now feature best-in-class... Read more
Apple’s Smartphone Lineup Could Use A Touch o...
COMMENTARY – Whatever happened to the old adage, “less is more”? Apple’s smartphone lineup. — which is due for its annual refresh either this month or next (possibly at an Apple Event on September 9... Read more
Take $50 off every 11th-generation A16 WiFi i...
Amazon has Apple’s 11th-generation A16 WiFi iPads in stock on sale for $50 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP – 11″ 11th-generation 256GB... Read more
Sunday Sale: 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros for up t...
Don’t pay full price! Amazon has Apple’s 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $220 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather... Read more
Mac mini with M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $12...
B&H Photo has Apple’s Mac mini with the M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $1259, $140 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – Mac mini M4 Pro CPU (24GB/512GB): $1259, $... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.