** 1 page review / 840 words ** ENCHANT revision 2 Chris Higgins reviews the updated HiSoft BASIC Toolkit by Atari Computing's dynamic duo... ** ENCHANT1.IMG here ** ENCHANT (ENhanCed Hisoft ApplicatioN Toolkit) is a collection of programming routines and libraries for use with HiSoft BASIC v2.10. It is the result of many months work by Matthew Bacon (Cadenza Software) and Paul Jones (Atari Computing's resident BASIC guru), both of whom have been HiSoft BASIC users for a number of years. Using their combined knowledge and experience of HiSoft BASIC, Matthew and Paul state that their aim was to create a replacement for the GEM Toolkit provided with HiSoft BASIC v2, which was written in 1993 and now shows its age, with more flexible and up-to-date toolkit. Have they succeeded... ENCHANT consists of several hundred programming routines (over nine thousand lines of source code!) that have been divided into two categories, the ENCHANT GEM Toolkit and the ENCHANT Modules. Both the GEM Toolkit and Modules have been written in a modular fashion (which helps to keep program size and compilation times to an absolute minimum) and are supplied with clear and comprehensive manuals that cover each and every routine. "The ENCHANT GEM Toolkit handles the complexities of GEM for you." The ENCHANT GEM Toolkit The original HGT (HiSoft GEM Toolkit) supplied with HiSoft BASIC v2 was a collection of routines that enabled the programmer to handle the complexities of GEM through only a few lines of code. ENCHANT does all this and more besides. The ENCHANT GEM Toolkit is based around four main toolbox files and a BH constants file. These are supported by a further fourteen toolbox files that provide the programmer with everything needed to quickly and easily produce a GEM program or accessory. The Toolkit supports all the features found in the latest GEM programs including non-modal dialogs, flydial dialogs and alerts, radio and check buttons, popup menus. Not only that, the Toolkit comes with shell listings to help you create programs and desk accessories with ease. "The ENCHANT Modules give your programs that professional touch." The ENCHANT Modules Where do I start... the ENCHANT Modules are a collection of twenty (this figure is still growing due to its continual development) files that allow you to include everything from OLGA support to disk copying from within your own programs. A module is even included to exploit the features of NVDI v4! To give you a better idea, here is the current list... ** UL ** * BUBBLE.BAS, include BubbleGEM support in your programs * CALC.BAS, a routine to handle general arithmetic * CD.BAS, control a CD drive from within your program (uses CD-LIB) * CLIPBRD.BAS, provides GEM Clipboard support * CURSOR.BAS, animates your mouse cursor for you * CYPHER.BAS, provides a rather sophisticated encryption routine called ENIGMA * CYPHER2.BAS, provides a 256-bit binary encryption routine * DATETIME.BAS, handles the Y2K problem * DISK.BAS, include disk copying and formatting routines from within your own programs (any format) * ERROR, provides comprehensive error trapping (a real must!) * FILE.BAS, copy and deletes files and more besides... * MIDI.BAS, play and record MIDI input/output from within your own programs! * NVDI.BAS, gives your programs full NVDI v4 support * OLGA.BAS, include OLGA (Server/Client) support easily in your programs * PRINTER.BAS, control your printer with ease * PROTOCOL.BAS, a user definable protocol routine * SAMPLE.BAS, playback AVR samples and more using SAM * SORT.BAS, Sort data quickly and efficiently * ST-GUIDE.BAS, include ST Guide support from within your own programs * SYSTEM.BAS, provides many routines that give feedback on your system ** /UL ** If all that wasn't enough, ENCHANT also includes some useful extra non-commercial software including the CD-LIB, MODPLAY, NETWORLD and WAVEPLAY libraries and programming texts covering MIDI, NVDI, Graphics and audio file formats. ENCHANT is advertised as being suitable for both novice and advanced users of HiSoft BASIC. I am usually wary of such statements, but am pleased to report my worries were unfounded. Suffice to say, if you are a HiSoft BASIC user (and at only ś15.00) ENCHANT comes recommended. Revision 2 Since its release at then end of last year, ENCHANT revision 2 includes several new routines and updates. Current users are now being invited to return their original master disks to Cadenza Software for a free upgrade. Cadenza Software has also recently setup a message board and user group aimed at HiSoft BASIC programmers. If you have a problem and wish to exchange source code and ideas, dial up the web pages today. ** boxout ** ENCHANT revision 2 Publisher: Cadenza Software; 49 Douglas Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7RZ, UK Email: cadenza@cyberstrider.org http://www.cadenza.cyberstrider.org Price: ś15.00 plus P&P (ś3 UK, ś5 ROW). Alternatively ENCHANT can be purchased with a brand new copy of HiSoft BASIC v2.10 for only ś45 plus P&P (ś7 UK, ś15 ROW). UK P&P includes courier service. Please make cheque/postal orders payable to "Matthew Bacon". Pros ** UL ** * Essential for all HiSoft BASIC programmers * Detailed ASCII manuals * Comprehensive examples provided * Excellent value for money * In continual development ** /UL ** Cons ** UL ** * No specific routines to handle MultiTOS or Falcon's DSP * Can be a little overwhelming to start with ** /UL ** Score: 91% ** /boxout ** ** ENCHANT2.IMG here **