Uncle Carl's Famous "Fast-Bit" Utility (C)1991,92,93 Carl J. Hafner August 27, 1993 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This program is dedicated to the memory of CLAYTON F. EASTMAN JANUARY 22, 1920 - DECEMBER 26, 1991 ~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~ DISCLAIMER: The author cannot be responsible for any damage to your equipment, other software or hardware products, or physical or mental well being caused by the use, misuse, abuse or inability to use this program. The author also makes no guarantee, either expressed or implied, as to the compatibility of this program with other software or hardware programs and\or products. Using this program means that you accept and agree with all of the terms above and agree to accept full responsibility for any and all events arising from the use of this program. If you do not agree, DO NOT use this program. CHARITYWARE ----------- This program is "CHARITYWARE". If you find yourself using this program on a regular basis, then it is probably of value to you. If this is true you are encouraged to send a donation, in the amount which you feel this program is worth to you, to the charity of your choice. Please contact the local chapter of any intended organization for further details. Please help show your concern for those less fortunate than yourself by supporting the Charityware concept ! DISTRIBUTION ------------ You are free to copy and distribute this program as long as the files FASTBIT .PRG FASTBIT .TXT FASTBIT .LST READ_ME .1ST OTHERTTL.LZH included, are not modified in any way, and NO FEE of ANY type is incurred upon the recipient for the files _themselves_. You can of course distribute FASTBIT.LST as a seperate entity to fellow programmers if you so wish... ~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~ *NOTE: There are QUITE a few programs available which allow machines with versions of TOS below 1.4 to run files as if their FastBit were set. If you are NOT using one of these programs and have an operating system w\TOS 1.0 or 1.2 than setting the FastBit will have no effect. Run the program. When the "FastBit" box appears, click on the LINE TO THE RIGHT of the word "Filename". A fileselector will appear. Select an executable file, ie:PRG,ACC... . The filename will appear on the line and it's FastLoad status will appear below it. To turn a files "FastBit" ON, click on "ON" and then on Okay. The files "FastBit" will then be turned on. Clicking on "OFF" and Okay will turn the "FastBit" off. Clicking on the current filename will call up the fileselector allowing you to select another file. You can use the "drive buttons" on TOS 1.4+'s fileselector to reset the drive path. The fileselector will retain the current drive when selecting successive files _unless_ an error is encountered. The fileselector will, upon error, return to the drive path from which it was run. Click on "Cancel" to quit. That's it ! ~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~ POSTAMBLE --------- Although there are still a number of "bugs" in GFA Basic 3.5E E, the ones which annoy me most are the "Find Line Number\Command Mode" bug and the "FastLoad" bug. Apparently GFA Systemtechnik does not offer technical support (maybe because GFA Basic is now Public Domain ?), so I came up with this wee program. FASTLOAD BUG ------------ The GFA "compiler" arbitrarily turns the compiled files "FastBit" _ON_ without notice and without any means by which it can be turned off. Since this leads to excessive fragmenting while "testing" a program in the works, it makes it a little more difficult to determine whether it was _your_ program which caused the crash, or the excessive fragmenting of memory (caused by repetitive "test" compiling\running of your program). IS THE FASTBIT FOR YOU..? ------------------------- That's entirely up to you. When the "FastBit" is turned on, the memory past where a program has ended WILL NOT be cleared. This results in a _slightly_ faster loading time. The improvement is negligible and hardly noticeable. If, however, you are running several files consecutively (ie: loading AUTO programs) you WILL notice an improvement in booting speed. BE WARNED: GEM expects it's memory clear. You should therefore make sure that the LAST AUTO program to load and the FIRST desk accessory to load _ALWAYS_ have their "FastBit" turned OFF. This won't guarantee that you won't encounter problems, but they WILL be less likely to manifest under these conditions. =:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:= Questions,Comments,Suggestions,Bugs... Carl J. Hafner RR 2, Box 184C Hawley, PA. 18428 U.S.A. CREDITS: -------- RCS.PRG (C)Atari Corp & Digital Research, Inc. Thanks also to Jim Burton for his tutorial RSCINLIN.LST, a modification of Larry D. Duke's CBARRON.LST, which allowed the merging of the ReSourCe file into this program.