
           ͻ
            C Easy, for Easy C Programming 
                                           
            SHAREWARE Ķ
                                           
               Author: Richard C. Call     
               CompuServe: 74473,1304      
               America Online: ceasy       
               Phone (407) 862-4921        
           ͼ


           EASY C PROGRAMMING
           

           As its name suggests, C Easy is an easy way to develop
           application programs using the C programming language.
           It is simple, direct and gets the job done without a
           lot of fanfare. It needs only DOS to run, doesn't make
           big demands on memory, and requires only a standard
           C compiler. Yet C Easy produces results that need no
           apology even when compared to those obtained by
           message-driven programming methods like Windows.

           Not a code generator or 4GL with C hooks, C Easy does
           not take control away from the programmer. It simply
           makes life a lot easier by offering an uncomplicated
           development environment consisting of 'program object'
           building utilities and a library of powerful functions
           for using those objects in a C program.

           An example of a C Easy object is the self-executing
           data entry form. The programmer, or anyone for that
           matter, can create a form by using the powerful C Easy
           forms building utility, Make a Form. Intelligence
           can be added to the form through programmer written
           user-field-edit routines and the form can be executed
           by the enter_form() function.

           C Easy enables new programmers to apply the C language
           and produce useful results even before they fully
           understand C language syntax, pointer manipulation,
           and various data types. A working knowledge of the
           language gradually grows as it is being used.


           MADE FOR DATA ENTRY
           

           Simplicity may be a sufficient reason for the novice to
           use C Easy but the experienced C programmer needs more
           justification, like improved application performance.
           C Easy's performance advantage becomes evident in
           applications that involve substantial data entry.

           While C Easy offers graphics capability, it doesn't
           pretend to compete in the GUI arena with Windows
           programming. It does compete, however, when it comes
           to business applications that demand fast, repetitive
           data entry. These typically include point-of-sale,
           invoicing, order entry, payables, receivables, payroll,
           inventory control, medical records processing, and
           high volume list maintenance.

           Message-driven Windows programming, using dialog boxes
           and cursor planting, is great for menu processing,
           option selection, and limited data entry. But when data
           entry speed is important, and repetitive, high volume
           operator input is involved, C Easy is a better choice.
           It is not important to data entry personnel how their
           application was developed, just as long as it provides
           a fast and efficient mechanism for entering data.


           C EASY UTILITIES
           

           C Easy utilities that can be called from either the
           Development Menu or the DOS command line include the
           following:

              Make a Form                   mfm.exe
              View a Form (or overlay)      vfm.exe
              Test a Form                   tfm.exe
              Make a (graphics) Overlay     mgr.exe
              Edit a File                   rxx.exe

           C Easy utilities that can be called only from the
           Development Menu include file combining/conversion,
           screen palette editing, palette file maintenance,
           mouse sensitivity control, compile invocation, and
           DOS command execution.

           The C Easy Development Menu and utilities along with
           many supporting files, including several C Easy sample
           programs in source form, are all contained in a file
           named 'ceasy.zip'. This file should be unzipped in
           the c:\ceasy directory by executing 'pkunzip ceasy'
           while in that directory.

           ceasy.zip also includes the ceasy.ico and ceasy.pif
           files, which allow C Easy to run under Windows.
           These files should be copied to c:\windows.


           C EASY SAMPLES
           

           C Easy sample programs included in ceasy.zip include
           sample1.c thru sampleg.c. The executables for these
           examples are not included, so you must compile them.

           Each sample program illustrates some facet of C Easy
           programming. By perusing, compiling and executing
           these examples in sequence, you will gradually learn
           how C Easy functions can be used to accomplish various
           operations involving pull-down menus, window browsing,
           forms processing, mouse programming, graphics, etc..


           C EASY LIBRARIES
           

           There are two C Easy libraries:

              ceasyb.lib - for Borland C/C++ compilers.
                           (download ceasyb.zip)

              ceasym.lib - for Microsoft C/C++ compilers.
                           (download ceasym.zip)


           COMPILER INDEPENDENCE
           

           Programs developed using C Easy library functions
           run indentically when compiled using Turbo C/C++,
           Borland C/C++, Microsoft C600 C/C++, or Microsoft
           C700 C/C++ compilers.

           C Easy does not require compiler supplied header
           files and depends only on the standard functions
           found in standard, conventional C libraries.

           To use other libraries or functions that require
           their own header files, you simply comment out
           a section of the C Easy header file (ceasy1.h).

           C Easy's independence of compiler supplied libraries
           and headers becomes obvious when using Turbo C/C++.
           C Easy requires only eleven (11) of the hundred or
           so files that comes with that compiler.

           C Easy text and graphics screen functions were
           written using VGA hardware register programming
           and C Easy mouse functions use BIOS. All C Easy
           functions are original and developed from scratch.
           Any similarity to any other C function library,
           including Borland and Microsoft, is coincidental.


           FEATURES
           

             Two button mouse control; right button is the HELP key.
             Create customized screen palettes for each application.
             Execute browse windows; scroll and edit data.
             Display multiple overlapped windows; easy to control.
             Execute pull-down menus and scroll selection bars.
             Execute check lists.
             Easy mouse programming.
             Create/execute intelligent SELF-EXECUTING data entry forms.
             Automatic forms control and user field editing.
             Event-driven functions invoked by any function key.
             Both pre and post user field editing.
             Context-sensitive pop up help messages for every field.
             Dynamic access to all field attributes, even during data entry.
             Create/load graphic overlays; combine graphic files.
             Drawing and painting utilities; create graphic tokens.
             Edit text files, even fixed-length record files.
             Forms easily interfaced to any database; Btrieve, etc..
             Doesn't require compiler header include files.
             Allows the programmer to maintain control.
             Does NOT generate C procedure code.
             Generates data entry form structures as include files.


           BACKGROUND
           

           Taking more than two years to develop, C Easy is the
           result of my extensive experience in creating operating
           systems, program language interpreters, compilers, and
           minicomputer-based business systems.

           My computer career began when assembly language was
           state-of-the-art; when Cobol and its precursor, Commercial
           Translator (CT), weren't even imagined; before RPG or
           its first incarnation, FARGO; and during the era when
           IBM's vacuum tube behemoth called SAGE was the Pentium,
           PowerPC and Alpha of its day.

           My bias toward software simplicity probably has its roots
           in programming the SAGE computer. It involved writing
           complicated 'marginal-checking' programs that applied
           excursion voltages to thousands of vacuum tubes, just to
           keep the system running. SAGE performed real-time data
           acquisition of weather, early warning radar, missile, and
           aircraft logistics. The system was primitive by todays
           standards, but yet very complex. That complexity may have
           been my impetus in keeping software development simple.

           What about C++, which certainly doesn't claim simplicity?
           I consider it to be a reasonable programming methodology
           for groups of programmers working on common applications
           that share modules of self-contained code. Along with
           SmallTalk, C++ is an excellent realization of the OOPS
           (Object Oriented Programming System) concept. C++ is also
           a far better alternative than the much ballyhooed CASE
           (Computer Aided Software Engineering) technology systems
           that tout 'structured this' and 'structured that'.

           C++ is here to stay, but I don't think it is a programming
           panacea that justifies abandoning 'plain old C'. It may
           not be fashionable to say it (yet), but I just don't see
           the emperor's clothes. Okay, I'll get off my soapbox!


           DOWNLOAD C EASY
           

           Download C Easy (ceasy.zip) and try it out. When you are
           ready to compile the C Easy sample programs, or your own
           programs, download either ceasyb.zip (if you have a Borland
           compiler) or ceasym.zip (if you have a Microsoft compiler).
           You might also download C Easy sample programs called
           'C Easy Phonebook' and 'C Easy Buttons Menu'.
