+=========================================================================+
# Important: contains information NOT included in the users guide or help #
+=========================================================================+
07-30-1995 / Version 3.3 US

Subjects:

* General
* Update notes
* Additional documentation "MESSAGES.TXT"
* "Key field corrupt" in numerical boxes
* Developing in different directories than the PROFAN directory
* Rare problems when displaying 3-D elements and CTRL3D.DLL
* Using programs on a network that are created with PROFAN
* Converting the DEMO program/example programs
* User guides

* Version history and resolved problems


General
---------
Note: When you start the developing environment for the first time, no project 
file exists. PROFED will display an error message. After exiting PROFED the 
first time with the menu item FILE/END (not with the system menu) or with the 
corresponding icon in the tool bar, the warning will not appear again.


Update notes
--------------------
Before updating older versions to version 3.3 or higher you must delete existing 
project files (*.DSK) and PROFED.INI (in the Windows directory), this is because 
the format of these files has changed!

In general we recommend that you do not install the update to version 3.x over 
an older version because the PROFAN directory has subdirectories that contain 
DEMO and example programs. And it's ALWAYS better not to mix different versions 
and to save the older version until you make sure that you can compile and run 
the old programs without problems in the new environment.

Please read the section about new features in the PROFAN help!


Additional documentation "MESSAGES.TXT"
---------------------------------------
The file "MESSAGES.TXT" contains information for the experienced programmer 
about the @SENDMESSAGE function.


"Key field corrupt" in numerical boxes 
--------------------------------------
Spaces are invalid as characters when you want to index numerical boxes, 
for example when organizing them. Make sure that these fields are filled 
with a "0" in the database.


Developing in different directories than the PROFAN directory 
-------------------------------------------------------------
Usually you will establish a new directory for every new project. 
PROFRUN.EXE must reside in this project directory so that you can call the linker 
(create EXE or SCR files) from this directory. The advantage is that each project can 
have its own PROFRUN, including for example its own icons. The install program 
copies the helper help files to the Windows directory so they are always available.


Rare problems when displaying 3-D elements and CTRL3D.DLL
---------------------------------------------------------
If you have problems after creating a 3-D display for all dialogs or 
the compatibility is different, add the line "SET PRO3D=NEIN" to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. PROFAN programs then don't even try to
create a 3-D look. Please pass this note on to your customers that use
programs created with PROFAN.


Using programs on a network that are created with PROFAN
---------------------------------------------------------
A PROFAN program linked to the EXE file consist of the RUNTIME module and the 
compilat. When you call the program the RUNTIME module "knows" that it is linked 
with a compilat and reads it for editing. The program must be able to read itself. 
To prevent access conflicts, for example on NOVELL networks, the EXE file has to 
be marked as SHAREABLE! Also PRC modules have to be flagged so that several user 
can have access.


Converting the DEMO program/example programs 
--------------------------------------------
The DEMO program still contains all elements of version 1.3 but all modules are 
converted for structural programming (except the module "Intro"): GOTO and GOSUB 
have been eliminated. We've added new modules, including some which were programmed 
by PROFAN users. There are still some example programs in the subdirectory EXAMPLE.
CAUTION: Some programs contain absolute path statements. Please check BEFORE 
testing! And some programs require other files (like bitmap or database files) in 
the same path. Files required by DEMO programs reside in the DEMO directory. 
Copy these files to your EXAMPLE directory, if necessary.


User guides
-----------
The user guide WRITE files are version 3.3. 
We are considering a printed user guide for the future.


+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Current official version of runtime and interpreter: 3.3     | 
|                             Linker and compiler:     3.3     |
|                             Developing environment:  3.3     |
|                             Help:                    3.3     |
|                             User guides:             3.3     |
|                             Shareware version:       3.3     |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Version 3.3  (2-20-1995 German / 7-20-1995 US)
==============================================

First international version: English, German, Italian.

While performing these adjustments we optimized the memory model of PROFAN for 
deeper function nesting. The interpreter has been made 20% faster. 
And we can offer more than 40 editing arrays which can be displayed simultaneously.


@IF            Error while using integer variables has been corrected.

RETURN <Wert>  Use RETURN to return a local variable of a procedure.
               
%ERRNUMBER     Contains the number of the last error. 
               
%BMPX          Width of last loaded or saved picture.

%BMPY          Height of last loaded or saved picture.

&BMPCOL        Number of colors of last loaded picture.

%BITSPIXEL     Color depth (Bits per pixel) of screen.

@ICONCOUNT     Number of icons in a file (*.EXE/*.DLL/*.ICO).

DRAWLIBICON    Displays an icon from a EXE-, DLL- or ICO file.

TRACEON        Switches to TRACE mode. 
               
TRACEOFF       Turns TRACE mode off.

@DATE$         Now internationalized as well as @CTOD$ and @DTOC$.

The editor can process multiple files up to 32760 characters. When creating 
screen savers you can assign a name of your choice. When loading multiple 
pictures with different palettes, the palette of the last loaded picture will 
be used. You can print bitmap graphics with LOADBMP and LOADSIZEDBMP between 
STARTPRINT and ENDPRINT. The help for the SOUND command has been corrected. 
The MUSIC command no longer blocks the system during playback.


Version 3.2  (09-06-1994)
===========

First version distributed as license product by PEARL.


@SENDKEY           This function worked only without problems in the interpreter.
                   This error is resolved and this function works also in 
                   compiled programs.
                   Sorry!

ODBC support 
                   PROFAN now supports programming the ODBC interface when installed 
                   on the system. To do this, use the SQLEXEC, SQLDONE, SQLSETNULL 
                   and SQLSETDEL commands and the @INITSQL function and 
                   &SQLCOUNT system variable.

%BUTTON            The system variable Button is now used by all pre-defined dialogs.

@LISTBOX$          You can now scroll the list box horizontally.

@EDITBOX           Another pre-defined dialog-- the editing dialog.

@UPPER$            All special characters are now valid.

@LOWER$            Converts a string from uppercase to lowercase.

@SUBSTR$           Filters partial string n from the string.

MESSAGES.TXT       Explains useage of the @SENDMESSAGE function.


Version 3.1  (08-13-1994)
===========

New helper        Two new helpers have been added: the interface and dialog helper.
                  Help for both is available.

New commands and functions    
                  The following commands and functions have been added:
                  @USEDLL, DRAWEXTICON, MLOADBMP, MCOPYBMP. They 
                  are explained in the user's guide and on-line help.

INPUT error       Because of a mistake the INPUT command was not used for 
                  LongInt variables. The error has been resolved.

%GETDESKTOP       This system variable is called %DESKTOP. The error
                  in the user's guide and help has been resolved.

@CREATEICON       There was a mistake made in listing two incorrect parameters 
                  for this function in the user's guide and help. 
                  This mistake has been corrected.

COPY / ADDFILES   In some cases the IOResult was not reset so that it had
                  to be reset manually in the program, i.e. after ADDFILES 
                  the IOResult was set by mistake. The COPY command generated an
                  error when the IOResult was set by a previous action (e.g. MKDIR). 
                  Both problems have been resolved. But you should still call the 
                  IOResult by file and directory operations.

Version 3.0c (05-23-1994)
============

Limitation with $I         
                  When reading more than 14 include files, interpreter 
                  and compiler did not find the following files. In 
                  interpreter mode it was not possible to open more files. 
                  This limitation has been resolved.

Screen size (Max/Min)      
                  In some cases the screen size of the PROFAN main screen was smaller 
                  than expected. We resolved this problem by expanding the Y value. 
                  Now the screen size always matches the value set in WINDOW. 
                  For CLS it is 640 * 480. The smallest screen size is now 16 * 16.
                           
Version 3.0b (05-01-1994 / 05-17-1994)
============

PROFED-Helper     When developing in another directory than the PROFAN directory
                  the program was not able to find the "Helper". We have resolved this problem.

Runtime-Error 404 
                  When the COPY command was used in the program, this error message
                  appeared when exiting the program. This error has been resolved.

ScreenCopy 
                  ScreenCopy assigned (like printing with STARTPRINT) a page size
                  of 640 * 940 points. This sometimes created problems when using 
                  SCREENCOPY with bigger program windows. 
                  Now the print area adjusts automatically to the size of the 
                  PROFAN main window. When using SCREENCOPY the width of the 
                  window is the same as the width of the print page. 
                  (Printing with STARTPRINT, the print page still has the 
                  size of a coordinate system of 640 * 960 points.)

Version 3.0a (04-24-1994)
============
 
PROFED enhanced              
                 When choosing RUN and COMPILE, we have eliminated the selection box; 
                 the program is always interpreted and compiled in the current window. 
                 When STARTING, the program compilat will be executed in the current 
                 window. If no compilat exists the selection box will be displayed as before.
 
Flashing when selecting fonts     
                 Errors have been resolved. New font selection applies now only for the 
                 current text window and text that is loaded afterwards.

Length of field names by dbCREATE    
                 By dbCREATE (and structure helper) field names which contained more than 
                 8 characters where shortened to 8 characters. Now 10 characters are
                 valid, as in dBase-III. Longer names are cut off.

        
Version 3.0 (04-17-1994)
===========

Summary of most important additions:

A) EXTENDED LANGUAGE COMMANDS
                 More than 70 new commands, functions and system variables have been added 
                 to these sections:
                    - Dbase compatible databases
                    - Self-defined dialog windows
                    - Communication with other windows
                    - Programming screen saver
                 We have expanded various existing functions and commands.
B) COMPILER      The compiler now works much better. Compiled programs run 
                 up to 6 times faster than before!
C) LINKER        You are now able to create screen savers!
D) DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENT        
                 The current line will be displayed and context sensitive help is available.
E) HELPER        What in other programs are named " Wizard' or "Assistant" is called
                " Helper' in PROFAN. Two helpers have already been made available:
                 - Record editor
                 - DBF-Editor
F) LIMITATION    Arrays and list box lists can contain 9999 entries. 
                 Up to 9999 program lines are valid and the maximum 
                 line length has been extended to 254.
G) ERRORS        All known errors have been resolved.

Information about all new features is available in the current help file in the 
section "What's new?" We recommend reading this section!


Version 2.6f
============

Local variable                
                When local and global variables had been assigned the same name,
                unexpected results were possible. This problem has been resolved!
Runtime-Error 205
                This error could occur when working with strings which contained 
                more than 36 digits (and only digits.) The automatic conversion
                tried to read this value also as a number and received overflow.
                The error has been resolved, the calculation speed has increased 
                and the calculation accuracy has been expanded from 5 to 16!
	
Version 2.6d
============

Runtime-Error 200 
                Using the @DIV function often resulted in a Runtime-Error 200 
                (division by 0) even when it wasn't dividing by 0. 
                This error has been resolved. 

Version 2.6c
============

Backslash in paths           
                The @ChooseDir$ function returns a path with backslash "\".
                ChDir and MkDir now allow path statements with backslash.

Version 2.6b
============

Calculations with Float           
               We have expanded calculation options and the accuracy of all 
               floating-point calculations. If a co-processor is available it 
               will be supported. The calculation accuracy is to 13 decimal points. (Due to an 
               error in the program the floating-point calculation was limited to
               to an accuracy of +- 2 billions. This error has been resolved.)

256 colors      Bitmaps with 256 colors are now displayed correctly in 256 color mode.
                You can load compressed .RLE files with LOADBMP and LOADSIZEDBMP.
                (Previously, only bitmaps with 256 colors in HIGHCOLOR- (32000/64000) 
                 or TRUECOLOR mode (16 Mio) were displayed correctly.)

Version 2.6
===========

The following functions where requested by users and added to this version:

@ChooseDir$(S)  Dialog box for directory selection. 
@LN(N)          The natural logarithm. (Was available in version 2.0 and higher
                but we neglected to mention it in the user's guide and help. Sorry.)
@LG(N)          The decadic logarithm (for basis 10) of N.
@POW(N1,N2)     Exponent function. The result is N1/N2 (in Basic: N1^N2)
@TAN(N)         Tangent of angle N (in arc measure).
@COT(N)         Cotangent of angle N (in arc measure).
@FILESIZE(S)    Size of file S.

Version 2.5
===========

Remodeled developing environment, windows size, GetPixel, clip board and resolved minor errors. 

It's now possible to transfer files with command line parameters to the developing environment.
The 3-D look, toolbar and status bar have been added. And most important, the Windows typical
help for the developing environment, print program and PROFAN have been added. The help contains
the contents of both user's guides and help file. The help is up-to-date. (The user's guides 
have been printed for version 2.0.)

Two system variables are available to get the window's size and now you can program
the clipboard in PROFAN. The DRAWTEXT is now able to write out numbers. The details:

%WINTOP        - Y coordinate of the upper window border
%WINBOTTOM     - Y coordinate of the lower window border
%WINLEFT       - X coordinate of the left window border
%WINRIGHT      - X coordinate of the right window border

@GETPIXEL(x,y) - Color value of pixel in position x,y. 

CLEARCLIP      - Deletes contents of the clipboard
PUTCLIP S      - Writes the character chain S (numerical value possible) 
                 as text to the clipboard. 
                 The clipboard is not deleted before writing.
@GETCLIP()     - Reads text from the clipboard (max. 255 characters). Result: 
                 String. Reading does not delete the clipboard.

%MOUSEKEY      - After the query, %MouseKey will be reset to 0. 

DRAWTEXT x,y,S - It is now valid that S is a numerical variable or system variable.

@INPUT$(S1,S2,S3)
               - It is now valid that S is a numerical variable, system variable or number. 
                 The result of the entry can be assigned to a corresponding numerical 
                 variable.

Some minor errors with @PAR$(), ADD and WAITKEY have now been resolved. 
Sorry!

PROFAN.CRD was only a replacement for the Windows help, but if you want to use 
the file you can, of course, update it.

Version 2.1
===========

Corrected errors, date and time functions, system paths, 3-D dialogs

After moving the program window the output was, in some cases, moved to another window.
It was possible to resolve this problem by re-sizing the program. In the current version
this should be resolved. 

Based on suggestions of some users we have added some new system 
variables and functions:

%GETCURSEL - Number of the entry selected in a list box.	
$WINVER    - Windows version (e.g. "3.10" )
$DOSVER    - DOS version (e.g. "5.0" )
$WINPATH   - Windows path (e.g. "C:\WINDOWS" )
$SYSPATH   - Windows system path (e.g. "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM" )

@TIME$(N)  - determines the current time:

@DATE$(N)  - determines the current date in different formats:

If the CTL3D.DLL (shipped with many new Windows products) is available 
on your Windows system, PROFAN 2.1 will find it automatically
and use it to display the dialogs. Your PROFAN programs will look
more professional. This DLL should be in your Windows directory or 
Windows system directory. 
CAUTION: This DLL is not necessary to run your PROFAN programs. 
You can still ship your programs without the DLL. When this DLL is not
available the dialogs and list boxes are not displayed in 3-D. 
No error message appears!

Tip: You can call serial and parallel ports also under 
PROFAN in the same way as other files, for example ASSIGN #1,"COM2".

Version 2.0b
============

Occasionally, after the creation of a new menu and during the use of the functions @LISTBOX$ and 
@INPUT$, the screen display became scrambled. This problem has been resolved.


Version 2.0a
============

Two expansions have been added:

WINDOW without limitation
-----------------------------------
The window size is no longer limited to a maximum of 640*480.
Now PROFAN is also a good choice for SVGA card users. 
The larger the screen size is set to with WINDOW, the larger the memory
requirement.

If you want to re-size the window during the program, you should set the window size
to the biggest possible size before your first soft copy. And the window size should also
be set before the first soft copy if you want to use a larger size window than 640*480.
It's ALWAYS a good idea to use the command WINDOW or CLS at the beginning 
of a program.
 
The size of the print page is still 640*960. 

New command: WINDOWSTYLE N
---------------------------
You must use this command before creating the first soft copy, otherwise
it will not work. This command sets the style of program windows.

Version 2.0
===========

Changeover to Windows 3.1. Multi-media commands and functions. 
New list and input boxes. New data types: LongInt and Float. Mathematical 
functions for floating-point numbers. Print and hard copy commands. 
Optimized compiler. New developing environment. PROFAN runs no longer
under Windows 3.0.

< Middle of 1992: Hard drive crash - Loss of nearly all PROFAN source code.  >
< Only some early test versions with very limited commands   >
< could be recovered.                                                    >
< After installing a streamer start rebuilding >
< PROFAN as PROFAN ...                                              >

Version 1.4
===========
No changes for full version (only new version number). 
Limitation of Shareware version in variables and line number resolved, 
blocked command "WindowTitle".

Version 1.3
===========
First version available as Shareware, complete with compiler, linker 
and developing environment.

Version 1.2
===========
Now includes compiler. Compiler called from the developing environment. 
Runtime Module necessary to execute.

Version 1.1
===========
Developing environment was added and some errors corrected.
 
Version 1.0
===========
First version of PROFAN as batch language, but
already it can access many graphic and sound commands. 
Used by friends of the author.
(End of 1991)
