UCSD strings

6 Feb 2003

      In the GPC docs I found that UCSD (BP) strings are on the todo list for 
the compiler.

Below is an outline for an intermediate solution I write for the 
Macintosh Toolbox. The "Carbon" API has 700 (!) references to 
UCSD-Pascal strings. For binary compatibility, I have little choice.

If appropriate, I will be pleased to write runtime support routines (in 
Pascal) for UCSD strings, when they are getting integrated into the 
compiler.

Regards,

Adriaan van Os

-----------------

TYPE
  	Str255 =	PACKED RECORD
				Length: byte;
				chars: packed array[ 1..255] of char
			END;
	Str32 = 	PACKED RECORD
				Length: byte;
				chars: packed array[ 1..32] of char;
				pad: char {for binary compatibility}
			END;
	{etcetera}

OPERATOR +
         ( const theStr1               : Str255;
           const theStr2               : Str255) AD: Str255;

OPERATOR =
         ( const theStr1               : Str255;
           const theStr2               : Str255) EQ: Str255;

OPERATOR >
         ( const theStr1               : Str255;
           const theStr2               : Str255) GT: Str255;

OPERATOR <
         ( const theStr1               : Str255;
           const theStr2               : Str255) ST: Str255;

OPERATOR >=
         ( const theStr1               : Str255;
           const theStr2               : Str255) GE: Str255;

OPERATOR <=
         ( const theStr1               : Str255;
           const theStr2               : Str255) SE: Str255;

Plus:
(1) standard routines Pos, Insert, Delete and Concat
(2) conversion routines from and to string-constants and GPC "long 
strings".