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MPL VERSION 1.03.00 |
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First Release Date 28 October 2000. |
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Now MPL comes with visual
development tools and entire |
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Macrotech Assembly Language
Library and
Demo Files |
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SnapShot1
SnapShot2
SnapShot3
SnapShot4 |
Version Update : 01 May 2004
Added Features : Version 1.03.00
1. Automatic Syntax Hiliting : HighLighted Asm Files
2. Masm32 Support
3. Multiple Form Editor IDE
4. Some Bug Fixes
DownLoad Mpl Now
And Demo Files Separately
They are here for download convenience,they will be replaced with
C:\Macrotech\Mpl\Demos after installing Mpl.
Table of Contents
1 Difficulties of Writing Assembly Code
2 Macrotech's Solutions
3 CodeSpy using F2 key
4 CodeSpy using "." dot character
5 CodeJump
6 Multi-Assembler Support
7 Colorful Source Files
8 Multiple Editor IDE
9 Adding Components
10 ShortCut Keys
1. Difficulties of Writing
Assembly Code
Writing code with assembly language is difficult
compared to the high level languages from various aspects.HLL's
provide many tools and library files to perform some mundane
operations.Buttons,textboxes,and many other components are all
available to use.They allow colorful source files and code
completion.But today's assemblers lack all of such features.
To compile an assembler source file generally,you have to switch
to command prompt.
2. Macrotech's Solutions
Macrotech provides many features that you can find in
a high level language.CodeSpy,CodeJump,Assembler Switch and
Colorful Source Files.Some features are even more powerful
than a high level language.
3. CodeSpy Using F2 key
CodeSpy allows you to insert code snippets by
pressing F2 and selecting from available snippets.
For example :
mov ax,3000h
mov es,ax
mov bx,0
mov dl,0
mov dh,0
mov cl,0
mov ch,1
mov al,4
mov ah,2
int 13h
This is the BIOS read sector interrupt.Writing this interrupt
every time you call it is a very boring job.Even if you use procs and
macros you can encounter same problem.For example if you have a proc
such as :
mov esi,offset str1 ; offset str1
mov edi,offset str2 ; offset str2
mov ecx,10 ; counter
call MyProc
Writing this is also time consuming.Codespy allows you simply
add your routines into your source file.To enable source insertion
with Codespy you have to insert your code snippets in a file and
declare a category for your snippets using View/Codespy Editor
Menu command.Some snippets are also available in the files
DisplayBank,StringBank...You can add your own snippets to the
available snippet files or you can create your own snippet files.
To create a new snippet file for CodeSpy follow these steps:
1. Select View/CodeSpy Editor Menu on MPL.
2. Write a name for the new Category e.g. MySnips
3. Write the filename to be associated with this Category e.g.
C:\MySnips.asm
4. Press Add Button.
Now your snippets in the C:\MySnips.asm file will be displayed
on the Screen when you press F2 on The MPL Editor.You may need to
restart MPL.
Open the file C:\MySnips.asm and add your code snippets.
To add snippets to your snippet file use this syntax.
snip MySnip1
mov esi,offset str1 ; offset str1
mov edi,offset str2 ; offset str2
mov ecx,10 ; counter
call MyProc1
After saving your file press F2 on the MPL Editor you will
see categories,select your category use right arrow to see the
available snippets in this category and press ENTER to insert.
You can add everything in to your snippets e.g. comments
about the code,input and output of code.
Here is a snapshot of CodeSpy on the charge when F2 pressed.
4. CodeSpy Using "." dot char
This is very similiar to Delphi's Code Completion.
When you press '.' char right after a struct type, properties
of this struct will appear on the screen.You can add your own
structures to the C:\Macrotech\Mpl\Classes.asm file to make
them available to the CodeSpy.
Example:
1. Open C:\Macrotech\Mpl\Classes.asm.
2. Add your structure.
MyClass struct
x1 db 0 ; +0
x2 dw 0 ; +1
x3 dd 0 ; +3
x4 db 0 ; +7
MyClass ends
3. Save the file.
4. Open Mpl and add a new variable of type MyClass as:
MyVar MyClass {1,1,2,3}
5. Write MyVar. and see what happens.
Here
is a snapshot of CodeSpy on the charge when "." char
pressed right after a struct type.
5. CodeJump
Another headache of assembly programmers is to search
procs or macros in the include files.CodeJump enables you
to find the proc or macro in which file is it and even shows
the line number and opens the file at the proc's or macro's
location by just doubleclicking or selecting and
clicking the name of proc or macro in the source code.
To add more tips to the CodeJump use View/CodeJump Editor
menu command.Select a directory where your library files is in
and press Add button.The proc and macro names will be sorted
and added to the Tips.asm file to be available to CodeJump.
When you doubleclick or select and click the name of macro
or proc you can jump.
Here
is a snapshot of CodeJump on the charge when a proc name
doubleclicked or selected and clicked.
6. Multi-Assembler Support
Mpl now supports multi assemblers.Switching between
assemblers is just a click away.You can compile a MASM file
and can switch to TASM and compile a TASM source and return
back to MASM.MASM 6.13,TASM 5.0,NASM 0.98,A86,x86,MA Assembler
parameters are also set for use currently.You can add
your own assemblers by using Run/Set Assembler menu command,
Create Parameters in the previous versions.
7. Colorful Source Files
Mpl allows colorful asm files to compile with your assembler.
8. Multiple Editor IDE
Mpl allows multiple Editors to manage more than one file
at the same time like Borland's Delphi IDE.
9. Adding Components
To add a component to your source code you can
simply drop a component from component palette and
edit properties of the component by entering new values
into the inspector or using CTRL+ARROW or SHIFT+ARROW key
combinations after selecting the component.
10. ShortCut Keys
Fast Menu : RightClick On the tabs of editor
Form Source : RightClick On the Form
F11 : Object Inspector
Ctrl+F11 : Next Page
F12 : Toggle Form/Unit
Ctrl+S : Save
CTRL+ALT+S : Toggle Selection Mode :
Default Selection Mode is Windows Default,
by pressing CTRL+AlT+S Selection is ColumnSelection,
to change selection mode press CTRL+SHIFT again.
Mpl now supports all assemblers.Masm,Tasm,Nasm,Wasm,NBasm,A86
or whatever you have.
You simply set the command line parameters using Run/Set Assembler menu
command when you setup Mpl first.Default values are set
for Masm 6.13 as follows:
Path of OBJ File Creator : C:\Masm613\Bin\Masm.exe
Path of Exe Or Com File Creator : C:\Masm613\Binr\Link.exe
Parameter for Creating Exe File : This is blank for Masm
Parameter for Creating COM File: /Tiny
Added Menu commands:
1.Set Current Directory.
2.Dos Prompt:After setting current directory you can switch to DOS in the
current directory.
3.Run Program
4.Convert to Uppercase
5.Convert to Lowercase
6.Uppercase First Character of All Words
7.Convert File:Converts old style noncolorful source files to colorful rtf
source files.
8.Goto Line
9.Set Assembler: Creates Command line parameters of your assembler.
10.Find in Files: Find a string in all files in a directory at one shot.
Now includes subdirectories.
11.Replace in Files:Replace a string with another in all files in a directory
at one shot.Now includes subdirectories.
12.Count Lines : Counts all lines and characters in all files in a directory.
Now includes subdirectories,counts commented,uncommented and blank lines.
New Tools :
1.ShowFAT : Shows FAT region of a disk
2.Showsec : Shows sectors of a disk.
3.BIOS Parameters : Shows BIOS parameters of a disk
4.Formata : Formats a floppy.Very fast.
5.Dirbox : Directory Box.
6.Key Scan Codes : Key Scan codes at hand.
7.WIN Key Codes : Lists Win Key Codes.
8.ASCII Codes : Shows ASCII codes.
9.Flags : Shows flags
10.FPRegs : Shows FP registers
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