Title:			USEFUL
Author:			Nicholas J. Kingsley <nicholk@dcs.rhbnc.ac.uk>
Version:		1.00
Title From:		Documentation
Author From:		Documentation
Version From:		Documentation
Supplier:		Nicholas J. Kingsley <nicholk@dcs.rhbnc.ac.uk>
Date:			05/12/95
Keywords:		Utility programs ; Menu generators ;
			Character conversion programs ; Display managers ;
			File compressors ; Multitasking programs
Shareware:		No
Machine:		Archimedes
Operating system:	RISCOS
Memory requirements:	
Peripherals needed:	
Other s/ware needed:	
Directory:		micros/arch/riscos/e023
Date mounted/updated:	08/12/95
File names:		useful.zip
Unarchived files:	44
Unarchived size:	114 kbytes
Omissions:		
See also:		

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Acquiring the package:

Download the archive file(s) and extract using SparkPlug 2
(see the "tools_help" file in micros/arch/riscos/tools for further info).


Description:

USEFUL is a set of modules and routines designed to make programming
easier.  These modules, although very useful for BASIC programs, are
designed to be used in languages which don't have certain features
built in, for example assembler doesn't have a random number generator
built-in, and thus the Random SWI could be useful.  All modules contain
full help text.  Test programs are supplied showing examples of their use.

* Error - Display a standard error message, as dictated by the Style Guide.
* Screen - Improved text entry, cursor movement, character printing, copying
  and filling, menu generation, fancy screen clearing, block copying and
  displaying raster bars.
* Menu - Easy selection of text-based options (use with Screen_TextMenu).
* Colour - Set text colour and screen background colour, fade text colour and
  return different colour shades.
* System - Save and restore current wimp mode and sound parameters in files.
* Read - Read VDU variables, check free memory and read OS version number.
* Random - Create random number seeds and generate random numbers.
* Number - Pad numbers to fixed width.
* File - Compression and decompression, and appending to files.
* GCIO - Read joystick and keyboard.
* IRQFile - Load a file in the background (under interrupts).
* IRQText - Print text under interrupts.
* Sprite - Routines to display sprites fast.
* Redefine - Redefine keys and characters.