Using Charting Tools

[Keith Waters]

I've downloaded Quinn-Curtis's Charting Tools demo (http://www.quinn-curtis.com/products/ctwin.htm) and was very impressed. I asked them the following question.

"Can Charting Tools for Windows - Rev. 3.0 be used from a PowerBasic
PB/DLL6.0 program? C is readily translatable to the PowerBasic language
so presumable it can be used."

They replied:

"Sorry, but we have no experience using our software with PowerBasic, nor do we have any record of any company doing so. Just because you can translate from C to PowerBasic is no indication of whether or not it can be made to work. There is very little possibility it would work as is, without customizing the structures and prototypes in the interface files."

Can anyone add anything to this?

Keith


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

[Chris Boss]

Keith;

As long as the Charting tool comes in a DLL form, rather than an
OCX, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't use it.

While I can't guarantee it will work, PB is so rich with features
that converting the C headers should be possible.

PB can do most anything C can.

The only area I am not sure of is when C programs use Classes.
I am not sure if Classes can be translated directly to PB code.

If the DLL is composed of just Functions that can be called using
standard Data types or structures, you shouldn't have much problem.

The hardest part is converting the header files to their PB equivilant.



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

[Tom Hanlin]

They have examples for C, Delphi, and VB. It appears quite straightforward. As the Quinn-Curtis rep said,
you'd probably have to do some conversion work on the TYPE and DECLARE statements, but this shouldn't be
too difficult. It would probably be easiest to port from the VB files, most of which can probably be
used as-is.

I'll drop 'em a line and see if they can be encouraged to support PowerBASIC directly.


------------------
Tom Hanlin
PowerBASIC Staff

[Keith Waters]

Thanks to you both, Chris and Tom.

Tom - I would of course be very interested in hearing the response
you get from them.

Keith

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

[Tom Hanlin]

I'm afraid they seem less than eager. I really don't think it would be
too difficult to do the port yourself, but you might check out their
return policy before making any commitments.

------------------
Tom Hanlin
PowerBASIC Staff