Force 4.00
Copyright (c) 1998 by ENforce Developments. All rights reserved.


Welcome to Force 4.0!

This file contains introductory and other important information
regarding the software product Force 4.0. For the latest information
about Force 4.0 and its accompanying components, please read this file
in its entirety.


Table of contents

Introduction
Features
System requirements
Installation
Important information
Further information



Introduction


Thank you for choosing Force 4.0 and the Force programming language.

Force 4.0 is an advanced, professional quality development environment
for IBM PC compatible computers, running DOS or compatible operating
system. Force offers top-notch performance, versatility, ease-of-use,
and a full range of powerful features in a single integrated package.

The Force language offers a balanced combination of power and simplicity
when writing application programs. Force achieves a unique efficiency in
programming by integrating the ease of xBase with the versatility of
lower level languages. Force is equally well suited for developing
powerful low level utilities and highly flexible business applications
in unbeatably short times.



Features


- Native code generation.
- Small application size and fast execution speed.
- Size of "Hello world" application is about 2,400 bytes.
- Ideal for handheld computer programming due to low resource requirements.
- Language appearance that resembles both C and xBase.
- xBase-like commands and C-like function calling syntax.
- Database operations conforming the xBase standard.
- Extreme fast indexing with proprietary index format.
- Strongly typed variable and function declarations.
- Global, static and local scopes.
- Ability to save data segment space by relocating data in far data segment.
- Low level language constructs (pointers, structures, etc.).
- Indirect function calls via executable function pointers.
- Standard language function library with 800+ callable functions.
- Low level functions for direct interrupt calls, I/O port access, etc..
- Ability to create TSR programs.
- Functions can be installed to execute asynchronously.
- Automated disk swapping at child process execution.
- Built-in mouse support.
- Selectable C and Pascal function calling conventions.
- Force modules can be linked with Clipper, C, and ASM applications.
- C and ASM modules can be linked with Force applications.
- Ability to directly call the Windows API.
- Limited capability to develop 16-bit Windows applications.
- Symbolic source-level debugger.
- Windows-based Integrated Development Environment (CodeMate).
- Database manager utility application (Force Aid).

The above features make Force 4.0 an extremely versatile programming
tool. Applications that can easily be developed with Force extend from
small, specialized low level utilities (e. g. disk formatter) to
sophisticated business applications with complex user interface.



System requirements


Hardware:   IBM PC or compatible, AT286+ recommended
RAM:        640 kilobytes (about 550 kilobytes free)
XMS:        2 megabytes recommended
Disk space: about 5 megabytes for complete installation
OS:         DOS 3.3+ or compatible

Force 4.0 is designed for the DOS operating system, and it will
run under other operating systems which are capable of executing DOS
applications.



Installation


Run the f4setup.exe (DOS) or the f4setupw.exe (Windows) program to
install Force 4.0 on your system. To start the installation, change your
current drive to the one that has the distributed package on it, then
type the name of the appropriate install program. The interactive
install programs are self-explanatory, just follow the on-screen
instructions. During installation the install program copies the Force
4.0 files to the appropriate directories and subdirectories of your hard
disk.

Certain environment variables (PATH, LIB, INCLUDE) should be set for
Force 4.0. It is essential that your autoexec.bat file contains these
additional settings so that Force will find your files. The installation
can automatically update your system configuration. Alternatively, you
can choose to make these alterations manually with a text editor. The
install program creates a file (bin\force40.bat) that assists you with
the modifications necessary to make to your autoexec.bat file.

The required environment settings are as follows:

(1) The PATH variable should include the directory where the Force 4.0
executable files reside (default: c:\force40\bin).

(2) The LIB variable should include the directory where the Force 4.0
library files reside (default: c:\force40\lib).

(3) The INCLUDE variable should include the directory where the Force
4.0 header (include) files reside (default: c:\force40\hdr).

In addition, a files=40 statement may be necessary to add to your
config.sys file.

After the initial installation, you can run the install program again
to add elements you omitted the first time. Select only those components
you want to add in the install options listing.

If you are new to the Force language (or, to programming in general),
please read the file doc\starter.txt for hints on how to get started.



Important information


- Applications generated with the Evaluation Edition of Force 4.0 are
not suitable for any use except testing. The Evaluation Edition license
does not grant the right to distribute your applications. These
conditions may be made visible in your applications. See your License
Agreement (file doc\license.txt) and the registration information (file
doc\register.txt) for more details.

- The configuration file force.cfg is used by the compiler to pick up
options. Options given in the command line override options in a
force.cfg file present in the current directory which, in turn,
override options in the default force.cfg file, present in the /bin
directory.

- Force 4.0 uses the * character as a pointer dereferenciation operator.
This feature may lead to conflicts in source code written for earlier
Force versions, where the * character was used as a line comment
indicator. We recommend that you replace such comments using the //
inline comment marker. Alternatively, the -Zc compiler option can be
used to instruct the compiler to treat the * character as a comment
indicator.

- Object and library code written with earlier Force versions can not
be linked with Force 4.0 applications. Such code should be recompiled
with Force 4.0 before use. Please contact the vendor of third-party
libraries for earlier Force versions for an upgrade. Check the Force
web site for information on third-party libraries and tools that are
available for Force 4.0. Contact our support services (see
doc\support.txt) if you can not find an important library that you used
earlier.

- Although principally intended as a DOS development environment, 16-bit
Windows applications can be coded and compiled with Force 4.0. See the
sample\windows directory for working examples. The creation of a Windows
executable or DLL, however, requires access to certain additional
Windows-specific development tools (NE-linker, resource editor, resource
compiler, help compiler, etc.), that are not contained in the Force 4.0
package. A full Windows version of Force is in preparation.

- The standard language library in Force 4.0 is only partially useable
within a Windows executable or dynamic link library. You must not call
from your Windows application any of the following command and function
categories:

   - database access and indexing
   - memory management
   - screen output
   - keyboard and mouse input
   - some additional functions

Calling non-Windows-compatible library functions results in General
Protection Faults at runtime. Please replace such library calls with
direct calls to the appropriate functions of the Windows API. Study the
provided Windows example applications (fcd, wdbfview, winfun) in the
\sample\windows directory.

- Additional documentation on the Force language (programmer's guide,
FAQ, etc.) will be made available on the Force web site, and
incorporated in subsequent releases and product upgrades.

- Visit the Force web site at http://force.szolnex.hu for the latest
Force-related information and downloads.



Further information


See doc\evaled.txt   for information on the Evaluation Edition.
See doc\faq.txt      for answers to frequently asked questions.
See doc\filelist.txt for package contents listing.
See doc\license.txt  for your License Agreement.
See doc\orderfrm.txt for ordering and pricing information.
See doc\register.txt for finding out why and how to register.
See doc\starter.txt  for information on how to get started with Force
See doc\support.txt  for support and information sources.
See doc\whatsnew.txt for a list of the latest new features.

Note that some of the above files may not be present in a particular
distribution.

