posted 02-13-2002 04:21 PM         

The many new features have made it possible to basically go down the list of functions listed in the help files of various compilers, in order to include them as add-on libraries for the parser. In the download, you will find add-on DLLs containing hundreds of functions from Delphi, PowerBASIC, and Visual Basic. These and more will likely be available as a separate product when beta testing is over. However, for now the source code for the VB add-on module is included (UCVBLIB.*), in order to give a practical idea of how to implement some of the new features.

Here is a partial list of new features:

* Multithreading. Also ActiveX/COM was re-introduced.

* Parser variables can directly be linked to numeric or string variables from your source code.

* Individual expressions can now be released in any order with the new ucReleaseExprPtr routine.

* Arrays are directly supported.

* Relational string operators (>, <, >=, <=, <>, =) are now included.

* User-defined operator names are no longer restricted to alphanumeric names. Symbols can be used.

* Functions and operators can be overloaded. This means that you can use the same function name to define routines that work differently depending on the number of arguments, or types of arguments or return-value type.

* User operators can be defined each with its own priority level (instead of one default level for all user-defined operators).

* ucParserTree is a new feature that gives you detailed control over each step of the parsing process.

* You can now define a callback routine to handle all errors wherever they may occur. With this it is no longer necessary to check ucError after every UCalc statement.

* String functions can be defined at runtime. (Previously string functions could be defined only using callback routines).

* ucErrorClear, allows you to clear the value of ucError.

* Implicit multiplication can be turned off.

* JIT argument types are now available.

* The IIF function was enhanced so that either the True or False argument is evaluated, but not both. (The IIF definition is one example of how JIT arguments can be used).

* ucVariableIndex, and ucFunctionIndex allow you to determine if a variable or function has already been defined.

* Some of the syntax for C++ and Delphi was simplified.

* Functions with no arguments can be defined so that it doesn't require a "()". This allows you to define a function like VB's "DATE".

* ucAlias now also works with operators.

* ucUnAlias was added so that you could undo items aliased with ucAlias.

* Improved speed.

Disclaimer
The following disclaimers are in addition to the ones in the help file:

- There is no guaranty as to the date of release for the next version.
- There is no guaranty as to which features will make it in the next version.
- There is no guaranty as to the suitability of this version for purposes other than beta testing.
- All parts of the beta version are subject to change without notice, and without regard to compatibility from one beta version to the next.

Not everything that is explained in the help is fully implemented yet. The examples in the help file for compilers other than VB have yet to be updated. And you may find contradictions in some of the topics, as things are constantly being changed. You will find comments in double brackets [[like this]]. The information in those double brackets can be ignored. The help file has not been spell checked.