The MASM Forum Archive 2004 to 2012

Miscellaneous Forums => 16 bit DOS Programming => Topic started by: stk on February 09, 2007, 10:19:40 AM

Title: Can i use this DOS-Book?
Post by: stk on February 09, 2007, 10:19:40 AM
Hello,

is it possible to use this book with MASM32, or do i need a DOS MASM version for this?

That's the Book:
Graphics programming using assembly.
http://www.ronthomas.plus.com/ (go to the Download section)

Thank you!

stk
Title: Re: Can i use this DOS-Book?
Post by: Draakie on February 09, 2007, 10:31:42 AM
Looks like it uses 16 bit programming paradigm.

See for details on compilation :->

http://www.masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=6647.0
Title: Re: Can i use this DOS-Book?
Post by: MichaelW on February 09, 2007, 02:18:18 PM
The short answer is yes. After downloading and installing the book I had no problems building the two apps that I tried, buterfly and mandel. Attempting to run the programs under Windows 2000 they returned the error message "Mode not supported/Driver not loaded". This error message originated from the set_vbe_mode procedure in glib.lib, apparently because it could not detect the VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE). I know that the VBE are included in the VGA BIOS in my system, so the problem must be Windows. I think the same problem will exist for Windows XP, but IIRC not for Windows 9x. To get around this I copied the programs to a DOS diskette and booted from the diskette, only to discover that the programs require a mouse driver. After I installed a mouse driver, the programs ran OK. IIRC Windows 9x MS-DOS mode will provide a mouse driver.

This is the batch file that I used to assemble and link:

: The following files must be in the current directory:
: ML.EXE
: ML.ERR
: The 16-bit linker renamed to LINK16.EXE
: GLIB.LIB
: and the source files

ML /c buterfly.asm
pause
LINK16 buterfly.obj,,,glib.lib;
pause

ML /c mandel.asm
pause
LINK16 mandel.obj,,,glib.lib;
pause

Title: Re: Can i use this DOS-Book?
Post by: stk on February 09, 2007, 04:15:36 PM
Hello,

thank you for the answers.

greetings,
stk
Title: Re: Can i use this DOS-Book?
Post by: Vortex on February 10, 2007, 11:36:25 AM
stk,

For your information, Ron Thomas is a very good coder. You can study also his works targetting 32-bit Windows.
Title: Re: Can i use this DOS-Book?
Post by: stk on February 10, 2007, 05:54:22 PM
Hi,

since yesterday this site is part of my favorites list in my browser :thumbu

stk