To help un-cloud the new Microsoft QuickC C compiler, I've put together this summary of the literature that Microsoft sent me. For your own copy of the info-pack, just call 1- 800-426-9400 if you're not in Washington state or Alaska. Alaska and Washington state residents can reach them at their special "back-woods" number, (206) 822-8088. This is NOT an advertisement for QuickC. Its just that there seems to be a dearth of information in reviews and in advertisments by Borland about Turbo C and very little of Microsoft QuickC. With both compilers currently available and equivalently priced, it seems an informed decision would be better made if all the information is available. The information presented here is available by calling the 800 number mentioned above and asking for the QuickC information kit. Microsoft will spend the $1.75 in postage and send it to you. I've just typed in what I've seen in the brochures without including the Marketing jibberish. Hopefully, this will be helpful. It was for me, I hope it will be for you. -Jeff. Online: Jeff_Kopmanis@ub.cc.umich.edu, jeffk.caen.engin.umich.edu jeffk%inanet!b-tech.uucp (I think this is the path!?) ----------------------------------------------------------- Here is an overview of all of the "real" information that Microsoft gives in their brochure with the PR/Marketing jibberish removed. After compilation, the editor puts the cursor on the first problem line of code and displays a precise description of the error on the screen. The compiler stores information on as many as 26 errors. There is a "hot key" that will toggle between the current source file and the last file edited. Compiles 10,000 lines per minute. Compiler uses "much of the same optimizing techniques used in MS C v5.0". You can limit the TYPES of error messages you recieve. You can set it to display just fatal errors, warnings and everything in-between. Instantly available subset version of Microsoft CodeView source level debugger. Single-step, animate or tracing of source code. Dynamic breakpoints Watch values of up to 16 local and global variables. 3 editor key bindings: Wordstar, QuickBASIC, Windows, or CodeView. Insert/overtype modes, full cut, copy and paste facilities, and an Undo command. Parenthesis, brace and bracket matching. Search and Replace look for regular expressions. EGA/CGA support. EGA can have 43 line display. In-memory MAKE utility. Standalone versions of compiler, LINK, MAKE and LIB. Can keep track of the functions called (can look at the stack). Use Ctrl-Break to stop execution of code. 100% Microsoft C Optimizing Compiler v5.0 compatible. Outputs standard MAKE file format, and emits CodeView- supported executables. Standalone version of QuickC has same switches as MS C v5.0. Library contains more than 350 routines including a full graphics library (EGA/CGA/VGA -- sorry, folks, no Hercules support), floating point math, DOS and BIOS routines. Full, direct in-line support for 8087/80287 math chips. "QuickC is a full implementation of the UNIX System V C language and supports the most important features of the proposed ANSI C standard, including the new style definitions and prototypes, CONST and VOLATILE keywords, and 'stringizing' and token-pasting operators." Runtime library source code available ($150) Good documentation: MS QC Language reference, MS QC Runtime library reference, MS QC Programmer's Guide. On-line help facility for quick summary of function. Getting help involves putting the cursor over the name of a C function and requesting help (F1=help) Supports Small (64K code, 64K data), Medium (1MB code, 64K data), Compact (64K code, 1MB data) and Large (1MB code, 1MB data) memory models. "QuickC uses the same small, medium, compact and large model libraries as MS C v5.0" ( Note: In this place there is some ambiguity as to what is the same. In another document, of an earlier part number, it states that only the medium library is the same. I have the feeling that the libraries were made common for compatibility with MS C v5.0.) Can mix NEAR and FAR keywords to produce fastest possible code. Interlanguage calling to MS FORTRAN, MS Macro Assembler, and MS Pascal. (MS, naturally. You didn't expect it to interface with Turbo Prolog, did you?) Single level overlay linker. Library manager creates, organizes and maintains QC objects. (I suspect that this is an in-memory version of LIB). CFLOW, cross referencing utility. Full MS Mouse support. Compatible with ProKey, SuperKey and SideKick. Library functions: 7 BIOS access 8 buffer manipulation 18 character classification and conversion 16 data conversion (numbers to strings & back) 4 directory: CD(display), CD, MD and RD 16 file handling 41 graphics functions 73 Standard C functions 30 math routines (floating point stuff) 30 memory allocation routines 39 MSDOS interface routines 3 Processor calls: segment, offset display 25 process control: start, stop, manage processes 4 search/sort : binary/linear search, quicksort 24 string manipulation routines 13 time functions 6 variable-length argument lists 20 other miscellaneous routines. System Requirements: (Here, as in the memory model, the earlier part numbered brochure differs. These values are in [] ) 448K minimum, 512K recommended [385K] DOS 2.0 or higher 2 double sided 5.25" drives -or- 1 double sided 3.5" drive -or- as big a hard disk as you can afford [1 double sided drive only. size? capacity?] Based on the differences in the brochures, I'd take the later part numbered one to be correct for the currently available version of QuickC. It is obvious that the later version of the brochure tells of a bigger peice of software with more compatibility that delivers on the promises the PR/Marketing people made. The earlier brochure is part number 098-048-212 and the later, more believable version is part number 098-048-213. Microsoft's technical phone number is (206) 882-8089. Call them for more info. This is all that I know about QuickC.