The 16-bit Family API toolkit

version 1.0.0
by
Jonathan de Boyne Pollard

The 16-bit Family API toolkit comprises a library and header files for using the 16-bit Family API in DOS and 16-bit OS/2 programs.

In conjunction with a 16-bit C/C++ runtime library built to the Family API, the toolkit allows DOS and 16-bit OS/2 programs to be linked from the same set of object files and C/C++ runtime library. Indeed, the Family API toolkit was used, with a Family API replacement for Borland's C++ 3.x runtime library, to build version 1.0 of the Command Line Utilities, building the same suite of tools in both DOS and 16-bit OS/2 flavours.

It was originally targetted at Borland C++ 3.x for DOS, but can and has been used from other languages and compilers, including Microsoft BASIC PDS 7.1 and Microsoft Visual BASIC for DOS.

• The Library
• Features
• Where to find FAMAPI
• About the Author

THE LIBRARY

• C++ headers declaring the 16-bit Family API functions and structures;
• a library implementing the Family API for real mode, which is linked into Family API DOS programs (16-bit Family API OS/2 programs are linked with the normal 16-bit OS/2 import library.); and
• Full source to the DOS library.

FEATURES

• VIO subsystem API: The VIO functions handle all text modes, and (to some extent) graphics modes as well. (Background colours will not work in graphics modes, and you may discover some oddities.)

  It is not the intention of this library to provide a graphics library for DOS programs. If you wish to pursue graphics programs, I suggest that you move directly to Presentation Manager.

• KBD subsystem API: Character input is supported, providing all that is required to implement the keyboard portion of the full functionality of a C runtime library.

  Support for the keyboard relies on machine firmware. Some of the more esoteric features of the keyboard interface, such as raw mode and reporting shift states, are not supported. It is suggested that anyone wishing to use such functionality switch to Presentation Manager, which provides a much better keyboard interface.

• Control Program API: Most DosXXX() calls are supported.

  Some of the more obscure calls, such as various uses of DosDevIOCtl, are not implemented. (Raw device I/O control differs between DOS and OS/2 in any case.)

Where to find the 16-bit Family API toolkit

The 16-bit Family API toolkit can be File Requested by anyone at any time of the day from the following Fidonet nodes:

2:257/609.0

Air Applewood BBS

the U.K.

Fidonet file requests are free from these nodes, and do not require a username or password.

It can also be found on many Internet FTP sites.