Version 6.56 from 13 September 2001 INPUT USING now accepts the input of commas and quotation marks. Apart from this such separating marks are not convenient for INPUT USING because only one input variable can be indicated. In addition a compiler error has been removed which occured when using PUT for OPEN "F". Version 6.55 from 10 September 2000 The Extension Library was expanded with the function FNSystem_Version and the procedure Set_Rnd_Seed. It is now also possible to use Ser_Set_Brk to send break signals to the serial interface and delete the signal with Ser_Clr_Brk. Using RETURN now results in an automatic type conversion. This means you can now also pass an integer number to a function of type floar or vice versa. The editor now enables the automatic conversion from ASCII 202 to ASCII 32 (normal blank space). This facilitates the import from sample programs from the HTML manuals using 'Copy' and 'Paste' significantly. The debugger can also depict the contents of byte and flag fields. "Save" and "Save as ... " now function again with deactivated auto backup. Using OPEN"F" with subsequent GET now returns the correct identification number of the parent directory. POINT can now also be used for off-screen bitmaps (e.g., graphic windows of the EasyGem Library). Statements that have been removed from libraries are no longer listed in the compiler window. This accelerates the compilation process significantly even with activated "Warnings", especially on computers with slow screen output. Rectangles specified by setting the left upper corner and the length and width (X,Y,W,H) were interpreted by the older version as one pixel too small in height and width. This error has been removed. Version 6.53 from 10 April 2000 The Extension Library was extended with a few procedures and functions. Now it is possible to use Get_Lpr_Pagesize to determine the size of the printed page in pixels and thus optimally adjust any printouts to the set page format. Advanced users find in the new function FN Get_Thprint the handle for the print records utilized by Omikron Basic. The procedures Ser_Hshake and Ser_Status were introduced to improve the programming of the serial interfaces, enable the many settings of the handshake options, and return accurate information about the current status of the serial interface. Program listings and other expressions can now feature page numbers if so desired. Labels that are accidentally double defined are now recognized by the compiler if the compiler warnings have been activated (COMPILER "WARNINGS ON"). All commands for addressing the serial interfaces were switched to low-level routines. This eliminates the problems that occurred with a few Apple computers (PowerBook). The printing of listings under MAC OS 9 should now also function error-free. Floating point numbers can now also be defined correctly as constants using COMPILER"DEF_CONST". When using PRINT USING the operational sign is now also issued correctly in front of the first valid location as described in the manual, if the sign is the first character within the format string. Version 6.51 from 15 November 1999 We regret to inform our users that a few errors have found their way into version 6.50, which are, however, eliminated with this upgrade release: 1. The OPEN command functioned only as OPEN "I" and OPEN "O". All other variations utilized OPEN "O". This could result in possible computer crashes. Version 6.51 has fixed this problem and all OPEN commands once again function perfectly. 2. A double-click together with a depressed [Shift] key applied to a procedure or function name used to jump the cursor to the position where the procedure or function is defined. Since this clashes with the new option of modifying block limits using the [Shift] key plus mouse button, you can now use the [Alt] key plus a double-click to jump to the procedure/function definition. The input buffer for OPEN "P" and OPEN "V" has been increased so that better data transfers with higher speeds is possible using the serial interfaces. In addition, a status query has been integrated, preventing that the operating system winds up in an infinite loop if a connected device does not respond. Version 6.50 from 1 Nov. 1999 The most important new feature of this version is the integrated Source Code Debugger. The debugger may be used to run through your program in single steps while monitoring the content of variables and memory cells as well as being able to step into and step out of procedures and functions. There is also an animation mode, which may be used to run a program in something akin to slow-motion. The debugger is thus best suited to find errors and for didactic purposes to clarify, e.g., the working of algorithms step by step. To avoid overlaps with the special characters that can be called using the [Alt] key, the default setting for Shortcuts in the file NEWOMBAS.INF has been changed.. If you have already gotten used to the past setup you can,of course, continue to use your old NEWOMBAS.INF file. Block Start and Block End can now also be modified by pushing the [Shift] key together with the mouse button. Moreover, some errors occurring with certain Matrix Operations have been eliminated. Version 6.32 from 16 August 1999 This version makes four new BASIC commands available to the user: SPOKE, DPOKE, SPEEK, and DPEEK enable the direct writing or reading of floating point numbers with single and double precision. Now the compiler recognizes if procedures or functions accidentally have been defined twice. In these cases, the compiler window will issue a warning, the compiling process itself, however, will continue. The Extension Library was expanded by seven new functions or procedures respectively: FN Get_Scrap$(Type) and Put_Scrap$(Type,Txt$) serve the reading and writing of data to the clipboard. FN Memory_To_String$(Mem_Adr,Length) and String_To_Memory(Txt$,Mem_Adr) enable a very rapid copying of memory contents into an Omikron Basic string and vice versa. FN Get_Front_Process#, Set_Front_Process(Psn#), and FN Get_Process_Path$(Psn#) offer the programmer active process management. The Compatability with MBASIC has been improved. Thus, only few manual modifications are neccessary to import old MBASIC programs into Omikron Basic. And we eliminated a few minor problems, of course, which had snug in again since version 6.30. Version 6.31 from 18 June, 1999 With this new release Omikron Basic is also available as a cost effective download version which also allows online updates from our website for registered Omikron Basic users. Starting with this version all diolog boxes of the editor support block operations. Arbitrary background colors can be assigned to the Omikron Basic output windows. For this purpose you use the command Set_Print_Back_Color from the Extension Library. Version 6.30 from 12 May, 1999 Many people asked for it and we brought it back: the command OPEN "F" is once again available. It may be used to query the different properties (size, date of creation...) of a file or a folder and also to search for specific files within a folder. Now it is also possible to use Omikron Basic to generate so-called shared libraries and plugins. For this purpose the compiler control words COMPILER "shlb" and COMPILER "File_Type XXXX" as well as the commands EXPORT, EXPORT_MAIN, EXPORT_INIT, and EXPORT_EXIT have been introduced. DEF FNEX may now be used to define functions, which may be called by other programs. These programs may also be written in other programming languages (e.g., C, Pascal, FORTRAN ...). These functions are required if, for example, one wants to pass pointers of call-back routines to the operating system or would like to program shared libraries and plugins, respectively. The MAC OS command was expanded by one optional parameter, which means one can now also import pure data. Moreover, it is now possible to define the import as "weak" (very important when writing programs which are to use the properties of new operating systems while continuing to be able to run on older systems as well). The maximum program line length can now be adjusted. In turn, the option to store program lines as Pascal strings has been eliminated since lines with more than 255 characters are not useable with this option anyhow and the created files can be read by only a very few text editors. The command FILESELECT now uses the new File Navigation Services, if they are available (standard function starting with System 8.5). The editor and the Omikron Basic output window now use proportional window scroll bars if the Appearance Manager is present (standard starting with System 8.0). Smart scrolling (window content follows the scroll bar in real time) is now supported as well if the operating system has this capability. The prompt in case of INPUT commands can now also consist of individual strings and string expressions, which are each separated by a semicolon. In the case of INPUT USING, the parameters behind USING can once again be left off one by one. The following errors were eliminated as well: RESUME and RESUME NEXT now jump to the correct location even if the error line contains a procedure or function call. LINE INPUT can now correctly read and enter an entire line.

Version 6.25 from 18 January, 1999 All buttons in the editor now react to MouseUp events in the way routinely used on Apple computers. The function is therefore not carried out until the mouse button has been released. This has the advantage that the task can still be cancelled by moving the mouse away from the button. In case of the command MAT A#()=B#(), the matrix B#() is now correctly assigned to the matrix A#() and no longer the opposite as it had been up to now. The command MAC_OS now also functions properly when floating-point variables are passed. This means that you can utilize the "PowerPC Numerics" of the Mac OS immediately and directly, for example, when the command MAC_OS Y#;2,"erf",X# in Y# returns the value of the error function. Detailed information about this and other functions can be found in "Inside Macintosh, PowerPC Numerics." Problems during the use of line numbers have been eliminated. Version 6.24 from 9 November, 1998 Starting immediately, it is possible that a file with the source code of a program (.BAS) can possess a resource fork. This resource fork may be used to store such items as icons for the program and their appropriate files or may be used to define user-specific mouse cursors. However, in order to perform this task, you will need a resource editor (e.g., ResEdit by Apple, which may be downloaded free of charge from the Apple homepage). This resource fork will then be added to the executable program by the compiler. The compiler will enter a few additional resources, which are needed by Omikron Basic itself. In order to avoid conflicts, you should assign your own resources only resource IDs equal or larger than 256. The command SHR functions now correctly even if the right side does not contain any constant but a numerical expression instead. The screen saver has been improved and the screen should no longer display any leftover black spots. A double-click will only then be interpreted as such if both clicks are within one and the same window and the mouse has been moved not more than 4 pixels between each click. This takes care of undesirable search function calls caused by two or more single mouse clicks following one another too rapidly. The searching of tokens using double-clicks within the program text was improved as well. Recognition of tokens is now more reliable. Procedure and function calls, for which the parameters in the calling command are being calculated, no longer produce erroneous passing values (e.g., Proc1(FN Func1,FN Func2,A*SIN(B)). Version 6.23 vom 17.9.1998 From now on the functions ASC, CVI, CVIL, CVS, and CVD do not report an error but return zero if the passed string is too short. Therefor the nonfatal error messages have to be turned off (Error_messages 0). The management of arrays with 3 or more dimensions has been optimized. So, programs which use such arrays are compiled shorter and execute faster. An error which occured with a multi indirect pointer access with different variable types has been eleminated (e.g. E=*A(*B%(C,D))). When clicking on the scroll elements of a window, the editor waits 0.25 sec before it starts the auto repeat. So, it is possible to scroll precisely one line or one page without immediately running out of the document. Version 6.22 from August 17, 1998 The limits imposed on the number of elements for the fields created with DIM has been lifted. Now fields may be as large as 2 gigabytes. MOUSEBUT now also supports mice with two or three buttons and returns values between 0 and 7, depending on the pressed button. By popular request, the drawing color set with LINE COLOR and not the fill color is going to be applied when using OUTLINE. LINE WIDTH and MODE are also taken into consideration when determining the outer line. An error occurring during the concurrent sorting of string fields was eliminated as well. The menu option 'Compare Text ...' in the 'Find Menu' has been improved a little bit. Version 6.21 from 27 July, 1998 The command TEXT ROTATION= was reintegrated into the command set. You may now compare individual program texts using the menu option 'Compare Text ...' in the 'Find Menu'. A few small errors regarding the SORT command, string comparison, and the editor function 'Cut' and 'Copy' were corrected. A potential error occurring when very long sequential files were retrieved was eliminated as well. Version 6.20 from 14 July, 1998 The error with MAT CLEAR (last element was not deleted) was redressed. Now MAT INV functions correctly even if the field is dimensioned for more lines than indicated behind INV. In addition, inserting text before the LIBRARY line now functions correctly as well. The function VAL now also processes strings like for instance "1.234 D -56". This means, that there are space characters allowed between the fraction part and the "D" as well as between the exponent and the "D". The menu entry 'Default Colors' from the 'Mode' menu now restores the color look up table of the actual graphics device to its original setting. A new compiler control word was included. COMPILER "STRING +|*X" makes it possible to customize the string management in Omikron Basic to satisfy a variety of personal requirements. The Extension Library was expanded by the procedure Get_System_Folder. This procedure may be used to determine the location of the system folder and subfolders, respectively. Version 6.19 - dated 1 July, 1998 The problem, some users had with a few printer drivers when printing a program listing, has been fixed. In the dialog box Mode/Preferences you can now choose 11 and 13 points for text size. Therefore 22 and 24 points have been removed because such a large text is uncomfortable for programming purposes. Version 6.18 - dated 8 June, 1998 The Extension Library was expanded with the procedure Get_Window_Offset; however, the most significant new feature is the integrated Library Maker, which can be called via the menu option 'Make Library' in the program menu. This can now be used to create user-own libraries. Corresponding samples are contained in the folder DEMO. Version 6.17 from 2 June, 1998 The ExtensionLibrary was expanded by a few commands, which will make it possible to modify or inquire after the file type, file creator, and the finder flags of a file. They are in detail as follows: FN Get_File_Type, FN Get_File_Creator, FN Get_Finder_Flags, Set_File_Type, Set_File_Creator , and Set_Finder_Flags. Version 6.16 from 27 April, 1998 The function PI returns now the correct value (the last 6 digit were wrong peviously). The editor function 'Replace Text ... ' whith 'query' has been improved. The marked text is easier to read now and the query box can be moved on the screen. The Extension Library has been expanded with the functions FN Microseconds#, FN Ser_Get_Buf, and Ser_Reset. Version 6.15 from 23 March, 1998 Some bugs occuring with the editor functions 'Cut', 'Copy', and 'Paste have been removed. Using FILL X,Y,C for C the value -1 can be assigned again. BOX X1,Y1 TO X2,Y2 and similar commands are also working now if X2<X1 and/or Y2<Y1. With BOX X,Y,W,H now negative values can be passed in W and H. The Box then is drawn to the top left corner. Version 6.14 from 22 February, 1998 A few bugs were removed. Version 6.12 from 2 February, 1998 The scroll arrows of Omikron Basic's output windows now also function correctly with System 8. A few re-draw problems under System 8 have been corrected as well. The editor now offers the option to either write out floating point numbers normally or to display them in an exponential notation. Program listings can now also be printed in color, as long as a color printer is connected to the computer. See also 'Print...'. Version 6.11 from 19 January, 1998 A few bugs concerning the printout of the Omikron Basic output windows were removed. Version 6.10 from 8 January, 1998 LINE PATTERN and FILL PATTERN are now also implemented. The compiler was further optimized regarding the translation of SELECT...CASE...END_SELECT structures resulting in faster execution speeds and shorter codes. A considerably higher execution speed is the case especially when the structure calls procedures with parameters that are floating point numbers. The Omikron Basic Output Windows now offer scroll bars as a standard feature. This means that it is now possible to open windows that exceed the physical size of the screen. The SCREEN command can now also be used in order to modify the size and position of an already existing window. The menu item 'Save As...' in the menu for the Omikron Basic output windows now saves data in the 'PICT' format, facilitating their import into other programs. The same applies to BSAVE. Accordingly it is possible to load 'PICT' images with 'Open...' and BLOAD respectively. The extension library was extended with the function FN Get_Font_Number and the procedure Set_Scroll_Parameter. Version 6.09 from 22 December, 1997 When setting preferences in the mode menu it is now also possible to use Close Compiler Windows Automatically. This has the effect that the compiler window will close automatically once the compilation has been completed successfully. Omikron Basic now attempts to round up or down when translating floating point numbers into strings. For example, 0.999999.... is output as 1. Version 6.08 from 15 December, 1997 MODE <string expression> and FILL <X>,<Y>,<outline color> are now available. Version 6.07 from 8 December, 1997 TUNE,  VOLUME, and NOISE can be used effective immediately. However, the syntax of these commands has been changed. The serial modem interface can now be opened using OPEN "V". INLINE and USR are immediately available to call machine programs. Other programs can now be launched as child processes using EXEC. When setting editor preferences, it is now possible to chose between vector fonts and bitmap fonts. Version 6.06 from 22 December, 1997 The menu 'Block' was renamed to 'Edit' and equipped with additional options such as 'Undo Line', 'Cut', 'Copy', 'Paste', 'Clear' and 'Select All'. The menu item 'Insert Block' was converted to 'Paste Token Code' and the menu item 'Move Block' was renamed to 'Move Token Code'. The menu option 'Page Setup ...' is now to be found in the file menu instead of the program menu. These changes were implemented in order to achieve optimal agreement with Apple's 'Human Interface Guidelines'. For this purpose, new shortcuts and different colors for the dialog boxes were implemented as well (different gray tones) and stored in the NEWOMBAS.INF file. Those users who prefer working with the previous keyboard combinations and colors may use the file NEWOMBAS.INF.Omikron. The choices for color-coding and other color settings were significantly improved through the use of a popup menu in the dialog 'Color Preferences'. The desired color can now be picked from a palette of 256 colors using the mouse. The compiler was further optimized, resulting in shorter and faster programs. Version 6.05 from 4 October, 1997 The SCREEN command is now also available in a version with 5 parameters. If images, which were previously saved with BLOAD, are now loaded with BSAVE, an automatic adaptation to the respective pixel depth and dimensions of the current graphics port is effected. The preferences available for Short Cuts were adapted to Apple's 'Human Interface Guidelines'. Version 6.04 from 6 October, 1997 The command BITBLT may now be used in all its variations. A VT52 emulator was implemented for PRINT and LPRINT. OPEN "P" may now be used. The command CMD is now available; however, it effects only PRINT and WRITE. It is now possible to use SCREEN in the syntax SCREEN No,Width,Height. A new Omikron Basic output window is opened in each case.  New Control Words for the Compiler:  COMPILER "STACK_CONTROL ON|OFF"  COMPILER "RANGE_CONTROL ON|OFF"  COMPILER "DEBUG ON|OFF"  New Functions of the ExtensionLibrary:  FN Get_Window_Ptr(S)  FN Get_G_World_Ptr(S)

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