OKScript Status Report #18

April 5, 2002

Dear OKScript User,

The OKScript Status Report is sent to OKScript 
licensees, developers and friends when significant 
updates have been made to the program. Interesting 
techniques and applications for the program will 
also be distributed in the report periodically. To
update or be removed from the distribution list 
please see the links at the bottom of this message 
or write me at yweare@gte.net.

This issue announces and briefly discribes OKScript's
new DLL plug-in capabilities.

This enhancement applies only to the 32 bit version. 
Development of the 16 bit version of OKScript has been 
discontinued, however the most recent release of that 
version will continue to be available, along with the 
current 32 bit version, from http://home1.gte.net/yweare/. 

Your existing license will automatically be active on the 
new software if you install it to the same directory, or 
copy the okscript.ini file from the folder where your 
licensed program was installed to the OKScript's new folder. Alternatively, you can re-enter the registration data. The 
current build is dated April 2, 2002. Click Help | About 
to determine the date of your copy of OKScript. Please note 
that the OKScript web site may become sluggish following 
update announcements. If you experience this try again later 
or write me and I'll send you the installation package as an 
email attachment. 

DLL PLUG-INs FOR OKSCRIPT

OKScript can now call and exchange data with
Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). This capability 
allows users to greatly extend and customize 
the functionality of OKScript while being
completely compatable with existing scripts.

Those who use OKScript only for online bridge
will probably not find this enhancement in any
way useful. Those who use OKScript to automate
other tasks may find it helpful.

Writing DLL plug-ins requires some programming 
experience and special software tools, making 
the endeavor beyond the scope of most OKScript 
users. On the other hand, using DLLs in scripts 
is simple. I hope that useful DLLs will be
developed and made available to the user 
community.

OKScript compatable DLLs are invoked from scripts
in exactly the same way as OKScript PROCedures. 
OKScript distinguishes DLL calls from PROC by the 
way DLL routines are named - DLL routine names 
are prefixed by the DLL filename and a period. Thus
a call to the routine "someroutine" contained in
the DLL file "mydll.dll" would appear:

    CALL mydll.someroutine 

For more details on writing and using DLL plug-ins
please consult the Procedure Features discussion in
the Language Reference section of the OKScript Help.


For more information, or to offer suggestions or 
interesting techniques or applications for OKScript, 
write me at yweare@gte.net, or visit the website at 
http://home1.gte.net/yweare/index.htm

Thank you for supporting the development of OKScript.

Michael Mardesich
okb://mikezzz