I have a small Problem with GPC_(re)

Wed, 4 Dec 1996 21:53:26 +0100 (MET)

Hello, Gareth Harper!

> GPC112b.ZIP This was 730k and does not seem to want to compile any of 
> my programs giving me an error after the first line in my program. 
> (parse error Ithink)

GPC112b.ZIP is a 1.1 (2.6.3) version without any Borland compatible
extensions.  Your program is probably correct for Turbo Pascal 6.0,
but that version of GNU Pascal is a pure ISO Pascal compiler.
The 1.1 (2.6.3) version *with* Borland extensions is in TURBO11b.ZIP.

> GPC272b.ZIP a 1.0Mbyte file that I had to download twice as one of 
> the files I downloaded was a bad zip (It was from 
> Sunsite.Doc.Ic.AC.UK) and This gives me quite a few errors if I 
> compile with the -c option.  It says nothing just accesses the disk a 
> lot If I use no options.  

That's interesting because GPC272b.ZIP is a *beta* version 1.2 (2.7.2)
of GNU Pascal which should not be mirrored at Sunsite ... however I find
it acutally more stable than GPC 1.1 (2.6.3), so it is indeed the best
choice for you.  ;-)

> Do I need any other files to be able to use GPC.  I own a Pentium 
> 60Mhzwith 8Mb ram. 

You need at least the GNU assembler and linker ... please look into the 
GNU Pascal FAQ

    http://agnes.dida.physik.uni-essen.de/~gnu-pascal/gpc-faq.html

for more about the DJGPP version of GNU Pascal.

> I currently use Turbo Pascal Verion 6.00.  Could 
> you help me out please.  If it gave me errors about sytnax then I 
> would be ok.  But it does not like the type 'Word'

GNU Pascal is only partially Borland compatible and is *not* a drop-in
replacement for Turbo (Borland) Pascal.  Differences between Borland
and GNU Pascal are documented in the section "From Borland Pascal to
GNU Pascal" in the documentation,

    http://agnes.dida.physik.uni-essen.de/~gnu-pascal/gpc-doc.html .

Especially, GNU Pascal doesn't know `Word'.  Try the following:

    Type                                  (* Integer has 4 Bytes *)
      Word      = __unsigned__ Integer;               (* 4 Bytes *)
      ShortInt  = __short__ Integer;                  (* 2 Bytes *)
      ShortWord = __unsigned__ ShortInt;              (* 2 Bytes *)
      ByteInt   = __byte__ Integer;                   (* 1 Byte  *)
      Byte      = __unsigned__ ByteInt;               (* 1 Byte  *)

> [...]
>
> I seem to remember reading somewhere that I need GCC to be able to 
> compile with this. 

This is not the case.  See the FAQ for details.

Hope this helps,

    Peter

Peter Gerwinski (peter@agnes.dida.physik.uni-essen.de)