TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Oct 94 Tips
Volume Number:10
Issue Number:10
Column Tag:Tips &Tidbits

Related Info: Color Quickdraw

Tips &Tidbits

By Scott T Boyd, Editor

Note: Source code files accompanying article are located on MacTech CD-ROM or source code disks.

Tip Of The Month

Faster Color

RGBForeColor and RGBBackColor can take a surprising amount of time, especially if your main drawing loop calls both routines before most drawing operations. Even if you call RGBForeColor with the color that’s currently foremost, it still recalculates the best possible foreground color! By remembering the results of RGBForeColor and RGBBackColor, you can significantly increase your drawing speed; this example program shows a drawing speed increase of 20%!

The program is written to be pasted into a brand new Think C Project; no MacTraps library is required here. It dumps you into MacsBug at the end with location $40 holding the unoptimized time and $44 holding the optimized time. You can use locations $40 through $5B, inclusive, for debugging purposes.


/* 1 */
#include <QuickDraw.h>
#include <Windows.h>
#include <Palettes.h>
#include <Events.h>

void main(void) {
    CWindowRecord   cwr;
    WindowPtr       wp;
    Rect            bounds = {100, 50, 100 + 256, 50 + 100};
    RGBColor        theColor;
    unsigned short  i, lp;
    unsigned short  start, stop, inc;
    long            startT, stopT;
    long            ColorIndex[1000];
    short           optimized;

    InitGraf( NewPtr(2000) + 1000);
    InitCursor();
    InitFonts();
    InitWindows();
    InitMenus();
    TEInit();
    InitDialogs(0);

    wp = NewCWindow(&cwr,&bounds,"\pFill",TRUE,zoomDocProc,0,TRUE,237);
    SetPort(wp);
    OffsetRect(&bounds, -bounds.left, -bounds.top);

    for (optimized = 0; optimized <= 1; optimized++) {
        startT = TickCount();
    
        if (optimized) {
            for (i = 0; i < 256 * 255; i += 256) {
                theColor.red = i;
                theColor.green = i;
                theColor.blue = i;
                RGBForeColor(&theColor);
                ColorIndex[i >> 8] = cwr.port.fgColor;
            }
        } 
        PenPat((Pattern *)"\xF0\xF0\xF0\xF0\xF0\xF0\xF0\xF0");
        for (lp = 0; lp < 99; lp++) {
            MoveTo(0, 0);
            if (lp & 1) {
                start = 0;
                inc = 256;
                stop = 256 * 255;
            } else {
                stop = 0;
                start = 256 * 255;
                inc = -256;
            }
            for (i = start; i != stop; i += inc) {
                if (!optimized) {
                    theColor.red = theColor.green 
 = theColor.blue 
 = i;
                    RGBForeColor(&theColor);
                    theColor.red   = theColor.green 
 = theColor.blue 
 = 65536 - 256 - i;
                    RGBBackColor(&theColor);
                } else {
                    cwr.port.rgbFgColor.red 
 = cwr.port.rgbFgColor.green 
 = cwr.port.rgbFgColor.blue 
 = i;
                    cwr.port.fgColor =
                        ColorIndex[cwr.port.rgbFgColor.red >> 8];
                    cwr.port.rgbBkColor.red 
 = cwr.port.rgbBkColor.green 
 = cwr.port.rgbBkColor.blue 
 = 65536 - 256 - i;
                    cwr.port.bkColor =
                        ColorIndex[cwr.port.rgbBkColor.red >> 8];
                }
                Line(100, 0);
                Move(-100, 1);
            }
        }
        stopT = TickCount();
        if (!optimized) {
            *(long *)0x40 = stopT - startT;
        } else {
            *(long *)0x44 = stopT - startT;
        }
    }
    DebugStr("\p;dm 40");
    CloseWindow(wp);
}

- Jörg ‘jbx’ Brown

San Francisco, CA

Got a developer tip you’ve been keeping to yourself but really need to share? Think you have a better trick up your sleeve? Send us your tips and tricks, especially programming-related tips, but don’t hold back if you’ve got programmer’s user tips.

We want your tips! We pay $25 for every tip used, and $50 for Tip of the Month. You can take your award in orders or subscriptions if you prefer.

Make sure code compiles, and send tips by e-mail. See page two for our addresses.

Not Such A Drag After All

The drag manager is really cool and can make apps a lot more intuitive, but it’s a pain to debug since process switches are disabled while drags occur. Since both Think C’s and Metrowerks’ debugger require these, you cannot use them. Never fear! You can use The Debugger!

While we’re on the subject, here’s a gotcha for you. Watch out for a bug that causes deadlock if you call WaitNextevent from a drag receive handler.

- Rod Magnuson,

Cupertino, CA

Going Faster with Symantec TPM

Symantec C++, both versions 6.0 and 7.0, do not have the compilers as part of Think Project Manager. Instead, they are kept as quasi-standalone applications inside the Translators folder (located in the Symantec C++ folder). This goes for the C, C++, and rez compilers, as well as the .o converter. When the user tells Think Project Manager to compile a file, TPM looks at the file’s extension (such as .cp for a C++ file), and launches the appropriate compiler (or translator, as Symantec calls them). This is documented in the Symantec manuals.

What isn’t documented, however, is the process by which TPM launches the translators. As it is shipped from the factory, when TPM is launched, it turns around and launches the C++ translator and keeps it in memory. The C translator is left on the disk, and called when necessary. This works great if you do most of your work in C++. But if you’re like me, and work mostly in C, this slows down the compilation process because every time a C file is to be compiled, the C translator must launched and loaded into memory, while the C++ translator sits there in memory with nothing to do.

What’s a C user to do? Simply modify the C and C++ translators to work the way you want them to. Using ResEdit (or resource editor of your choice), open ‘INFO’ resource number 0 in the translator named Think C (Symantec graciously includes a ResEdit template for this). Change the setting of Memory Resident Translator? from 0 to 1. Close and save your changes. Voila! The C translator will now be loaded and kept in memory by TPM when it is launched. In one simple step, C compiles are now speeded up. The more files that are being compiled, the greater the speed increase. For instance, a one-file compile is not speeded up much, but if you’re working with large projects, the speed increase can be significant.

If you want to free up some memory, you can also modify the C++ translator (named Symantec C++) to not be memory resident.

- Chris Hawk

San Francisco, CA

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Whitethorn Games combines two completely...
If you have ever gone fishing then you know that it is a lesson in patience, sitting around waiting for a bite that may never come. Well, that's because you have been doing it wrong, since as Whitehorn Games now demonstrates in new release Skate... | Read more »
Call of Duty Warzone is a Waiting Simula...
It's always fun when a splashy multiplayer game comes to mobile because they are few and far between, so I was excited to see the notification about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile (finally) launching last week and wanted to try it out. As someone who... | Read more »
Albion Online introduces some massive ne...
Sandbox Interactive has announced an upcoming update to its flagship MMORPG Albion Online, containing massive updates to its existing guild Vs guild systems. Someone clearly rewatched the Helms Deep battle in Lord of the Rings and spent the next... | Read more »
Chucklefish announces launch date of the...
Chucklefish, the indie London-based team we probably all know from developing Terraria or their stint publishing Stardew Valley, has revealed the mobile release date for roguelike deck-builder Wildfrost. Developed by Gaziter and Deadpan Games, the... | Read more »
Netmarble opens pre-registration for act...
It has been close to three years since Netmarble announced they would be adapting the smash series Solo Leveling into a video game, and at last, they have announced the opening of pre-orders for Solo Leveling: Arise. [Read more] | Read more »
PUBG Mobile celebrates sixth anniversary...
For the past six years, PUBG Mobile has been one of the most popular shooters you can play in the palm of your hand, and Krafton is celebrating this milestone and many years of ups by teaming up with hit music man JVKE to create a special song for... | Read more »
ASTRA: Knights of Veda refuse to pump th...
In perhaps the most recent example of being incredibly eager, ASTRA: Knights of Veda has dropped its second collaboration with South Korean boyband Seventeen, named so as it consists of exactly thirteen members and a video collaboration with Lee... | Read more »
Collect all your cats and caterpillars a...
If you are growing tired of trying to build a town with your phone by using it as a tiny, ineffectual shover then fear no longer, as Independent Arts Software has announced the upcoming release of Construction Simulator 4, from the critically... | Read more »
Backbone complete its lineup of 2nd Gene...
With all the ports of big AAA games that have been coming to mobile, it is becoming more convenient than ever to own a good controller, and to help with this Backbone has announced the completion of their 2nd generation product lineup with their... | Read more »
Zenless Zone Zero opens entries for its...
miHoYo, aka HoYoverse, has become such a big name in mobile gaming that it's hard to believe that arguably their flagship title, Genshin Impact, is only three and a half years old. Now, they continue the road to the next title in their world, with... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

B&H has Apple’s 13-inch M2 MacBook Airs o...
B&H Photo has 13″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs and 256GB of storage in stock and on sale for up to $150 off Apple’s new MSRP, starting at only $849. Free 1-2 day delivery is available to most US... Read more
M2 Mac minis on sale for $100-$200 off MSRP,...
B&H Photo has Apple’s M2-powered Mac minis back in stock and on sale today for $100-$200 off MSRP. Free 1-2 day shipping is available for most US addresses: – Mac mini M2/256GB SSD: $499, save $... Read more
Mac Studios with M2 Max and M2 Ultra CPUs on...
B&H Photo has standard-configuration Mac Studios with Apple’s M2 Max & Ultra CPUs in stock today and on Easter sale for $200 off MSRP. Their prices are the lowest available for these models... Read more
Deal Alert! B&H Photo has Apple’s 14-inch...
B&H Photo has new Gray and Black 14″ M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max MacBook Pros on sale for $200-$300 off MSRP, starting at only $1399. B&H offers free 1-2 day delivery to most US addresses: – 14″ 8... Read more
Department Of Justice Sets Sights On Apple In...
NEWS – The ball has finally dropped on the big Apple. The ball (metaphorically speaking) — an antitrust lawsuit filed in the U.S. on March 21 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) — came down following... Read more
New 13-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale for $999,...
Amazon has Apple’s new 13″ M3 MacBook Air on sale for $100 off MSRP for the first time, now just $999 shipped. Shipping is free: – 13″ MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD/Space Gray): $999 $100 off MSRP... Read more
Amazon has Apple’s 9th-generation WiFi iPads...
Amazon has Apple’s 9th generation 10.2″ WiFi iPads on sale for $80-$100 off MSRP, starting only $249. Their prices are the lowest available for new iPads anywhere: – 10″ 64GB WiFi iPad (Space Gray or... Read more
Discounted 14-inch M3 MacBook Pros with 16GB...
Apple retailer Expercom has 14″ MacBook Pros with M3 CPUs and 16GB of standard memory discounted by up to $120 off Apple’s MSRP: – 14″ M3 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/256GB SSD): $1691.06 $108 off MSRP – 14... Read more
Clearance 15-inch M2 MacBook Airs on sale for...
B&H Photo has Apple’s 15″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs (8GB RAM/256GB SSD) in stock today and on clearance sale for $999 in all four colors. Free 1-2 delivery is available to most US addresses.... Read more
Clearance 13-inch M1 MacBook Airs drop to onl...
B&H has Apple’s base 13″ M1 MacBook Air (Space Gray, Silver, & Gold) in stock and on clearance sale today for $300 off MSRP, only $699. Free 1-2 day shipping is available to most addresses in... Read more

Jobs Board

Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- *Apple...
Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- Apple Hill Location: WellSpan Medical Group, York, PA Schedule: Full Time Sign-On Bonus Eligible Remote/Hybrid Regular Apply Read more
Omnichannel Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mal...
Omnichannel Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Cashier - *Apple* Blossom Mall - JCPenney (...
Cashier - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Blossom Mall Read more
Operations Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mall...
Operations Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Business Analyst | *Apple* Pay - Banco Popu...
Business Analyst | Apple PayApply now " Apply now + Apply Now + Start applying with LinkedIn Start + Please wait Date:Mar 19, 2024 Location: San Juan-Cupey, PR Read more
All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.