If you would like to develop programs on the HP palmtops, and would like a head start on the graphics, please feel free to take advantage of what I've already done. Included here are two zip files containing graphics libraries and a demo programs to show how they're used.
These files were coded for Turbo Pascal 5.0 and Turbo C 2.0. The Turbo Pascal package has some size advantages over the C language. I did a comparison where I coded that same programs (Yahtzee v1.11 and the demo program available here) in both languages (C was Turbo C version 2.0), and here are the results:
Pascal Pascal C C
Program EXE size compr. EXE size EXE size compr. EXE size
------- -------- --------------- -------- ---------------
Yahtzee 17440 9726 25596 15373
demo 13216 8240 18092 11002
Anyhoo, the Turbo Pascal environment is pretty much ideal for the small program requirements of the palmtops. If you strongly prefer the C language, it works but your exe files will be 40-60% larger. Unfortunately, the integrated debugging environment (for either TP or TC) doesn't work because Turbo doesn't comprehend the palmtop's graphics mode, and doesn't turn it off before trying to switch back to a code view. I do the development on a PC, then copy the exe file to the palmtop. Any debugging has to be done by displaying relevant information on the palmtop's screen while it's running.
Download the Pascal demo files
The demo programs in both versions show the basic drawing functions, text functions, bitmap copying functions, softkey labels, drawing windows with shadows, windows with titles and shadows, dice drawing functions, and card drawing functions. All source code is included.
New! Now available is pcx2src.exe (7 kbytes), which takes a 2-color PCX file that you create on any graphics package, and outputs a text file which allows you to embed that image in your own program. Just copy the text file into your program, making it look like the examples that I provide in the above packages. This program runs in plain DOS mode, either on a palmtop or on a PC.
Last modified June 27,1996