B Tree and Match-code File Handler / Programming Interfaces / MS-Visual C/C++ for Windows 95/NT

FATS - Fast Access Tree System
	Table of Contents
		Programming Interfaces
			MS-Visual C/C++ for Windows 95/NT

MS-Visual C/C++ for Windows 95/NT

Windows Libraries FATS_W32.DLL / FATSXW32.DLL

The diskette "FATS for Windows 95/NT" contains the dynamic link libraries FATS_W32.DLL (basis version) resp. FATSXW32.DLL (extended version), that must be copied into the system directory of Windows:

COPY FATS?W32.DLL \WINDOWS\SYSTEM

The libraries are exporting the following functions:

unsigned long __stdcall FATSLibInit(unsigned long datasize, unsigned long sign);
unsigned long __stdcall FATSLibExit(unsigned long lpFatsdata);
unsigned long __stdcall FATSLibCallA(char *szCmnd, int *nErrorcode,char *szFatsKey, unsigned long lpFatsdata);
#define FATSLibCall FATSLibCallA

On the FATS distribution diskette in the directory WIN_32I\C\MS you find the import libraries FATS_W32.LIB (basis version) resp. FATSXW32.LIB (extended version) that are supported for linking with your programs.The libraries are particulary developed for Visual C (COFF object format).

Before you can use the FATS commands in your Visual C program, you must assign a data area to FATS:

lpFatsdata = FATSLibInit(0, 2);

The first parameter determines the size of the FATS data area. If you indicate a zero here, then the minimum needed storage space is reserved (approx. 18-20 KB). The second parameter intends the assigned programming language, for C this value must equal to 2. The address of the data area is returned in the variable lpFatsdata .

Before terminating the application program you should release the storage area allocated by FATSLibInit. You can do this by calling the function FATSLibExit:

lpFatsdata:=FATSLibExit(lpFatsdata);

Although the storage area would be released automatically by the operating system, this instruction is useful, since it closes all FATS files that are still opened.

Calling FATS

FATS commands are executed with the function FATSLibCall:

dwRecno = FATSLibCall(szCmnd, &nErrorcode, szFatsKey, lpFatsdata);

Parameter Usage:

szCmnd Command string (input)
nErrorcode Errorcode (output)
szFatsKey Key value (output)
lpFatsdata Address of FATS data area (input)
Return Value: Record Number

Testprograms

The FATS distribution disk for Windows 95/NT contains some test programs in the directory WIN_32I\C\MS that illustrate how you can use the FATS commands in your programs:

tst1_eng.c Test program for MS-Visual-C for Win95/NT
rebuild.c Re-Indexing a Data File (commands 'BK', 'DL')

The extended version of FATS contains the following additional test programs:

tst2_eng.c Introduction to the Matchcode Functions
mcsort.c Use of the key-flag with command 'MC'
reindex.c Fast Re-Indexing with the command 'XB'

szCmnd	Command string (input)
nErrorcode	Errorcode (output)
szFatsKey	Key value (output)
lpFatsdata	Address of FATS data area (input)
Return Value:	Record Number

tst1_eng.c	Test program for MS-Visual-C for Win95/NT
rebuild.c	Re-Indexing a Data File (commands 'BK', 'DL')

tst2_eng.c	Introduction to the Matchcode Functions
mcsort.c	Use of the key-flag with command 'MC'
reindex.c	Fast Re-Indexing with the command 'XB'