The Ring programming language version 1.3 book - Part 6 of 88

1. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
4. Functions and Methods List
4.3. Better Ring Notepad 28

2. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
5. Output Window
6. Classes List
4.3. Better Ring Notepad 29

3. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
7. Change the Current Style
4.4 Ring mode for Emacs Editor
Ring 1.3 comes with Ring mode for Emacs Editor
Screen Shot:
4.4. Ring mode for Emacs Editor 30

4. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
4.5 Better StdLib
The StdLib is updated to include the next functions
• SplitMany()
• JustFilePath()
• JustFileName()
4.6 Better Loop|Exit Command
The Loop|Exit command is updated to accept Expressions after the command (not only numbers).
The syntax:
Loop|Exit [Number]
Changed to
Loop|Exit [Expression]
Example
XLoop = 2 # The outer loop
YLoop = 1 # The first inner loop
for x = 1 to 10
for y = 1 to 10
see "x=" + x + " y=" + y + nl
if x = 3 and y = 5
exit XLoop
ok
4.5. Better StdLib 31

5. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
next
next
4.7 New Functions
• PackageName() function
• Swap() function
Example:
aList = [:one,:two,:four,:three]
see aList
see copy("*",50) + nl
swap(aList,3,4)
see aList
Output
one
two
four
three
**************************************************
one
two
three
four
4.8 Return Self by Reference
In this release, using Return Self in class methods will return the object by reference.
Example:
mylist = [new mytest() {
see self
x = 20
see self
}]
see mylist
class mytest
x = 15
func init
return self # Return by reference
Output
x: 15.000000
x: 20.000000
x: 20.000000
4.7. New Functions 32

6. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
4.9 Using ‘<’ and ‘:’ operators as ‘from’ keyword
In this release of the Ring language we can use the ‘<’ and ‘:’ operators as the ‘from’ keyword
Syntax (1):
class Cat from Animal
Syntax (2):
class Cat < Animal
Syntax (3):
class Cat : Animal
4.10 Embedding Ring in Ring without sharing the State
From Ring 1.0 we already have functions for embedding Ring in the C language. Also we can execute Ring code
inside Ring programs using the eval() function. In this release we provide functions for embedding Ring in Ring
programs without sharing the state.
Advantages:
1. Quick integration for Ring programs and applications together without conflicts.
2. Execute and run Ring code in safe environments that we can trace.
Example:
pState = ring_state_init()
ring_state_runcode(pState,"See 'Hello, World!'+nl")
ring_state_runcode(pState,"x = 10")
pState2 = ring_state_init()
ring_state_runcode(pState2,"See 'Hello, World!'+nl")
ring_state_runcode(pState2,"x = 20")
ring_state_runcode(pState,"see x +nl")
ring_state_runcode(pState2,"see x +nl")
v1 = ring_state_findvar(pState,"x")
v2 = ring_state_findvar(pState2,"x")
see v1[3] + nl
see V2[3] + nl
ring_state_delete(pState)
ring_state_delete(pState2)
Output:
Hello, World!
Hello, World!
10
20
10
20
4.9. Using ‘<’ and ‘:’ operators as ‘from’ keyword 33

7. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
4.11 RingZip Library
Ring 1.3 comes with the RingZip library for creating, modifying and extracting *.zip files.
Example (1): Create myfile.zip contains 4 files
load "ziplib.ring"
oZip = zip_openfile("myfile.zip",'w')
zip_addfile(oZip,"test.c")
zip_addfile(oZip,"zip.c")
zip_addfile(oZip,"zip.h")
zip_addfile(oZip,"miniz.h")
zip_close(oZip)
Example (2): Extract myfile.zip to myfolder folder.
load "ziplib.ring"
zip_extract_allfiles("myfile.zip","myfolder")
Example (3): Print file names in the myfile.zip
load "ziplib.ring"
oZip = zip_openfile("myfile.zip",'r')
for x=1 to zip_filescount(oZip)
see zip_getfilenamebyindex(oZip,x) + nl
next
zip_close(oZip)
Example (4) : Using Classes instead of Functions
load "ziplib.ring"
new Zip {
SetFileName("myfile.zip")
Open("w")
AddFile("test.c")
AddFile("zip.c")
AddFile("zip.h")
AddFile("miniz.h")
Close()
}
4.12 Form Designer
Ring 1.3 comes with the Form Designer to quickly design your GUI application windows/forms and generate the Ring
source code.
It’s written in Ring (Around 8000 Lines of code) using Object-Oriented Programming and Meta-Programming.
We can run the From Designer from Ring Notepad
4.11. RingZip Library 34

8. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
Also we can run the Form Designer in another window.
4.12. Form Designer 35

9. CHAPTER
FIVE
WHAT IS NEW IN RING 1.2?
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.2 release.
5.1 List of changes and new features
Ring 1.2 comes with many new features
• New Functions
• Better Functions
• Better Ring Notepad
• Better RingQt
• Objects Library for RingQt
• RingLibCurl
• Better Call Command
• Using NULL instead of NULLPointer()
• Display Warnings Option
• Better Quality
5.2 New Functions
• PtrCmp() Function is a new function that compare between C pointers like the GUI objects.
• PrevFileName() Function is added to return the previous active source file name.
• RingVM_CFunctionsList() Function is added to return a list of functions written in C.
• RingVM_FunctionsList() Function is added to return a list of functions written in Ring.
• RingVM_ClassesList() Function is added to return a list of Classes.
• RingVM_PackagesList() Function is added to return a list of Packages.
• RingVM_MemoryList() Function is added to return a list of Memory Scopes and Variables.
• RingVM_CallList() Function is added to return a list of the functions call list.
• RingVM_FilesList() Function is added to return a list of the Ring Files.
Example:
36

10. Ring Documentation, Release 1.3
fp = fopen("ptrcmp.ring","r")
fp2 = fp
fp3 = fopen("ptrcmp.ring","r")
see ptrcmp(fp,fp2) + nl
see ptrcmp(fp,fp3) + nl
fclose(fp)
fclose(fp3)
Output:
1
0
Also we can compare between them using the ‘=’ operator
Example:
fp = fopen("ptrcmp2.ring","r")
fp2 = fopen("ptrcmp2.ring","r")
fp3 = fp
see fp = fp2
see nl
see fp = fp3
fclose(fp)
fclose(fp2)
Output:
0
1
Example:
The next function in stdlib.ring uses the PrevFileName() to know if the file of the caller function is the main source
file of the program or not.
Func IsMainSourceFile
if PrevFileName() = sysargv[2]
return true
ok
return false
5.3 Better Functions
The find() function is updated to support searching in lists using C pointers like GUI Objects.
The type() function is updated to display the C pointers types (like the GUI Object Class Name).
5.4 Better Ring Notepad
The Ring Notepad will save the current line number of opened files to be restored when we switch between files.
Also Ring Notepad will ask the user to save the file if the file content is changed when the user switch between files.
5.3. Better Functions 37