This document summarizes the new features and changes in Ring 1.2, including new functions like PtrCmp() and PrevFileName(), improved functions like find() supporting C pointers, an improved Ring Notepad that saves line numbers, better RingQt classes with event handling, a new Objects library for RingQt, an enhanced RingLibCurl library, improved call command support, using NULL instead of NULLPointer(), a new display warnings option, and general quality improvements.

1. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
next
next
8.7 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
8.8 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
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2. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
8.9 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
8.10 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
8.9. Using ‘<’ and ‘:’ operators as ‘from’ keyword 123

3. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
8.11 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()
}
8.12 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
8.11. RingZip Library 124

4. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
Also we can run the Form Designer in another window.
8.12. Form Designer 125

5. CHAPTER
NINE
WHAT IS NEW IN RING 1.2?
In this chapter we will learn about the changes and new features in Ring 1.2 release.
9.1 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
9.2 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:
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6. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
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
9.3 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).
9.4 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.
9.3. Better Functions 127

7. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
9.5 Better RingQt
RingQt classes are updated to include methods to get events (The code that will be executed when an event is fired).
This is necessary to enable/disable events for some time or to get the events information.
For example the next code disable an event then call a method then enable the event again.
cEvent = oView.oListResult.getCurrentItemChangedEvent()
oView.oListResult.setCurrentItemChangedEvent("")
FindValueAction() # Call Method while an event is disabled
oView.oListResult.setCurrentItemChangedEvent(cEvent)
Also the QAllEvents class is updated where we can set the output from the event function to be true or false using a
new method added to the class called setEventOutput.
Load "guilib.ring"
MyApp = New qApp {
win = new qWidget() {
setwindowtitle("Hello World")
setGeometry(100,100,370,250)
lineedit1 = new qlineedit(win) {
setGeometry(10,100,350,30)
setinputmask("9999;_")
oFilter = new qallevents(lineedit1)
oFilter.setfocusoutEvent("pMove()")
installeventfilter(oFilter)
}
lineedit2 = new qlineedit(win) {
setGeometry(10,150,350,30)
}
show()
}
exec()
}
func pMove
win.setWindowTitle("xxxx")
oFilter.setEventOutput(False)
9.6 Objects Library for RingQt
Ring 1.2 comes with the Objects library for RingQt applications. Instead of using global variables for windows
objects and connecting events to objects using the object name, the Objects Library will manage the GUI objects and
will provide a more natural API to quickly create one or many windows from the same class and the library provide
a way to quickly set methods to be executed when an event is fired. Also the library provide a natural interface to
quickly use the parent or the caller windows from the child or sub windows.
The Objects Library is designed to be used with the MVC Design Pattern.
The Objects Library is merged in RingQt so you can use it directly when you use RingQt
Example :
load "guilib.ring"
new qApp {
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8. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
open_window( :MainWindowController )
exec()
}
class MainWindowController from WindowsControllerParent
oView = new MainWindowView
func SubWindowAction
Open_window( :SubWindowController )
Last_Window().SetParentObject(self)
class MainWindowView from WindowsViewParent
win = new qWidget() {
SetWindowTitle("Main Window")
btnSub = new qPushButton(win) {
setText("Sub Window")
setClickEvent( Method( :SubWindowAction ) )
}
resize(400,400)
}
class SubWindowController from WindowsControllerParent
oView = new SubWindowView
func SetMainWindowTitleAction
Parent().oView.win.SetWindowTitle("Message from the Sub Window")
oView.win.SetWindowTitle("Click Event Done!")
class SubWindowView from WindowsViewParent
win = new qWidget() {
SetWindowTitle("Sub Window")
btnMsg = new qPushButton(win) {
setText("Set Main Window Title")
setClickEvent( Method( :SetMainWindowTitleAction ) )
}
btnClose = new qPushButton(win) {
Move(200,0)
setText("Close")
setClickEvent( Method( :CloseAction ) )
}
resize(400,400)
}
9.7 RingLibCurl
The LibCurl library is used starting from Ring 1.0 for the Download() and SendEmail() functions implementation. In
Ring 1.2 more functions are added to provide a powerful library (RingLibCurl) around LibCurl.
Example:
load "libcurl.ring"
curl = curl_easy_init()
cPostThis = "page=4&Number1=4&Number2=5"
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "http://localhost/ringapp/index.ring?page=3")
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, cPostThis)
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9. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
curl_easy_perform(curl)
curl_easy_cleanup(curl)
9.8 Better Call Command
The Call command is updated to support calling functions from object attributes also (not only variables).
For example the next code from the Stars Fighter Game
cFunc = oself.keypress
call cFunc(oGame,oSelf,Key_Space)
Can be written in one line
call oself.keypress(oGame,oSelf,Key_Space)
9.9 Using NULL instead of NULLPointer()
We can pass NULL to functions instead of using NULLPointer()
For example the next code from RingLibSDL
SDL_RenderCopy(SDL_ren,tex,NULLPointer(),rect)
Can be written as in the next line
SDL_RenderCopy(SDL_ren,tex,NULL,rect)
9.10 Display Warnings Option
In Ring 1.2 the Ring compiler is updated to include the Display Warnings option (-w)
Example:
load "stdlib.ring"
load "stdlib.ring"
compiling the program using the Display Warnings option will display the file duplication warning, While without that
option the error will pass silent.
This is a warning (not an error) because in large projects you may use the same file more than one time. For example
it’s common to start each file with the next code. where the function IsMainSourceFile() is part from the stdlib.ring
load "stdlib.ring"
if IsMainSourceFile()
// Testing
ok
9.8. Better Call Command 130

10. Ring Documentation, Release 1.7
9.11 Better Quality
Ring 1.2 is more stable, We discovered and fixed more bugs during Ring usage everyday in practical projects. Some
functions are optimized to be faster like the SubStr() function. Also the documentation is more better.
9.11. Better Quality 131