
IAPL v. 1.11 System functions
I recently downloaded from a Simtel20-type archive a demo version of iAPL 1.11,
which is basically complete except for the manuals and other advantages of reg-
istration (something for the future perhaps). I am satisfied with its perform-
ance, and I chose it over other public domain APL's because it works with a CGA
card & monitor. I don't have EGA here at home. I am eager to learn APL and may
progress to a professional system when I attain proficiency.
I haven't yet found adequate instruction material on APL, especially on
system functions that vary from version to version. In the case of this iAPL,
I solved the mystery of the Stop & Trace services which are as follows:
(iota 7) QuadTRACE 'functionname'
QuadSTOP
To turn them off, one replaces the left-side argument with either an empty lit-
eral, an empty vector, or a line # way past the highest line # in the function:
(iota 0) QuadSTOP 'functionname'
'' QuadTRACE
99
(I used descriptive expressions for the unprintable APL characters.) The older
way of asking for Trace & Stop doesn't work on this version. Period.
To interrupt execution, use CTRL-[ , not CTRL-Break or C.
Next I searched the saved workspaces for other system functions using
Quad. I found a few of the traditional ones, but I also found three that are
not in my (outdated) text-book. I don't know what they are for or how to use
them. They are: QuadHC I was only able to make it take a left-arrow
assignment of 1 or 0. I still don't know what it does.
QuadMC I failed to make it do anything. And...
QuadE Likewise Failed.
Furthermore, I found two system commands whose use and purpose is
unknown to me: )SINL )PCOPY
If you can enlighten me as to the use of these three functions and
two system commands, I will be much obliged, and glad to help you whenever I
can be of service. Yours cordially, Warren V.