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	APILib Library SDK
	(c) NeXO Software - Benoit SCHERRER / Ibrahim

	Tutorial : The Interface Engine
	Difficulty :
	[X][X][ ][ ][ ]
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	I......... What is it
	II........ How does it work
	III....... The api92_IEPipe structure
	IV........ Examples
	V......... Conclusion


	I. What is it
	-------------
The Interface Engine is a very powerful tool that is used
to draw very nice graphical interfaces using a minimum of
memory.


	II. How does it work
	--------------------
What is amazing is that you use only one library call to
draw your interface. It requires only one parameter : the
address of an api92_IEPipe structure.


	III. The api92_IEPipe structure
	-------------------------------
The api92_IEPipe structure is a buffer of bytes that describes
your interface. Here is the current functions supported :


IE_END		: Very important : it is used to announce the
		  end of the api92_IEPipe structure

IE_NOP		: No Operation : Used to make a word-alignement
		  It uses only one byte.
		  Syntax : IE_NOP

IE_SETFONT	: Set current the font
		  Syntax : IE_SETFONT,[font]

IE_SAVEFONT	: Save the font
		  Syntax : IE_SAVEFONT

IE_RESTOREFONT	: Restore the saved font
		  Syntax : IE_RESTOREFONT

IE_STRING	: Draw a string, using the current font
		  Syntax : IE_STRING,[x],[y],[0-terminated string]

IE_STRINGADDR	: Draw a string, giving in parameter its address
		  Be careful : the address of the string must be
		  word aligned (using IE_NOP before IE_STRINGADDR)
		  else you will get an address error.
		  Syntax : IE_STRINGADDR,[x],[y],[address of string]

IE_CHAR		: Draw a char, using the current font
		  Syntax : IE_CHAR,[x],[y],[char]

IE_WIN		: Draw a normal window
		  Syntax : IE_WIN,[x1],[y1],[x2],[y2],[0-termined
			string]

IE_WIN2		: Draw an advanced window
		  Syntax : IE_WIN2,[x1],[y1],[x2],[y2],[0-termined
			string]

IE_ANIMEDWIN	: Draw a normal animed window
		  Syntax : IE_ANIMEDWIN,[speed value],[x1],[y1],[x2]
				[y2],[0-termined string]

IE_ANIMEDWIN2	: Draw an advanced animed window
		  Syntax : IE_ANIMEDWIN2,[speed value],[x1],[y1],[x2]
				[y2],[0-termined string]

IE_SOLIDRECT	: Draw a framed solid rectangle
		  Syntax : IE_SOLIDRECT,[x1],[y1],[x2],[y2]

IE_INVERTAREA	: Invert a part of the screen
		  Syntax : IE_INVERTAREA,[x],[y],[width],[height]

IE_CLRSCR	: Clear the screen
		  Syntax : CLR_SCR

IE_WAITKEY	: Wait for a key hit from the user


	IV. Examples
	------------
The Interface Engine is very often used in the examples of this
SDK. It is really a powerful tool.
You will find it slctfil2 and slctfil3 for example, and in other
examples, specially in graphics\iengine.asm.


	V. Conclusion
	-------------
The Interface Engine is a tool that can be used in a lot of 
programs. It makes them really smaller, since the buffer used
is a buffer of bytes, and you have only one library function
to call.


If you have any suggestion, comments (like functions to add
to the Interface Engine), don't hesitate !

mail me at : p.c.scherrer@wanadoo.fr


	Ibrahim - Benoit SCHERRER
	NeXO Software