PSION Programming Reference

The original of this came from http://ds.dial.pipex.com/lordjohn/oplref/index.htm

Alas its long gone and my emails have gone unanswered
Last updated: 13th June, 1996
This is a first plus a little bit of an attempt at putting Psion's Programmer's Reference onto the Web. Dave Stafford has very kindly let me have the pages. If, like Dave, you bought your 3a after they stopped shipping the manual, or you just keep forgetting it, you should find this useful. It is a first attempt, so please bear with me as I now support it. and hope to fix up any problems.
The originator of this html version of the manual Dave Stafford created it not by editing the oplman text files by hand, but using a PERL program to do the majority of the work. This was convenient for him, but it may mean a few blips here and there. Please email me with any cock-ups you see, and I'll fix them if I can see how to. Lord John

1. Creating and running programs

1.1. Creating a new module
1.2. An example procedure to type in
1.3. Type in and edit the procedure
1.4. Translating a module
1.5. File management
1.6. More about running modules
1.7. Menu options while editing
1.8. SUMMARY

2. Variables and constants

2.1. Declaring variables
2.2. Choosing the variable
2.3. Examples
2.4. Giving values to variables
2.5. Displaying variables
2.6. Values from the keyboard

3. Loops and branches

3.1. Repeating instructions (loops)
3.2. Choosing between instructions
3.3. Arguments to functions
3.4. `True' and `False'
3.5. Jumping to a different line

4. Calling procedures

4.1. Using more than one procedure
4.2. Parameters
4.3. GLOBAL variables

5. Data file handling

5.1. Files, records and fields
5.2. Creating a data file
5.3. Opening a file
5.4. Saving records
5.5. Moving from record to record
5.6. Finding a record
5.7. Changing/closing the current file
5.8. Data files and the Database

6. Graphics

6.1. Simple graphics
6.2. Screen positions
6.3. Drawing in grey
6.4. Overwriting pixels
6.5. Graphical text
6.6. Windows
6.7. Advanced graphics

7. Friendlier interaction

7.1. Menus
7.2. Dialogs
7.3. Lines you can use in dialogs
7.4. Other dialog information
7.5. Giving information

8. OPL and Solid State Disks

9. Example programs

9.1. Countdown Timer
9.2. Dice
9.3. Birthdays
9.4. Data files
9.5. Re-order
9.6. Stopwatch
9.7. Inserting a new line in a database
9.8. Bouncing Ball
9.9. Circles
9.10. Zooming
9.11. Animation example
9.12. Two-voice "ice-cream van" sound

10. Error handling

10.1. Syntax errors
10.2. Errors in running procedures
10.3. TRAP
10.4. ERR and ERR$
10.5. ONERR ... ONERR OFF
10.6. RAISE
10.7. Error messages

11. Advanced Topics

11.1. Programs, modules, procedures
11.2. Where files are kept
11.3. Safe pointer arithmetic
11.4. OPL applications (OPAs)
11.5. Tricks
11.6. Cacheing procedures
11.7. Sprite handling
11.8. Scanning the keyboard directly
11.9. I/O functions and commands
11.10. Recording and playing sounds
11.11. OPL database information
11.12. Example
11.13. DYL handling
11.14. Dynamic memory allocation
11.15. Using the heap allocator
11.16. Example using the allocator

12. Overview

12.1. Program control
12.2. Screen and keyboard control
12.3. Files
12.4. Memory
12.5. Printing
12.6. Numbers
12.7. Strings
12.8. Date and time
12.9. Graphics
12.10. Menus
12.11. Dialogs
12.12. Status Window
12.13. Screen messages
12.14. Advanced use

13. Alphabetic listing

Function Quick Reference

Appendices

A. Summary for experienced OPL users

A.1. Using OPL on the SERIES 3a
A.2. Changes from Organiser to MC OPL
A.3. Changes from MC to HC OPL
A.4. Changes from HC to SERIES 3 OPL
A.5. Changes from SERIES 3 to SERIES 3a OPL

B. Operators and logical expressions

B.1. Operators
B.2. Precedence
B.3. Logical expressions
B.4. Logical and bitwise operators

C. Serial/parallel ports and printing

C.1. Using the parallel port
C.2. Using the serial port
C.3. Printing to a file

D. Character codes

Copyright Psion PLC 1991-1993

All rights reserved. This manual and the programs referred to herein are copyrighted works of Psion PLC, London, England. Reproduction in whole or in part, including utilisation in machines capable of reproduction or retrieval, without the express written permission of Psion PLC is prohibited. Reverse engineering is also prohibited.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Psion and the Psion logo are registered trademarks, and Psion Series 3a, Series 3, Psion HC, Psion MC, SSD and Solid State Disk are trademarks of Psion PLC.
Psion PLC acknowledges that some names referred to are registered trademarks.
v1.0 Aug 93 English Part no. 6103-0045-01

This HTML version of the manual was automagically created (with a tiny bit of tweaking ) from the oplman text files using PERL. If you have any suggestions, please email me Lord John