Easy Code - Visual Assembler

Visual assembly Integrated Development Environment

Version 1.09 GoAsm


INTRODUCTION

Easy Code is one of the first visually based "Interface Development Environments" made for Go tools, the Jeremy Gordon's Windows 32/64-bit assembler based kit. Easy Code was constructed entirely in assembly, which gives the IDE a surprising speed and quickness, noticed when designing a new project.

Easy Code requires Windows 32-bit or better environment to work in, as there is no 16-bit support. Windows NT40 was the foundation of this IDE and it also operates on any operating system released afterwards, Windows 2000/XP/2003/2008/VISTA/7/8, although it works fine on Windows 95/98/ME.

IMPORTANT: Easy Code 1.07 works in Unicode mode when running on Windows NT and later systems, or in ANSI mode when running on Windows 95/98/ME. In both modes, ANSI or Unicode, the code editor and all names related to projects (names and files for projects, resources, windows and controls) are always processed as ANSI text for compatibility reasons. When running as Unicode (that is, on Windows NT or later), the dialog box for opening and saving files is also a Unicode window. However, once a file is selected, its path and name are always converted to ANSI, so please take that into account when selecting folders or naming objects and files for your projects.

Go tools and GoAsm Headers are available for no cost and they are a requirement for operation with this version of Easy Code. An ECGo package, containing almost all necessary files, has been prepared for Easy Code use. Download the latest version of ECGo at:

http://www.godevtool.com/ECGo.zip


After downloading and unzipping the ECGo.zip file, a main folder named GoAsm will have been created. You can place it in any of the existing drives in your computer, although the root is recommended (i.e: C:\GoAsm, D:\GoAsm, etc.). Then please immediately download the GoAsm Headers and place them in the \GoAsm\Include folder (which is empty). Otherwise, Easy Code will not be able to build any project. Now, you should configure the IDE by clicking the Tools->Settings menu.

Easy Code GoAsm will no longer use "inc" files, that is why the GoAsm headers have to be downloaded and placed in the "\GoAsm\Include" folder.


SPECIAL THANKS

Paul E. Brennick For writing the Resource Editor english help, programming GeneSys, EasyCalc, CardFile and other good examples (all included), helping me with testing Easy Code, and very specially for all his constant help and support.
Jeremy Gordon

For coding the Classic executable file default project and for all his help and support to make the GoAsm version possible.

Phill Kahle For translating a big part of the english help file for the first Easy Code version and helping me with testing Easy Code.
Edgard Hansen

For allowing Easy Code to be able to work with the header files for GoAsm (from his excellent GoAsm Headers project available at Donkey's Stable). The GoAsm Headers are needed for Easy Code GoAsm to work (please see the Using the GoAsm headers topic).

Robert Bieber For allowing to include his excellent File Shredder and the RGG (a GDI demo) projects as Easy Code examples.
Mark Jones For allowing to include his excellent MIDI Player project as an Easy Code example.
Mark Wright For his big and constant help in testing Easy Code.
Josep Vallès For writing the spanish help file of the first Easy Code version.
Héctor A. Medina For his big help and constant support in testing and debugging Easy Code (especially on Windows 95), for coding the GetCPUInfo method and for programming all code related to drivers.
Jason Jiang For translating the Chinese language files, both simplified and traditional.
Noteworthy Lord For translating the French language file.



STARTING EASY CODE

If you execute Easy Code without a command line parameters to an existing project, window or module, it will prompt you with a dialog box of choices to creating a new one. A parameter command line without an extension of ".ecp", ".ecw", ".ecr" or ".asm" is also considered void and you will also be prompted to create a new project. Here is an example of the dialog box for new projects.

Six options are available for the type of the code project:

Visual Executable file (exe)
Classic Executable file (exe)
Classic Dynamic Link Library (dll)
Classic console application (exe)
Classic COFF object file (obj)
Classic NT driver (sys)

Easy Code has two main modes, "Visual Project" mode and "Classic Project" mode. The classic mode is the traditional build all levels, where the coder is expected to construct the whole project and the resulting code will be manually configured to work when compiled and linked as in most other IDE's. The visual mode is where Easy Code becomes in a realm of its own. Visual mode allows you to create windows resources on the fly, then code that resource as a function and later tie the resources together to form a quick and easy powerful application.

On creating a new project, you must specify what coding mode your require. "Dynamic Linked Libraries", console applications and COFF object files are naturally considered classic project types. When you choose an "Executable" type project, you have the option of the project either in traditional IDE coding mode (classic) or Easy Code's visual mode.

The Classic COFF object file project type is useful for generating an object file, from one or more modules, which can then be linked to other projects. This option just generates a .obj file (in COFF format) although you have several modules in the project. The generated object file will have the name of the project plus the .obj extension.

If you want to use Windows Common controls and/or the RichEdit control, mark the corresponding check box and their .inc and .dll files will be added to the project by Easy Code (only visual projects). On the other hand, checking/unchecking those boxes will cause the corresponding buttons to be shown/hidden in the tool box.

The Manifest.xml file check box (only available for Visual Executable file and Classic Executable file projects) specifies whether a manifest file has to be created so that the new common controls can be used in Windows XP or later (see Enabling XP themes). If this check box is marked when creating the project, the Manifest.xml file will be shown inside the "Miscellaneous" node of the Project Explorer, so that it can be edited in the Easy Code environment. Please read the Including a Manifest in the project topic carefully.


NOTE: The Classic Executable file (exe) default project has been coded by Jeremy Gordon, the Go tools author, and it is the best example for the programming style to be used.

REMARKS: Both modes, visual or classic, the .Code directive must always exist (in each Window or Module) and be located after the .Const or .Data directives in order the IDE to work properly (controlling procedures or frames, variables and structures). All code being before the .Code directive will be considered as data. If the .Code directive do not exist, all text will be considered as data and the IDE will work very slowly.



SUB-TOPICS

Configuring Easy Code
Building NT services
Building NT drivers
Specific settings files (INI files)

Using the GoAsm headers

Visual Projects (Easy Code Power Mode)
Classic Projects (Classical IDE Style)
Project Properties

Accessing to the Windows 'WinMain' function (Only Visual Project Type)

Modifying the compiler options (All Project Type)

Thread object (Only Visual Project Type)

Adding tooltips to visual projects

Bookmarks

Multilanguage support
Language files (how to make them)

ANSI / Unicode applications (All Project Type)
Including a Manifest in the project (Only Exe Project Type)

Enabling XP themes (All Project Type)

OwnerDraw property (Only Visual Project Type)

Conditional assembly (All Project Type)

Processing idle time (Only Visual Project Type)

Control objects
Object Properties (Only Visual Project Type)
Getting and Setting properties (Only Visual Project Type)
Customizing objects (Only Visual Project Type)

Resources - Resource Editor (All Project Type)
Importing resource files (All Project Type)
Application icon (All Project Type)

Easy Code Editor
Menu Editor (All Project Type)

Compiling and Building Projects
Handling Errors at run time (Only Visual Project Type)
App and Error Objects (Only Visual Project Type)

Easy Code GoAsm Macros (All Project Type)
Easy Code GoAsm Methods (Only Visual Project Type)
Easy Code GoAsm Constants (Only Visual Project Type)



FILES AND FOLDERS

Easy Code is distributed in a zip file which includes the files listed below. Main subfolders in noted bold font.


Bin

EasyCode.exe

Common

ECCalls.bin
ECConst.bin
ECStruct.bin
QuartzDB.ttf
UPX.EXE

Examples

CardFile
Drives
ECPDriver
ECPDrvTest
File Shredder
MDI
Memory
MIDIPlay
NetMon
Reboot
RGG
RSEdit
TabStrip
Theming

Help

EasyCode.hlp

Include

acpiioct.h
bugcodes.h
devguid.h
devioctl.h
diskguid.h
ECIncGo.h
excpt.h
ipfirewall.h
macros.h
mountdev.h
mountmgr.h
ntddcdrm.h
ntddcdvd.h
ntddchgr.h
ntdddisk.h
ntddft.h
ntddk.h
ntddkbd.h
ntddmou.h
ntddpar.h
ntddscsi.h
ntddser.h
ntddtape.h
ntddtdi.h
ntdef.h
ntdskreg.h
ntifs.h
ntiologc.h
ntnls.h
parallel.h
stireg.h
undoc.h
usb.h
usb100.h
usb200.h
usbdi.h
usbioctl.h
usbiodef.h
usbscan.h
usbuser.h

Language

ECCatCA.lge
ECChnPR.lge
ECChnTW.lge
ECEngIN.lge
ECEspES.lge

Lib

ECDllGo.dll
ECDllGou.dll
ECStcGo.lib
ECStcGou.lib

Macros

ECMacros.asm


Once Easy Code and ECGo tools (GoAsm, GoLink, GoRC, etc.) are installed, make sure Easy Code's configuration is correct. Go to the Tools-->Settings menu, select the Compile / Link tab and set the correct paths for the different files and directories. You should be able to load the example projects and build them without errors (if the GoAsm.exe assembler and GoLink.exe linker are used). If you do not have ECGo tools installed, you will only be able to edit a project.



EASY CODE BENEFITS AND FEATURES

Some of Easy Code IDE features:


Easy Code is completely free. Enjoy it and make good your skills and assemble great applications. Please report any bugs and issues with this IDE you find. When reporting IDE problems try to explain the way they appeared or happened so that repair and be done at the best possible delay. I will be happy to reply personally to bug reports using email.



TECHNICAL SUPPORT

For any request, technical support or bug report, please contact one of the email addresses specified below. Thank you.

asm@easycode.cat
rsala@easycode.cat

http://www.easycode.cat

Copyright © 2004-2015 Ramon Sala

The Easy Code application has been developed using the MASM32 SDK (Microsoft 32-bit Macro Assembler)