/ScriptServ

RCS: @(#) $Id: readme.txt,v 1.5 1999/06/30 09:09:56 DaveG Exp $
===============================================================

  XiRC_810_hack  v1.9

  by David Gravereaux <davygrvy@bigfoot.com>

  10:50 PM 6/29/99

===============================================================

Q:  What is this?
A:  This is my "hack" to enable XiRCON to use the scriptics' release
    binaries of the Tcl library instead of Mark's custom compile that
    came with the client.

Q:  Why should I upgrade?
A:  The author has lost interst in his project.  He hasn't released an
    upgrade for what seems like an eternity (July '97, i think).  This
    hack allows the use of the LATEST and BEST Tcl code.  Some of the 
    additional features are the fact that:

       1) Tk, and ANY Stubs-enabled extension, can now load into XiRC!
       2) XiRCON extension authors now have all 700+ Tcl functions to
           play with.  An astounding improvement over the limiting 12
           in the original Xtcl.dll.
       3) Monsterous amounts of improvements have been done to the Tcl
           core since 7.6p2 was release in late '96.
       4) Upgrading the core when a new version of Tcl is released
           will also update XiRCON.

Q:  What are some of the bugs?
A:  none that I know of.

     1) The byte-code compiler may not like some Tcl syntax that XiRCON
         didn't mind.  This is not a bug, just a different interpreter
         that pre-compiles to byte code.
     2) Tk will run, but not well due to how Mark isn't using Tcl's
         notifier the way it was meant to be used.  Which isn't fixable
         without his source code.  This is the infamous 'on timer' bug.

Q:  Can this work with any Tcl core besides 8.1.0?
A:  No.  Just Stub-enabled cores like 8.1.x or even 8.2+

Q:  Can any extension made for Tcl 8.1.x run in XiRCON now?
A:  hell yezzz.  The package loader works (never did before).

   'info nameofexecutable' works, too.  So does 'package present XiRCON'

Q:  Is this backward compatible with older scripts.
A:  NO!  I've changed how hooks run.  And the XiRCON commands are in their
    own namespace.  Please see lametutorial.txt for an explanation how to
    update your scripts.

Q:  How do I install it?
A:
    1) download Tcl 8.1.0 (or whatever the latest is) from Scriptics and
        install it.   http://www.scriptics.com/software/8.1.html
    2) exit XiRCON, if it's running.. duh!
    3) rename your original Xtcl.dll to something else like "Xtcl.dll.org"
    4) place the new Xtcl.dll, Xtcl.ini and xircrc.tcl into your XiRCON
        directory.
    5) edit Xtcl.ini to point to where tcl81.dll is.  Most likely, it will
        be "c:\program files\tcl\bin\tcl81.dll"
    6) edit xircrc.tcl and add the correct path to where the Tk dll is.
        This step is optional.  Only if you want to play with Tk in XiRCON.


David Gravereaux
mailto:davygrvy@bigfoot.com