Short:    Amiga BASIC Compiler with Extras
Uploader: D.Benn@appcomp.utas.edu.au

This is version 2.3 of ACE.

ACE is a FreeWare Amiga BASIC compiler which, in conjunction with A68K 
and Blink produces standalone executables.
 
The language defines a large subset of AmigaBASIC but also has many 
features not found in the latter such as: turtle graphics, recursion, 
SUBs with return values, structures, arguments, include files, a better 
WAVE command which allows for large waveforms, external references, named 
constants and a variety of other commands and functions not found in 
AmigaBASIC.

A simple graphical front-end (Integrated Development Environment) is also
provided with the archive. This is written in ACE and has been improved 
since the last release of the ACE archive.

New features in version 2.3 include: Wb 2.x/3.x 3D-look for gadgets and
requesters, an interprocess communication mechanism, IFF picture file
support, subprogram module/library creation facility, MsgBox can now be 
used as a command as well as a function, EHB and HAM screen modes (AGA 
modes in next release), a line continuation character (~), serial status 
word can now be accessed via SERIAL function, address of SUBs/external 
functions via VARPTR/@, reserved words can be listed via a command-line
compiler option, FONT and STYLE commands, LONGINT(n) function, SCREEN 
FORWARD and SCREEN BACK, CLEAR ALLOC command, borderless windows via
WINDOW command, GADGET MOD command for modifying existing proportional 
gadgets, SLEEP FOR <secs> command, BEVELBOX command, .bas extension 
is now recognised as well as .b for ACE source files.

Improvements have been made to event trapping, structures, ALLOC, 
FileBox, executable size, peephole optimisation, external/shared library 
function syntax, DIM syntax, GADGET syntax, ERR and ON ERROR (window,
screen and message error codes), turtle graphics screen aspect ratios.  

Note that where there have been syntax changes, backward compatibility
with previous ACE versions has been maintained. Changes are in the
form of improvements.

Major ACE documents now come in ASCII and AmigaGuide format.

There are also numerous bug fixes from version 2.0 (see docs/history
for details).

Author: David Benn, Launceston, Tasmania, October 1994