Short: Patches Translator42.4, 43.0 to Translator43.1 Author: mbarlow@pacific.telebyte.net Uploader: mbarlow pacific telebyte net Type: util/libs Version: 43.1 Replaces: Tran43pch.lha 43.0 Requires: Translator version 42.4 or 43.0 installed; Installer Architecture: m68k-amigaos Distribution: Unlimited This version of the Translator Library was developed from the source code posted to the Aminet by Francesco Devitt. As such it remains largely his work. Version 43.0 added new accent file rules to facilitate number expression and fixes three problems I have encountered with the original Translator42. Version 43.1 adds the placement of the Narrator escape code sequence after the end of the translated text output string to achieve compatibility with those programs that give the whole translation buffer to the Narrator. The basic Translator43 changes from version 42.4 are as follows: 1. Added Empty Match Feature. Extra text may be inserted into the output string based on the text pattern defined by the prefix and suffix rules alone. This facilitates the process of expanding numbers as text. 2. Added Suffix Text Induction Feature. Some or all of the matching suffix pattern text characters may be pulled into a bracket delimited text-replacement string. This text may be pulled in ahead or behind the replacement text. This facilitates number expansion and enables re-sequencing of text ("$51" to "fifty one dollars" or "51" to "ein und fünfzig") 3. Added Zero or One Match Condition. This allows the specification of optional prefixes or suffixes that only occur once. 4. Fixed Word Separator Problem. Translator42 does not recognize the same set of word separators as the original Translator37. This causes unusual pronunciation, in some cases, when punctuation marks or numbers are combined with text. By default, Translator 43 recognizes only the standard Latin alphabet and the ISO-8859-1 international characters as members of the alphabet. All characters not in this "alphabet set" are treated as word-separators. 5. Fixed Buffer Overrun Problem. Translator42 may crash your system if the buffer that is provided by the program using this library is not large enough to handle the resulting text. Translator42 can fail to notice the end of the buffer and continue on writing into unauthorized memory space. This problem is now fixed. 6. Reduced The False Text Command Problem. Translator42 allows accent and scope changes to be made by in-line text commands delimited by simple braces and backslashes. This can be a problem when reading general text (EMAIL or BBS) that may contain these characters or ASCII art. Translator43 reduces the severity of this problem by requiring that a rubout character, 7F hex, precede in-line text commands. This change was added to make the translator useful as a reader of raw ASCII text files in addition to files creatively pre-processed for special effects. 7. Added Assembly Code Modules. Several simple repetitive routines, including the built-in unsigned byte strchr() routine, have been replaced by hand optimized assembly modules for increased processing speed. 8. Dropped External Language Reference Rule Capability. This feature was dropped because the performance impact and complexity of the extra code required to make it independent of user preference selections and complications with the other modifications. Only the Italiano.accent used this function and this patch will also try to fix that reference if upgrading from version 42.4. Requirements. A complete installation of Translator42 version 42.4 or an is required. See the section 3 of Translator.man supplied with Translator42. The Installer utility is required to run the patch script. Status: Translator43 as of June 97 must be considered as in Beta Test state. It has been developed and checked out on an A4000/040 with KS3.0/WB3.1 and sporadically tested on an A1000 with KS1.2/WB1.3. If no major problems are reported in the next 6 months, then this will stand as the finished version. Installation: See Update.man for more details. 1. (Optional Precaution) Back-up your SYS: partition, or Libs: directory. 2. Install Translator42.4 if this has not been done. This step is _NOT_ required if you have already upgraded to Translator43.0. 3. Unpack the Tran43pch archive to a convenient directory you have created (e.g. ram:unpack). 4. Stop and close out (exit/quit) all programs that might be using the translator.library. If possible, don't start any such programs before the installation. 5. Run the Installer Script by clicking on the Install icon in the unpacking directory. This patches the installed sub-type (v.33, v37, or 020) of Translator42.4 or Translator43.0 to the equivalent Translator43.1 sub-type and patches the v42.4 italiano.accent. 6. If the old translator.library was resident in ram: do to prior use, it may be necessary to use "avail flush" or "flushlib translator.library remove" or reboot the system before the upgrade takes effect. 7. (Optional) copy the Update.man file to a directory of your choice for future reference. 8. (Optional) Download and Unpack the Specialized Translator43 Accent files and copy them to Locale:accents. Disclaimer: This software has not been tested in other systems or with all possible settings and combinations as commercial software is normally tested during the beta test stage. As with most software of this type, the user must assume FULL responsibility for backing up important files etc. should this software malfunction or expose an unknown weakness in other software. It may be wise to backup the LIBS: (sys:libs) Locale:accents directories before installing. I have not observed any unexplained problems on my system since version 43.0 of this library was last compiled in March 97. Reference Files. The following files are (or will be) Translator43 specific: 1. Ax_1Berlin.lha (Berlin.Accent). Experimental German accent. 2. Ax_0Chaucer.lha (Chaucer.Accent) Experimental Middle English accent 3. Ax_0Paris.lha (Paris.Accent) Stopgap Experimental French accent 4 Ax_2USA.lha (!USA.Accent) Huge (150K) USA accent. May be slow on 68000 based systems. 5. SWread.lha Simplified version of Wreadfiles 5.1 (no internal USA English translation enhancement) vocal text reader; !USA.accent required for Wreadfiles equivalent USA English functionality. See AMINET/utils/misc for SWread.lha, SWread_020.lha, or SWread_040.lha. Amiga native HIRES display capability is required.