About this SDK

Contents

• Product description
• EPOC Release 5
• Limited source code
• Development tools
• OPL Guide and Reference documentation
• Examples
• System requirements
• What’s new

Product description

Section Contents

• EPOC Release 5
• Limited source code
• Development tools
• OPL Guide and Reference documentation
• Examples

The EPOC Release 5 OPL SDK provides a PC-hosted development environment for rapid application development in OPL. It comprises EPOC Release 5 system components, development tools including the EPOC Emulator, system documentation and examples.

OPL (Organiser Programming Language) is a Symbian proprietary language with a long heritage in Psion PLC’s Organizer range. It provides a BASIC-like syntax, and its easy accessibility and shallow learning curve have spawned a vigorous development community. The EPOC OPL SDK enhances ease of OPL programming by providing PC-hosted development tools and documentation.

OPL APIs provide access to the most commonly-used EPOC facilities. OPL extensions (OPXs) may be written in C++ to provide access to other C++ APIs, or to provide optimised function implementations. To write OPXs, you need the EPOC C++ SDK. To use an OPX written by someone else, you need a suitable build of that OPX (either for the emulator, or for a target machine).

EPOC Release 5

EPOC Release 5 was made available in June 1999, and comprises EPOC Release 5 plus the EPOC Message Suite (EPOC Email, EPOC Web and associated communications components).

All EPOC Release 5 components are included in this SDK. Specifically, the base, engine support, comms, graphics, and EIKON GUI components as well as the EPOC Web application and engine and the EPOC Spell application and dictionaries are included, together with the OPL runtime system.

Limited source code

Test source code for the some of the standard OPXs is provided, in order to provide examples of how to use OPXs.

Development tools

The following development tools are included:

• EPOC Emulator, including all applications
• command-line OPL compiler, allowing OPL modules to be edited using a Windows-based editor, and then compiled for use under the EPOC Emulator
• tools for manipulating EPOC graphics and sound formats
• the EPOC resource compiler
• Aleppo, a help compiler
• the EPOC Install suite and makesis, for preparing programs for installation on EPOC target machines

OPL Guide and Reference documentation

The OPL Guide and Reference comprises

• Quick Start: a quick introduction to the SDK.
• The Symbian OPL programming manual: a guide on how to use OPL, and reference documentation for OPL functions and extensions.
• Tools: reference information on developer tools.
• Producing Online Help: help compiler information.
• Style Guide: a style guide for applications.

Documentation is available in two formats:

• HTML format, which can be browsed on any browser supporting tables and frames
• Microsoft HTMLHelp format, which requires a compatible help browser (for example, an installation of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0)

Examples

Example code is provided to illustrate documentation, and to provide a starting point for writing your own code. Types of example include

• a hello world OPL application, to verify SDK installation and use of developer tools
• sample applications demonstrating OPX usage

System requirements

To install and run the EPOC Release 5 OPL SDK, you will need

• a PC running Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95 or Windows 98
• 80MB of free space
• speed and RAM requirements as for Microsoft Windows installation

To install and run software on an EPOC device, you will need

• an EPOC device using EPOC Release 5 or earlier. Note that there may be compatibility issues when using earlier devices with this SDK
• EPOC Connect 2.1 or above, or badged version such as PsiWin, and a link cable

To browse the OPL Guide and reference documentation, you will need

• a web browser which supports tables and frames, for the HTML version
• a browser for HTML Help files, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or above, for the HTML Help version

If you wish to develop OPXs, you will need the EPOC Release 5 C++ SDK (and its PC requirements).

What’s new

Relative to the EPOC Release 3 revision 2 OPL SDK CD-ROM, this SDK contains

• new documentation and example code covering the ER5 OPL changes
• new OPXs for extended OPL functionality
• example source code demonstrating new OPX usage
• fixes and editorial changes