Plato 2

[Forscher]

Hi,
This is a very simple question.
I have used Plato to write, build and run several Fortran 95 programs. They all run successfully, when I run by clicking on the "run" arrow-head-shaped button on the top RHS of the menu. Fine. However, when I look in the folder where my program is stored, I see several other files generated sometime during build and run. In particular, I see a file with an icon that looks like a TV screen with a blue strip across its top. I had always imagined this to be the compiled version of the program. In which case, I should be able to run it from a DOS prompt.
However, when ever I try to I do this, or by going to RUN via Start>Run> and then browsing to the file, what happens is that I get a flash of a DOS screen and then nothing.
Can anyone help?
Incidentally, anyone got any suggestions as to where I can find a resaonable explanation of the operation and facilities offer by Plato. I get the impression that I am missing out on many of its functions.
Many thanks

 

[Forscher]

Hi,
Sorry, I should have added that I am running Plato on a PC with Windows XP. I don't know if that is relevant.
Thank again

 

[gummibaer]

Plato is the development environment of the Silvefrost Fortran compiler. It comes with quite an extensive manual available by the help button. And Silverfrost maintains a forum of their own. That is about the resources.

If you want to start your program from commandline, you need an executable object of your prog, not a compiled version. I do not know about the icons, but what you should look for is a file with the extension '.exe' not '.obj'. You find it in the Release/win32 - directory in your workspace where you did develop your program.

Norbert


The optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds - the pessimist fears this might be true.

 

[xwb]

The executable can be found in checkmate\win32. As you said, it is the one with a blue strip on the top. If you switch on file extensions (no idea why it is off by default), this is the .exe file. To be able to execute it you need your silverfrost installation directory on the path. You just get the flash because it cannot find one of
[ul]
[li]salflibc.dll[/li]
[li]sdbgdll.dll - if you are running the debug version[/li]
[li]simple.dll[/li]
[li]glaux.dll - if you use opengl[/li]
[/ul]

If you wish to run your executable standalone, try copying some of these DLLs into your executable directory. I've go no idea what SIMPLE.dll does. You may not need it.

 

[gummibaer]

There are two versions of the exe-file. One is in the checkmate/win32 directory as xwb says. Another one is found in the release/win32 directory, both directories are located in your project's workspace. The one in checkmate is much larger, 196 kB for my last project there, compared to mere 79 kB in the release version. This is due to the fact that under checkmate much more errorchecking is included in the executable, which therefore is somewhat slower than the release version. You need the Checkmate-version to debug your code.

As to the dlls:

The one you will need is salflibdc.dll which includes the operation environemnt of windows, which is done in C.
sdbgdll.dll is needed for debugging as xwb said, but I doubt if you will want to debug your code when you start from commandline.
simple.dll - don't know what this is good for either
glaux dll - seems to be needed only if you used OpenGL-graphics.

I could export my Clearwin application and run it on another computer just by adding salflibdc.dll to the working directory.

Norbert


The optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds - the pessimist fears this might be true.

 

[Forscher]

Many thanks to both Gummibaer and xwb. Both of your comments were a big help.
It is a long time since I did any serious computing and, I must say, I am very impressed by this website; lots of informed comment.
Thanks again
Forscher