Help file for !ModulInfo

Introduction
------------

ModulInfo is a program I started writing in december 1990 and is continuously
being improved. In it's current state (1.42), most bugs should be removed.

  [ ] Did you ever scan your hard disk in order to locate old versions
      of modules, and you didn't find Acorn Computers' !Merge application
      very helpful because of some old module that was stamped accidentaly?
      In order to do so, did you
      a) load the module into a text editor and try to find the version?
      b) load the module into the RMA and look up the version using
         'Help modules' or similar?

  [ ] Did you ever wanted to know what SWI names a module contained?

  [ ] Did you ever wanted to know a little more about a module's commands
      without loading it?

  [ ] Did you ever find a module which you didn't want to load because of
      it's size (or some other reason) when you were initerested in what it
      contained?

If you ticked one of the items listed above, you will probable be interested
in using ModulInfo. ModulInfo can display useful information concerning a
relocatable module _without_ having to load the thing.

This has a number of advantages:
  - Easy look-up of version information
  - Listing commands embedded in module
  - Listing swi names without having to run some other tool which produces a
    sprawling mass of information.


Starting
--------

Double-click on the !ModulInfo icon. After a while it will install itself on
the icon-bar. Now drag a module from a filer window to it and wait. The rest
is self-explanatory.


Limitations
-----------

ModulInfo doesn't provide the information on a module you see with other
programs, for the simple reason that most of the times you don't want to know
it, and it would only result in wasting memory.

Furthermore, ModulInfo expects modules that are legally written, that is,
_not_ modules that contain a lot of garbage in their headers. In fact, these
modules are likely to be rejected by the operating system in the first place.


Epilogue
--------

Don't expect ModuleInfo to do things that it is not designed for (can you?).
It's main use is quick look-up of the most imporant information, so use it
for that purpose.

I am sure you will find it useful to you. If you wan't to see some new
features or improvements, you can always try to contact me via comp.sys.acorn
or at erikp@stack.urc.tue.nl

        Erik van de Pol
