Re: New Mac port of Inform


27 Mar 1995 21:47:45 -0500

In article <0jRitZq00gpIEKdG0K@andrew.cmu.edu>,
Andrew C. Plotkin <erkyrath+@CMU.EDU> wrote:
}Excerpts from netnews.rec.arts.int-fiction: 26-Mar-95 New Mac port of
}Inform Robert A. Pelak@hannah.m (705)
}
}> - Interpreter support. Inform can now create z-code files that,
}> with a simple double click, can be run on Greg Ewing's ZeX
}> interpreter.
}
}Is this just a matter of creating a data file with the correct
}type/creator code?

}(I ask because I keep thinking I should write a *morally correct* Z-code
}interpreter shell -- that is, one which can import a z-code file, thus
}producing a stand-alone application. The stand-alone app would then be
}able to create save files that you can double-click on, and basically
}act sensibly.)

}(Naturally, I don't have time to do this, but if I did, it would be nice
}to do it to ZeX rather than the standard MacZIP. How does Greg feel
}about it?)

Unfortunately, with the advent of the Fat Binary, the obvious way of
doing this doesn't work anymore. Probably the right way to do it now
is to store an alias to the Z-code file in the saved game file. The
interpreter (be it the plain-jane mac port of ZIP or ZeX) would then
use the alias to find the original z-code file, start it up, and
restore.