Compiler Directives:
"Pro" And "Ultra"

As of 2007 April, Pro and Ultra have been added to SiMPLE's list of compiler directives. (Compiler directives are non-executable statements supplying the compiler with directions for its operation. In SiMPLE, compiler directives are similar to keywords in that they always begin with an upper-case letter.)

As you know, SiMPLE exists in two slightly different "universes" -- "Pro-SiMPLE", and "Ultra-SiMPLE". When using SiMPLE in command-line mode, you can easily switch between these two universes by merely typing either a "PRO" command or an "ULTRA" command. (This then establishes the "default" universe for your programs.)

When using SiMPLE in "Drag & Drop" mode, programs will compile in the default universe that was most recently established by either a "PRO" command-line command or an "ULTRA" command-line command.

The Pro compiler directive and Ultra compiler directive provide a convenient way of selecting the desired universe for programs that are being run in "Drag & Drop" mode. (Otherwise, you would first have to go into command-line mode and issue either a "PRO" command or an "ULTRA" command every time you wanted to change universes.) Instead, simply include either a Pro compiler directive or an Ultra compiler directive in your listing:

     //                              //
     // My DOS program               // My Win program
     //                              //
     Pro                             Ultra
     Call Sound (440)                id = open mci ("song.mid")
     Call Delay (100)                start mci (id)
     --- (etc.) ---                  --- (etc.) ---

Any characters following the "Pro" and "Ultra" are ignored (unless a "[" character, a "]" character, or an asterisk character is present). Therefore you may optionally use the terms "Pro-SiMPLE" and "Ultra-SiMPLE" as the compiler directives:

     //                              //
     // My DOS program               // My Win program
     //                              //
     Pro-SiMPLE                      Ultra-SiMPLE
     Call Sound (440)                id = open mci ("song.mid")
     Call Delay (100)                start mci (id)
     --- (etc.) ---                  --- (etc.) ---

By including the full name of the intended universe at the beginning of your program listing, it helps create a nice "header" for the listing.

If a Pro compiler directive or an Ultra compiler directive is encountered in a program that is being run in command-line mode, the compiler will check to see if it matches the current universe.

It's a good idea to always include either a Pro compiler directive or an Ultra compiler directive at the beginning of every program listing, unless the program is intended to run correctly in either universe. Such "Either/Or" programs (ones that do not contain either of the two compiler directives) will then compile in whichever default universe was set.