APLX^TM: New features in Version 4

 
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MicroAPL is proud to announce the availability of APLX Version 4 for all the platforms we support. This is our largest upgrade to APLX ever. Note: Copies of APLX Version 3 bought after 1^st August 2007 are eligible for a free upgrade to Version 4.

APLX Version 4 is now available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. APLX Server Edition Version 4 is available for Linux and Windows, in both 32-bit and 64-bit implementations. All platforms share the same APLX interpreter code and have the same release number (currently 4.1).

This is a brief summary of what is new in APLX Version 4 compared with Version 3. For full details, see the New Features in Version 4.0 document. (PDF format, 2.8MB).

Object-Oriented Programming

APLX Version 4 includes major language enhancements to support object-oriented programming.

• Support for object-oriented programming with user-defined APL classes
• Support for object-oriented programming using external classes written in the .Net languages (C#, Visual Basic, etc), Java, and Ruby, using natural dot-notation syntax
• Extensible interface for other object-oriented languages such as C++
• Internal APL classes can be created and managed using the new APLX Class Editor:(Click to enlarge)
  
• APLX Version 4 brings the power of arrays to object-oriented programming. You can easily carry out operations on whole arrays of objects without the need for looping.
• APL's interactive approach makes it very easy to experiment with classes, allowing you to build, test and enhance classes iteratively.
• APL's interactive approach also makes using Java, Ruby and .Net classes very easy. You can quickly create an object from one of the classes and investigate how it is used.

Powerful new general array editor

APLX Version 4 include a powerful new General Array Editor. Subject to available memory, this allows you to edit almost any simple, mixed or nested APL array, the only limit being that the array cannot exceed 5 dimensions. You can edit any element, and if you wish restructure it (for example, convert a numeric scalar element to a three-dimensional nested array). You can also restructure the whole array. The editor also supports editing arrays containing object references

Data Exchange via the Clipboard

You can now copy and paste arrays in various formats for exchange with Excel and other applications, between APL sessions, and within the General Array Editor. For example, in the session window, you can right-click on the name of a variable, and copy the data (including numeric and nested arrays) to the clipboard:

You can also write data to the clipboard within the APLX General Array Editor by selecting a range of cells, and choosing Copy from the Edit menu (You select a range of cells by clicking in one corner of the range to select it, and then shift-clicking on the opposite corner. You can also use the arrow keys, whilst holding down the shift key):

New QuickSym^TM input method

The QuickSym^TM feature of APLX version 4 provides a simple alternative to using the keyboard to enter APL symbols. By pressing a single key (usually the 'Menu' key in Windows, or F1 under MacOS), you can bring up a panel which displays the APL symbols for input.

Data exchange under Program Control

The new Quad-EXPORT system function allows you to write data in a number of formats including:

• Comma-Separated Variable (CSV) format, as used by many applications such as spreadsheets for data exchange.
• Tab-Separated Variable (TSV)
• HTML format. The result is an HTML page which can be loaded into a Web Browser or imported into another application such as Microsoft Word or Excel.
• Symbolic Link (SYLK) format, a Microsoft-specified file format typically used to exchange data between applications such as Excel and other spreadsheets.
• Unicode UTF-16 and UTF-8 formats.

Similarly, the new Quad-IMPORT system function lets you import data from text, Unicode text, CSV, TSV, and SYLK files.

New Workspace-Search Feature, and Regular Expression Searches

The Edit menu now has a new item Search Workspace... This allows you to search all unlocked functions, operators, and class methods in the workspace. You can search for either a simple string, or a regular expression.

In this screen shot, we are searching (in workspace 10 HELPQWI) for a case-insensitive regular expression, to find any string beginning with DEMO_ followed by either C or P:

This brings up the following Search Results window:

The matches are shown in the upper pane; as you select each line (or click on the up/down arrows on the top right), the corresponding text is shown in context in the lower pane. You can of course edit the text directly in the lower pane. You can also specify a replacement string (or regular expression replacement) in ‘Replace’ edit box; clicking on the Replace button then makes the replacement and moves on to the next match.

String Search using Regular Expressions

The system function Quad-SS finds one or more text patterns in a character vector, and optionally replaces them with different sub-strings. It can now either do a simple search, matching characters one-by-one, or search for regular expressions, which allow you to specify sophisticated pattern-matching rules in a compact form. See the separate document Regular Expressions in APLX for full details of the regular-expression syntax.

New Structured-Control Error handling

APLX Version 4 includes new error trapping using :Try.. :CatchIf.. :CatchAll as follows:

:Try
...
[:CatchIf ]
...
[:CatchAll]
...
:EndTry

The block of code following the :Try keyword is executed, until either an error occurs, or a :CatchIf, :CatchAll, :End or :EndTry is encountered.

If no error has occurred within the :Try block, execution transfers to the statement after the :End or :EndTry.

If an error occurs in the :Try block (either in the statements in this function, or in any functions called from it), control transfers to the first :CatchIf statement, and the expression is evaluated. If it is true, the block of code following the :CatchIf is executed, and execution then resumes after the :EndTry or :End. If the expression is false, the same procedure is followed for any further :CatchIf blocks in the sequence. If none of the tests is true, the :CatchAll block (if any) is executed. It is permissible to have as many :CatchIf sections as you like.

Performance Enhancements

• Major speed-ups to most Quad SS string searches
• Major speed-up to outer product using the Match primitive
• Many primitives enhanced for faster operation on large arrays (Version 3.5 for MacOS already included some of these improvements)

Bugs and Comments

We welcome any comments you have about APLX Version 4, and any bug reports. Please use our on-line form to let us know.