Chris@43: 
Chris@43: This directory contains a Pascal (Delphi, Kylix) interface to the
Chris@43: zlib data compression library.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: Directory listing
Chris@43: =================
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: zlibd32.mak     makefile for Borland C++
Chris@43: example.pas     usage example of zlib
Chris@43: zlibpas.pas     the Pascal interface to zlib
Chris@43: readme.txt      this file
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: Compatibility notes
Chris@43: ===================
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: - Although the name "zlib" would have been more normal for the
Chris@43:   zlibpas unit, this name is already taken by Borland's ZLib unit.
Chris@43:   This is somehow unfortunate, because that unit is not a genuine
Chris@43:   interface to the full-fledged zlib functionality, but a suite of
Chris@43:   class wrappers around zlib streams.  Other essential features,
Chris@43:   such as checksums, are missing.
Chris@43:   It would have been more appropriate for that unit to have a name
Chris@43:   like "ZStreams", or something similar.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: - The C and zlib-supplied types int, uInt, long, uLong, etc. are
Chris@43:   translated directly into Pascal types of similar sizes (Integer,
Chris@43:   LongInt, etc.), to avoid namespace pollution.  In particular,
Chris@43:   there is no conversion of unsigned int into a Pascal unsigned
Chris@43:   integer.  The Word type is non-portable and has the same size
Chris@43:   (16 bits) both in a 16-bit and in a 32-bit environment, unlike
Chris@43:   Integer.  Even if there is a 32-bit Cardinal type, there is no
Chris@43:   real need for unsigned int in zlib under a 32-bit environment.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: - Except for the callbacks, the zlib function interfaces are
Chris@43:   assuming the calling convention normally used in Pascal
Chris@43:   (__pascal for DOS and Windows16, __fastcall for Windows32).
Chris@43:   Since the cdecl keyword is used, the old Turbo Pascal does
Chris@43:   not work with this interface.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: - The gz* function interfaces are not translated, to avoid
Chris@43:   interfacing problems with the C runtime library.  Besides,
Chris@43:     gzprintf(gzFile file, const char *format, ...)
Chris@43:   cannot be translated into Pascal.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: Legal issues
Chris@43: ============
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: The zlibpas interface is:
Chris@43:   Copyright (C) 1995-2003 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.
Chris@43:   Copyright (C) 1998 by Bob Dellaca.
Chris@43:   Copyright (C) 2003 by Cosmin Truta.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43: The example program is:
Chris@43:   Copyright (C) 1995-2003 by Jean-loup Gailly.
Chris@43:   Copyright (C) 1998,1999,2000 by Jacques Nomssi Nzali.
Chris@43:   Copyright (C) 2003 by Cosmin Truta.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43:   This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
Chris@43:   warranty.  In no event will the author be held liable for any damages
Chris@43:   arising from the use of this software.
Chris@43: 
Chris@43:   Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
Chris@43:   including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
Chris@43:   freely, subject to the following restrictions:
Chris@43: 
Chris@43:   1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
Chris@43:      claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
Chris@43:      in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
Chris@43:      appreciated but is not required.
Chris@43:   2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
Chris@43:      misrepresented as being the original software.
Chris@43:   3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
Chris@43: