cannam@128: 
cannam@128: This directory contains a Pascal (Delphi, Kylix) interface to the
cannam@128: zlib data compression library.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: Directory listing
cannam@128: =================
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: zlibd32.mak     makefile for Borland C++
cannam@128: example.pas     usage example of zlib
cannam@128: zlibpas.pas     the Pascal interface to zlib
cannam@128: readme.txt      this file
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: Compatibility notes
cannam@128: ===================
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: - Although the name "zlib" would have been more normal for the
cannam@128:   zlibpas unit, this name is already taken by Borland's ZLib unit.
cannam@128:   This is somehow unfortunate, because that unit is not a genuine
cannam@128:   interface to the full-fledged zlib functionality, but a suite of
cannam@128:   class wrappers around zlib streams.  Other essential features,
cannam@128:   such as checksums, are missing.
cannam@128:   It would have been more appropriate for that unit to have a name
cannam@128:   like "ZStreams", or something similar.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: - The C and zlib-supplied types int, uInt, long, uLong, etc. are
cannam@128:   translated directly into Pascal types of similar sizes (Integer,
cannam@128:   LongInt, etc.), to avoid namespace pollution.  In particular,
cannam@128:   there is no conversion of unsigned int into a Pascal unsigned
cannam@128:   integer.  The Word type is non-portable and has the same size
cannam@128:   (16 bits) both in a 16-bit and in a 32-bit environment, unlike
cannam@128:   Integer.  Even if there is a 32-bit Cardinal type, there is no
cannam@128:   real need for unsigned int in zlib under a 32-bit environment.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: - Except for the callbacks, the zlib function interfaces are
cannam@128:   assuming the calling convention normally used in Pascal
cannam@128:   (__pascal for DOS and Windows16, __fastcall for Windows32).
cannam@128:   Since the cdecl keyword is used, the old Turbo Pascal does
cannam@128:   not work with this interface.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: - The gz* function interfaces are not translated, to avoid
cannam@128:   interfacing problems with the C runtime library.  Besides,
cannam@128:     gzprintf(gzFile file, const char *format, ...)
cannam@128:   cannot be translated into Pascal.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: Legal issues
cannam@128: ============
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: The zlibpas interface is:
cannam@128:   Copyright (C) 1995-2003 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.
cannam@128:   Copyright (C) 1998 by Bob Dellaca.
cannam@128:   Copyright (C) 2003 by Cosmin Truta.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128: The example program is:
cannam@128:   Copyright (C) 1995-2003 by Jean-loup Gailly.
cannam@128:   Copyright (C) 1998,1999,2000 by Jacques Nomssi Nzali.
cannam@128:   Copyright (C) 2003 by Cosmin Truta.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128:   This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
cannam@128:   warranty.  In no event will the author be held liable for any damages
cannam@128:   arising from the use of this software.
cannam@128: 
cannam@128:   Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
cannam@128:   including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
cannam@128:   freely, subject to the following restrictions:
cannam@128: 
cannam@128:   1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
cannam@128:      claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
cannam@128:      in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
cannam@128:      appreciated but is not required.
cannam@128:   2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
cannam@128:      misrepresented as being the original software.
cannam@128:   3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
cannam@128: