| Changes since Python 1.2 for the mac |
| ------------------------------------ |
| These relnotes are relative to the last "official" MacPython release, |
| not to the intermediate releases. |
| - PPC python now uses a shared library organization. This allows the |
| creation of dynamically loadable extension modules (contact me) and |
| creation of python applets (see mkapplet.py). A number of previously |
| builtin modules are now dynamically loaded. Dynamically loaded |
| modules are distributed in the PlugIns folder. |
| - Python modules can live in 'PYC ' resources (with a name equal to the |
| module name, so many modules can live in a single file). If you put a |
| file (in stead of a folder) in sys.path its resources will be searched. |
| See the PackLibDir script for creating such a file. |
| - new binhex module (partially working, hexbin has problems) |
| - Python now has a Preferences file, editable with |
| EditPythonPrefs. Remembered are the python 'home folder' and the |
| initial value for sys.path. If no preferences file is found a simple |
| one is created. |
| NOTE: this only works correctly if you start python the first time |
| from the correct folder. |
| - new img modules, to read/write/convert images in various formats |
| - new MacOS toolbox modules: AE, Ctl, Dlg, Event, List, Qd, Res, Snd |
| and Win. These provide access to various of the MacOS toolbox |
| interfaces. No documentation yet, but the __doc__ strings provide at |
| least the calling sequence (and Inside Mac will give you the |
| semantics). Minimal demos are provided for most toolbox interfaces, |
| and the 'scripts' directory has some more examples. |
| - AppleEvent client interfaces can be generated from aete/aeut |
| resources. No support for objects yet, nor for server interfaces. |
| - Lib:mac:FrameWork.py has an application framework (under |
| construction). |
| - (PPC Only) support for building Python applets: tiny standalone |
| python applications. |
| - fp = open(filename, '*r') opens resource-fork of a file for reading |
| (and similar for writing). |
| - option-dragging a file to the interpreter (or immedeately pressing |
| <option> after launching python) will bring up an Options dialog |
| allowing you to set options like import-tracing, etc. |
| - MacOS module method added: GetErrorString(OSErr) -> error string |
| - There is now a numbering convention for resource-ID's: |
| 128-255 Resources used by the interpreter itself |
| 256-511 Resources used by standard modules |
| 512- Resources for applications |
| - macfs module changes: |
| - StandardGetFile without type arguments now shows all files |
| - PromptGetFile(prompt, ...) is like StandardGetFile but with a |
| prompt |
| - GetDirectory (let user select a folder) added |
| - GetFInfo and SetFInfo methods of FSSpec objects get/set finder |
| info. FInfo objects have attributes Creator, Type, etc. |
| - FindFolder (locate trash/preferences/etc) added |
| - mactcp/macdnr changes: bug fix wrt idle-loop. |
| - EditPythonPrefs script: change initial sys.path and python home |
| folder |
| - (PPC only) MkPluginAliases: Setup aliases for dynamically loadable |
| modules that live in a single shared library |
| - PackLibDir: Convert Lib directory to a single resource file |
| containing all .pyc code |
| - fixfiletypes: Set file types based on file extension over a whole |
| tree. |
| - RunLibScript: Run any script as main program, optionally redirecting |
| stdin/stdout, supplying arguments, etc. |
| - binhextree: Binhex all files in a tree, depending on the extension. |
| - (PPC only) mkapplet: Create a python applet from a sourcefile and |
| (optional) resourcefile. |
| |