Decompiling and Compiling
Contents
Normally, compiling and decompiling interpretation files is unnecessary. However, there are two main reasons why you may wish to use the compilation options:
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If you have created text files for earlier versions of Solar Maps, you may still want to compile them. |
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If you wish to do any work on the entire set of text in bulk, for example, to make global editing changes, or to spell check the entire text, then you will need to decompile them first, work on the decompiled file in your word processor, and then recompile them. |
Decompiling
The process of decompiling extracts all the interpretations text from the intepretations file and inserts it into a single ANSI text file. The ANSI file is written to conform exactly to Solar Maps’s requirements for a text interpretations file, so that it may subsequently be recompiled without any changes being required. The text file may be edited with any text editor or word processor.
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To decompile the current interpretations file |
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Select the Decompile... option from the File menu - This will display a standard “Save File As” dialog |
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Enter a file name - The file name must be a valid file name, and should have a “.def” extension. Normally it is best to choose the same name as the current file ie. maps.def if you are decompiling Solar Maps’s supplied file. |
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Optionally Select a new directory or folder. If you choose a different directory, then you will need to remember where you have placed the file when you wish to recompile it. |
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Select the OK button. You will see a confirmation message showing you the full path and name of the decompiled file when it has finished. |
Note: Remember that after you have decompiled an interpretations file, you have two versions of the interpretations - the original interpretations file, and the decompiled text file. If you make changes to the original file instead of the decompiled file, then when you recompile the decompiled file, those changes will be overwritten.
Compiling
Compiling an interpretations file is the process of reading in a text file that contains interpretations text formatted according to Solar Maps’ specifications, and writing out an interpretations file which may be used directly in Solar Maps, and edited with the interpretations editor. The format of a decompiled text file is somewhat complex, and it is not recommended that you attempt to make significant alterations to a decompiled file unless you are technically proficient. For the full specification of the required format for a decompiled file, see Input File Layout.
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To compile a text interpretations file |
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Select the Compile... option from the File menu. |
2. |
This will start up the interpretations compiler. See chapter 18 for further details. |